Christ Died For The Sinners

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8, KJV

God has proved and exhibited his love in an unusual and remarkable manner – an act of infinite mercy in the most conspicuous light, so as to recommend it to the notice and admiration of all.

We love because we discern the object to be lovable, but God loves by the very necessity of His nature – He loves because He is God.

His love grows out of holiness that acknowledges and demands nothing either amiable or serviceable in its objects.  The love of God is not diminished by His disapprobation of man.

The object of God’s love is all mankind whose state was described as “without strength” (Romans 5:6a).  Without strength means that they are (a) in a weak and dying state; (b) neither able to resist sin, nor do any good; (c) totally powerless to free themselves from the misery of their situation.

In other words, they are ungodly – neither righteous nor good; but irreverent towards God and wicked – and lost all power to worship God rightly.  The mind which was for God is no longer his residence and has lost the centre of rest and happiness.  Man go about seeking rest, but find none; and what have lost in losing God are being seek in earthly wealth and things.

The second half of Romans 5:6 says, “... in due time Christ died for the ungodly,” which means that Christ was manifested in the flesh when the world needed Him most.  He died instead of the ungodly; took our place and save us from eternal damnation in hell.

God’s love, therefore, is a self-sacrificing love that thought no sacrifice is too great.  He made the fullest degree of sacrifice that was possible, making the death of Christ the surest way of our deliverance – the Just died for the unjust; the offended Judge Himself suffers for the offence against His own law.