Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 6:23 (ASV)

The gift of God.—The natural antithesis would be wages; but this would here be inappropriate, and therefore the Apostle substitutes the free gift. In spite of your sanctification as Christians, still you will not have earned eternal life; it is the gift of God’s grace.