The verse is in Romans chapter 6 verse 23 and says:
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The part quoted in the question emphasizes the negative aspect of the situation, whereas the whole verse is beautifully balanced.
In his epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul is systematically setting out his understanding of the message of the gospel. He has already shown that all people in the world are sinners:
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
But then he goes on to describe what God has done to deal with the problem: he sent his son Jesus Christ to die in the place of sinner.
The verse in question, then, summarises the argument so far. We are all sinners and in sinning we have "earned" the punishment of death.
BUTGod offers as a free gift, eternal life.Ho can he offer this? Because Christ Jesus out Lord died instead of us and now by trusting in him we can have eternal life.
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The part quoted in the question emphasizes the negative aspect of the situation, whereas the whole verse is beautifully balanced.
In his epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul is systematically setting out his understanding of the message of the gospel. He has already shown that all people in the world are sinners:
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
But then he goes on to describe what God has done to deal with the problem: he sent his son Jesus Christ to die in the place of sinner.
The verse in question, then, summarises the argument so far. We are all sinners and in sinning we have "earned" the punishment of death.
BUTGod offers as a free gift, eternal life.Ho can he offer this? Because Christ Jesus out Lord died instead of us and now by trusting in him we can have eternal life.