“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Scripture uses many metaphors to help us understand the reality and effect of sin in the world. In Romans 6:23, Paul compares sin to “work”: what is due to us for our sin -- its “wages” -- is to receive death as our paycheck. “Death” is not merely the physical outcome, but also the little deaths that our sins produce through its consequences. Yet God’s grace does not leave us there- there is a glorious and contrary truth to our deathly situation! Paul declares that eternal life is a gift, not a wage. We earned our death and could never ‘un-earn’ it, but have received a gift we can neither earn nor lose. The gift that comes to us in isn’t an object but a relationship we embrace by the presence of Jesus with us. The gift that comes to us is not “from” Jesus, but “in” Jesus. Paul wants us to know that the gift cannot be received apart from the giver- the gift is “in” the giver! If you are experiencing distance from God this week, remember that diving back into communion with Jesus is a gift we have been given- and it’s free!

Questions: 

1. In what ways do you experience the real life “wages” of your sin drawing you away from God and into little “deaths”? 

2. How does remembering the gift of eternal life in Jesus compel you to be with Him today to experience the gift?

Prayer:

Father in heaven, I acknowledge that the wages of sin in my life bring about death in many different forms. But I thank you that in Jesus Christ, I have eternal life here and now. Help me to embrace the free gift in Jesus, not separating it from His presence, and to dwell deeply with Him all day long.

By Pastor Devin Deuell