Smoodock's Blog

Quite awhile ago I learned how to use Romans 6:23 as an evangelistic tool to express how we receive Salvation. What we do is simply use the nouns and describe what they mean. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

“Wages” are what we earn. The fact is, if we worked 40 hours and our employer refused to give us our wages, we would be truly upset and probably take our employer to court. The very least we would do is go on strike. Wages are important to us. They are ours. They are what we have earned.

“Sin” is a word that has something to do with missing the target. It has to do with messy up, not doing what is expected. If, for example, I were to miss the date for voyage by sea to various vacation spots in the Caribbean, I would not be able to enjoy my planned vacation. I missed the targeted date I was to embark by ship. There is no way I would be able to undo the loss I incurred. The same would be true for a test at college, or sought after job, if I missed the test or the interview, that is it. I would not have it within my power to change what I did or neglected to do. Now, of course, rescheduling could be done, but that would be entirely at the desecration and the good graces of the professor or the employer. The point is, I messed up, and I do not have in within my power alone to change what occurred.

“Death” is the natural fruit (wage) of my labor (sin). If I jumped from a high precipice, my ill-fated landing would be the natural result of what I had done. If I fell by accident, the result would be the same as if I jumped on purpose. If I was pushed, still the consequence would be the same. My fault, your fault, no one’s fault, the outcome would be the same. I would probably die. The blame game is really not important here, because the bottom line is death is the wage of sin.

A “gift” is something that is not a wage. It is not earned by the one who receives it. The fact is it would be quite insulting, if anyone tried to pay for the gift that is presented to him by the giver. If anyone succeeds in paying for what he receives, the item in question ceases to be a gift. A gift by its very nature is not earned or owed to anyone. A gift costs the recipient absolutely nothing. For example, the life I live today is mine, but I didn’t earn it. It was given to me. It was not owed to me, for before I had life, I didn’t exist. How could it be owed, or how could I have earned it? Sunshine is something we all receive. It is not earned. It is merely there, given to us by our Creator. So, a gift is something that is given. We have no claim to it or upon the giver. The giver merely presents us with something we can only receive.

“God” is the Giver of all things. He is the Giver of the gift we receive. We have absolutely no claim on him. Whatever he does, he is in complete control. He owns it all.

Eternal “life” is the gift God gives to us. We have no claim to (eternal) life. It is not ours to claim. It is God’s to give. In the case of Romans 6:23 the “life” it speaks of is “eternal” life. No one owns eternal life. This verse tells us we do not have an immortal soul. If we did, we couldn’t die. The wage of sin is death—not life. The Scriptures never claim anyone has eternal life. We inherit our life from Adam. He died, and since he died, he couldn’t pass on eternal life to us. Instead he passed on death. There is no escaping death, unless God gives me eternal life. How do I get this life? What must I “do” to obtain eternal life? What must I “do” to earn any gift? Can a gift be earned? Has anyone “earned” the life he now possesses from his parents? Has anyone earned the sunshine he receives each day?

We receive eternal life from God through Jesus Christ. Jesus accepted our wages (death) for us. He took responsibility for our sins, and he died in our place. The Scriptures tell us that all things were created through him and for him. God raised Jesus from the dead, and he became the Firstborn from the dead. That is, he lives forever. He has eternal life. Just as we are all born with Adam’s life, we are born-again with Jesus’ life. He has become the second and final Adam. This is what the Scriptures tell us. God is involved in a new creation—again in and through Jesus. It is all done in and through him. God doesn’t do anything any other way. The first creation was done in and through the One who became Jesus, and the second creation is completed in and through him as well. Nothing comes into existence without him—so the Scriptures tell us. He has taken responsibility for the life we messed up, and through him we are given a new life. It is a gift. It is not owed us, neither are we able to earn it. It is given by the grace of the Giver (God)—through Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

Our “Lord” is the title that Jesus has. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. When he became my Lord, I was given eternal life in place of the life I messed up. In other words, this new life came when I chose Jesus. We shall all choose him, because no one really wants to die. It is a matter of coming to an agreement. Christ saved everyone, and the gift comes to all, just like sunshine. I don’t have the right to refuse it, just like I don’t have the right to refuse sunshine. I can hide, but only for awhile. Sooner or later, I must come into the light, because no one really wants to die.

For some of us, this may come as a shock. We may not believe it is true. Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that, if it is true, it doesn’t matter what we believe about it. Isn’t that so? I also think all believers would agree that God is in charge? Doesn’t he do as he pleases, and isn’t it true no one can prevent him from doing so? What we believe should come from Scripture, because that is God’s word to mankind. If it doesn’t come from there, we have no right to believe it about our Creator God. May God help us to understand his word and his unfathomable love for mankind through Jesus Christ our Lord.