The Gospel, English, p. 23
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SHALL WE CONTINUE TO SIN THEN?
Although no sin can ever deprive a believer of the eternal life that was freely bestowed upon him once and for all, sin nevertheless has grave consequences both in this life and in the life to come.
Firstly, there are natural consequences of sin.
A person who drinks to excess may kill himself or an innocent victim in an automobile accident. One who engages in immoral activity may contract AIDS and die. Knowing Christ as Savior will save one from hell, but it will not save one from the natural consequences of sinful or foolish living. (See Galatians 6:7-8; James 2:14-17).
Secondly, there are eternal consequences for sin.
Receiving a free ticket to a sports event guarantees one entrance into the stadium, but it does not guarantee one a front row seat. Similarly, receiving the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ guarantees a person entrance into God’s eternal kingdom, but in no way guarantees one an exalted position in that kingdom! Our position in heaven and the rewards associated with that position are totally dependent upon the holy life and
godly works which we manifest in this lifetime (1st Corinthians 3:11-17; 9:24-27; 2nd Corinthians 5:10-11). While the pleasures of sin in this life may at times appear more important than some distant hope of future rewards in heaven, Scripture teaches that those who barter away their “inheritance” (their future rewards in heaven) for the pleasures of sin will one day weep uncontrollably when they see the unspeakable rewards which they forfeited when they pursued their own sinful pleasures in this lifetime. (Hebrews 12:14-17; Luke 19:11-27; Matthew 25:14-30).
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