“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Even though grace abounds over sin, grace is not a license to sin. This is what Paul is expressing to the saints in Romans 6 as he is reminding them that it was through their baptism that they died with Christ and died to sin so that now, being in Christ, they should live as slaves of righteousness. The wages they had earned from their sin was death, but because they were obedient from the heart, they were now free from sin and under grace in Christ.
Even after recalling what they had done to receive grace for eternal life, Paul still calls it the gift of God. How can eternal life still be called a gift if something has to be done to receive it? Because there is nothing man can give to settle the debt of sin, so God, in His grace and mercy, provides a way. That way is in Christ, and God offers the way to eternal life by telling us what must be done to be in Christ to obtain grace. Just because there is something that needs to be done, doesn’t make it any less of a gift. God never had to provide the way in the first place. He could have left us in our sins with no way out.
Praise the Lord that Jesus paid the price no one else could have paid! Make haste to do what it takes to have the wonderful gift of eternal life and teach others the way as well!
Prayer:
Merciful Lord, I recognize that there is nothing I can do to be worthy enough to receive Your gift of eternal life without Jesus. Thank You for being so gracious as to give me and others a way to atone for our sins through Him. How beautiful is Your work in baptism where by faith I was able to die with Christ, wash away my sins, and be raised to walk in a new life. And now, being in Christ, having been set free from sin by Your grace, and living as a slave of righteousness, I am made holy to receive Your gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus my Lord. Hallelujah! Praise You, Jehovah, for Your plan of salvation! Amen!
Truth in love,
Heather
Truth in Love 