Romans chapter 6

by Keith Simons. Free online Bible course and commentary from the Useful Bible Study Centre.

God does not want Christians to do wrong things

(Romans 6:1-2)

Paul taught that Christ frees Christians from the power of sin (6:22). Sin means wrong and evil attitudes and behaviour. Paul meant that such things should no longer control the lives of Christians. Instead, they are free to serve God in the manner that pleases him.

However, some Christians misunderstood Paul’s words. They wanted to be free to do anything that they desired. They argued that wrong and evil things could not hurt them. They insisted that, because of Christ, they had the right to do any of these things.

It was a very foolish and dangerous idea. This idea had become especially popular in Corinth, from where Paul wrote the Book of Romans. In Corinth, some Christians were carrying out wrong sex acts (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). Other Christians were going into the houses of false gods to eat (1 Corinthians 8:9-10).

Paul could see that he must teach very carefully about this matter. God does not want Christians to do wrong and evil things, but to do good things. They must not desire to please themselves, but to please God.

God’s grace (kindness) was so great because our sin was so serious (5:20). Of course we must not continue to do those things that offend God so much. Instead, we must turn from our sin and we must invite Christ into our lives. If we do that, God forgives us because of Christ’s death for us (5:8). It is as if our former lives have ended. God gives a new life to us (John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17), so that we can start to serve God properly (1 John 1:7-9). Even then, we will sometimes still do wrong things (1 John 2:1), but in the end God will free us from all sin (1 John 3:1; Revelation 22:14-15). Nobody in heaven does anything that is wrong or evil.

Different meanings of baptism in the Bible

(Romans 6:3)

For the first Christians, baptism was the ceremony to show that a person has become a Christian. They used water to wash that person’s body. As water washes dirt away, so God has forgiven that person’s sin (evil deeds).

That is the simplest meaning of the ceremony, but in fact baptism has several meanings. Baptism is actually a very ancient ceremony which existed long before the time of the first Christians.

One of the earliest forms of it was the instruction for Israel’s people to wash on certain occasions (for example, Leviticus 8:6; Leviticus 14:8-9). There, the meaning is that sin ruins a person’s relationship with God. We need God to take away our sin.

That was how John (called the Baptist) understood baptism. However, at the same time, he was urging the people to make a decision. They must not accept baptism then continue to carry out their former sins (Matthew 3:1-12), Rather, baptism should show the beginning of a new life. Now, God’s people should allow God to direct their lives, even as he guided Israel’s people through the desert (1 Corinthians 10:2).

Jesus compared baptism to death in Mark 10:38-39. As God’s people start their new lives with him, they must also accept the end of their former lives. They can no longer live for their selfish ambitions, or to please themselves. They have accepted that Jesus died for them (5:8). Therefore it is as if they died with Jesus (Galatians 2:20). They have a new life, but the purpose of that life is not to please themselves. Instead, they live to please God and to do his work.

Why the baptism of a new Christian is a joyful occasion

(Romans 6:4)

The baptism of a new Christian is one of the most joyful occasions in the Christian religion. At baptism, a person declares that he has left his former life to become a Christian.

However, Paul has shown that one important meaning of baptism is death (verse 3). Baptism is for people to declare that Christ’s death is for them. It is as if they died with Christ. We may ask how a ceremony with such a serious meaning could ever be joyful.

The answer is that God gives life to dead people (Mark 12:24-27; Hebrews 11:19). He caused Christ to live again after his death; in the same way, all God’s people will live again (1 Corinthians 15:12-22; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Even as death had no power over Christ (Acts 2:24), so death has no power over them (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). They have received the kind of life that death cannot destroy (John 11:25-26).

That is a promise for the future, but God’s people already have that new life in their spirits. When a person receives Christ into his life, that person is born again (John 1:12-13; John 3:3). In other words, that person has a new life: God has changed that person’s life completely (2 Corinthians 5:17). That person’s body may die, but their spirit will never die. When the person’s body dies, their spirit will immediately be alive with God in heaven (Luke 23:43).

Because God has made such a great change in their lives, Christians should live in a completely different manner. Their relationship with God should matter more to them than anything else. They should love God, and they should show his love to other people (Mark 12:28-31). Their constant desire should be to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9).

That is a very joyful way to live (Luke 15:7; Philippians 4:4). In fact, it is the best way to live (Psalm 1; John 4:13-14).

God’s wonderful plans for his people

(Romans 6:5)

Christians often speak as if they have merely made a decision to follow their religion for the rest of their lives. Paul wanted them to realise that something much greater has happened in their lives. They only made the simple decision to invite Christ into their lives. However, Christ accepted that invitation (Revelation 3:20), and he is changing them completely (1 John 3:2).

That change began when they accepted a relationship with him. They accepted that Christ died for them (5:8). They chose to receive the benefits that Christ gained for them by his death (Isaiah 53:4-6). Paul says that they were united with him in his death. In other words, they have the closest possible relationship with Christ at his death. They even accept the end of their former lives so that they can begin a new life with Christ (Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Paul does not want anyone to think that this new life is just for the rest of their life on earth. That period of time is only the beginning of their relationship with Christ. People’s lives in this world are short, but God’s wonderful plans for his people will never end (Romans 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 22:3-6).

Christ became alive again after his death. In the same way, even during their present lives on earth, God’s people have a new kind of life (6:4). However, God will do much more for them in the future. Their spirits will never die, but go to be with God in heaven. Of course, their bodies may die. However, even as Christ’s body became alive again, so God will cause their bodies to be alive again (1 Corinthians 15:12-21 and 15:35-49). This will happen at the end of the present age, when Christ’s rule over all things is complete (8:18-23).

God changes people’s lives

(Romans 6:6-7)

Jesus said that, in order to have a right relationship with God, a person must be ‘born again’ (John 3:3). In Romans 6:4, Paul too spoke about a new life. That is a very beautiful way to describe the change in a person’s life when that person becomes a Christian.

The problem is that we all have former lives. At that time, we did not do what God wanted us to do (3:23). Perhaps we preferred to please ourselves; perhaps we did some very evil things. We like the idea of a new life; but the end of our former lives may seem a less attractive subject.

However, there was nothing attractive about our lives without God. In other words there was nothing attractive about our wrong habits and evil behaviour. Those evil things controlled our lives as if we were slaves. We are so grateful that Christ died to free us from those things (5:6-8). So we are glad to share in the benefits of his death (Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 6:3-5). We are even glad to read about the end of our former lives; our new life with Christ is so much better.

Of course, Paul is not describing here the death of our physical body. Rather, he is describing how completely God changes people’s lives (2 Corinthians 5:17). God does this wonderful thing whenever people turn from their evil deeds to invite Christ into their lives.

Those are the people that Paul describes as ‘dead people’ in verse 7. He means only that their former lives, without God, have ended. He explains that their sin (evil thoughts, words and deeds) no longer controls their life. Instead, God has given them a right relationship with him. Therefore, they have a new life; they are ‘born again’.

The defeat of sin and death

(Romans 6:8-10)

Let us think about the fact that Christ became alive again after his death. We could consider that simply to be another extraordinary event in his astonishing life. In fact, we might even expect it to happen, because Christ is God. We might therefore suppose that this event has no real effect on our lives. If so, then we have not really understood why Christ became alive again.

Everyone has done wrong and evil things that are against God’s law (3:23). We call such things ‘sin’, therefore, sin has power over everyone’s lives. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2), and the result of sin is death (Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23). Therefore, death also has power over everyone.

So, God can only have a right relationship with people if he destroys the power of sin and death. That is why Christ died on the cross. By his death, he defeated those enemies (Hebrews 2:14-15; Romans 8:2-3; 1 Corinthians 15:57). The fact that Christ became alive again proves it: he really did defeat the power of death.

Therefore, although the bodies of God’s people may die, they will always live with him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). In fact, it is as if they have already died. Christ died for their sin (Isaiah 53:3-6) and they have chosen to share the benefits of his death (6:3-4). Therefore, their lives when sin controlled them have already ended (6:11). Instead, they have already started their new lives with God. Christ lives always, in a perfect relationship with God his Father (Hebrews 7:25). Even so, they too are beginning to live in a right relationship with God.

Recognise the effects of Christ’s death upon your life

(Romans 6:11)

Christ died to end the power of sin - the evil attitudes, actions and behaviour that control people’s lives. Then Christ became alive again, never to die again.

Paul urges Christians to recognise what Christ has done as part of their own experience. Christ died for their sins (5:8): that is as real as if they had died for their own sins (6:23). So, whenever someone invites Christ into his or her life, that person really is free from the power of sin.

That fact is clear to the inhabitants of heaven (Luke 15:7; Luke 15:10). It is perhaps less clear to us while we remain here on earth. It seems easier to believe our feelings, fears and doubts than to believe God’s promises (for example, Isaiah 55:7; John 3:16; Acts 2:38-39). Then we allow our own wrong desires and evil thoughts to tempt us to do wrong things.

When we then ask Christ to forgive our sin, we recognise the true situation. If he had not destroyed the power of sin over our lives, he could not forgive us. However, if we confess our sins to him, he will forgive us (1 John 1:9).

Christ’s new life makes our new life possible (John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4). He has freed us from the power of sin, so that we can live for God. We are often slow to change how we think, speak and behave. However, we must change these things, because we are now God’s people (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). We probably cannot change these things by our own efforts, but God does not want us to live by our own efforts. Instead, we must allow his Holy Spirit to work in our lives (Galatians 5:16). Then the Holy Spirit shows us how to live in the manner that pleases God (Galatians 5:22-25).

Christians should stand against sin in their lives

(Romans 6:12)

There are some people who hate God’s law. Perhaps they do not believe that God exists. However, even if he does exist, they still do not want to obey him. They want freedom, they say. In other words, they want to be able to do whatever pleases them. They do not want anyone or anything to rule over their lives.

Sadly, those people do not realise that something else is already ruling over their lives. Their own wrong and evil thoughts, words and actions have control over their lives. We call these wrong things ‘sin’. Sin has control over the lives of everyone who will not allow God to rule over their lives.

Christians have invited God to be their king, and they accept his rule over their lives. Nobody can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24); therefore, sin should have no place in their lives (1 John 3:8-9). However, in reality, the first reaction of many Christians to a wrong or evil thought is weakness. They allow their feelings to direct their actions in the same way as someone who is not mature (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). They seem to forget that God, and not their strong desires, should rule their lives (James 1:14-15).

Paul clearly did not believe that Christians should accept sin’s control over their lives. Instead, he taught them to stand against it. Christians should not approve of anything that is evil. They should not give any attention to the wrong thoughts and ideas that enter their minds. They should confess their sin to God so that he can forgive them (1 John 1:9). They should recognise that sin is God’s enemy. It is the opposite of what God wants his people to do.

Our bodies are weapons in the fight between good and evil

(Romans 6:13)

In this world, there is constant war between what is good and evil. We sometimes see the effects of it in wars between nations and fights between people.

If we could see the spirit world, we would know the cause of all these troubles. The devil and his evil forces are fighting against God’s armies of angels (God’s special servants). The Bible often refers to that war (for example Daniel 10:12-13; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:8-9). In the end, Christ will completely defeat every evil force (Revelation 19:11 to 20:3; Revelation 20:7-10).

However, at the present time, that war continues. Christians are very aware of how it affects their own lives. They must constantly choose whether to do what is good and right. Of course, that is not only a problem for Christians. Anyone with a conscience must make such decisions constantly (2:14-15).

We carry out our actions, whether good or evil, with the parts of our bodies (Mark 9:43-47). Therefore, Paul refers to the parts of our bodies as instruments, in other words, tools. In the original language (Greek), Paul uses a word that means weapons: tools for war. In this great battle between all that is good and evil, we too are active. In other words, our good or bad actions show which side we support. We can work for what is good, or against it. We can work for God, or against him.

Christians have already decided on which side they belong. Formerly they were God’s enemies; now they have become his friends (5:10-11). So now they should use their daily decisions to support his rule, and to do what is right. God has carried out the most wonderful change in their lives (2 Corinthians 5:17). Evil behaviour belonged to their former lives - it should not have any part in their lives now (1 Corinthians 6:9-20).

Sin will no longer control God’s people

(Romans 6:14)

Sin means our wrong and evil thoughts, words and actions. Everyone is guilty (3:23). These things control people’s attitudes and behaviour so strongly that we may consider it impossible ever to be free from them. So, this is truly a wonderful promise: sin will no longer control God’s people. God frees them from both the punishment and the power of sin.

The reason is that God’s people have received his grace. Grace means God’s kindness. That particularly refers to the fact that Christ died for them (5:6-8). When he died, he took their sin upon himself (1 Peter 2:24). His death made it possible for God to forgive their sin, and to give them a right relationship with himself.

However, God’s grace towards them did not end with Christ’s death: rather, their relationship with him depends entirely on God’s grace (1 Corinthians 15:10-11). Their lives are a continuous experience of God’s grace.

God’s grace, or kindness, is his free gift. It is not something that we can ever earn or deserve. So therefore it does not depend on our own efforts - not even on our efforts to obey God’s holy law.

God’s law shows his perfect standards for our lives, and therefore it cannot change (Matthew 5:17-20). The judgement of God’s law is rightly against our wrong and evil acts. However, when God forgives us, we do not suffer the judgement of his law. Instead, Christ suffered the punishment of the law (Isaiah 53:4-6) so that we can live by God’s kindness, his grace.

Excuses for evil behaviour

(Romans 6:15)

Paul has now returned to a similar question to the one that he asked in verse 1. However, the two questions are not exactly the same. In verse 1, a person foolishly does more evil things, so that God can forgive him more. In verse 15, the person foolishly imagines that God’s kindness to him permits that person to do evil things.

These might seem strange excuses for evil behaviour. However, people are constantly making up such excuses for the wrong things that they do. They want to feel as if they are not really doing anything wrong.

Even many Christians do not want to obey what the Bible says. Perhaps, like the people in Romans 2:17-24, they think that God’s commands are only for other people to follow. Christians have a relationship with God because of his grace (his kindness), not because of his law. So, some Christians argue that they do not have to obey God’s law.

That argument may seem clever, but actually it is foolish and dangerous (1 Corinthians 10:6-12). It is never right to do something wrong. God’s law teaches us how God wants us to live. God does not change (Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17). His opinions about how we should live have not changed (Matthew 5:17-19). Some parts of God’s law are commands that are necessary for moral reasons. Of course we must obey those commands. Other parts are there to teach us about God or about ourselves. Of course we should study those passages, and we should learn those lessons.

The real reason why people do evil things is wrong desires (James 1:13-15). Often, those desires are for power, happiness or money. However, when we truly allow God’s Holy Spirit to guide us, we do not desire wrong things (Galatians 5:16-17). What God’s Holy Spirit does in our lives is never against his law (Galatians 5:22-23).

Who is your master: sin or God?

(Romans 6:16)

Jesus said that nobody can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). He meant, of course, two masters who oppose each other. He was referring to people who try to combine love for God with a selfish love of money (1 Timothy 6:10).

In Romans 6:14-23, Paul uses a similar word-picture, but in a more general way. His subject is not just the love of money, but all sin (wrong and evil thoughts, words and actions). He finds the word-picture useful, but not perfect. He often has to show us how sin is not actually like a master. For example, sin is not something that we can obey. Rather we carry out sin when we do not obey God.

Sin is mainly like a master because it controls our lives. It has become part of our human nature, and only God can free us from its power. Even when we try to do good and right things, we often find ourselves unable. However, often we do not even desire to do the right things, because sin tempts us with wrong behaviour instead.

We imagine that sin, like a good master, offers us many rewards. We think that we will receive from it profits, or happiness, or power. It is all a lie. Sin gives us nothing that lasts. For example, we may gain happiness or money, but these benefits soon disappear. In the end, the only reward that we gain for our sin, is death (6:23).

We call God our Lord, or our master, because of the honour that he deserves. However, God is not like a cruel master who tries to control us. Rather, in his great love, he frees us from the wrong things that formerly controlled our lives. He makes it possible for us to live in a manner that is right and good.

God does reward his loyal people (Mark 10:29-30). However, his greatest act of kindness to them is not a reward for their efforts, but a gift. He gives them life that never ends. He does that because Jesus died for them (6:23).

The change in people's lives when they become Christians

(Romans 6:17)

One of the most wonderful effects of the gospel (the message about Christ) is how it changes the lives of many people. Evil and cruel people become kind and gentle. Selfish people become generous. Thieves learn to do honest work. The gospel’s effects on the lives of people are entirely good (compare Matthew 7:17-20).

The Bible often refers to this change (for example 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:9-10). Paul (formerly called Saul) knew it in his own experience (Acts 9:1-19; 1 Timothy 1:12-16).

However, we do not always see such a change when a person becomes a Christian. Many people are already living in a sincere and right way, even before they hear the gospel (2:14). They are honest about the wrong things that they have done - so, they are eager for God to forgive them. When they hear God’s message, they receive it gladly.

We may see little change when such a person becomes a Christian. There may be little that the person needs to change in his actions, behaviour or attitudes. However, the reality is that God really has made a great change in that person’s life (John 3:3-8). It is a change in that person’s spirit; Jesus called it to be ‘born again’.

There is another reason why we may not see such a change in people’s lives. Many churches do not teach God’s message clearly. Perhaps their leaders are afraid of the power of the gospel (1:16), or perhaps they are trying to impress people with clever words (contrast 2 Corinthians 4:2). The result may be that few people become Christians. However, perhaps people become Christians, but their trust in God is too weak; so they do not have the confidence to allow God to make great changes to their lives.

Sin and righteousness are opposites

(Romans 6:18)

Paul could say, as in Hebrews 2:14-15, that God has freed his people from the power of the devil. Similarly, he could say, as in Romans 6:22, that Christians now serve God. However, instead, here he chooses to speak about sin and righteousness. It is these two opposite principles that direct people’s lives. Sin and righteousness are as strongly opposite as God and the devil are.

By the word ‘sin’ here, Paul now means much more than our evil deeds. It is very terrible that people should ever choose to do wrong and evil things. By ‘sin’, Paul here means the part of our human nature that directs us to do those wrong things. Because of its control over our lives, we were God’s enemies (5:10). It was impossible that we could ever free ourselves from its power.

However, Christ died to free us from the power of sin. When we invite Christ into our lives, instead of sin, righteousness directs our lives. Righteousness means complete goodness. Now, at last, we can start to live in the manner that pleases God.

We have described sin as ‘part of our nature’. We do not think that we can describe righteousness in the same way. Even loyal Christians sometimes do wrong things (1 John 1:8-9). Rather, ‘righteousness’ describes the perfect character of God: only he is perfectly good.

However, God is present in the lives of his people (1 Corinthians 6:19). Because of Christ’s death, his righteousness is in their lives (2 Corinthians 5:21). As God guides them by his Spirit, their actions and attitudes are right and good (Galatians 5:16-25).

The two ways that people can behave

(Romans 6:19)

In reality, there are only two ways that people can choose to behave (see also Psalm 1).

They can choose to do those things that are wrong. Paul refers to those things as ‘unclean’ things. He does not mean things that are physically dirty. Rather, he uses the word as a word-picture for behaviour that is morally wrong. The result of such choices is that people follow every kind of evil behaviour (1:28-32). They do not care about God’s law. They only care about their own emotions, desires and greedy attitudes.

The opposite of unclean is holy. A holy person should do only what is right and good; that person belongs completely to God. That person does not oppose God’s law by evil acts; instead, he chooses to live a life of righteousness. Righteousness means behaviour that is right; it is the result of a right relationship with God.

Some of the people who have become Christians used to live in a wrong and evil manner (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). However, God can change people’s lives completely (2 Corinthians 5:17). Even such people can become God’s holy people (1 Peter 2:9-10).

It should be clear to everyone how God wants all people (1:19-20), but especially Christians, to behave. However, people are often weak; they allow their wrong desires and foolish emotions to direct their behaviour. For that reason, we must make a clear decision that we will choose to live in the right way. Then we must make that decision constantly in our daily life (12:1-2).

If we are free from righteousness, we are the slaves of sin

(Romans 6:20)

Paul says here that the slaves of sin are free from righteousness. Sin means wrong and evil behaviour and attitudes; righteousness means right and good behaviour and attitudes. Paul used the phrase ‘slaves of sin’ previously in verse 17; there he was describing the former state of the people who had become Christians in Rome.

However, Paul’s words seem strange here. Many people who are not Christians live in a sincere and good manner (2:14-15). Also, all people everywhere have a duty to do what is right (Acts 17:30; Romans 1:19-20). There is no proper excuse for evil behaviour; God is the judge of all people. So we ask: who is free from the duty to do what is right?

To answer our question, we must examine Paul’s words more carefully. Few people choose on purpose to allow sin to rule their lives. However, most people allow their own desires, emotions and ambitions to direct their lives. When they do that, they are not accepting God’s rule over their lives. In reality, they are pleasing themselves, and that is called sin. It is therefore not righteousness, but sin that is really controlling their lives. Therefore, Paul describes them as slaves of sin.

Next, we must ask: in what way are they free from the duty to do what is right? We have seen that, like everyone else, God orders these people to do the right things. However, that is a duty to God, and these people are not accepting God’s rule over their lives. Instead, sin rules their lives. Sin is like a master who never orders his slaves to do anything right. If we accept the rule of sin over our lives, we cannot follow righteousness. That is why the Bible urges us so strongly to turn from sin. True freedom is not freedom from righteousness, but freedom from sin. In other words, we need to be free in order to do what is right. It is a terrible thing to desire freedom from the duty to do good and right things.

The true value of the best things that we can achieve

(Romans 6:21)

Paul refers to certain things, of which Christians are now ashamed. In other words, now that they have become Christians, they are ashamed of certain things in their past. It interests us to know what particularly those things are.

We should all, of course, be ashamed of our evil deeds. However, Paul is referring to things of which Christians are ‘now’ ashamed. So, formerly they were not ashamed of those things. Their change of attitude is the result of the fact that they have now become Christians. At the beginning of the verse, Paul uses the word for ‘fruit’ to describe these things. In other words, people considered these things to be the best things that they had achieved in their lives. They were proud of them.

They had no proper reason to be proud. Perhaps they had achieved great things, like Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. However, like him, they achieved nothing that can truly last. A person can gain the whole world but lose his life (Matthew 16:26). So really, that person has gained nothing worthwhile.

We often describe ‘sin’ as our wrong and evil thoughts, words and deeds. However, that is just a simple explanation. Really, ‘sin’ describes any life where God does not have his proper place (Mark 12:30). That is why we do wrong things (Mark 7:20-23); that is why people become selfish, or proud, or wicked.

Perhaps for a time we are proud of the results of such a life. Perhaps we consider that we have achieved truly great things for ourselves, without God in our lives. However, we all know that we must die. There will be a day of judgement, when we all will see the true value of these things.

It seems much better to discover the truth about our lives now. That is what Paul described in Philippians 3:7-11. Paul achieved much in life before he became a Christian. However, he now considered it nothing, because now he knew Christ. Now, it was his greatest joy and desire to know Christ better.

God changes people's lives completely

(Romans 6:22)

When people invite Christ into their lives, a wonderful change happens in their lives (John 1:12). That change starts to happen immediately, but we do not always see its effects at once. God’s work in a person’s life continues for their whole life, and beyond that into the future age.

Especially when God saves someone from a very evil life, the immediate change in their behaviour and attitudes is great. It is no longer sin (their wrong and evil thoughts, words and actions) that directs their life. Instead, they have invited God to rule their life. For such a person, their life has become the complete opposite of what it was before.

In reality, God makes an equally great change in the life of someone who has always tried to live a good life. Formerly, they struggled to do it, because of the power of sin in their life. Now, as a Christian, they may still struggle, because the devil opposes them (1 Peter 5:8-9). However, now God rules their life, and, because of God’s power in their life, they can overcome (Romans 8:37-39; Revelation 12:11). In Romans 6:20-21, Paul described their lives before they became Christians. In verse 22, he shows how their lives now are the opposite. Now, God achieves something wonderful in their lives. He is making them holy, in other words, he is separating them for himself.

Paul also contrasts the end, or the result, of their lives. Without God, a person lives only to die. However, God has a much better and more wonderful future for his people. At the end of their lives on earth, they will have life without end (John 3:16). God has prepared a wonderful home for them in heaven and the new Jerusalem (John 14:2; Revelation 21:1-7).

Sin's terrible reward and God's wonderful gift

(Romans 6:23)

At the time of the Bible, it was usual to pay workers each evening, for their day’s work (Matthew 20:1-16). A bad employer might delay the payment (Leviticus 19:13). He would not care how much the workers suffered.

Sin is like a terrible employer. Sin means our wrong and evil thoughts, words and actions. We are all guilty (3:23). Our wrong desires and attitudes affect our lives so powerfully that they seem to be part of our nature. We cannot free ourselves from the control of these things.

We often imagine that we are gaining a good reward from such behaviour. We say that our efforts have earned us happiness, or satisfaction, or money, or importance, or honour. However, none of these rewards are real because they do not last. They may disappear in a moment, but we will certainly lose them at death.

Death is a poor reward for the efforts of our whole lives. The Bible teaches that death separates our spirit from our body (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Our body returns to the earth (Genesis 3:19); our spirit goes to God who is our judge (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

Only God can free us from the power of sin and death (8:2). This can happen only because Christ died to suffer the punishment for our sin (5:6-8). We must invite God to rule our lives, instead of sin (6:16-18). Then God will give us life that never ends (John 3:16; John 5:24; John 6:35-40). This is the kind of life that continues even after the death of our body (John 11:25-26).

We can never earn this wonderful gift. God gives it to us as an act of his grace, his kindness (4:1-8). We receive it by faith, in other words, when we believe God (5:1-2). Faith means active belief and trust in God. It is the right attitude for someone who wants God to direct his life. See also Matthew 11:28-30.

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