John Calvin Commentary Romans 6:21

"What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death." — Romans 6:21 (ASV)

What fruit, then, etc. He could not more strikingly express what he intended than by appealing to their conscience, and by confessing shame, so to speak, in their person. Indeed, the godly, as soon as they begin to be illuminated by the Spirit of Christ and the preaching of the gospel, freely acknowledge that their past life, which they lived without Christ, was worthy of condemnation; and so far are they from endeavoring to excuse it, that, on the contrary, they feel ashamed of themselves. Furthermore, they call to mind the remembrance of their own disgrace, so that being thus ashamed, they may more truly and more readily be humbled before God.

Nor is what he says insignificant, Of which ye are now ashamed; for he intimates that we are possessed with extreme blind love for ourselves, when we are involved in the darkness of our sins and do not think that there is so much filth in us. The light of the Lord alone can open our eyes to behold the filthiness which lies hidden in our flesh. Only then is he imbued with the principles of Christian philosophy, who has well learned to be really displeased with himself, and to be confounded with shame for his own wretchedness. He shows finally even more plainly from what was to follow, how much they should have been ashamed, that is, when they came to understand that they had been standing on the very precipice of death, and had been near destruction; indeed, that they would have already entered the gates of death, had they not been reclaimed by God’s mercy.