Flawed But Favored

Flawed But Favored

Scripture: Romans 5:6–8

“For when we were yet without strength, in due 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, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Introduction – Flawed, Yet Still Favored

My beloved Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, I greet you today in the mighty, matchless, marvelous name of Jesus Christ—our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Friend.

I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that God didn’t wait for me to get it all together before He loved me. Can I get a witness?

I’m glad He didn’t wait for me to cross every “t” and dot every “i” before He called me His own. I’m glad He didn’t wait for me to fix my flaws, straighten out my mistakes, and polish up my life before He reached for me. Because if He had waited for that—He’d still be waiting!

Turn to your neighbor and say: “Neighbor, I may be flawed—but I’m still favored!”

The truth is—we are all flawed. Every one of us. We’ve all got cracks, scars, bruises, and broken pieces. But here’s the good news that makes me shout this morning: even though we are flawed, we are still favored!

Romans 5:6–8 reminds us that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. That means He looked beyond our faults and saw our need. Somebody in here ought to thank God right now—that even with your flaws, failures, and frailties—you are still favored by the grace of Almighty God.

And if you doubt that, let me give you one biblical witness: Samson. Samson was a man chosen by God before he was even born. He had supernatural strength, but he also had some serious flaws. He struggled with anger, with pride, and with temptation. His weaknesses brought him down time and time again. But here’s what shouts me: even at the end of his life, with his eyes gouged out and his reputation ruined, God still used him to deliver His people. Samson was flawed—but still favored!

That is what Paul is showing us here. God doesn’t wait for perfect people. He doesn’t call the flawless. He calls the flawed and covers them with His favor. And that’s why I’m glad Romans 5:8 is in my Bible—because it tells me that even while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. So, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the real preacher Jesus Christ I would let to leave us with three reasons why we should understand that we may be “Flawed But Favored” and the first is this.

Flawed, But God Saw Our Need

Paul begins by saying, “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” That phrase without strength means powerless, helpless, incapable of saving ourselves.

Church, say this with me: “I was powerless—but God was powerful!”

Think about that for a moment. We weren’t just weak—we were spiritually bankrupt. We were like a drowning man with no lifeboat, no rope, no hand reaching down to pull us up. We were like someone stuck in quicksand—the harder we struggled, the deeper we sank. We couldn’t fix ourselves. Just stuck it our pit, trapped in the clay, unable to move forward. But God lifted us out and gave us a firm place to stand.

Psalms 40:2 says, “He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.”

Let me make it even plainer. It’s like a true story I read about a man named Nico in New Zealand. He was climbing a steep, snow-covered mountainside when he slipped. He started sliding down the icy slope, picking up speed. At the bottom of that slope was a deadly cliff. He had no chance of stopping himself. He had no rope, no anchor, nothing. Death was seconds away. But in one last desperate move, he swung his Ice pick—and by God’s mercy, it caught.

That’s what it’s like for us in sin. We were sliding toward destruction, powerless to stop ourselves, but Jesus stepped in and saved us.

Turn to somebody and tell them: “Jesus caught me just in time!”

Ephesians 2:4–5 says it like this: “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

We were flawed—weak, ungodly, unworthy—but God saw our need and stepped in right on time.

Flawed, But God Still Loved Us

Paul continues in verse 7: “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.” In other words, people don’t normally sacrifice their lives for someone who’s already got it all together. It’s rare that someone would die for a “good” person, much less for a broken one.

But here’s the miracle: God flipped the script.

He loved us when we were unlovable. He cared for us when we didn’t care for Him. He chased after us when we were running from Him. He embraced us when we had nothing to offer and give Him in return.

Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continue my faithfulness to you.” The (NLT) says with unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

1 John 4:10 says, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins.”

Somebody shout, “That’s favor!”

And let me make it plain: God’s love isn’t based on your perfection—it’s based on His promise. His love isn’t conditional—it’s covenantal. His love isn’t fragile—it’s faithful.

Let me lighten the mood. A little boy was once asked to explain salvation. He said, “Well, God did His part, and I did my part.” That sounded suspicious, so the leaders pressed him. “What do you mean?” The boy grinned and said, “God’s part was the savin’—and my part was the sinnin’!”

That’s the gospel right there! We bring the flaws, and God brings the favor. We bring the sin, and He brings the salvation. We bring the weakness, and He brings the love.

Now turn to your neighbor and say: “Neighbor, God loved me at my worst!”

Flawed, But God Sent His Son

Finally, Paul says in verse 8: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

That word commendeth means “to demonstrate, to prove, to show off.” God didn’t just talk about His love—He showed it. He didn’t just write it on a card—He wrote it in blood. He wrapped His love in flesh and named Him Jesus.

John 3:16 reminds us: “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He even gave His [one and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trust in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Church, repeat after me: “God showed His love!”

Our flaws demanded judgment, but God’s favor delivered mercy. Our sins cried out for death, but God’s grace gave us life. We deserved rejection, but God gave us redemption.

And let me remind you—Jesus didn’t die for perfect people. He didn’t die for the holy, the righteous, or the flawless. He died for the ungodly. He died for the flawed. He died for sinners like you and me.

That’s why we can shout this morning: “I am flawed—but I am still favored!”

Application – Don’t Let Flaws Define You

So, child of God, don’t let your flaws disqualify you from receiving God’s favor. Don’t let your past mistakes convince you that you’re unworthy. Don’t let the enemy whisper in your ear that you’re not enough.

Yes, you’re flawed. But you’re still chosen. You’re still loved. You’re still redeemed. You are still favored by God.

Look at somebody and say: “Neighbor, you’re flawed—but you’re still favored!”

That means your scars don’t define you—His stripes do. Your past doesn’t define you—His promises do. Your weakness doesn’t define you—His strength does.

Conclusion – Flawed But Favored

And so, my brothers and my sisters, I came to tell somebody today—you may be flawed, but you are still favored!

Abraham lied, but he was still favored!

Moses murdered, but he was still favored!

David sinned, but he was still favored!

Peter denied Him, but he was still favored!

Paul persecuted the church, but he was still favored!

And if you tell the truth—you and I are flawed, but we’re still favored!

Now look at your neighbor and say: “Neighbor, I may have flaws—but I’ve still got favor!”

I may have scars, but I’m still favored!

I may have weaknesses, but I’m still favored!

I may have a past, but I’m still favored!

Because while I was yet a sinner—Christ died for me!

So, is there anybody here who can give God some praise today?

Because even with your flaws, God covered you!

Even with your failures, God kept you!

Even with your shortcomings, God saved you!

Lift up your hands! Open up your mouth! And give God glory—because we are flawed, but we are favored!