Pastor James W. Fisher Saint Paul Baptist Church Inc. 1309 Larkin Street, Greensboro, NC 27406 www.stpaulbcinc.orh. 1. NASB E-Prime We are sinners, and so we sinned against God, earning the just wrath of a holy God for our sin against him and his kingdom. Matthew Poole's Commentary q.d. So the word is interpreted in the Glossary, , "soldiers' wages"; and so it is used by the Jewish writers, being adopted into their language; of a king, they say (a), that he should not multiply to himself gold and silver more than to pay which they (b) interpret by , "the hire of armies", or the wages of soldiers for a whole year, who go in and out with him all the year; so that it denotes wages due, and paid after a campaign is ended, and service is over; and, as here used, suggests, that when men have been all their days in the service of sin, and have fought under the banners of it, the wages they will earn, and the reward that will be given them, will be death: and it is frequently observed by the Jewish doctors (c), that , "there is no death without sin": sin is the cause of death, and death the fruit and effect of sin: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So the word is interpreted in the Glossary, , "soldiers' wages"; and so it is used by the Jewish writers, being adopted into their language; of a king, they say (a), that he should not multiply to himself gold and silver more than to pay which they (b) interpret by , "the hire of armies", or the wages of soldiers for a whole year, who go in and out with him all the year; so that it denotes wages due, and paid after a campaign is ended, and service is over; and, as here used, suggests, that when men have been all their days in the service of sin, and have fought under the banners of it, the wages they will earn, and the reward that will be given them, will be death: and it is frequently observed by the Jewish doctors (c), that , "there is no death without sin": sin is the cause of death, and death the fruit and effect of sin: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Once a person sins, his debt is absolutely irredeemable by anyone or any action except through death. Not a pain will be inflicted on the sinner which he does not deserve. work (668 pp. Death, then, is what we "earn" as a result of committing sin. (Hughes, R. K. Romans: Righteousness from heaven.Preaching the Word. They are so simple and so basic that you must believe in them. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. In other words, our liberty, our freedom, is progressive. 37. fol. Let the papists (if they can) reconcile this text to their distinction of mortal and venial sins, and to their doctrine of the meritoriousness of good works. 2d, The knowledge of sin by the law, a sense of God’s wrath, inward death, Romans 3:20. No man can conceive a more dreadful doom than for himself to be treated forever just as he deserves to be. 70. 4. 1. Amen!" (5) To stimulate this holy rivalry, let us often "look back to the rock whence we were hewn, the hole of the pit whence we were digged," in search of the enduring advantages and permanent satisfactions which the service of Sin yielded; and when we find to our "shame" only gall and wormwood, let us follow a godless life to its proper "end," until, finding ourselves in the territories of "death," we are fain to hasten back to survey the service of Righteousness, that new Master of all believers, and find Him leading us sweetly into abiding "holiness," and landing us at length in "everlasting life" (Ro 6:20-22). All grace is the gift of God, and is freely given, or otherwise it would not be grace; particularly the justifying righteousness of Christ is the gift of God; and the rather this may be meant here, since the apostle had been treating of it so largely before, and had so often, in the preceding chapter, called it the gift of righteousness, the free gift, and gift by grace, and justification by it, the justification of life, because it entitles to eternal life, as here: it may be said to issue in it; for between justification and glorification there is a sure and close connection; they that are justified by the righteousness of Christ, are certainly glorified, or enjoy eternal life; and though this may be principally intended here, yet is not to be understood to the exclusion of other gifts of grace, which have the same connection and issue: thus, for instance, faith is the gift of God, and not of a man's self, and he that has it, has eternal life, and shall, Or ever possess it; repentance is a free grace gift, it is a grant from the Lord, and it is unto life and salvation; and on whomsoever the grace of God is bestowed, so as to believe in Christ for righteousness, and truly repent of sin, these shall partake of eternal glory. 23 For the wages of sin is death, It is crucial to see that the … for the end of those things is death. And this gift is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:6-23 New International Version (NIV) 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[ a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Read Romans 6:1,2) The apostle is very full in pressing the necessity of holiness. He will suffer only what shall be the just due of sin. Tzeror Hammor, fol. He will have no one to take his part against God. Coming on the heels of Paul’s discussion of baptism in Romans 6:1-11, our passage for the Second Sunday after Pentecost serves as a corrective to a potential misunderstanding. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). Death is thus called the wages of sin, not because it is an arbitrary, undeserved appointment, but(1) Because it is its proper desert. Galatians 2:10 Greeting 1:1-7. v1 From Paul. Commentary on Romans Rosscup : This is a much-respected 746-pp. 4. Hebrews : 4. Sinners are but ploughing iniquity, sowing vanity, and reaping the same. Sin is represented as a king, a mighty monarch, a tyrannical prince; sinners are his subjects and vassals, his servants and soldiers, who fight under him, and for him, and all the wages they must expect from him is death. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. He will have his reward. Proverbs 13:6 The penalty of sin is meted out on a regular, just as wages are. We inherit mortal life through Adam, but God gives His Spirit to endow eternal life on His faithful and obedient children. Wages; the word properly signifies victuals. Sabbat, fol. Leviticus : As applied to sin, it means that death is what sin deserves; what will be its proper reward. By so doing they will "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men," secure their own peace, carry out the end of their calling, and give substantial glory to Him that loved them. Yet the punishment of the wicked is said to be eternal. Grace is a gift of God, and it is not something that happens only once but constantly. K.J.V. Scripture reading: Romans 6:23. 3d, The revelation of the righteousness of God in Christ, through the gospel, Romans 3:21. 1. (4) Christians, in the service of God, should emulate their former selves in the zeal and steadiness with which they served sin, and the length to which they went in it (Ro 6:19). God wants us to begin to receive His salvation right here and now by living the abundant life. But "eternal life" is in no sense or degree the wages of our righteousness; we do nothing whatever to earn or become entitled to it, and never can: it is therefore, in the most absolute sense, "THE GIFT OF God." All their salvation will be ascribed to him; and they will celebrate his mercy and grace forever. (Schleusner); and thence, it means the pay of the Roman soldier, because formerly it was the custom to pay the soldier in these things. Though hampered by lack of any outline to relate things, the work has much gold if one has time … Christ says, "I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly." Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Romans 6:23: Genesis 2:1-3 Ecclesiastes 9:11 Romans 6:23 A wage is payment for work. When confronted by such scriptures that cannot be broken, our only possible conclusion is that the sin-debt that each person owes to God absolutely cannot be worked off. In contrast with death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Genesis 3:4 God looks at these things in an interesting way. Does Scripture Allow for Killing in Self-Defense? (3-4) The illustration of the believer’s death to sin: baptism. He was especially noted for his commitment to non-violent ways, his self-discipline and denial, as well as his championing of the underclass within the caste system. (b) Jarchi & Bartenora in ib. Scripture: Romans 6:8-10, Romans 6:23, Colossians 3:13-14, John 20:5-7, Matthew 28:5-6 (view more) (view less) Denomination: Christian Church What It Means To Live Free In Jesus Christ Series This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Luke 16:19-31 He varies the phrase on purpose, to show that we attain not eternal life by our own merits, our own works or worthiness, but by the gift or grace of God; for which cause he also addeth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Romans 7:9 Romans 3:25 Like the penalties of sin, freedom or salvation does not come all at once. (2) The fundamental principle of Gospel obedience is as original as it is divinely rational; that "we are set free from the law in order to keep it, and are brought graciously under servitude to the law in order to be free" (Ro 6:14, 15, 18). As the laborer is worthy of his hire, and feels it to be his due—his own of right—so is death the due of sin, the wages the sinner has well wrought for, his own. 44. Leviticus : All grace is the gift of God, and is freely given, or otherwise it would not be grace; particularly the justifying righteousness of Christ is the gift of God; and the rather this may be meant here, since the apostle had been treating of it so largely before, and had so often, in the preceding chapter, called it the gift of righteousness, the free gift, and gift by grace, and justification by it, the justification of life, because it entitles to eternal life, as here: it may be said to issue in it; for between justification and glorification there is a sure and close connection; they that are justified by the righteousness of Christ, are certainly glorified, or enjoy eternal life; and though this may be principally intended here, yet is not to be understood to the exclusion of other gifts of grace, which have the same connection and issue: thus, for instance, faith is the gift of God, and not of a man's self, and he that has it, has eternal life, and shall, Or ever possess it; repentance is a free grace gift, it is a grant from the Lord, and it is unto life and salvation; and on whomsoever the grace of God is bestowed, so as to believe in Christ for righteousness, and truly repent of sin, these shall partake of eternal glory. The Romans of old paid their soldiers with provision and victuals in recompence of their service; afterward they gave them money, but still the old term was retained, and now it is used to signify any reward or stipend whatsoever. Leviticus 4:20 Version. … Matthew 23:23 But. We have been freed from sin. (11) Death is the punishment due to sin, but we are sanctified freely, to everlasting life. (1) Because it is its proper desert. (2) The fundamental principle of Gospel obedience is as original as it is divinely rational; that "we are set free from the law in order to keep it, and are brought graciously under servitude to the law in order to be free" (Ro 6:14, 15, 18). As His holy justice demanded, He could allow the death of another to substitute for the payment of sin for the sinner who wanted access to Him and met the conditions. If a man pays this wage for his own sins, he dies and the chance to gain access to God and eternal life is lost. From ὄψον cooked meat, and later, generally, provisions. Darby is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Is death: by death here we must understand not only temporal, but also and more especially eternal death, as appears by the opposition it hath to eternal life: this is the just and true hire of sin. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[ a] Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 13:45-46 Young's Barnes's Romans 6:23 Bible Commentary For the wages of sin - The word translated here "wages" ὀψώνια opsōnia properly denotes what is purchased to be eaten with bread, as fish, flesh, vegetables, etc. 55. (4) they who are saved will be raised to heaven, not because they merit it, but by the rich and sovereign grace of God. Would God make the same determination? The gift of God is eternal life; he doth not say that eternal life is the wages of righteousness, but that it is the gracious or free gift of God. Genesis 3:1-4 He could simply let each person die for his sins, He could, like an indulgent grandfather, overlook. Do you believe in the doctrines in Hebrews 6:1-2? Salvation is not something that we receive at the end of our life. Genesis 3:4 (2) This is the wages of sin, because, like the pay of the soldier, it is just what was threatened, Ezekiel 18:4, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Genesis 2:7 The answer is found in the second half of verse 23. David, p. 17. The Choice of Life. That would make Romans 6:23 a lie, and it’s not a lie, it’s the truth. Verses 1-11 could be understood as pointing to full possession of all that God gives. In view of this, who that hath tasted that the Lord is gracious can refrain from saying, "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. The apostle John defines sin as the breaking of the law (I John 3:4). See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Ye that read or hear these words, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live!" Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) “fought” for the freedom of enslaved and oppressed peoples for over thirty years and is rightly recognized as one of the world’s great leaders in this regard. You are going to be called to stand upon them in the midst of battle. Cohen de Lara, Ir. It is a wonderful concept. I find this season helpful in my spiritual journey. Not a pain will be inflicted on the sinner which he does not deserve. 115. Luke : David C. Grabbe God could see—in His wisdom He knew—that man would sin. (3) As this most momentous of all transitions in the history of a man is wholly of God's free grace, the change should never be thought, spoken, or written of but with lively thanksgiving to Him who so loved us (Ro 6:17). For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 176. And as the one is the conscious sense of the hopeless loss of all blissful existence, so the other is the conscious possession and enjoyment of all that constitutes a rational creature's highest "life" for evermore (Ro 6:23). Certain effect of it several articles about Ash Wednesday and Lent on this blog over years. This when we consider the Word `` wages. that they might have life and it! 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