I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, — Deuteronomy 30:19

I set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life. That's God's urgent appeal, not a bare command. God takes no pleasure in anyone's death—turn and live. If Jesus hadn't spoken, people wouldn't be guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse. Contrasts the wages of sin (death) with the free gift of God (eternal life in Christ Jesus).