I. The Word: Romans 6:23

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

1. What’s the best thing you have ever earned in life? What was your response after receiving what you were owed?
2. What’s the best gift you have ever been given? What was your response upon receipt of the gift?

Throughout Paul’s writings, he does an excellent job of unpacking Truth; and today’s verse is no exception. The principle of “getting out what you put in”, has been exalted in human civilization for a many number of years. It is what motivates us in most cases to be our best, or in rare cases, to do our worst. However, when it comes to receiving a gift, this principle becomes a hindrance. What it takes to receive the gift, requires you to put a stop to any and all activity, in order to receive it; save the one necessary action to take hold of the product, that you had no active part in producing. This is a difficult fact to accept, but Paul uses these easy-to-understand examples, to make a significant point.

In the previous verses, Paul tells us that our sinful acts earn us death, which is not limited to death in: relationships, opportunities, desire for God, etc. It is quite humbling to be reminded, that before making Christ my Lord and Savior, most of what I called just “living life”, actually made me a dead man walking. In today’s text, we see one of my favorite conjunctions in all of the Bible, “but” (“but the free gift of God”). With one word, God changes our narrative; we now have a way to truly live, because of His kindness and generosity. His free gift is none other than His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to live and die, to bring us into eternal life (ref. John 17:3).

Belief in Jesus means we no longer have to fear anything in this life, nor death itself. Now, all of this may sound familiar, but if carelessly handled, this wonderful gift can be easily taken for granted, and replaced with: self-righteousness, pride, lust, laziness, i.e. sin. Daily set your heart and mind on our life- giving God, and follow His leading, as an act of gratitude for what He has done, and for who He is.

Psalm 116:12-13 (NLT) – “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.”