I once heard a man say, “Death is the penalty for living.” Is death the penalty for living? Many would say yes. Death is a penalty, but it is not the penalty for living; it is the penalty for sin. Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death….” (Romans 6:23).
Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden because they ate the fruit of the tree that was in the middle of the garden. God forewarned them that the penalty of such action would be death.
Genesis 3:2-3 (ESV)
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’
Yes, they died spiritually because of their transgression; but physical death became a reality as well. Being expelled from the garden, Adam and Eve lost access to the tree of life; therefore, death was inevitable. Their bodies would run down and they would die. In fact, they were in the process of dying the moment they sinned.
Today physical death is still a reality because of sin. We die spiritually because of our own sins.
Romans 5:12 (ESV)
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
However, we die physically because of the sin of our first parents Adam and Eve. We do not inherit sin as many religious people teach, but we still suffer the consequences of the first sin that was committed.
While death is the penalty for sin, it does not have to be viewed as bad in every sense. In fact, in some ways, death is a blessing. For some, it is a gateway to a better existence.
Philippians 1:21 (ESV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
How could Paul say that death is gain? That does not sound like the words of a rational man, does it? It sounds like one who has become depressed and suicidal, right? Wrong! They are the words of a man who has the hope of heaven on his mind. Paul knew that death was not the end of existence. Death was a time when he would escape the trials and tribulations of this earthly life, and be at rest from the assaults of the devil. It would indeed be gain for all Christians.
Death, however, is only gain for some.
Revelation 14:13 (ESV)
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
For death to be beneficial, one must obey the gospel and die in the Lord. The gospel is the power of God for salvation, but only for those who believe and obey it (Romans 1:16; 6:17). Then, once a person obeys the gospel of Christ, he or she must remain faithful until death to receive a crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
Those who die without obeying the gospel will find themselves in a far worse condition than they ever experienced here on earth. They shall be punished with everlasting destruction.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Death is not the penalty for living, it is the penalty for sin. Fortunately, those of us who are Christians can rejoice because, in Christ, we have victory over death.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (KJV)
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.