"Love Poured Out"

Romans 5:5–8 CSB

5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Theme: God’s love is proven, personal, and poured into us through Christ.

HOOK — "What Would You Die For?"

Illustration: Think about a soldier during a war who jumps on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers — a rare, heroic moment of self-sacrifice.

Ask:

“Who would you die for?

A friend? A child? A stranger?”

Most of us would not die for someone who hurt us.

Yet that’s exactly what God did — and more.

Romans 5:5 CSB

5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

BOOK — "God's Love in Context"

Romans 5:5–8 Overview:

v.5: Hope isn’t empty — because God has poured His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

v.6: We were helpless — no strength, no righteousness.

v.7: Even for a righteous or good person, dying is rare.

v.8: But God proves His love by dying for sinners — that’s you and me.

Key Truth:

God didn’t wait for us to be lovable; He loved us while we were still sinners.

LOOK — "Three Facets of God's Love"

1. Love That Is POURED OUT (v.5)

Romans 5:5 CSB

This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Not a drip — a deluge.

The Spirit doesn’t whisper “maybe” — He floods our hearts with certainty.

Ephesians says, He LAVISHES us

Ephesians 1:6 CSB

to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

A tsunami of grace and love.

Completely and thoroughly devastating to your old person and sin.

Now you live, move, and breathe in a new environment, because you’ve been changed by the waters of Grace and Love…

your old habit is to try and survive by getting out of the water, but you now live in the ocean of love and grace.

Rest, abide, remain in your new habitation, that is the fullness of Jesus.

To those genuine believers, God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through Holy Spirit.

2. Love That Meets Us in Our WORST (v.6–7)

Romans 5:6–7 CSB

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.

We were helpless, not helpful.

Dead in our trespasses and sin. (Ephesians)

“Helpless = impotence”

no power to do anything.

Jesus didn’t die for the “best version” of us — He died for the broken, bitter, rebellious parts.

He knew EXACTLY what He was purchasing/redeeming!

Ephesians 1:7–8 CSB

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.

“Understanding” = “insight”

Contrast: Human love has limits. God's love has none.

God is love and if He is posturing Himself towards you and has even made you His dwelling place, how INTENSE IS THAT LOVE??

It is His very essence poured into your heart…

Mind

Body

Soul

Isaiah 59:1 LEB

Look! The hand of Yahweh is not too short ⌊to save⌋, and his ear is not too dull ⌊to hear⌋.

God’s love that met us at OUR WORST…

3. Love That Is PROVEN (v.8)

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

“God proves” — not just SAYS that He loves, but He SHOWS His love…

The cross is not some flighty, light-hearted sentiment — it is evidence.

Illustration:

Imagine someone giving their life to donate a heart to save yours — that’s what Jesus did.

Only His was for His enemies, not His friends…

Do you realize this?

God didn’t think you were “cute” as if He were picking out some puppy in the store window…

You and I were HIS ENEMIES…

TOOK — So What?

"Living in the Light of God’s Love"

Assurance: You don’t have to wonder if God loves you. He proved it.

Identity: You are loved, not because you’re good, but because He is good.

Mission: If His love has been poured in, it should be poured out through you.

is God’s love pouring out through you?

are you helping or hurting those around you?

How often do you consider God?

is He ever in your thoughts?

Do you acknowledge Him in all your ways?

Call to Response:

For the believer: Are you living as someone deeply loved by God?

For the seeker: You don’t have to clean up for God to love you — He loves you now.

Will you receive that love today?

turn from your sin, believe Jesus at what He says, and you will be saved.

Closing Illustration:

“This is what God’s love is like. It doesn’t just fill you — it overflows from you. It’s not meant to be contained. It's meant to be received… and shared.”

Continuously being filled to pour out onto others and back to God.

The test of a true believer is NOT merely if you will LIVE for Jesus, but more so, would you DIE FOR JESUS…?

He did for you and now He lives to intercede a better word on your behalf moment by moment.

Closing:

May you go today knowing the God who loved you when you were unlovable, saved you when you were helpless, and poured His Spirit into your heart to flood you with hope and that hope is worth LIVING and DYING for.