What Does It Mean to Be Free From the Penalty of Sin?

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
John 8:32

What is the penalty for sin? It’s death.

And we know that everyone dies. 

So, how in the world can anyone be free from its penalty?

First, it’s important to note that the kind of death Scripture talks about here is spiritual, not physical.

And when you are free from sin’s penalty, you will not spiritually die.

But how does it happen, and what does it mean?

Let’s find out.

What Does It Mean to Be Free From the Penalty of Sin?

Jesus paid the penalty of sin when He died on the cross because only He is without sin. And God required a sinless sacrifice. Everyone else is guilty of sin and, therefore, can’t pay the penalty on their own. However, Jesus paid the debt for everyone. And all it requires from you is faith to believe it’s true. Anyone who believes Jesus is who He says He is and receives what He did as God’s gift to you will be free from the penalty of sin.    

Jesus Paid the Penalty

To understand our predicament, you must go back to the garden when Adam and Eve sinned and sin entered the world. At that time, Satan took over the rulership God had given to Adam. He became the god of this world through deception. 

And Adam and Eve’s sin separated them from God.

At that time, God cursed the serpent (Satan) and told him that an offspring of the woman would strike his head because he had deceived Eve. But he would only strike the offspring’s heel.

Genesis 3:15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

The offspring that God was referring to is Jesus Christ.

And when Jesus died on the cross, all of our past, present, and future sins were placed on Him. He bore the penalty when He died. And when He rose again three days later, He defeated death. 

Jesus’ death and what it accomplished and His subsequent resurrection is what God meant by the offspring would strike Satan’s head.

Furthermore, Satan thought he had won the victory when Pilate condemned Jesus to die by crucifixion. However, when Jesus rose again, it became clear that Satan had only “struck His heel.”

This unselfish act of Jesus Christ made it possible for people to be saved and restored to God. In other words, we no longer have to be separated from Him.

How Jesus’ Death Frees You 

God has given you and me His gracious gift of salvation because we can’t save ourselves, nor can we free ourselves from the penalty of sin. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is God’s gift–not from works, so that no one can boast.

We can’t work our way into God’s good graces because we can’t escape our sin problem. No amount of goodness or works is enough to pay sin’s penalty.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

You are freed from the penalty of sin when you receive by faith the gift God offers. You will no longer die spiritually because you are born again. You are now secure in your salvation, and you’ll live in heaven with God forever when you physically die. 

Once you are free from sin’s penalty, you are justified. Justification is a legal term meaning “not guilty.”  It is when God declares you righteous and no longer holds your sin against you. It is also said to be your past salvation because it has already happened.

But that’s not all. 

RELATED > > > > > Are There Three Stages of Salvation – Past, Present, and Future?

You Are No Longer Condemned

Because we all sin, we are automatically condemned to die spirituallly. Our only hope is to believe the gospel message explained above. 

The second half of Mark 16:16 makes it clear: “but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” 

Also, John 3:16-18 gives the whole gospel. Verse18 says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

As seen in these two verses, one must believe in Jesus to escape sin’s condemnation. 

Romans 8:1 There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

What exactly does this mean?

Let’s look at four essential words or phrases from Romans 8:1.

Therefore – The word “therefore” ties everything that Paul has discussed in the previous chapters. Chapters 1-7 are all about man’s sinful condition and how to be free from the penalty and power of sin.

You are free because you believed in what Christ has done and, by faith, received God’s gift of salvation. Therefore…

RELATED > > > > What is the Power of Sin and How is It Broken?

Now – The believer can say at any point in their Christian journey that God does not condemn them now. The word “now” is always applicable. Your salvation is secure.

No Condemnation – Your reality is that God no longer condemns you. You don’t have some condemnation; you have no condemnation.

David Jeremiah says, “Condemnation is a forensic term which includes both the sentence and the execution of the sentence. It means ‘to be pronounced guilty and sentenced to punishment.’ “

And the word “no” says it all. The sentence and execution of the sentence happened on the cross. Instead of being pronounced guilty, you are declared righteous. 

In Christ Jesus – Paul uses this phrase often. To be in Christ Jesus is to be saved.

Just as Noah was saved from the flood when he entered the ark, you are saved from condemnation when you are in Christ. Christ protects you, and you are safe from judgment.

RELATED > > > > > What Does It Mean to Be in Christ?

The Penalty, Power, and Presence of Sin

Final Thoughts

Thank you for reading about what it means to be free from the penalty of sin.

It’s pretty simple: Christ paid the penalty of sin when He died on the cross, and you are free from it when you believe it’s true.

At this point, God declares you righteous and justifies you.

Additionally, He also doesn’t condemn you. So, as you live your life as a Christian, you never have to fear that God is angry at you or will take your salvation away.

The fact is that God sees that you are in Christ, and that’s enough.

How about you? Have you believed in Jesus and been freed from sin’s penalty?