What are the two alternatives in Romans 6:21?
In the passage, the two alternatives are the reign of sin, identified as the old Adam, and the reign of grace. Sin reigns like a king over humanity, but grace also reigns like a king, and where sin abounds, grace is always greater.
Les explains that the old Adam abounds with sin, but where sin abounds, the grace of God is always greater. He illustrates with basic training: young soldiers away from home do things they wouldn't do at home because nobody knows them, showing the old Adam has free course. Similarly, invading armies pillage and rape without bother. Every one of us before salvation would have been capable of those same things. Then in verse 21, Paul presents two alternatives: the old Adam has reigned like a king over us individually and over humanity as a whole, but even so might grace reign like a king. So the two alternatives are the reign of sin and the reign of grace.
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
More Questions
What are the 'things whereof you are now ashamed' in Romans 6:21?
The things the Romans were ashamed of in Romans 6:21 were their former practices of idolatry and paganism.