Our Scripture meditation is based on Romans 5:6-11, the start of next week’s Epistle Lesson, the Third Sunday after Pentecost. For a meditation on the Gospel Lesson click HERE.
[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. (ESV)
While this reading contains a well-known verse, it’s the context around that verse that provides it with depth and power.
I do not know how many times I have quoted Romans 5:8 in Bible classes, in sermons, on mission trips, in coffee shops. It is concise, muscular, statement of law and Gospel, of judgement and grace: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I can say with certainty I have quoted Romans 5:8 more than John 3:16.
The true power of this verse is found in its context. When we lived as sinners apart from faith in Jesus, we were “enemies” of God. (v. 10). In fact, we were facing the eternal “wrath” of God. (v. 9) This is the very definition of spiritual helplessness and hopelessness.
The context also saturates us with grace. We are “saved by” Jesus from God’s wrath (v. 9). We are reconciled with God through Jesus’ death and resurrection. (v. 10)
We absolutely rejoice in God through Jesus Christ (v. 11), since “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
Kevin Wilson 360 