Romans 6:23, often quoted out of context, is best read in its full context, for in context it is letting us know that we are no longer to be enslaved to sin. We should no longer let sin reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, in practice, it leads to death. But if obedience to our Lord is what we practice, it leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with Christ our Lord.
So, let’s look at some of these key verses, but I recommend reading the entire chapter in its full context.
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)
By God-given and God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ we are crucified and buried with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, not like our old lives, but now dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. He died so we would live for him and no longer for self. And he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our slavery to sin so that we will now honor him with our bodies (our lives).
[Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15,21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]
"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." (Romans 6:6)
When we believe in Jesus Christ with genuine biblical faith in him, that faith that is of God, is gifted to us by God, that is persuaded of God, and that is not of ourselves, not of our own doing, not of the will nor of the flesh of mankind, our old sinful lives we once lived now die with Christ for the sole purpose that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we will no longer be enslaved (addicted) to sin, but so we will be slaves of God and of his righteousness, to the glory of God, in his power, strength, and wisdom.
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." (Romans 6:12)
So, now we are not to let sin reign (be in control) in our mortal bodies to make us obey its passions and desires. We have to daily die to sin and daily walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands. In practice we are to consistently be saying “NO!” to sin and “YES!” to God. Jesus made the way for us to no longer walk in sin but to now walk in righteousness, but we have to daily choose to take the way he provided for us, in his power, and daily we have to say “NO!” to our flesh so that we can walk in obedience to his commands.
"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)
Now, this is not written to the unsaved. These words are written to those who have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and who were crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him. And these kinds of warnings are given to the church all throughout the New Testament. If, after we make that profession of faith in Christ we continue in slavery to sin, it will lead to death. But if we walk in obedience to our Lord, that leads to righteousness and its end is eternal life with God.
"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." (Romans 6:20-23)
Do you see what this says immediately? If we are slaves to sin, we are free in regard to righteousness, i.e. righteousness is not part of our lives. And if we are still living in deliberate and habitual sin, the end result of that is death, not life eternal with God. Only those who have truly been set free from their slavery to sin and who are now living as slaves of God and of his righteousness have the hope of eternal life with God. For if sin is what we practice, it ends in death, not in life eternal.
So when we read Romans 6:23, we need to read these words in this full context. For this is not teaching that the gift of salvation from sin and eternal life with God are given to us freely without conditions. Yes, Jesus paid the price so we can go free, but the gift is deliverance from bondage to sin so we will now walk in holiness and in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord and no longer in sin. For God’s grace teaches us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return (Titus 2:11-14).
[Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:15,21; Galatians 5:16-21; Galatians 6:7-8; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Hebrews 10:23-31; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]
Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
Hymn lyrics by Henry F. Lyte, 1833
Music attr. to Mozart, 1831/ Arr. Hubert P. Main, 1872
Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought or hoped or known;
Yet how rich is my condition! God and heav’n are still mine own.
Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too;
Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me, show Thy face and all is bright.
Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
In Thy service pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”; I have set my heart on Thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.
Man may trouble and distress me, ’twill but drive me to Thy breast;
Life with trials hard may press me; heav’n will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me, while Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.
Haste then on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
Heav’n’s eternal day’s before thee, God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.
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