Wages of Sin is death (Romans 6:23)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. (Romans 6:23)

This is one the many misunderstood verses of the Bible, and many quote this verse to deny the concept of judgement and hell. Does the verse really tell us that the sinners will not be thrown in the hell rather they will die?

The word “wages” (opsonia) in the original language is a word from “cooked meat,” or “provisions.” It means, “provision money,” or supplies paid to an army. The soldiers earned their wages and were paid in daily provisions of food. Sin pays wages in full, without any deductions.

I have heard many making this excuse that Jesus is love and in the end He will forgive us. How can He be cruel to us, He will not punish us but will forgive us out of His love. But is it true or is this another deception of satan that people give in to?

God has made man speechless here in Romans 6:23. No man can make any excuse, because we reap what we sow. Therefore, the word wages is an appropriate word for what we do in this world. If we follow satan and live in sin, then our wages are death and hell. But if we live in Jesus our wages are everlasting life and heaven.

If we got what we deserved we would get death. The death is eternal separation from God in hell

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (Luke 16:24-25)

Ultimately death involves separation of man’s spirit from his body, and the separation from God. It is an eternal separation for all who reject Christ. The death penalty is the result of sin. Death is the out come of sin. Had there been no sin there would have been no death (Rom. 6:16, 21, 23; Gen. 2:16-17; Ezek. 18:4).

When we respond by faith to the saving work of Christ He completely reverses the consequences. The believer is “now . . . set free from sin” and its eternal consequences. The end of sin is death. The end of salvation by faith is eternal life.

Now coming to the second part of the verse but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD

The “free gift” (charisma), “grace gift,” is an undeserved gift, of something given to a man unearned and unmerited or in other words it is a favor and favor is always out of turn and unmerited. It is something given to sinful man from God’s grace. It is something we could never have achieved, or attained to by our own efforts. It is unearnable. It is the opposite of “wages.”

The “free gift” God gives us is “eternal life” (Jn. 3:16, 36). Eternal life is a gift that cannot be earned (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

Death and life in this context are in contrast to one another, and both are eternal. God’s final judgment on sin will be meted out at the last day. Eternal life is the life of God’s children in heaven. Eternal death is called the “second death” in Revelation, and is accompanied by eternal punishment.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

Therefore, we will be paid our wages on the judgement say for living in sin, selfishness, evil, rebellion, and disobedience to God and the wages are everlasyting death (separation from God) and Hell.

God bless you all

Be not deceived. God is not mocked: or what so ever a man soweth that he also reaps. Gal 6:7.

I remember a story that I learnt from one of my aunts and she used to tell us by saying, "wages of sin is death". The story goes like this

Once, a merchant was traveling with huge amount of money. On his way, three thieves attacked him, killed him and took away the money. They went to a deserted place. They wanted to divide it after pacifying their hunger. One thief went to near by hotel to get some food. He planned to kill the other two by poisoning the food so that he can keep all the money for himself.

The two thieves planned to kill the third one so that his share also can be enjoyed by them. When he arrived from hotel the other two thieves killed him and happily ate the food. They end up in dying as the food was already poisoned. The thieves killed the merchant with malice and so they were also perished.

God bless