Question:
Where in the Bible can we find the answer to the question “Why is the punishment for sin a death sentence for humanity?” Hint: “Why”
Answer:
The answer wouldn’t be found in a direct quote from a verse in the Bible but more of a theological one. That is why I gave everyone a hint of the word “why.”
We know that disobedience to God, especially in the case of Adam, brought death and that death spread to all humanity but what I was asking was “why does sin cause death and not something else?”
The theological answer to that is found in John 5:26-29 which says, 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
What we have to understand is that sin brings a chasm between you and God. Life is only found in the Lord and apart from Him, there is only death.
All of us are born in sin meaning we are born spiritually dead because sin separates us from God who is life.
For us to receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, our punishment had to have been dealt with first. God introduces a foreshadowing of the cross in the O.T. through Isaac and the sacrificial system as a way of paying our debt (sin) in full. Jesus had to die to pay for our sins or else God couldn’t forgive us.
The reason why God couldn’t just forgive our sins is that He is a righteous judge who could not look away from sins which produce our evil deeds. If He would have looked away from our evil deeds then it would make Him just as guilty being an unrighteous judge.
Anyone who is apart from God (life) is dead in their spirit with no hope of a resurrection to life but to a resurrection unto death in the Lake of Fire.
Only through faith in Jesus Christ can anyone be transferred from death to life and have the debt of sin be wiped out.
Spiritual Minefield 