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1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation (Romans 6.15-23).[1] Memory Verse: But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5.8). We ended yesterday’s lesson with an illustration about sacrifice. Paul was illustrating how rare it would be for someone to do this for a righteous man, or even a good man. Now, he was not saying was one better than the other, he was just showing how rare and unusual it would be for anyone to die for a righteous or good man. This allows for verse nine to be more dramatic, “but God shows (demonstrated, proved, commendeth or illustrates) his love for us in that while we were still sinners (useless, filthy pieces of trash, no good, rotten or losers in the eyes of God), Christ died for us” (Romans 5.8, ESV, emphasis added).[2] Let’s meditate on this verse for a few moments, God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, sitting high up in Heaven, look down on us and has mercy upon us. Knowing there was no way we could come into His presence, nor pay the price for our sins (Romans 6.23); decided to show His amazing love by sending His one and Only Son to earth (John 3.16, I John 4.9-11). Now here is the truly amazing part, God did not say, “I will send My Son once you all get better, or as soon as you decide to clean up your act.” No, God sent His Son into the world while we were still living in our sin, had no hope of changing, nor ever consider it. Our thoughts were not about God and what He wanted but, on what we wanted and how it would make us feel. God said, “I will send My Son into the world now, so the world will know how much I love them.” Therefore, God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were STILL sinners… See right there, Paul reminds us all, we were still in our sin, still lost, still without hope, still had not chance for God’s glory, still headed for hell, still… Even in this state ‘Christ died for us.’ He gave of Himself so we would have a chance to enter the throne room of God Almighty. To bring all our wants and desires to Him, to make our partitions known to Him, to cast our cares, burdens and worries on Him. Why we might ask, because He cared enough for us, He sent His One and Only Son to die for us when we had no hope, no solution, no chance, no where to go, nothing, Christ died for us. WOW! Since all this has happened, we are now justified by the blood of Christ. In other words, we have been made right in the eyes of God, our records have been wiped clean. To be justified means to have your debts or actions corrected before the court of law, in this case God’s court. As Paul points out we have been saved from the wrath of God because we are justified through Christ’s sacrifice (Romans 5,18; I Corinthians 15.17; II Corinthians 5.15). Therefore, our debts or actions have been corrected or wiped clean, covered by the blood of Christ on the cross. As far as God is concerned, we have no sin. This does not mean we do not sin any more. We are still in our broken human bodies, but we have been set free from the bondage of sin, and have the right to follow the Holy Spirit and not the flesh as we move through the rest of our life (Read Romans 7.7 thru 8.1-17 for a better understanding on the Flesh and Spirit). Not only have we been justified by Jesus Christ to God through His blood and resurrection, but we are also reconciled to God (II Corinthians 5.16-21; Colossians 1.20, 22). We have been placed into a right standing with God, something that could have never been possible if it had not been for God’s love for us and Christ’s devotion and obedience to His Father. Because of Their love, grace and mercy toward us we are now reconciled before God, brought back into a place of right standing with God the Father, where we may commune with Him again and one day, we will be able to walk and talk face to face as Adam and Eve did in the beginning. All of this is possible because God wanted to demonstrate His love toward us. To prove His love, long before we were worth anything, while we were still sinners, He let His Son, His only Son come and die on the Cross for us. But good news He did not stay dead, He rose from the grave three days later and it through His resurrection we have life, eternal life, justification, reconciliation and salvation. Application
Prayer Lord our God I thank You for Your Son, and His amazing sacrifice. He was unselfish in His willingness to come and die for me as well as the whole world. I am glad He paid my price, covered my sins, and washed me white as snow. Lord help me to remember my Savior’s sacrifice more, to be more in tune with Your Spirit as He speaks to me, and help me to know the things I need to do for You and when I should be doing them. Lord help me to share the gospel everyday and never be ashamed of being Your child. All this I pray in Your Son Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen. [1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ro 5:1–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 5:8). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. You Can Download This Blog Here - October 31 - Rom. 5.1-11 Pt
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