Romans 5:6 reads, “For when we were yet without strength, [when we were strengthless] in due time [or according to the 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…”
These scriptures identify the greatest act of love ever known to mankind.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
While we were yet sinners—it doesn’t say that while we were sinless, or because we were sinless—it says while we were yet sinners, He died for us. This idea that you have to somehow clean up your act for Christ to accept you is nonsense. It’s heresy, it’s not scriptural, and if you hear someone preaching that, or if you read it somewhere, run from that person as fast as you can, or throw that book in the trash, because it’s heresy.
“…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, [being made right with God] we shall be saved from wrath through him.
[There is no second death for us, we’ve been saved from that.] 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 atonement.”
Or actually we have received a divine favor, or divine position with God. We can now boldly come to his throne. Why? Because Jesus made us right with God. It’s the greatest act of love that’s being described here in these verses.
“But God commendeth his love toward us…”
You see five things happening here in these verses 6 through 11. Before I go through those five…I want to say that I don’t like observing or looking at a dead Christ hanging on a cross. What do you think about when you see a cross, or when you see a dead Christ hanging on a cross?
Now, many get emotional and become overwhelmed by all of the physical and emotional suffering that our Savior endured for us. It reminds them of the scourging that took place, the beatings, the thorns, the shame that He went through, the mocking that He had to endure, it reminds us of all that. Therefore, even though I don’t like seeing it, because it reminds me of what Christ had to go through for me, I realize the importance of it.
The Romans were cruel, the Jewish religious establishment was cruel and heartless— their hearts that were hardened by hatred, and I believe they were possessed by evil beings to eliminate Jesus. But I have come to realize something wonderful happened at that crucifixion. You might be saying, “How can you say that, it was so horrible?” There was a lot more happening than the eye could see at that time. But through God’s word we realize what took place. You see, because verse 8 reads: “But God commended his love toward us,” God was carrying out His plan for the purpose to rescue mankind; that means you and me. And He knew His only begotten Son could provide everything that we possibly might need for salvation. There’s nothing that we could have provided for ourselves, even though man has tried over the millenniums. Nothing that we could provide would lead us into that reconciled state, being made right with God, our sins being removed, and our sins forgiven. God now sees us sinless, and there is nothing we could have done by ourselves.
So, the cross reminds me of the rescue plan that God had for us. It reminds me that He provided everything for salvation. And when you analyze these verses, and I’ll quickly go through them, write redemption down as number 1.
When you read these verses, you come to the realization that Jesus paid the full price of the debt that we owed because of our sins, because of our transgressions. He paid the full price. The payment that He made by hanging on that cross set us free from the bondage of sin. He set us free, that means He removed sin.
As far as sin goes, we could never pay that debt off, but Christ did. Christ paid that debt off for us. Meaning sin no longer exists at the throne of God, God sees no sin because Christ removed our sins. Stamp that bill Paid in Full by the blood of Jesus Christ. That’s redemption.
Forgiveness is number 2. What does forgiveness really mean? We no longer have to face punishment. I’m not talking about discipline in our life here on this earth, I’m talking about punishment. We have been released from the punishment that we deserve.
So, redemption is number 1, and forgiveness is number 2. Propitiation is number 3.
Christ’s payment—the price that he paid—satisfied the Father by fulfilling his demand for justice. Christ stepping in and paying that payment satisfied the Father, fulfilling his demand for justice, period. That is the simplest way I can describe it, and because of that, Christ was allowed to forgive us. And it’s through Him we are forgiven; God’s does not see our sins. They have been and will be removed.
Number 4 is justification. That’s what these verses are identifying here, friends. Because of the sacrifice that Jesus paid, God the Father declares all believers trusting in Jesus Christ as not guilty. He has two stamps. The first stamp affirms—Paid in Full. The other stamp—Not Guilty.
It doesn’t mean that we’re not going to ever sin in this life where we now exist. But it does mean we now have standing through Jesus Christ before the Throne of God, as one of His righteousness ones. Why? Because we’re made righteous by His precious blood. It’s like a legal document, a declaration, that can never be removed or reversed. We’re not guilty. Think about it, let it sink in, we’re not guilty. My debt is paid in full, I owe nothing, Christ paid for it, and I’m not guilty. That’s justification.
Number 5 is reconciliation. That barrier, that sin barrier that separated us from God, was removed by His Son, Jesus Christ’s death on our behalf. We are now His, God the Father’s children. We now have open access, we boldly can come to His throne, and now have fellowship with Him. That is what Jesus has done for us.
Now as much as I hate the crucifixion, when thinking about it, it was the only way that we could be rescued. While we were yet sinners, He rescued lost humanity. There was no other way, because if there were another way then the cross was a brutal act, a divine display of brutality. But it wasn’t, it was the only way, the way that was prophesized in the Old Testament, it’s what needed to happen for us to be reconciled back to the Father.
When you read these passages, plug in redemption, forgiveness, propitiation, justification, and reconciliation; this truly is the greatest demonstration the world has ever seen of how God loved us, and how His Son stepped in to rescue us, to rescue lost humanity, and to bring us back to the Father. The barrier of sin, what the first Adam started, the second Adam removed. No barrier, debt paid in full, we’re not guilty, therefore, we once again have fellowship with God.
Get your elements, and while we let this sink in, in the days and weeks to come, every time you go to the Table of the Lord in your own personal devotional time, remember what Christ has done for you. If you were the only person, I believe He would have done that for you; He did it for lost humanity. The only way back to God is through Him. I’m sorry, works doesn’t get you back there, being good doesn’t get you back there, donating to charity doesn’t get you back there, only Jesus can. And for that I’m thankful. I’m thankful that He provided me eternal life by giving up His. However, He did not stay dead but rose again to complete the victory over death.
It is the greatest act of love that mankind has ever seen. So, thank you Jesus; thank you for having your body broken and your blood shed for me.
“Do this,” as Jesus said, “in remembrance of me.” And do this as often as you eat and drink. We are not to forget the price that was paid to bring us life, a life eternal, so let’s not. Just don’t wait till I do it with you, do it on your own, and do it as often as you can. Focus on Him and remember what He has done for us.
With that, thank you Jesus for saving a wretch like me, and bringing me back to the Father.
Joseph Cortes
www.teachingfaith.com