Christ Died for the Ungodly

Context

Paul addresses the issue of suffering in verses 3-5 by connecting it to sanctification. Notice what he says in verse 3:

Romans 5:3 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings…

And then Paul goes on to explain why we rejoice in our suffering.

Paul then emphasizes the greatness of the love of God, which is the first time that theme comes up in the book of Romans. That we are objects of God’s love is a staggering thought. You really can’t find a more positive message than the love of God.

But is Paul being a downer in verse 6? God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (v. 5) and then verse six: Christ died for the ungodly.

Now, I know many of us here understand the fact that Christ died for the ungodly is an announcement of good news. But there are some who, out of a concern to not have a defeating effect on people, seek to soften or even marginalize the sinfulness of man. The idea here is that people are already down on themselves, so why emphasize their sin?

But what we need to know is that we cannot begin to appreciate and delight in the love of God without speaking of the evil natures of those whom God has thus loved. For anyone to have a clear understanding of God’s love, we must see it against the dark backdrop of human sin. And understanding God’s love in this context provides the assurance of our salvation that God intends for us to possess. How so? If we think we deserve God’s love, or have the ability to merit it, or need to merit, we will end up fearing that we will loose our salvation or struggle to know that we are in fact saved because of our ongoing battle against our sin.

To know that God loves despite our sin is the assuring nourishment our souls need.

The Backdrop: Four Words

weak (6)

means powerless, helpless, feeble, sluggish in doing right.

Paul is driving the point home that people have no ability, even when they presume to try, to merit God’s love.

Left to ourselves, we are not able to do even one small thing to achieve salvation.

ungodly (6)

This word conveys the same idea Paul expressed in chapter 1:

Romans 1:18 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Ungodly is not so much emphasizing that we are unlike God (though that is true), but that we are in a state of fierce opposition to Him.

So, just to pause to reflect here. Those who are loved by God were once opposed to God.

sinners (8)

this term describes those who have fallen short of God’s standards. This is much of what we memorized last week:

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We have broken God’s law. We have failed to treat others properly, to love them as we love ourselves (Matt 23:39).

enemies (10)

Romans 5:10 ESV

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

This is who we are apart from God’s supernatural work in our lives.

So, not only are we unable to save ourselves, not only are we opposed to God, and not only are we violators of God’s law, but we, apart from God’s grace, have animus against Him. We would seek to attack and destroy God if we could. We would seek to dethrone Him if possible.

And it is against this backdrop that we are able to see the brightness of God’s love. Paul wrote that at just the right time, Christ died for such people.

A Higher Standard (7)

There are stories of people sacrificing themselves for others. Stores from war when soldiers put themselves in danger, and even were killed as a result, for their brothers in arms. And we regard those examples of sacrifice.

But Romans five does not talk about a Savior who was willing to die for those who loved Him. He didn’t look down the corridor of time and see who would love Him and then decide whom He would love. No, he died for the enemies.

Still Sinners (8)

When did Christ actually die for people? While we were still sinners.

Still, a simple adverb that makes clear that Christ did not die for people only after they stopped sinning or even demonstrated a clear concern to stop sinning or even a dislike for sin. Christ died for people who were in the midst of their sin. Who delighted in their sin. Who loved their sin and who hated Him. This is the love of God.