Sue J Love
Loyal
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 4,121
“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:20-23 NASB1995)
From the time that I was a youth, which was a very long time ago, I was taught Romans 6:23 by itself alone, absent of the context of the whole of Romans 6, but in a series of multiple Scriptures which were also taught mostly out of context, the grouping of which was intended to convey the message of the gospel of our salvation. And these verses were put in a “Gospel Tract” for us to share with others. But taught out of context, these verses ended up presenting a false half-truth gospel message which did not demand death to sin and obedience to God as essential elements of saving faith in the Lord Jesus, which then promises us eternal life with God.
The message we were taught from Romans 6:23 is that the wages (payment) of sin is death but the “free” gift of God (salvation) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, which we then receive by a profession of faith. And let me add a note here, for it appears that the word “free” (in relation to gift of God) is not listed in the Greek interlinear and it is not included in the literal translations of the Bible. And this could be a critical factor in translating this passage, for “free” denotes no cost to us whatsoever. But Jesus taught if we are going to come after him we must deny self, die to sin daily, and follow him in obedience to his commands (see Luke 9:23-26).
So the Scriptures, although they teach that our salvation from sin is a gift from God, and that it is not of ourselves, not of anything that we can do in our flesh to earn or to deserve our salvation, it also teaches a faith and a salvation that requires repentance (death to sin) and walks of obedience to our Lord, and to his commands, as necessary components of faith which saves. For this is part of that gift of God, the power of God to now die to sin and to walk in obedience to him. For the grace of God is training us to renounce ungodliness and fleshly lusts, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return (see Titus 2:11-14).
But if we read Romans 6, from start to finish, and then translate Romans 6:23 in that whole context, I do not believe we will have this idea that we can just make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and now all our sins are forgiven, and heaven is our eternal destiny, but regardless of how we live, nothing more required of us. For in verse 16 alone we read that if sin is what we obey, it results in death, but if obedience is what we obey, it results in righteousness, which results in sanctification, the outcome of which is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23). So, context is critical to correct biblical interpretation and application to our daily lives.
But now if you examine the words in verses 20-23 alone, you should see how what was just said is supported by these 4 verses. For if we are living as slaves to sin, we are free in regard to righteousness. Righteousness has no part in us if we are still living as slaves to sin. And the outcome of a life which is a slave to (addicted to) sin, and not of obedience to God, is death, not speaking of physical death, but of spiritual death, i.e. life without Christ. But if we are living as slaves to God, and as those who have been freed from enslavement to sin, the benefit is eternal life with God. For if sin is what we practice, it results in death. But obedience to God results in eternal life.
For the gift of God is deliverance from our slavery to sin and empowerment of the Spirit to now walk in obedience to our Lord, as servants of Christ.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
A Believer’s Prayer
An Original Work / July 31, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
With my whole heart, Lord, I pray
To be Yours, and Yours always.
Lead me in Your truth today.
May I love You, and obey.
Lead me in Your righteousness.
When I sin, may I confess;
Bow before You when I pray;
Live for You and You always.
Love You, Jesus, You’re my friend.
Life with You will never end.
You are with me through each day,
Giving love and peace always.
You will ne’er abandon me.
From my sin You set me free.
You died on that cruel tree,
So I’d live eternally.
Soon You’re coming back for me;
From this world to set me free;
Live with You eternally.
Oh, what joy that brings to me.
I will walk with You in white;
A pure bride, I’ve been made right
By the blood of Jesus Christ;
Pardoned by His sacrifice.
Enslaved to God
An Original Work / August 7, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
From the time that I was a youth, which was a very long time ago, I was taught Romans 6:23 by itself alone, absent of the context of the whole of Romans 6, but in a series of multiple Scriptures which were also taught mostly out of context, the grouping of which was intended to convey the message of the gospel of our salvation. And these verses were put in a “Gospel Tract” for us to share with others. But taught out of context, these verses ended up presenting a false half-truth gospel message which did not demand death to sin and obedience to God as essential elements of saving faith in the Lord Jesus, which then promises us eternal life with God.
The message we were taught from Romans 6:23 is that the wages (payment) of sin is death but the “free” gift of God (salvation) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, which we then receive by a profession of faith. And let me add a note here, for it appears that the word “free” (in relation to gift of God) is not listed in the Greek interlinear and it is not included in the literal translations of the Bible. And this could be a critical factor in translating this passage, for “free” denotes no cost to us whatsoever. But Jesus taught if we are going to come after him we must deny self, die to sin daily, and follow him in obedience to his commands (see Luke 9:23-26).
So the Scriptures, although they teach that our salvation from sin is a gift from God, and that it is not of ourselves, not of anything that we can do in our flesh to earn or to deserve our salvation, it also teaches a faith and a salvation that requires repentance (death to sin) and walks of obedience to our Lord, and to his commands, as necessary components of faith which saves. For this is part of that gift of God, the power of God to now die to sin and to walk in obedience to him. For the grace of God is training us to renounce ungodliness and fleshly lusts, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return (see Titus 2:11-14).
But if we read Romans 6, from start to finish, and then translate Romans 6:23 in that whole context, I do not believe we will have this idea that we can just make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and now all our sins are forgiven, and heaven is our eternal destiny, but regardless of how we live, nothing more required of us. For in verse 16 alone we read that if sin is what we obey, it results in death, but if obedience is what we obey, it results in righteousness, which results in sanctification, the outcome of which is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23). So, context is critical to correct biblical interpretation and application to our daily lives.
But now if you examine the words in verses 20-23 alone, you should see how what was just said is supported by these 4 verses. For if we are living as slaves to sin, we are free in regard to righteousness. Righteousness has no part in us if we are still living as slaves to sin. And the outcome of a life which is a slave to (addicted to) sin, and not of obedience to God, is death, not speaking of physical death, but of spiritual death, i.e. life without Christ. But if we are living as slaves to God, and as those who have been freed from enslavement to sin, the benefit is eternal life with God. For if sin is what we practice, it results in death. But obedience to God results in eternal life.
For the gift of God is deliverance from our slavery to sin and empowerment of the Spirit to now walk in obedience to our Lord, as servants of Christ.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
A Believer’s Prayer
An Original Work / July 31, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
With my whole heart, Lord, I pray
To be Yours, and Yours always.
Lead me in Your truth today.
May I love You, and obey.
Lead me in Your righteousness.
When I sin, may I confess;
Bow before You when I pray;
Live for You and You always.
Love You, Jesus, You’re my friend.
Life with You will never end.
You are with me through each day,
Giving love and peace always.
You will ne’er abandon me.
From my sin You set me free.
You died on that cruel tree,
So I’d live eternally.
Soon You’re coming back for me;
From this world to set me free;
Live with You eternally.
Oh, what joy that brings to me.
I will walk with You in white;
A pure bride, I’ve been made right
By the blood of Jesus Christ;
Pardoned by His sacrifice.
Enslaved to God
An Original Work / August 7, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
