“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Paul has been arguing for a new and better life in Christ using death vs. life and slave vs. free analogies. Here he boils down his argument to this succinct summary of the two conditions of humanity.
The word translated wage historically refers to the compensation Roman soldiers received for their service. This use of the word is striking as it refers to the compensation one receives for his service to sin—death! And not physical death only.
As Paul has indicated throughout his argument and by contrasting it with eternal life here, it is clear he is speaking of eternal death—eternal separation from God (Luke 16:24-25). Serving sin leads to an unholy, shameful life and the reward, the fruit, the wage, is death.
But the free gift of God (charisma = unmerited favor that can only be received by faith in Christ Jesus and not by the works of the Law) is shamelessness and sanctification which leads to eternal life.
It is notable that he uses the expression, our Lord, in reference to Christ Jesus. His whole argument has been based on who we serve, who we make our Lord (kurios), Sin or Jesus Christ.
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