Eternal Damnation as Wages of Sinners

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

Romans 6:23, KJV

God treats “sin” as a master that is why Jesus said that “everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34, NASB).  Paul also said in Romans 6:16, “... that when you present yourselves to someone {as} slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness” (NASB).

In the blog entitled, “Image of God in Man was Damaged by Sin,” sin is defined as (a) transgression – an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil; (b) iniquity – an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not ; (c) error – a departure from right; (d) missing the mark – a failure to meet the divine standard; (e) trespass – the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority; (f) lawlessness – spiritual anarchy; and (g) unbelief – an insult to the divine veracity.

In the same blog, sin is summarized as:  (a) an act (that is, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God); (b) a state (that is, absence of righteousness); and (c) a nature (that is, enmity toward God).

Sin has its “wage.”  The original word used for “wage” in Romans 6:23 is “opsonion” that means rations for a solder, that is, his stipend or pay.  If sin is your master, you are, therefore, the devil’s employee and you have a right to your “wages.”

Romans 6:23 is very clear that the wages of sin is death – separation of the soul from God.  The wages of sinners are intended to destroy their soul, then to spread a contagion, and hurt others’ souls, so to increase their master’s kingdom.  It is like a poison that destroys one’s joy, power in prayer, and confidence towards God.

How can one get away from slavery of sin and its wages?  The answer is to accept the gracious gift of God of eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.  Eternal life is not a wage for doing good works but it is imparted by grace through repentance and faith in Christ.

Since the “wages” is to be paid soon – sinner still has a chance to change their heart, quit in serving their master – the “sin” – (repent of their sin), and come and receive this Divine life as a gift in Christ Jesus, then, by faith, they will receive the gift of God that is eternal life.

However, when I said “to be paid soon,” it may mean tonight, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week, or next year.  But don’t be like the rich man in the parable Jesus told in Luke 12:16 to 21 where God said to him, “... You fool!  This {very} night your soul is required of you; and {now} who will own what you have prepared?” (verse 20, NASB).