Paul stated it plainly, “Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Rom 5:12; cf. 6:23, 8:2; James 1:15). God connected death and sin in the Garden: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Gen 2:17). To some, death seems like an extreme consequence of sin. Eat the wrong fruit? Die. Tell a white lie? Die. Look at a woman with lust? Die. Is God really that cruel?

As the Creator, God determines life and death (John 5:26). He declares right and wrong (Isa 45:19). He has the authority to set the wage of sin (Rom 6:23). This alone suggests that death as the consequence of sin is not cruel, because it is determined by the infinitely good God.

A Logical Connection

However, we can make a logical case for the connection of sin and death. God created everything in the universe to cultivate humanity. He made humanity because he desired to share his love. God did not need humans; he wanted them (Acts 17:25). But did people want God?

To determine humanity’s desire for God, he gave laws to test human loyalty. Those who obeyed did so because they trusted God; those who disobeyed chose separation from the Giver of life (Isa 59:1-2). Separation from the one who gives life naturally leads to death. Rejecting God is embracing death.

Thankfully, God made provisions for when we failed the test. Jesus atoned for our guilt with his death, making life possible again. “The wage of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23).