Tag: Payment Is Due and Always Paid - Romans 5-6

Romans 6:20-23

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Tag: Payment Is Due and Always Paid

In the above verses we see Paul giving us a summary of what it means to both come to Christ (accept the free gift of Christ) and those who reject the truth of Christ and see no need to be regenerated.    He explains that before Christ we were all “slaves of sin.”  Most people today would not agree with that statement.  They would insist that they are good and moral and, although not perfect, not unworthy of God’s good favor ... assuming they believe in a God!  The problem with their thinking is that they ARE enslaved to sin and refuse to admit it, therefore they refuse to believe they need to be reformed.  But we all must recognize that we are sinners and need God’s salvation.   However, once we do, we are slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:1-19).   

Note what one commentator says about this section: 

John MacArthur:

“Unsaved persons, who are slaves of sin, are free in regard to righteousness. That is, they have no connection to righteousness; it can make no demands on them since they possess neither the desire nor the ability to meet its requirements. They are controlled and ruled by sin, the master whom they are bound to serve. In that sense, they have no responsibility to righteousness, because they are powerless to meet its standards and demands. That is why it is foolish to preach reformation to sinners. They cannot reform their living until God transforms their lives.

However, those who come to Christ are no longer slaves to sin (they still sin, yes, but they are not “owned” by sin ... they are “owned” by Christ).   We are now slaves of righteousness.   The “fruit” of those who are “slaves to sin” is death ... whether they want to admit it or not.   The “fruit” of righteousness (we are made “righteous” by Christ) leads to “Sanctification” (Practical day-to-day holiness) and, eventually, eternal life.   There is a payment in the future that will be paid. Those who reject Christ will be paid for that rejection in eternal death.   Those who accept Christ’s free gift will have in this life, Sanctification, and in the next life Glorification ... enteral life!!   Payments will be made.