The Great Exchange

April 27th, 2026
by Kevin Inman

Sermon Title: The Great Exchange: From Death’s Wages to Life’s Gift
Text: Romans 6:19–23

I. A Change of OWNERSHIP (v. 19-20)
“I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” (Romans 6:19–20, LSB)

•The Premise: Neutrality is an illusion.
“Every man is a servant; the difference is only in the master.” — Thomas Manton

•The Nature of the Old Master: Sin is not a guest; it is a ruler.
“Sin is a tyrannizing thing... it is a master that will have all its work done, though it be to the soul’s undoing.” — Thomas Watson

•The Application:“I am no longer my own... I have given myself to the Lord.” — Michael Wigglesworth (from his diary). We must move from the "loathing" of our own excellence to the "yielding" of our members to God.

II. The WAGES of Sin (v. 21, 23a)
“Therefore what benefit were you then having from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” (Romans 6:21, LSB)

• The Logic of Debt: You earn your hell, but you cannot earn your heaven.

“Sin is the only thing that God hath an irreconcilable antipathy against... it is worse than the Devil.” — Ralph Venning

• The Deceptive Paycheck: Sin's wages are always a bait-and-switch.

“Sin is sweet in the commission, but bitter in the wages... it is like the book the prophet ate: in his mouth as honey, but in his belly as gall.” — Thomas Manton

“For the wages of sin is death,...” (Romans 6:23a)

• The Finality of the Debt:

“The wages of sin is death. It is the just reward of a rebel... a soldier’s pay for fighting against God.” — Thomas Watson

III. The GIFT of God (v. 22-23b)
“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit, leading to sanctification, and the end, eternal life.” (Romans 6:22, LSB)

• God’s "economics" are based on his character, not our merit.“Eternal life is a gift; if it were a wage, we might challenge it... but it is the free bounty of a King.” — John Owen

• God is the only Master who pays the servant for work the Master himself performed in them.

“ He gives us a part of our wages in hand—the peace of conscience and the joy of the Spirit.” — Thomas Manton

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23)

“Until a man has faith, his best services are but glorious sins.” — John Bunyan

Romans 6:23 serves as the "final termination" or conclusion of two lifestyles:
one of sin leading to death, and one of holiness (sanctification) leading to life.

The contrast made in verse 23 reflects much of Romans:
The Master One May Serve----->Sin or God
The Outcome of That Service----->Death or Eternal Life
How That Outcome Is Obtained----->Wages Earned or a Gift Received

IV. Our Practical Pursuit: LIVING the Great Exchange
• The Daily Execution (Mortification):

“Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” — John Owen

• The Motive of Gospel Obedience: We work because we are loved, not to be loved.

“A godly man serves God, not for wages, but for love... he would serve God though there were no reward.”— Thomas Watson

•The Final Contrast:

“Life in the service of God is the most comfortable and pleasant life that one can live in the present world.”— Matthew Henry

“Be as willing to die to sin as Christ was to die for sin, and as willing to live to Him as He was to die for you. Be as willing to be His, to serve Him, as that He should be yours to save you. Take Him on His own terms, give up yourself wholly to Him.” — Ralph Venning

Closing Thought:
Which master’s ‘paycheck’ do you want to hold on the Day of Judgment?

the "wages" of sin (which you deserve)

the "gift" of God (which is graciously given though we do not deserve it).

Posted in Romans, Sin