The Nugget:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
My Comment:
Wages are what we may earn. A gift, especially the gift of God, is freely given. You cannot earn eternal life. Eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. What kind of death does Paul reference here when he writes “the wages of sin is death”? As in Genesis 2:17, the death referred to is primarily spiritual death, secondarily physical death, and ultimately the Second Death (Revelation 20:6). By no means is the Second Death annihilation! Annihilation has been discussed thoroughly on this site before, and soundly refuted. Upon resurrection (John 5:29) the bodies of both saved and unsaved are restored to life, are rejoined to their spirits which are continuously conscious entities which do not die, but experience their ultimate future reward for all eternity (Matthew 25:46). It is by far the best thing to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ by believing on Him. The other option is really unthinkable and permanently unpleasant.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1282 for Romans 6:23.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1303 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 6:23.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
Romans 6:23. For the wages. or, rations. Whatever is bought to be eaten with bread. As such condiments were given to soldiers instead of pay, wages (Gr. opsōnion) came to mean military pay (Liddon). Gr. opsōnion (S#3800g). ver. 21. Ro *1:32. *+5:12. *7:5. *8:13. Ge +*2:17. +*3:19. Pr 10:16. Is 3:11. Ezk +*18:4, 20. Mt **25:46. Mk *9:43, 44. Lk 3:14g,n. 1 C +**6:9, 10. 9:7g. 15:56. 2 C 11:8g. Ga 3:10. **6:7, 8. He *11:25. Ja **1:15. 2 P 2:15. Re +*21:8. of sin. Pr 10:16. 1 C 15:56. is death. Death (Gr. thanatos, S#2288g) is not exclusively physical, but the eternal death, compare ver. 22, where eternal life is its antithesis (Liddon). ver. 21. Ro 8:6. Ge 6:17. Nu 27:3. but. T#1010x. Pr +7:27 (T#1009x). %**15:24. 2 C +4:12 (T#1007x). the gift. Ro 2:7. 4:4, 5. *5:15-17, 21. 8:32. 11:29. Ps 37:18. Pr 19:6. Is 54:17. Zc 3:4. Lk 12:32. Jn **3:14-17, 36. +*4:10, 14, 15. **5:24, 39, 40. *6:27, 32, 33, *39, *40, 50-58, 68. **10:28. *17:2, 3. Ac 8:17. 1 C +7:7g. 2 C 9:15. Ep *2:8. T *1:2. Ja *1:17. 1 P +*1:3, 4. 1 J 2:25. **5:11, 12. eternal. Gr. aionios, Mt +18:8. Ro +2:7. Ps 133:3. Mt 19:16. Mk 10:17, 28. Jn 3:15. *10:28. He 9:15. life. Gr. zōē (S#2222g, Lk 10:25). Ro 8:13. Pr 12:8. Mt *10:28n. +**25:46n. Mk %12:44 (S#979g, bios). Lk +*20:38. 1 C 15:21. 1 T 1:16. 2 T 1:1. through. ver. 11. Jn **5:23. Ac 10:43. 15:11. 2 C 1:20. Jesus Christ. Ep 2:6. 1 J 5:11, 12, 20. our Lord. Ac +*10:36.
rom 6.23 for the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of god is eternal life through
jesus christ our lord. this is the charge against mankind,but its more than a charge,
it is a verdict-gods verdict. mans only hope is to turn to the saviour!
what do other scriptures say?
1. ezk 18.4 behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also
the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
2. jn 3.18 he that believeth on him is not condemned but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name
of the only begotten son of god.
3. rom 1.18 for the wrath of god is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness
4. rom 3.9 what then? are we better than they? no, in no wise:
for we have b4 proved all men under sin.
5. gal 3.10 for as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written,cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which
are written in the book of the law to do them.
6. gal 3.22 but the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise
by faith of jesus christ might be given to them that believe.
7. revelation 20.15 and whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire.
8. eph 2.8-9 for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of god: vs 9 not of works, lest any man should boast.
9. jn 3.36 he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not
the son shall not see life; but the wrath of god abideth on him.
10. jn 5.24 verily,verily, i say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death to life.