This morning as I was waking up the Lord dropped this scripture in my heart and illuminated it to me:
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I want to unpack this scripture the way that the Lord showed me this morning:
- For the wages of sin is death
- This word wages is used to describe payment for work. In other words when you are sinning it is like work. It is not in your design by God to sin.
- You are created to live in the presence of God and in fellowship with him without having to work in your own power and strength.
Genesis 3:17-19
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
James 1:13-15
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
****The first point of the message this morning. Living a life of sin is a hard job and the paycheck is death.
― Mark Twain
“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Isaiah 55:1-3
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Hebrews 4:10-12
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
**Back to our Key Verse, Romans 6:23, part 2: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Colossians 1:12-22
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
****The first point of the message this morning. Living a life of sin is a hard job and the paycheck is death.
***The 2nd point of the message this morning. God has given you the most wonderful gift of enteral life by Jesus Christ.
***Now that we have unpacked this key verse of scripture **I want to back up and look at this passage of scripture in full context, lets begin in the context first of the entire book and then the passage of scripture.
Question? Who was writing the letter, and who was the audience that was going to receive it?
Answer: Paul the Apostle writing to the new believers in Rome. They were not raised following the God of the Hebrews. They were gentiles. They where idol worshipers before accepting Jesus as savior.
Paul understands there are some big religious traps that they may fall into without a good foundational understanding of The Law of God, Sin, Redemption by Jesus, Grace of God. Immediate transformation of the Spirit and Future transformation of the Flesh.
Romans 5:19-21
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
The principle that Paul is explaining here is called the principle of “Original Sin”. it essentially means that the sin of Adam, the first man, is inherited by all his descendants, causing a corrupted nature in every human being.
Paul does not stop with the bad news of “Original Sin” but he goes on to explain two more principles: next principle of: "all are saved through Christ". This is often referred to as "Sola Gratia" (Latin for "grace alone") which emphasizes that salvation is solely achieved through God's grace given through Jesus Christ, not by any human merit or works.
And he also explains the principle of “Substitutionary atonement”, also called Jesus died for humanity, Jesus as dying as a substitute for others. *** In Pauls letter to the Church at Corinth he explains this further:
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
***Back to the book of Romans, Chapter 6:1
Romans 6
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
***Point #3 of the message today: It is God’s grace is more powerful that your sin but it is not a “license” to continue to sin.
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
*** On Easter Sunday morning we are going to have water baptism for anyone who would like to be baptize. Regardless if you were baptized previously you are welcome to be baptized again if you would like to make that public confession of faith and dedication of your life to the Lord. Paul here is showing us that when we go through obedience to Jesus in baptism we are in essence laying down our lives in death like Jesus and the old man is dead. The new man is raised to live in Jesus.
Listen to how Paul explains it to the Galatians
Galatians 2:16-21
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
****The first point of the message this morning. Living a life of sin is a hard job and the paycheck is death.
***The 2nd point of the message this morning. God has given you the most wonderful gift of enteral life by Jesus Christ.
***Point #3 of the message today: It is God’s grace is more powerful that your sin but it is not a “license” to continue to sin.
*** Point #4 of the message today: In baptism we reject the work of sin & death, and embrace the gift of life in Christ Jesus.
***Back to Romans 6:8
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Point #5: You are in control of what you do with your members.
Remember the words of Jesus:
Matthew 5:27-30
King James Version
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Back to Romans 6:14
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
***Paul is says here basically the same thing Jesus said:
Matthew 6:24
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Back to Romans 6 as we close:
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
***Key verse***
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
****The first point of the message this morning. Living a life of sin is a hard job and the paycheck is death.
***The 2nd point of the message this morning. God has given you the most wonderful gift of enteral life by Jesus Christ.
***Point #3 of the message today: It is God’s grace is more powerful that your sin but it is not a “license” to continue to sin.
*** Point #4 of the message today: In baptism we reject the work of sin & death, and embrace the gift of life in Christ Jesus.
Point #5: You are in control of what you do with your members.
*** In Closing Point #6: God’s work starts in our heart and grows out to transform the rest of our being.
Hebrews 10:16-26
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
1 John 3:20-24
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 John 1:8-2:2
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.