Everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23). Sin is rebellion against God and He has decreed that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The verse continues “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord”. In His love He has also provided a way that our sins can be forgiven. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Christ had the same sinful nature as the rest of mankind (Hebrews 2:14). The difference is that he did not give in to the impulses of sin (1 John 3:5). His willing death declared that our nature is only worthy of being destroyed (Romans 8:3). But because he was sinless he didn’t deserve the penalty for sin, so God raised him to life again (Acts 2:24).
Christ’s death was not a substitute to “pay for our sins”. If it was then he should not have been raised (otherwise the payment was not really made). Instead, he was our representative. Belief in Jesus Christ and identifying with his death and resurrection by being baptised is the way chosen by God for us to be given eternal life. When a person is baptised into water it is like being buried. Coming out of the water represents a resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:3-11).
Eternal life will be given when Christ returns to the earth and resurrects those who have died believing in him.
