Romans Road Lesson 2

The Consequences of Sin: “The Wages of Sin Is Death”

Romans Road Series — Understanding the Penalty That Makes Salvation Necessary (KJV)

Last lesson, we laid the foundation of the Romans Road by examining our universal need for salvation—all have sinned, and none are righteous. Now we move to the second essential truth: sin carries a consequence, a penalty so serious that it affects every one of us both now and for eternity.

The Bible says plainly:

Romans 6:23a — “For the wages of sin is death…”

If Romans 3:10 and 3:23 show us our condition, then Romans 6:23 reveals our condemnation. It explains the cost, the outcome, the unavoidable result of sin. To truly understand salvation, we must understand the penalty from which Christ saves us.

This lesson will examine what the Bible means by “death,” why this penalty is just, how it affects us today, and why it makes the Gospel so necessary. As new believers, you must grasp not only that you were a sinner, but that your sin carried a price—and Jesus paid it in full.

What Are “Wages”?

Paul uses a simple, everyday word to explain a profound spiritual truth: wages. A wage is something earned, something deserved, something paid in exchange for actions.

This immediately teaches us several things about sin:

Sin always pays something back
Sin always brings consequences
Sin’s payment is always the same—death

Just as a worker expects wages after labor, a sinner receives wages after sin. Sin will always pay you what you’ve earned, and God Himself states the payment clearly: death.

Understanding “Death” in the Bible

The biblical concept of death is far deeper than physical death alone. The Scriptures reveal three types of death, and all three are connected to sin.

1. Physical Death — The Separation of the Soul From the Body

Every person experiences physical death because Adam’s sin introduced corruption into the human race.

Cross-Reference: Hebrews 9:27

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Death is an appointment every person will keep, unless the Lord returns first. Even the strongest, healthiest, and wealthiest must face it.

Cross-Reference: Genesis 3:19

“…for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

This was the curse pronounced after Adam sinned. Physical death became the universal destiny of mankind. But physical death is only the beginning.

2. Spiritual Death — Separation From God in This Life

The moment Adam sinned, he did not die physically—but he did die spiritually. Fellowship with God was broken. The same is true for every person born into this world.

Cross-Reference: Ephesians 2:1

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

Before salvation, we are spiritually dead—not sick, not weak, not struggling, but dead—unable to save ourselves or reach out to God on our own.

This spiritual death affects:

Our desires (we do not naturally seek God)
Our understanding (sin blinds our minds)
Our hearts (hardened toward God)
Our will (unable to choose righteousness without God’s help)

Cross-Reference: Isaiah 59:2

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”

Spiritual death is separation from the presence, fellowship, and blessing of God. This is why the sinner is restless, unfulfilled, and spiritually empty—because he is cut off from the Source of life.

3. Eternal Death — Separation From God Forever in the Lake of Fire

This is the most serious and sobering consequence of sin. Eternal death is everlasting separation from God in conscious judgment.

Cross-Reference: Revelation 20:14–15

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

Cross-Reference: 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9

“…Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord…”

The “second death” is not annihilation. It is eternal, conscious separation from God’s goodness, grace, and presence.

The first death takes your body.
The second death takes your soul forever.

This reality is why the Gospel matters.

Sin Brings Death Because God Is Holy

Some may ask, “Why does sin deserve such a severe penalty?” The answer lies in the character of God. God is absolutely holy—perfect in purity, righteousness, and justice.

Cross-Reference: Habakkuk 1:13

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…”

Because God is holy:

He cannot fellowship with sin
He cannot ignore sin
He cannot allow sin into heaven
He must judge sin fully and rightly

Cross-Reference: Romans 1:18

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…”

God’s holy nature demands that sin be punished. If God overlooked sin, He would cease to be holy and just.

This is why the penalty is death—because sin is rebellion against a holy God, the Giver of life. When a person sins, they separate themselves from Him, and the result is death.

Adam’s Sin and the Spread of Death

The Bible teaches that death entered the world through Adam’s sin and passed upon all mankind.

Cross-Reference: Romans 5:12

“…and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

We inherit:

A sinful nature
A sinful inclination
A sinful condition
A sinful destiny

This is why death reigns in the world today. Every funeral, every sickness, every graveyard reminds us that sin’s wages are being paid daily.

The Deception of Sin — It Promises Life but Pays Death

One reason sin is so destructive is that it deceives.

Cross-Reference: Hebrews 3:13

“…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Sin always promises:

Pleasure
Freedom
Satisfaction
Fulfillment

But what does it deliver?

Guilt
Shame
Bondage
Broken relationships
Emptiness
Death

The world glamorizes sin, but it never shows the consequences. Satan shows the bait but hides the hook.

Cross-Reference: Proverbs 14:12

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Sin always seems pleasurable at the beginning—but always ends in death. No one escapes this truth.

Sin’s Wages Compared to God’s Gift

Romans 6:23 is a verse of contrast. Before Paul reveals the good news, he makes clear the hopeless bad news.

Notice the contrast:

Wages vs. Gift
Sin vs. God
Death vs. Eternal life
Earnings vs. Grace

The first half of the verse is dark, heavy, and hopeless. But it prepares the heart to appreciate the brightness of the second half.

You cannot fully rejoice in eternal life until you understand that your sin earned eternal death.

Why Understanding Sin’s Penalty Is Essential for New Believers

As a new convert, it is vital to understand the seriousness of sin—not to discourage you, but to deepen your appreciation for salvation and strengthen your walk with God.

When you understand the cost of sin, you will:

Love Christ more deeply
Hate sin more sincerely
Pursue holiness more diligently
Stay watchful against temptation
Appreciate the cross more profoundly

Some believers struggle later in their Christian life because they do not fully grasp what they were saved from. A shallow view of sin leads to a shallow walk with Christ. A deep understanding of sin leads to deeper gratitude and devotion.

Death Was Not God’s Original Plan

God did not create Adam to die. Death entered the world only after sin. In the Garden of Eden, God warned:

Cross-Reference: Genesis 2:17

“…for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Man was created for fellowship, life, and joy—but sin destroyed that. Jesus came to restore what sin ruined.

John 10:10

“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The Romans Road begins with darkness because God wants us to appreciate the light.

God’s Judgment Is Righteous

Some people struggle with the idea that God judges sin with death. But Scripture teaches that God judges righteously.

Cross-Reference: Psalm 9:8

“And he shall judge the world in righteousness…”

God’s judgment is not:

Cruel
Arbitrary
Excessive
Unfair

God’s judgment is right, because His nature is holy and His justice is perfect.

Sin is not a mistake—it is rebellion. It is treason against the King of the universe. And the penalty is just.

We See the Effects of Sin Everywhere

If you need evidence that the wages of sin is death, simply look at the world around you:

Wars
Crime
Broken homes
Addiction
Corruption
Suffering
Sickness
Violence
Fear

These are the visible fruits of sin’s destructive power. Everywhere we look, we see evidence of a world experiencing the wages of sin.

But the greatest tragedy is not physical suffering—it is people dying without Christ, experiencing eternal death.

Praise God—Romans 6:23 Does Not End With Death

The verse does not stop at “the wages of sin is death.” It continues:

“…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

But before we celebrate the gift, we must understand the wages. Before we rejoice in life, we must face the reality of death.

The second half of the verse is our next lesson.
But the first half is foundational.

Conclusion: Sin Earns Death, but Christ Gives Life

Romans 6:23 confronts us with a sobering truth:

Sin earns wages
The wages are death
Physical death
Spiritual death
Eternal death
And every person must face this reality

But this truth prepares the heart for the good news.

If the wages of sin is death, then someone must die for sin.
If we are to be saved, someone must pay that wage for us.

This is why Christ came.
This is why He died.
This is why salvation is available.

Next lesson, we will explore the glorious contrast—the gift of God.

Discussion Questions

What does the word “wages” help us understand about the consequences of sin?
How does this challenge the idea that people can sin without consequences?
Why is it important for believers to understand all three types of death—physical, spiritual, and eternal?
How does the holiness of God help us understand why the penalty of sin is so serious?
In what ways does the world try to downplay or ignore the seriousness of sin?
How does recognizing the penalty of sin deepen your appreciation for salvation?
What evidence do you see in the world today that the wages of sin is death?
How does this impact your desire to share the Gospel?
Which of the cross-references in this lesson helped you understand sin’s consequences more clearly?
Why is the first half of Romans 6:23 essential before appreciating the second half?