September 15

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The punishment of sinners is here called wages because it is something that has been worked for and earned by a long career of sin and disobedience to God. While the punishment of sinners is called their wages, or their earnings, the eternal life and blessedness that Christians enjoy is not at all to be called wages or salary, but is the free gift of God, not something that we can earn by anything that we do. And yet, while it is a free gift and costs us nothing, it did have a price; and what a price! The last part of our verse tells us that this eternal life comes to us, “through Jesus Christ our Lord”, that is, through His suffering, agony and death on the cross. Let us remember that while it is a free gift to us, yet a tremendous price was paid by our Savior, to whom be glory now and forever. Amen.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

"...what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30