Did you know that this verse from Romans 6:23 is often taken out of context? Because of that, its full meaning and impact is not fully understood nor appreciated. It is normally declared to people who have yet to be introduced into the kingdom of God.
We are used to hearing this especially in evangelistic crusades or from evangelistic speakers. Though the truth of this verse is universally true, many Christians are NOT aware that Paul meant this verse to apply to Christians, NOT non-Christians!
Now let us re-read the passage IN CONTEXT from Romans 6:20-23 and see what we get:
"20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to 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. 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. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Paul is addressing Christians who are supposed to be bonafide slaves of God. These are those who are totally sold out, who have fully surrendered their free will to God, completely dedicated or consecrated to Christ (their new slave owner and master) because they know they "were bought with a great price" from the slave market of sin.
Romans 6 explicitly explains that since we are now slaves of righteousness, we should bear fruits of righteousness and no longer obey our sin nature (our former slave owner and master). We are born again (John 3), we are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), our human nature has been transformed by resurrection power into the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). A slave of God will no longer say the pathetic excuse of "I am only human with a human nature" but proclaim "I am a child of God with a divine nature".
We are called not to be natural people but supernatural people because we have the Holy Spirit. So any Christian who still makes the excuse "I am only human with a human nature", Paul declares that the wages of sin (obeying the sin nature or obeying human nature) is DEATH!"
This is not an isolated passage. When Christ addressed the compromising church (believers) in Thyatira in Revelations 2:23, "all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works."
To the ritualistic church (believers) in Sardis in Revelations 3:5 Christ warns, " The one who conquers (goes back to "spirit and truth" service and not ritual) will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels." So, what will happen to those who are not able to "conquer" (Christians outwardly but slaves to sin internally)??? Of course, they will be blotted out from the book of life, otherwise Christ makes an empty threat!
And to the affluent church in Laodicea who began to depend on worldly riches instead of faith and lose enthusiasm for the kingdom, Christ verbally threatens, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
Security of salvation? Yes, but ONLY IF you live for Christ and for Christ ALONE (never for yourself).
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