On a regular basis, we should be mindful of what our Lord and Savior has done for us. That way, we remember what the grace of God is all about. That is, although we did not (nor do we still) deserve His love, mercy, and blessings, He has freely given them to us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Verse 6 starts with an expression that teaches our “total depravity.” To be “without strength” in this sense, means we were absolutely powerless to help ourselves. But, “in due time,” that is, according to the eternal purpose of God (see Ephesians 3:11), Christ died for the ungodly. He didn’t wait for us to get our act together, so to speak; because, He knew that we would never be able to do that of ourselves. As Paul described us in our natural state (without the Spirit within us) in Romans 3, “10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Verse 7 then reasons of how “we” might go about helping someone. Scarcely, he says, would we give our life to help someone who is righteous. After all, they are not usually famous or deemed significant to this world. However, we just might consider it for a “good” man. That is, one who has many pleasant and useful qualities and who has done many good works. One might be brought to consider giving themselves up for the benefit others would derive from him staying here. But on the contrary, we were not righteous, we were not “good”, and in fact, we were sinners! What’s more, verse 10 of Romans 3 says we were actually enemies to God.
And who would die for his enemies? Verse 8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” So friends, He didn’t die for us because WE were so good, but because HE is so good!
O, may we each remember this wonderful truth daily and may it compel us to thank our Heavenly Father again and again for His amazing grace that He has so mercifully and bountifully bestowed upon us through His dear Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
In the love of Christ,
Elder Clayton Nowell
In Romans 5:6-8 we read, “6Verse 6 starts with an expression that teaches our “total depravity.” To be “without strength” in this sense, means we were absolutely powerless to help ourselves. But, “in due time,” that is, according to the eternal purpose of God (see Ephesians 3:11), Christ died for the ungodly. He didn’t wait for us to get our act together, so to speak; because, He knew that we would never be able to do that of ourselves. As Paul described us in our natural state (without the Spirit within us) in Romans 3, “10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Verse 7 then reasons of how “we” might go about helping someone. Scarcely, he says, would we give our life to help someone who is righteous. After all, they are not usually famous or deemed significant to this world. However, we just might consider it for a “good” man. That is, one who has many pleasant and useful qualities and who has done many good works. One might be brought to consider giving themselves up for the benefit others would derive from him staying here. But on the contrary, we were not righteous, we were not “good”, and in fact, we were sinners! What’s more, verse 10 of Romans 3 says we were actually enemies to God.
And who would die for his enemies? Verse 8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” So friends, He didn’t die for us because WE were so good, but because HE is so good!
O, may we each remember this wonderful truth daily and may it compel us to thank our Heavenly Father again and again for His amazing grace that He has so mercifully and bountifully bestowed upon us through His dear Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
In the love of Christ,
Elder Clayton Nowell