Romans 6:21-23

Passage

Therefore, what kind of fruit were you having at that time?  Upon which you are now ashamed, for the end of those things is death.  But now, after being set free from sin and after being enslaved to God, you all have your fruit into sanctification and the end is eternal life.  For the wages of sin are death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul asks about the fruit that is born in the life under sin.  Sure, there are effects.  There is fruit of sinfulness.  The problem is, none of the fruit is good!  Sin bears fruit, it just is rotten fruit!  Paul is reminding us that when we live in sin, we are “free from righteousness.”  But the fruit of such a life is rotten and the end of such a life is death.  It’s not worth the long-term consequences to live in short-term self-gratification.

Where have you experienced fruit from a life of sin?  How was it rotten in your life? 

Second Thought:

Paul contrasts the fruit of enslavement to sin and the fruit of enslavement to God.  The contrast cannot be any starker.  One leads to death.  The other leads to eternal life.  It is clear.  Slavery to sin leads to a lifestyle of disobedience, which leads to death.  Slavery to God leads to a lifestyle of sanctification, which is a process that leads to eternal life.  Eternal life is the end, goal, and completion of the process of sanctification.  We are not perfect here and now, but through the process of sanctification we will arrive at the goal: eternal life.

Where is sanctification happening in your life today?  Why is it important to keep in mind that sanctification is a process?  Why is it important to remember that sanctification begins with being enslaved to God?

Third Thought:

Paul speaks about wages in life.  When we are enslaved to sin, we earn death.  We deserve death.  We are fallen human beings.  However, Paul also speaks of a free gift from God.  While we earn death, we also are given a gift of life in Christ Jesus.  Eternal life is not a wage, it is a gift.  It is not earned, it is embraced.  It is not a right, it is a privilege.

How does it make you feel this day to contemplate the wage that your sin earns?  Where does your mind take you when you think about the free gift of eternal life?  How does this help us understand that we are not saved by what we do but saved by God and respond to His salvation?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 7:1-3