What is the meaning of Romans 6:23, "the wages of sin is death"?

TL;DR:

The “wages of sin” are humankind’s due penalty for sins against God. If not for God’s free gift of salvation through His Son, all human beings would be eternally separated from God, but through faith in Christ, we can made right with God for all eternity.

what does the bible say?

Romans 6:23 reads, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Those who do not place their faith in Jesus Christ will receive the wages of sin. "The wages" refers to a payment. Workers receive a wage or payment for their work. For example, James wrote of "the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields" (James 5:4). First Corinthians 3:8 teaches, "each will receive his wages according to his labor."

Those whose "work" is sin will receive a payment of spiritual death, which is ultimately eternal separation from God in hell. But the second part of Romans 6:23 immediately includes an answer to this problem: Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, which is the gift of eternal life. This gift is not earned through human effort (Ephesians 2:8-9) but freely given through God's grace because of what Jesus did on the cross, dying as a substitute for our sin. Those who place their faith in Christ will be in God’s presence for eternity (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

After we have put our faith in Christ, it is still possible to experience the symptoms of spiritual death even though we have eternal security. However, when we live out of our old natures rather than out of our new natures (2 Corinthians 5:17), we experience separation from God. The vitality of our relationship with Him is damaged. Thankfully, this relationship can be restored if we confess our sins and turn back to God (1 John 1:9). We may still experience the natural consequences of our sins, but our fellowship with God can be restored.

from the old testament

God promised death as a warning against disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17)
The curse of sin was both a spiritual separation and physical death (Genesis 3:19)
Each of us is responsible for our own sin (Ezekiel 18:20), just as a laborer earns his own wages.
In Mosaic Law, death was a punishment for disobedience (Exodus 21:12, 14-17, 23-25).

from the new testament

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). All human beings are guilty of sin, but Christ has redeemed those who place their faith in Him.
Paul records that Adam brought sin and death upon all mankind (Romans 5:12).
Our sinful desires produce the fruit of death (Romans 7:5).
Setting our mind on sin and the flesh is death (Romans 8:6-13).
Sowing to the flesh brings death (Galatians 6:7-8). The metaphor of sowing here is apt: What we “earn” from sowing sin is death. Yet we cannot “earn” our salvation; it is a free gift of God.
All human beings will one day die and face judgment for sin (Hebrews 9:27).
Sin leads to spiritual death (James 1:15), but Christ leads to life (John 3:16).

implications for today

How can we avoid the "wages of sin" and escape the spiritual death Romans 6:23 mentions? The answer is found in the second half of verse 23. In contrast with death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. The verse is contrasting spiritual death with eternal life.

First, we must place our faith in Christ. Only He can save us (John 14:6). Then, out of our trust in Him and our love for Him (in response to His love for us; 1 John 4:19), we obey Him (John 14:15; John 15:1-11). Our obedience leads us to a more vibrant experience of true life (John 10:10). Paul wrote in Romans 6:22, "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." As Christ-followers, we are free to live in obedience to God and be sanctified by Him. As part of that sanctification, we begin to experience eternal life even while on this earth (John 10:10; John 15:11). And, ultimately, we will spend eternity with God.

understand

The “wages” or outcome of humankind’s sin is death leading to eternal separation from God.
God sent His Son to die for us so that all who place their faith in Him receive eternal life.
Eternal life is a free gift from God, not a result of our efforts.

reflect

During times in your life when you’ve had unconfessed sin, how has that impacted your relationship with the Lord?
How did your outlook on life change by knowing that you don’t have to earn your salvation?
What fruit has the free gift of salvation produced in your life?

engage

How can Christians best explain to our contemporary culture the spiritual harm of sin?
How can Christians evangelize to those whose religious beliefs teach that “good people” go to heaven?
Besides the metaphor of “wages,” what other analogies help to explain the spiritual consequences of sin and the free gift of salvation?