For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus Our Lord.
Paul's letter to the Romans Chapter 6 verse 23NIV
An earned Evil
- Why does this verse begin with "for"?
To conclude that serving Sin ends with death (verse 20, 21) and that the Christian has been set free from sin (verse 22) to serve God, which results in holiness and eternal life.
- What question at the start of this chapter led to the explanation of the two ways and the two ends?
The question: "Shall we go on sinning, so that grace may increase?" (Verse 1)
- What is meant by the word "Wages"?
The reward given for work done.
- Who is the paying "person"?
Sin
- What is the difference between the "person" Sin and the acts of sinning?
The "person" Sin refers to our nature, we are sinners by nature, born from Adam
The acts of sinning speak of what we do, our conduct.
- What "wages" does sin pay?
Death
- What three kinds of death are spoken of in Scripture?
Physical Death - separation of soul from body
Spiritual Death - separation of soul from God
Eternal Death - separation of soul and body from God for all eternity.
- What conclusion can we draw from this?
That by nature and conduct we have earned physical, spiritual and eternal misery.
An offered Blessing
- What double contrast is introduced by the word "but"?
The contrast between "wages" and "gift," and between "death" and "eternal life"
- What is meant by the word "gift"?
Something freely (no strings attached) given, without being earned or deserved.
- What is the "gift of God"?
Eternal Life
- What three kinds of life are spoken of in Scripture?
Physical life - soul united with body
Spiritual life - soul in union with God
Eternal Life - soul and body in union with God for all eternity
- What is the connection between spiritual life and eternal life?
Spiritual life begins on earth and progresses and ends in eternal life.
- In what sense may we have eternal life here?
We get eternal life as God's gift in the renewing of our souls (being born again), which finds its completion in the redemption of soul and body.
- What do we need to do to receive this gift?
Nothing but to accept it!
- What does this part of the text teach us?
That we cannot earn or work for our salvation, but that God gives it to us freely.
The Condition of Life
- Where does God's gift of eternal life reside? In Christ Jesus our Lord
- What is meant by this?
Eternal life is only obtained through union with our Lord Jesus Christ, who made this blessing possible through His sacrifice.
- What is the condition of those who receive God's gift?
They are slaves - servants - of God.
- How does eternal life relate to good works?
Holiness is a benefit of our new state as slaves of God. (verse 22) Good works does not make us God's servants, but being God's servants will make us do good works.
Text Eleven
Adapted from:
"The one hundred texts of the society for Irish Church Missions."
T.C. Hammond, Dublin. 1939