When We Were Without Strength

Introduction

There are one of two events we can guaranteed will occur sometime in the future:

1. You will experience a physical death.

2. You will be alive and remain until the second coming of Jesus Christ.

If we're honest, none of us are exactly looking forward to either of these events happening anytime soon.

If you're a Christian and believe the Bible you may have a sense of security about this future; but you're probably not making any plans anytime soon!

If you're a spiritual seeker, you may less assurance of what the future holds for you. You may experience anxiety and fear just thinking about it.

We Can't Ignore This!

Either way, the worst thing anyone can do is to dismiss these thoughts from their mind and refuse to consider what lies beyond this life.

We can't ignore this!

Review

5 Truths We Must Believe

In order to lay the foundation that we will build upon in this series, we must begin with 5 truths that we must believe.

God Exists

God Creates

God Determines

God Decides

God is Good!

We then looked at why we need to be saved?

We are accountable to God.

We are guilty.

We cannot save ourselves.

Last week

Confession-Jesus is Lord

Belief-God raised him from the dead.

We will be saved!

This Week-When we most needful, Christ died for us!

I. When We Were Without Strength

Romans 5:6–11 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Since the Fall of Man in the Garden, our default is to make things right in our own strength.

We all possess a level of self–reliance on our own in our way. Whatever it may be!

We project self–confidence and strength, even though often this disguises our inadequacies and insecurities.

The reality is we are limited in ability and resources to actually be self–reliant.

Never is this more evident than when we try to “save ourselves” form our sinful condition.

Transition–the apostle Paul make this obvious.

II. While We Were Still Sinners

Sin means to “miss the mark” and to transgress God’s law.

The mark is simply the intent God had for us at Creation.

Relating to God in worship.

Relating to others in love.

Relating to Creation by contribution.

“Transgress” means to infringe or go beyond the bounds of a moral principle or other established standard of behavior.

This is us!

III. When We Were Enemies

An enemy opposes another.

Man lives in opposition to God’s rule in Creation.

This may be “passive”.

Indifference

Ignorance

This may be “active”

Rebellion

Defiance

Whether we oppose God’s rule “indirectly” or “directly” makes no difference–we are still in opposition and therefore God’s enemies.

Here’s Where Everything Changes!

I. Christ Died For The Ungodly

When we were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:6 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

When we were powerless to save ourselves. We couldn’t fix what was broken between God and ourselves.

The bar is too high (perfect obedience) and our efforts (obedience) too weak.

The amazing reality of this is that is its “rare” for someone to die even for a righteous or a good man.

CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY! That no man can boast, Paul later says.

II. Christ Died For Us, Sinners

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ died for us while we were still sinners–separated from God because of our rebellion, indifference, and ignorance.

God didn’t save us because we were worth saving.

He saved us because of HIS GREAT LOVE!

He saved us so his grace and mercy would be demonstrated to the world He created for his glory.

III. We, Enemies Were Reconciled

Romans 5:10 NKJV

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

While we still lived in opposition to God’s rule, we are reconciled to God through Christ’s death.

Reconciliation means to be “returned to one’s favor”!

This is amazing!

It doesn’t matter that we were ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God.

The “good news” is that through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we are “SAVED”!

Conclusion

Timothy Keller says, “The gospel isn’t ‘good advice’, it is ‘good news’.

“Advice” means “guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action.”

The gospel is the announcement of what God has accomplish for us through Christ.

The Most Important Reiteration

We must address Paul’s important reiteration.

Romans 5:6 (NKJV)

....Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

...Christ died for us.

Romans 5:9 (NKJV)

...justified by His blood..,

Romans 5:10 (NKJV)

...through the death of His Son…,

It is the death of Christ, God’s Son, the perfect, sinless , substitutionary sacrifice ALONE that RECONCILES us to God.

As we approach the passion week, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday, we must never overlook the cross of Jesus Christ.

Progressive Christianity and secular humanism tries to discredit this event as “cosmic child abuse”.

This is a demonic deception!

For without the cross and the death of Christ, we are still ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God appointed to wrath.

No forgiveness of sin, no reconciliation, no salvation!

As aggressive as the opponents to the cross of Christ are ,we need to be even more aggressive in declaring this truth and defending the gospel.

Always in the Spirit and posture of Jesus Christ.

Let’s conclude with vs. 11

Romans 5:11 NKJV

And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We rejoice!

We’ve been reconciled to God.

We are saved!

Eternity, being a breath away is assured through the gospel of Jesus Christ.