How does Romans 6:23 define the consequences of sin and God's gift? Setting the Verse in Context Romans 6 moves from the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection (vv. 1-11) to practical freedom from sin’s domination (vv. 12-22). Verse 23 brings the section to a sharp, memorable contrast: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Bad News: Wages of Sin • “Wages” points to something earned—sin pays a salary. • Scripture treats sin as violation of God’s holy law (1 John 3:4). • Every person is on sin’s payroll: “for all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). The Ultimate Cost: Death Explained • Physical death entered through Adam’s disobedience (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12). • Spiritual death—separation from God—marks every unbeliever (Ephesians 2:1). • Eternal death—final judgment—awaits those still in their sins (Revelation 20:14-15). • Death, then, is not merely an event but a condition tracing back to sin’s “wages.” Sin’s Payday Illustrated Elsewhere • Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) fall dead for deceit. • Israel’s wilderness generation dies short of Canaan (Numbers 14:29-35). • These snapshots underline sin’s lethal certainty. But God: Introducing the Gift • “But” pivots the entire verse from earned death to unearned life. • “Gift” (Greek charisma) underscores grace—something freely bestowed, not merited (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Nature of the Gift • Its source: “God,” the offended party, initiates the remedy (Romans 5:8). • Its content: “eternal life”—life without end and of a new quality (John 17:3). • Its cost: purchased by Christ’s blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). • Its exclusivity: found “in Christ Jesus our Lord” alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Eternal Life in Christ Jesus • Possessed now—believers “have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-12). • Perfected later—future resurrection assures bodily immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). How to Receive the Gift • Repent—turn from sin’s service (Acts 3:19). • Believe—place faith in Jesus’ finished work (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). • Rest—trust that eternal life is secured by Christ, not human effort (Titus 3:5-7). Living in Light of Romans 6:23 • Gratitude replaces entitlement—we deserved death, yet received life. • Holiness becomes practical—freed from sin’s mastery, we now “present [ourselves] to God” (Romans 6:13). • Hope fuels endurance—eternal life reorients trials, priorities, and mission. |
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