One of the first verses of the Bible I recall memorizing as a child was Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This verse is part of the trilogy of passages that make up what is called the Romans Road to Salvation (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9).
Romans 6:23 is an interesting study in contrasts. Consider the following dissimilarities –
The idea in the verse is that of a person going to work and doing a job. At the end of the day they receive their wages – a day’s pay for a day’s work. They are given what they have earned and therefore rightly deserve.
Sin pays wages too, and the pay is death – moral, spiritual, and eternal. The person who faces eternity separated from God cannot complain of unfair treatment. They are only receiving what they have earned and rightly deserve.
If a person really wants what they deserve – eternal death – God will give that to them as their just wages. On the other hand, if a person really wants what they do not deserve – eternal life – God will give that to them as a free gift made possible through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 tells us that nobody goes to hell inadvertently. Hell is earned. This verse also tells us that nobody goes to heaven accidentally. Eternal life is not earned but it is given to all who ask – compliments of God’s amazing grace.
Pastor Todd Weston
Romans 6:23 is an interesting study in contrasts. Consider the following dissimilarities –
- wages – gift
- sin – God
- death – eternal life
The idea in the verse is that of a person going to work and doing a job. At the end of the day they receive their wages – a day’s pay for a day’s work. They are given what they have earned and therefore rightly deserve.
Sin pays wages too, and the pay is death – moral, spiritual, and eternal. The person who faces eternity separated from God cannot complain of unfair treatment. They are only receiving what they have earned and rightly deserve.
If a person really wants what they deserve – eternal death – God will give that to them as their just wages. On the other hand, if a person really wants what they do not deserve – eternal life – God will give that to them as a free gift made possible through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 tells us that nobody goes to hell inadvertently. Hell is earned. This verse also tells us that nobody goes to heaven accidentally. Eternal life is not earned but it is given to all who ask – compliments of God’s amazing grace.
Pastor Todd Weston
