For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Some of the most important verses in all the Bible are found in Romans – verses 3:23, 5:8, 6:11, and 8:28. One of those highly significant verses is right here, 6:23.
Romans 6:23 is the gospel in a nutshell. Here we see the essential problem (sin), the result of the problem (death), God’s solution (Christ), the outcome Christ gives (eternal life), and the way to get this life (as a free gift).
The poignancy of the verse is brought out by three contrasts: sin and God, death and life, wages and free gift.
If there is just one verse to share with a friend on how one gets into heaven, this might be the best one.
The wages, or penalty, of sin is death. This is spiritual death or separation from God. Because of our sin, we were spiritually dead, separated from God, life, heaven, and all that is good. We were without God, without hope, without life.
But God intervened and sent his Son to rescue us. God gives us the most incredible offer imaginable: the free gift of life in Christ Jesus.
How do we get eternal life, the life of God? We receive a gift. We don’t earn it. We don’t work for it. We don’t pay back the gift. We just receive it. We come with empty hands and receive a gift. Incredible! Incredible, but true.
Here’s the gospel in a nutshell.