Romans 6:20-23

The Wages of Sin

²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [Sin was your master, not righteousness.] ²¹ 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. [Sin always brings destructive results!] ²² 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. [Those who have been justified are now being sanctified; those who have no experience of present sanctification have no reason to suppose they have been justified.]  ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Those who are in Adam serve sin, while those who are in Christ serve God. You are either a slave to sin or a slave to Christ. Sin pays wages—you get what you deserve—while God gives a free gift—you are given what you do not deserve. These are two lives opposed to one another. One leads to destruction and the other to life. By birth we are in Adam; by grace and faith we are in Christ. Bondage to sin yields no return except shame and moral deterioration, culminating in death. Bondage to God yields the fruit of progressive holiness, culminating in eternal life.]