Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

We all have an eternal life after this earthly life is over. The question only remains as to which of the two eternities you will experience, punishment or a righteous life. How can we avoid punishment?

The second aspect of sin from which we are saved once we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the penalty phase. This is the eternal judgment of God.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Just exactly where does mankind fall under condemnation in the first place?

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

We already covered John 3:16 and 17 but it is 3:18 that speaks to the only reason we fall under condemnation. It is not because of our sin(s) that we are condemned but rather because we failed to accept the free will offering of salvation in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The reprieve from condemnation does not come on judgment day, it comes in life, in the life in Christ. We who have accepted the offering of salvation have already received a pardon before we die in the flesh. We have become one of His own.

2 Timothy 1:9-10 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Given us IN CHRIST. That precious promise of eternal salvation is made to us because we are in Christ.