The Great Depth of Justification

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 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. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

1294860-567220Good morning and welcome to the Countryside Vineyard, those in person and those in TV Land.

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Joe Fager and I’m one of the Pastor’s here.

If you have a Bible please turn to Romans Chapter 5:6-11

We are going to be continuing our little mini-Series that Bill started last week.

Last week Bill talked about the results of Justification

That we…

Have peace with God,

That we have the grace of God

That we have hope in the glory of God

That we have victory and Joy in and through suffering

And that we experience God’s love through the Holy Spirit

So, those were results of justification or what we gained because of it.

This morning, we will be talking about the depth of justification.

We’ll look at how bad off we were without it, how Paul can say that the timing was perfect, how much it cost, we’ll understand the depth of what it means to be reconciled to God, and more than that; none of this is future. We can and should have joy in our justification right now.

Imagine being in a courtroom, guilty beyond doubt, yet the judge declares you innocent and pays the fine himself. That’s the depth of justification we’re looking at today in Romans 5:6-11."

But before I begin to teach, let’s Pray…

Perfect Love, Perfect Timing (Romans 5:6)

Paul begins, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

"Weak" here doesn’t just mean physically weak—it’s about being powerless to save ourselves. Spiritually, we were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1).

Total Inability: We couldn’t climb our way to God, fix our brokenness, or overcome sin’s grip. Humanity stood utterly incapable of achieving righteousness.

Utter Ungodliness:

We were hostile to God (Romans 8:7),

spiritually blind (2 Corinthians 4:4),

and in rebellion (Colossians 1:21),

verse 10 of this same passage says we were enemies of God.

Slaves to Sin: Our nature was corrupted, and we could not choose righteousness on our own (Romans 6:17).

In our state of utter helplessness God chose to save and justify us.

When I say us I mean the whole human race has the opportunity, no matter their past sins, no matter what they are doing now.

Anyone and everyone, who accepts God’s free gift of salvation, is thereby declared to be in the right, and accepted as a child of God.

But that’s not all he says in verse 6. He throws in there this idea that Christ’s death was at the right time.

This is an interesting thing to throw in here. But let’s see if we can figure what he’s saying here.

In a sense one could say that because we were weak and unable to save ourselves anytime would have been a good time for God to step in and do something about it.

So what does Paul mean here?

First there is the purely historical timing.

Rome was in a unique position to allow the spread of the gospel.

Controlled most of the known world at the time of Jesus.

Had a unified language throughout all that territory.

Many religions made up the culture of the Roman Empire.

This made the Roman empire a great conduit of God’s message.

Then there is prophetic timing.

Daniel 9:25-27 lays out a timeline almost to the day Jesus’ public ministry began.

Daniel was written 500 years before Jesus. It’s a complicated passage that I’m not going to get into but there is a really compelling case to be made that Daniel’s prophecy points the Messiah. It’s the famous 70 weeks prophecy.

From the decree to rebuild the temple (given by Artaxerxes I in 457 BC) the prophecy says that Messiah will come in 30-33 AD almost perfectly aligning to when Jesus began his public ministry.

There is also theological timing.

Basically, with the prophetic timing it shows that God is being faithful to His word.

Not only faithful to that prophecy but to the covenant he made with Abraham to bless the whole world through Abraham’s seed.

This was the moment in history that God chose to break into human history in human form, and do for the world what they could not do for themselves.

The depth of justification is seen not only in how undeserving we were but in how perfectly God orchestrated His plan of redemption.

Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t just timely—it was divinely appointed. If God’s timing was perfect in sending Jesus to save the world, we can trust that His timing is perfect in our own lives as well.

Now that we’ve seen the perfect timing of the cross, let’s consider the depth of God’s love that made it all possible.

The Depth of God’s Love (Romans 5:7-8)

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul continues by contrasting human love with God’s love.

Human Love vs. Divine Love:

“One will scarcely die for a righteous person... but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Human love might stretch to self-sacrifice for a noble cause or a good person. But God’s love goes beyond comprehension: Christ died for sinners—for the ungodly, for those who rejected Him, His enemies (Romans 5:10).

Let’s talk about how the cross demonstrates God’s love.

Verse 8 says but God shows (demonstrates, proves) his love for in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

God’s love is covenantal and restorative. The cross isn’t about an angry Father punishing the Son—it’s about the Triune God acting in self-giving love to defeat sin, death, and evil.

We believe in a triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one in essence, never divided. Jesus was never separate from the Father, not in birth, not in suffering, not in death, not in resurrection. In Jesus, God gave Himself—not just His Son—to His enemies.

Sin fractured creation, and since a human caused the fall, only a human could restore it. That’s why God, through Christ, took on flesh—becoming Israel’s Messiah—to take Adam’s penalty: death (more on this next week). The cross wasn’t just suffering; it was the moment evil was defeated forever.

When Jesus said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,” He was speaking of Himself—God in the flesh, fulfilling the covenant. He wasn’t an outsider to the Father’s plan; He was and is the Father’s full revelation: “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father” (John 14:9).

The cross was agony, yes, but more than that—it was God’s enthronement as King.

At that moment, God

defeated the powers of darkness,

restored humanity’s dignity,

and fulfilled Israel’s calling to bring redemption to the world.

In Hebrews 1-2, we see that by becoming human, the Son elevated humanity beyond even the angels, securing our place as heirs to the new creation - co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17).

The cross wasn’t just about dealing with sin—it was about the arrival of God’s kingdom. Through His resurrection, Jesus launched God’s reign on earth as in heaven—a kingdom that will never be shaken.

God so loved the world that He gave Himself—not in wrath, but in relentless, redeeming love.

This means that your worth is not based on your performance or merit. It’s anchored in God’s unchanging love, displayed on the cross.

Paul now shifts from the cross’s demonstration of love to its practical effects: reconciliation and true life.

The Power of Reconciliation (Romans 5:9-10)

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 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.

These verses not only highlight the past work of Christ but also provide assurance for the future—particularly the certainty of being saved from God's wrath.

Justification by His Blood (Romans 5:9)

Through the blood of Jesus, we are declared righteous. This isn’t just a legal standing; it’s about being brought into right relationship with God.

Justification is rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness. Through Jesus, God has been faithful to His promises, creating a new family where sin no longer has the final word.

Paul introduces an important phrase: "much more are we saved from the wrath of God."

If we have been justified (declared to be in the right) by his blood, then much more will he save us from God’s wrath.

The wrath of God is His righteous judgment against sin (Romans 1:18; Ephesians 2:3).

This is a future-oriented salvation—not just being justified now, but also being rescued from the final judgment.

This echoes 1 Thessalonians 1:10, where Paul says that Jesus "delivers us from the wrath to come."

In Christ, there is no more condemnation (Romans 8:1), because He has dealt with sin and has reconciled us to God (Isaiah 53:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21), restoring the relationship broken by human rebellion.

Reconciliation Through His Death (Romans 5:10)

Paul uses the word "reconciled", pointing to the restoration of a broken relationship.

Sin had alienated us from God, but the cross bridges that divide.

Before salvation, we were enemies of God.

This doesn’t necessarily mean personal hostility but rather that we were living in opposition to God’s rule (Colossians 1:21).

Sin created alienation, but Christ’s death brings us back into fellowship with God.

Reconciliation is not just about individual salvation but the renewal of all creation. Through the cross, God begins His cosmic project of making all things new (Colossians 1:20, Romans 8).

Salvation Through His Life (Romans 5:10)

While the cross brings justification, the resurrection brings life.

Paul adds, "much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."

Many focus on Christ’s death as the means of salvation, but Paul says His life is also essential.

This points to the resurrection—Jesus’ ongoing life guarantees our future salvation.

As the risen and reigning Lord, Christ actively saves, intercedes, and transforms us (Hebrews 7:25).

We are not just saved from something (wrath), but saved for something—eternal life with God in the New Creation.

Romans 5:9-10 reveals both the past and future aspects of our salvation: we are justified now and saved from wrath later. This is the full power of reconciliation—secured through Christ’s death, guaranteed through His life. Because of this, we can live with confidence, peace, and a mission to share this reconciliation with the world.

--- Worship Team ---

Closing – Joy in the God Who Loves (Romans 5:11)

11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:11 is the climax of Paul’s teaching in Romans 5:6-11, shifting from the legal reality of justification to its experiential joy. Justification is not just about what we are saved from (wrath, sin, death) but what we are saved into—a reconciled, joyful relationship with God.

Paul emphasizes that this joy is not fleeting emotion but a deep confidence in God’s faithfulness. It is the reversal of Adam’s fall, restoring what was lost in Eden. Justification is not merely legal acquittal but relational restoration—turning enemies into friends, fear into fellowship.

True joy is found not in earthly things but in knowing God through Christ.

Justification is more than escaping judgment; it is an invitation into communion with God Himself.

Final Reflection:

Are you merely thankful for salvation, or are you rejoicing in God?

Do you see justification as a past event, or are you living in its joy today?

Is Christ your deepest delight, or are you seeking joy elsewhere?

May we not only understand justification but live in its fullness—daily rejoicing in the God who has reconciled us to Himself.

Remember that courtroom image? The judge didn’t just pardon you—He adopted you into His family. Justification isn’t just about escaping punishment; it’s about entering into a Father/child relationship with God.

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