Romans Chapter 5, Pt.2: While We Were Yet Sinners...
We'll continue our study of the fifth chapter of Romans this week as we take a look at verses 6-11...
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
Let us first begin by acknowledging the fact that the overall importance of these six verses simply cannot be overstated. This is the plain truth of the gospel in its rawest form, and Paul lays it out for us here in a way which is not only easily understood, but is also beautiful in its simplicity. The foundation of our salvation and the source of our justification is the precious blood which Jesus shed on the cross.
Let's take a closer look at these verses one by one, beginning with verse 6..."For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." We, as human beings, were in a hopeless state, unable to help ourselves out of our condition.
We were lost, with no way to recover, but God's love is such that, in spite of our sinful nature and our utterly unworthy state, He provided the supreme sacrifice in order to pay the price for us. What does Paul mean by "in due time"? This simply means that, at the time which God appointed, Christ gave His life for us. Now bear in mind that time, as we know it, is an invention of man. Clocks, calendars, hourglasses, sundials, these are all inventions of man. God is not bound to the constraints of time. We read in 2 Peter 3:8..."...one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Although time is very real to us, and our lives are bound by schedules and deadlines, in true reality, time does not exist at all. Let's take this fact to its logical conclusion...If we realize that time does not exist, and that God exists outside of time, this means that the death of Jesus on the cross need not be thought of as something that occurred over 2000 years ago, but in reality, may just as well have happened yesterday, or 5 minutes ago, or even be occurring as we speak. We read in Hebrews 7:25..."Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." So we know that Jesus is continually making intercession on our behalf, even now. The point is, our sin, past, present, and future, is what Jesus gave His life in order to reconcile. This brings the sacrifice of Jesus to a much more personal level. Not only did Jesus shed His blood, and give His life, for each of us personally, but He continues to cleanse and purify each of us, as His sacrifice is not a one time event, but a continual offering. He died once, for all, but we are in a continual state of washing by His blood, and by God's word.
"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." Paul is telling us here that there are very few men who would actually give their life in order to save someone else, even if it happened to be a good, or even righteous, person. This is not only a true statement, but it also provides a point of sublime contrast between what men are willing to do for others with what God was willing to do for us.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The truth of the gospel was never defined more clearly. God loved us so much, and so deeply, that even though we were still in sin, Jesus freely gave Himself to die for you and me. He shed His blood in order to pay the price for us, and to make a way, to build a bridge, back to God. Bearing our sins, He willingly took our rightful place upon the cross, and suffered the fate that we all deserve.
Verses 9, 10, and 11 combine to provide us with a blessed assurance..."Much more then, being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Comforting thoughts, and certainly reason for joy and hope. We are justified by His blood, and saved by His life, because He is the atonement for our sins. Furthermore, we will be saved from wrath through Him. We find peace and reassurance because we know that when the wrath of God is poured out upon the wickedness of this world, that Jesus will be our Shield and Protector, because He loves us. He gave His life to pay the debt that we could never hope to pay on our own, and therefore we belong to Him.
When we meditate on these things, we find rest and contentment for our souls. May we strive not to be so controlled by the hectic day to day, the schedules and the deadlines, that we may find ourselves in a state of continual gratitude, and ever be thankful for the amazing sacrifice that Jesus made, and continues to make, on our behalf. No greater love has ever existed.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
Let us first begin by acknowledging the fact that the overall importance of these six verses simply cannot be overstated. This is the plain truth of the gospel in its rawest form, and Paul lays it out for us here in a way which is not only easily understood, but is also beautiful in its simplicity. The foundation of our salvation and the source of our justification is the precious blood which Jesus shed on the cross.
Let's take a closer look at these verses one by one, beginning with verse 6..."For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." We, as human beings, were in a hopeless state, unable to help ourselves out of our condition.
"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." Paul is telling us here that there are very few men who would actually give their life in order to save someone else, even if it happened to be a good, or even righteous, person. This is not only a true statement, but it also provides a point of sublime contrast between what men are willing to do for others with what God was willing to do for us.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The truth of the gospel was never defined more clearly. God loved us so much, and so deeply, that even though we were still in sin, Jesus freely gave Himself to die for you and me. He shed His blood in order to pay the price for us, and to make a way, to build a bridge, back to God. Bearing our sins, He willingly took our rightful place upon the cross, and suffered the fate that we all deserve.
Verses 9, 10, and 11 combine to provide us with a blessed assurance..."Much more then, being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Comforting thoughts, and certainly reason for joy and hope. We are justified by His blood, and saved by His life, because He is the atonement for our sins. Furthermore, we will be saved from wrath through Him. We find peace and reassurance because we know that when the wrath of God is poured out upon the wickedness of this world, that Jesus will be our Shield and Protector, because He loves us. He gave His life to pay the debt that we could never hope to pay on our own, and therefore we belong to Him.
When we meditate on these things, we find rest and contentment for our souls. May we strive not to be so controlled by the hectic day to day, the schedules and the deadlines, that we may find ourselves in a state of continual gratitude, and ever be thankful for the amazing sacrifice that Jesus made, and continues to make, on our behalf. No greater love has ever existed.
great articles
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