What is the ultimate consequence of sin? Is it a guilty conscience? Is it public embarrassment? Is it broken relationships, hurting others, or perhaps even loss? It could be all or part of these but are any of these really the ultimate consequence for sin?
The reality is that there is only one ultimate consequence for sin, and that is separation from God. When we sin, we remove ourselves from the presence of God because He is holy and cannot be in the presence of sin. When we choose to sin, we walk away from our relationship with God, and we choose to glorify ourselves.
Thankfully, God is merciful and just, and He extends His grace to us, with forgiveness, because He loves us and because of Jesus' sacrifice. God calls His children to be in relationship with Him, and sin is the opposite of that relationship.