The Greek word in 6:23 translated "gift" is actually "charisma" and represents that which God has graciously given. What I see being concluded in Romans 6:23 is this: A believer's recompense will be determined by which force he allows to reign over him in this life. Sin can reign over us like a king and lead us to death (the Law adding strength to sin [1 Corinthians 15:56]). Or grace can reign over us through righteousness and lead us to life for the age. And it is my belief, that just because "aionios" life is used in 6:23 in connection with "grace," it would be wrong to assume that eternal life must be in view on the assumption that where grace is involved, works and reward must be excluded.

Let me explain: If I back up to Romans 6:17-18 in the New King James says: "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered, and having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."

But when I look at the Greek text I see that the word translated "be thanked" is actually the word "charis" or grace. So rather than saying, "But God be thanked..." I believe Paul is actually making a statement about the working of God's grace -- something like this:

But it is God's grace, that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered, and having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

The idea clearly being that it takes the grace of God to free us from sin and enslave us to righteousness which then produces the fruit of holiness and ends in age lasting life.

I also find it interesting that the word translated "obeyed" is "hypakouo" which means to listen attentively or submissively. In the context of the verse, I see this referring to a submissive heart toward God that listens attentively to God when He speaks through the doctrine (or teaching) that is delivered. And I believe it is in this submissive listening that God's grace then sets us free from sin so that we can be enslaved to the righteousness that leads to "life."

John 8:31-36 is very helpful here:

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free . . . Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

I see here that freedom from slavery to sin comes from abiding in God's word and knowing the truth -- also described as the Son making you free -- obviously because the Son is the Word.

And I see a connection between this abiding in God's Word in John 8 and the attentive, listening to teaching in Romans 6:17. Both point to a continuing presence in the Word of God that results in freedom from sin, and ultimately, "life" (or as it is put in John 8- the position of a son who abides in the house for the age).

And I believe it is God's grace (resident in His Word) that produces this freedom from sin and enslavement to righteousness so that we can reap the end result of age-life. I believe this is what Paul is saying in Romans 6:17-18 and I think John 8 is confirms this. As Paul said in Acts 20, it is the Word of His grace that is able to build us up (mature us) and give us an inheritance. And (as Paul states in his opening of Romans) it is God's Word (the gospel) that he is not ashamed to preach because it is that Word of God that is the power of God that leads to salvation (soul).

So based on what I see in Romans 6:17-18 and extending down to verse 22 of the chapter, I would think it perfectly fitting for Paul to acknowledge the role of God's grace in our service to righteousness that will eventually lead to age-life. And that just as the death we inherited from Adam enslaves us to sin (and produces sins) that will result in more death at the Judgment Seat of Christ -- the grace that we obtain through Jesus (who is the Word) will break that bondage to sin so that we can produce the righteousness that results in age-life (at the Judgment Seat of Christ).

So I see Paul's conclusion in 6:23: While enslavement to sin will earn you death at the Judgment Seat of Christ, God's grace brings us life for the age. Will we choose to serve under the master which is sin? Or will we choose to serve righteousness under the master, grace? Both masters have their ultimate recompense for the believer. And the ability to serve righteousness under the power of grace comes by abiding in God's Word. I believe that who you attentively listen to is the key.

Also -- I would think it hasty to so quickly dismiss the idea of kingdom teaching in Romans 5. This is a passage I have studied for years -- many years as a Calvinist too, so I certainly know the "positional only" view of it. I realize that both "charis" and "dorea" are used in that passage but I don’t think that makes the point that it must then be a eternal-positional teaching. I would think Paul's statement about "reigning in life" (5:17) would make one want to dig deeper.

Also, how the book of Romans is introduced is of utmost importance to establishing what will be the focus of the content that follows. And Arlen is correct. Paul opens Romans (1:15-16) by saying that his intent in the letter is to "preach the gospel" to them -- that same gospel that is the power of God to salvation for those who believe. If it is a gospel that is preached to those who already believe and it is being preached for the purpose of achieving their salvation, then it is clearly the gospel of the kingdom being preached in Romans and soul salvation that is in view. This is a clearly stated fact.

Another thing. To rely on a formula (as many kingdom believers do) for interpreting verses as kingdom related or eternity related does not hold up. That formula being -- if it says "gift" or "grace", then it must be related to eternity and past salvation; and if it says "works" or "reward", then it must be related to the kingdom and soul salvation. While I have found this true in some respects, I have also found that it doesn’t take very long for this formula to break down, placing one in a position of having to ignore context.