‘ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

For the only wages that sin paid was death, and what lay beyond. That was the consequence of serving sin. But in contrast God's free gift to His own was eternal life, a life which was found in Christ Jesus our LORD. Note the contrast between ‘wages' and ‘free gift'. The one was earned, but the other was freely received without merit. It could not be earned whatever men did. It was abundantly given as a free gift under the reign of God's unmerited love and favour (Romans 5:21). And it was wholly based on what Christ Jesus our LORD has done for us, and in the provision of His righteousness. Thus the life that he is now describing is a life based on the fact of being ‘accounted as righteous by faith'.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising