This is my vote for the greatest "either-or" verse of scripture in Holy Writ, and before I name it, here is my definition of an "either-or" verse:

• It gives a  choice between two options.

• The two choices are opposites.

• The choice is one or the other, and not both, and not "none-of-the-above."

• The choice between the two opposing options is mandated for all humankind.

• Attempting to make no choice, will in fact default to a choice for one over the other. 

• It is heaven or hell.

 

 

My most profound definition of heaven and hell:

• Heaven: God is there.

• Hell: God is not there.

 

If one goes to "heaven," one goes to God.  If one goes to "hell," one goes where God is not. That is the ultimate definition; never mind fire, brimstone, smoke, gnashing of teeth, the "Rich Man," his brothers, Hades, Sheol, Gehenna, the Lake of Fire, the "worm that dieth not," and sulfurous darkness: these may all be there also, but the all-consuming aspect of hell: there is no presense of God... eternally.

 

In order to further illuminate the meaning and clarity of a verse that delineates the salvation question with a choice between two opposing options, consider a small list of other such verses. Among these, readers may find their nomination for Bible's "Greatest Either-Or verse."  I would concur with the wisdom of selecting any one of these. Following this list of either-ors, I will reveal my choice:

 

1. He who has the Son of God has life: he who does not have the Son of God​ does not have life (I John 5: 12).

2. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already...(John 3:18a).

3. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:36).

4. Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).

5. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).

6. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16).

7. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matt. 7:13-14).

8. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (I Cor. 15:22).

 

 

Each of the verses above demonstrates a choice between two opposing scenarios regarding personal salvation.  Some have language that is clearly defined with respect to the opposition of the choices, and others need a more careful reading to see the "plus and minus," or the "yin and yang" of opposing options. 

 

The succinct verse I have in mind is one that features the exact language of "either-or." It also has a wealth of truth to be excavated from very few words.  Here it is:

 

For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:36)

 

In this brief verse, one sees these contrasting words in opposition:

 

• "Wages" vs. "Gift": On the one side, we have something that has been earned, in this case, something not desired: wages have been earned through sinful actions.  On the other side, we have the "gift," which is free and cannot be earned. 

• "Sin" vs. "God": It is humankind that commits sin and is therefore, lost; it is God who is sinless and is therefore, a savior.

• "Death" vs. "life":  It is eternal death as opposed to eternal life.  The "death" here is both physical and spiritual death together in one eternal separarion from God.  The "life" is spiritual life after physical death in an eternal presense with God.  It might also be mentioned here that believers alive at Christ's return will not even experience physical death.

 

The wages, or payment, or "payback" for sin is death. Notice that the payback for sin is not morality, ethics, or good behavior. One cannot pay the wages of sin by leading a good life: the payment is eternal death, not temporal life, good or otherwise.

 

One cannot pay these wages by selecting the correct sexual orientation.  No sexual preference can work to get you to heaven nor impact to send you to hell.  The wages of sin is spiritual death, and not earthly choices, neither in sexual orientation nor any involved with other cultural and societal mores. 

 

The payback for sin is not attending church or belonging to charitable organizations and do-gooder societies.  The reason the Bible says over and over that good works cannot save you is: the wages of sin is not good works: it is death: eternal seperation from God.   

If the verse stopped here, with the dire wages staring us in the face, and had no second half of the verse to give us the other side of the eterenal coin, it would be a disheartening message indeed.  However, the verse gladly goes on to the "B" part, the other choice, the second option, and it does so with the word "but."  It is true that "the wages of sin is death, but"...(one of Scripture's greatest conjunctions)..."the free gift of God is eternal life througfh Jesus Christ our Lord." 

 

Does this mean that if God gives us the free gift of eternal life in Christ, the wages have been cancelled?  If we recieve eternal life, are the wages forgotten?  No, the wages stand firm; they do not go away; "The soul that sins, it shall die," but the wages have already been exacted.  It is Christ's death that has paid the wages of our sin. The debt has been paid, and as Christ said on the cross, "Tetelistai!" meaning in the Greek, "It is finished!"  Our receiving eternal life does not negate the wages, but rather our faith applies Christ's death to our debt of sin.  Christ paid our wages of sin. 

 

If we have eternal life, where did "death" go?  It went to Christ.  As the scriptures say, "As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ, shall all be made alive."  Again, in Corinthians, where has death gone?  It is "swallowed up" in Christ's victory. In this victory, this payment, our spiritual death disappears and becomes eternal life.  

 

The spiritual death of any sinner must be eternal. Why was Christ's substitutionary death not eternal? A human paying the wages would have to pay forever: that human could not conquer death by rising again, which would complete the payment.  Christ, being God, could and did conquer death by rising again through the power and authority of His deity, and with that resurrection, death was finished off and the full wages paid.  This is why the Scriptures say that without the resurrection we would still be in our sins, in that, with no conquest of death by rising from the dead in the power of absolute deity, the payment for sin would eternally continue to be exacted. Therefore, it was Jesus, "who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25) Jesus' death paid the wages. His resurrection certified the final payment.  "It is finished."

 

"Either-Or" verses delineate the simple truth of the question of salvation with blazing clarity.  Use them in great confidence to those who are interested in knowing, as the Phillipian jailer, asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:31)  Paul's answer was as clear as it gets: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..."  Either-Or verses take this clarity one step further by also including what happens if you don't believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. In Paul's answer, the "or" was implied: or,...If you don't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will not be saved.  

 

I love either-or verses... because I love clear and concise language. Look for them in the translation of your choice.  Make them a part of your sword of truth: they cut a fine and uncomplicated line.