The biblical phrase “the wages of sin is death” can be found in Romans 6:23, which states “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This verse succinctly captures a key teaching that runs throughout Scripture – that sin leads to death. But thankfully, God offers salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. In this article, we will explore the meaning behind this important phrase.
The Wages or Payment for Sin is Death
To properly understand this phrase, we first need to examine what “wages” and “sin” mean in this context. In the original Greek, “wages” (transliterated opsonion) refers to payment or compensation for work done. It is used here to convey that death is the payment or natural consequence of sin. Sin is missing God’s perfect mark for how we should live. It is rebelling against God and going our own way apart from Him (Isaiah 53:6). The “death” referred to here includes physical death, which entered the world through Adam’s sin (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12). But even more so, it refers to spiritual death – being separated from God who is the source of all life. So in summary, this phrase teaches that the payment or natural result of sin is death, both physical and spiritual.
Sin Leads to Death Because God is Holy
Why does sin lead to death? Because God is completely holy and righteous, there is a radical opposition between God and sin (Habakkuk 1:13). God did not create humans to sin, rebel and choose death. But when mankind sinned and turned away from God’s perfect ways, the just penalty was death and separation from the holy Creator (Genesis 2:16-17, Romans 6:23). God cannot tolerate or look upon sin because of His perfect purity and justice. He is of “purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13). Therefore, the wages or just penalty for sin is death and separation from God.
Physical Death Entered the World Through Adam’s Sin
When God created the first humans, Adam and Eve, He warned them not to eat of the forbidden tree or they would surely die (Genesis 2:16-17). Yet they rebelled against God’s command and ate the fruit in violation of His clear word (Genesis 3:6). As God foretold, death entered the human experience both physically and spiritually on that tragic day. As Romans 5:12 explains, “sin came into the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” Because of Adam’s sin, all mankind inherits a sinful nature from birth and is under the curse of Genesis 3. Physical decay, sickness and eventual bodily death afflict all peoples as a consequence. Death spread to all humanity because all have sinned against their Creator.
Spiritual Death: Separation from God
As dreadful as physical death is, spiritual death poses an even greater problem. For beyond physical death awaits judgement (Hebrews 9:27). The “second death” (Revelation 20:14) entails being separated from God for eternity in hell. This is spiritual death in its fullest sense – eternal separation from God and all His goodness. No person with sin can stand righteous before a holy God or enter His holy presence. Therefore, sin bars mankind from the kingdom of God. The ultimate wages for unforgiven sin is existence forever apart from God. But praise God that spiritual death and separation from Him need not be permanent. Keep reading!
All Have Sinned and Fall Short of God’s Glory
God’s word makes clear that every human being sins and faces spiritual death. Romans 3:23 explains “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” From the Garden of Eden down to today, all people have rebelled against God’s perfect ways. Whether through willful disobedience, covetousness, hatred, impurity, pride or countless other sins, no person measures up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness (Romans 3:10-12). No matter how diligently we try to please God in our own strength, we inevitably fall short. Our sin keeps us from reflecting God’s glory and drives a wedge between the Creator and His prized creation.
Christ Offers Salvation from Sin’s Wages
While the wages of sin is death, the free gift of God provides the solution. Romans 6:23 goes on to declare “…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As sinners, we could never earn salvation. But in His great mercy, God extends the free gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the penalty of death that we deserved by dying on the cross for our sins (Romans 5:8). And He broke the power of sin by rising victorious over death! (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). When we turn from our sins (repent) and believe in Christ, we receive forgiveness of sins, new spiritual life, and the promise of eternal life with God (John 3:16). We are no longer slaves to sin, but become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18). The wages of sin were fully paid by Christ’s sacrifice. And He now imparts new life to all who trust in Him!
We Must Repent and Believe to Be Saved
How then can we be saved from sin’s deadly consequences? We must repent, turning away from sin, self, and darkness. And we must believe in Jesus Christ, trusting wholly in His sinless life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection as the only means of salvation (Acts 3:19). When we surrender our lives to Him, He forgives our sins, grants us new spiritual life, and liberates us from bondage to sin. We are presently saved from the power of sin and one day will be fully saved from its presence when we enter eternity with God. But only those who repent of their sins and believe in Christ receive this saving grace. There is no other way to salvation and eternal life except through faith in Jesus (John 14:6).
We Must Have Faith Like Abraham
The apostle Paul in Romans 4 points to Abraham as an example of saving faith. Abraham believed God’s promise that in his offspring all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). His hope was in the seed, Jesus Christ, who would come in the future. Though far from perfect, Abraham trusted God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3). And he was called a friend of God (James 2:23)! We too must have faith for salvation. Saving faith is more than mental assent to the facts of Christ’s death and resurrection. It entails repenting of sin and placing our complete confidence in who Jesus is and what He accomplished for us on the cross. We must rely on Christ’s righteousness, not our own works, to provide right standing before God. Like Abraham, we must believe God’s promises to forgive us, grant us eternal life, and give us the Holy Spirit when we trust in His Son.
We Can Have Victory Over Sin’s Wages
For those who repent and believe, Jesus promises the victory over sin’s deadly wages! Though we were once slaves to sin, we have been freed from sin and become slaves of God (Romans 6:22). Sin no longer has mastery over us. The Holy Spirit empowers us to say no to sin and reflect God’s goodness (Galatians 5:16-17). Eternal life begins in the present the moment we surrender our lives to Christ! While we wait for the future fulfillment of our salvation, we can experience new life in the Spirit, freedom from sin’s bondage, and the hope of heaven (Titus 3:7). The wages of sin remains death for the unbelieving. But all who trust in Christ will experience resurrection from death to life and be spared the second death. What amazing salvation from the wages we deserved!
We Await the Future Completion of Salvation
When a person trusts in Christ, they are saved and received eternal life right away. But the full benefits of this salvation are awaiting completion in the future. Yes, we experience new life now, but one day we will gain perfect freedom from sin’s presence and total restoration of our bodies and souls. Romans 8:23-24 explains that believers eagerly await the redemption of our bodies from decay and death. Philippians 3:20-21 tells us that we await a Savior who will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body. 1 John 3:2 declares that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him. Eternal life has begun, but so much more awaits! On that great day, we will enter fully into the life we already tasted and be liberated forever from sin’s dreadful wages. What a glorious salvation!
Salvation Results in Eternal Life with Christ
This free gift of eternal life is not simply about existing forever. Rather, it means experiencing life in its fullest sense in perfect relationship with Jesus Christ. John 17:3 defines eternal life as knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ, the ones who are truly eternal. Through faith in Christ, we gain intimate personal knowledge of and fellowship with our loving Creator. We join in the sacred communion shared by the Father, Son, and Spirit from all eternity. Nothing compares to knowing and walking with the Lord God Almighty! Eternal life brings unlimited joy, blessings, beauty, love and perfection with God. And it all comes freely through simple childlike faith in Jesus. The wages of sin would lock us out of God’s presence forever. But by God’s grace through Christ, the door is now wide open to eternal life!
The gospel is the power of God for salvation to believers
The good news of Christ’s death and resurrection provides the way for sinners to be saved from the wages of sin. Romans 1:16 declares that the gospel “…is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The gospel is not advice about how we can earn salvation. It is the merciful message that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The gospel calls us to simply trust in what Jesus accomplished through His cross and empty tomb. When we believe the gospel, we receive forgiveness, new spiritual life, and the promise of eternity with God. The gospel offers salvation freely. The gospel gives hope to the hopeless. The gospel provides a way out of darkness into light. Praise God for this powerful gospel – the only antidote for the deadly venom called sin!
