The Wages of Sin...

As children we are told what's right and wrong, once we grow up how can a unbeliever be expected to know what's right and wrong. Certainly knowledge comes through us seeking the truth or being taught right and wrong. Believers go to church and hear a word from God through the preacher about what's right and wrong. Also through experience, we learn our sinful deeds will lead us to face very real consequences for our actions.  Even though unbelievers haven't read the bible to know the written moral laws, we all are accountable to know there are standards in which we should live by.  

The consequences of living and engaging in sin. 
Sin separates us from God 
Sin leads to emotional instability 
Sin leads to a lack of self control 
Sin brings God's judgement 
Sin opens more opportunities to sin 
Sin will keep you from hearing or seeing God 
Habitual sinful behavior leads to strongholds (feeling of enslavement, powerless to stop)
Living in sin will keep you from inheriting the Kingdom of God
Sinful living hardens your heart against God
Sinful living suppresses the spiritual nature, which causes a spiritual and physical death
A mind that is set on fleshy satisfaction is hostile to God (Romans 8:7)
Sin causes a sense of being lost and creates confusion in the mind

There's one thing I'd like to make clear, we have two natures living inside of us.  We have a sinful nature because of our fleshly bodies and desires.  Our spiritual nature comes from God creating us in His image.

God created the flesh to be a vessel or temple that would be strong enough to hold our spirit.  The greatest thing about freewill is that we have a choice of whether we use our bodies in the way in which it was intended which is for the building up of God's kingdom, or  to use it in a way that will lead to our demise. God's design and plan for our physical bodies is to be used to carryout His work, instructions and will.  Romans 12 instructs us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.  We are to use our bodies to serve God with our Spiritual Gifts.

List of Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12):

Word of wisdom 
Word of knowledge 
Special faith 
Healing miraculous 
Power of prophecy 
Distinguishing of spirits 
Speaking in Tongues 
Interpretation of tongues

Paul told the believers in Galatia that “the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the sinful nature. Romans 6:23   
The objective of this lesson is to point out and demonstrate the reality and seriousness of sin and its consequences of death and point lost sinners to Christ.  We understand that God gives us daily renewed  grace and mercy (Lamentations 3:22-24), but that doesn't give us a license to sin. Continually engaging in sinful behavior without remorse makes us an unrepentant sinner.  We need to keep in mind that in sin we don't have a good nor close relationship with God.  So if we want to go to heaven, we have to sow into building a right relationship with Him.  Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8) that cost us nothing, but we do have to work to build a strong relationship with Him.  The more you put into a relationship, the more you get out of it.  This is certainly true with God.  Sowing into spiritual things helps us resist the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 6:8)
Hosea 10:12 says, Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.  

God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him.  We must respect that there's no way we can get ourselves into Heaven, so that's why we shouldn't lean on our own understanding.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) and it's His example in which we need to seek after, emulate, study and pray to take on His character, to truly have any chance of receiving God's gift of salvation.  

Even though unbelievers will not be held to the same standards as believers are held, unbelievers will still not only have to answer for their sins, but they will be also be held accountable for their works and pay for their own sins in eternity (Rev 20:11-16). Likewise believers will also have to stand and give an account to God for the works they've done or not done.  

Unbelievers are still accountable to know God's commandments. The wages of sin don't just affect those who believe, because ignorance of the law is no excuse to continue in sin. ” Luke 12:48, says “But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” Romans 3:19, says we are accountable to know God's law. Romans 2:12-16, says If you sin without knowing what you’re doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you’re doing, you will be judged by the law.

The Message  for today is whether you're a believer or unbeliever,  we are all sinners and sin effects us all.  So let us not boast about our goodness, we should acknowledge and profess our gratefulness for God being a loving, compassionate and forgiving God even when we don't deserve it.