Romans 5:6-10: a reflection

6For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. 8But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

This passage states the heart of the gospel with startling clarity. While we were still weak, Paul says, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. And he presses the wonder of it: one might barely dare to die for a good person; but God shows his love for us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Not after we had cleaned ourselves up, not because we were lovely, but while we were still sinners, still enemies, Christ died for us. That is the measure of God's love.

Notice when Christ died for us: while we were still sinners, still weak, still enemies. God did not wait for us to become worthy, to make ourselves lovely, to earn his love; he showed his love while we were still ungodly, still his enemies. This is the astonishing thing about God's love: it was given not to the deserving, but to the undeserving; not to those who had made themselves lovely, but to sinners and enemies. Christ died for us while we were still in our sin.

That is a truth to rest your soul on, especially when you feel unworthy of God's love. We can imagine that God loves us only when we are doing well, when we have made ourselves worthy; and so, when we are aware of our sin, we doubt his love. But Paul says God showed his love while we were still sinners, still enemies. God's love for you was not earned by your worthiness, and is not forfeited by your unworthiness; it was given while you were still a sinner. When you feel unworthy of God's love, remember that Christ died for you while you were still a sinner, not after you had earned it. God's love is proven not by your worthiness, but by Christ's death for you while you were still ungodly; rest your soul on a love given to sinners, and do not doubt it when you are aware of your sin, for it was to sinners that it was given.

Lord, this passage states the heart of the gospel: while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly; you show your love in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Not after I had cleaned myself up, not because I was lovely, but while I was still a sinner, still an enemy, Christ died for me. Let me rest my soul on that, especially when I feel unworthy of your love. I can imagine that you love me only when I am doing well, when I have made myself worthy; and so, when I am aware of my sin, I doubt your love. But you showed your love while we were still sinners, still enemies. Your love for me was not earned by my worthiness, and is not forfeited by my unworthiness; it was given while I was still a sinner. When I feel unworthy of your love, help me remember that Christ died for me while I was still a sinner, not after I had earned it. Your love is proven not by my worthiness, but by Christ's death for me while I was still ungodly; help me rest my soul on a love given to sinners, and not doubt it when I am aware of my sin, for it was to sinners that it was given. Thank you for so great a love, Lord.