August 7th, 2023
by Mike Cleveland
by Mike Cleveland
In Romans 6:5-11, Paul reminds us of the incredible, undeserved grace we have received through Jesus Christ. I want to focus on this grace with you, as coming through the truth of God’s Word.
He begins by highlighting our helpless and sinful condition - “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (v. 6) Before knowing Christ, we were powerless spiritually. Like a newborn baby, completely dependent and unable to care for itself.
But God demonstrated His amazing love for us in this - “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (v. 8) We did not deserve His sacrifice, yet He gave Himself freely out of pure love. I think of the story of the firefighter who gave his life to rescue a complete stranger trapped in a burning building. This is the type of gracious love Jesus shows.
The result of His sacrifice is our reconciliation with God - “we have now been justified by his blood” (v. 9). Despite our sin, we are made right with God and saved from His wrath because of what Jesus did on the cross. It’s like a death-row criminal, guilty beyond doubt, receiving a full pardon from the governor on the day of execution. This is the mercy we have been given!
Not only are we reconciled, but we now rejoice as God’s children, saved for eternity. “We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.11). Through Him, our relationship with the Father is restored. God now looks at us as His beloved sons and daughters.
I pray this deep truth of the gospel seeps into our hearts - while dead in sin, we have been made alive by the sacrifice of Christ our Savior. May this grace and love overflow into how we live and relate to others, giving them grace and love and forgiveness as we have received from God.
He begins by highlighting our helpless and sinful condition - “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (v. 6) Before knowing Christ, we were powerless spiritually. Like a newborn baby, completely dependent and unable to care for itself.
But God demonstrated His amazing love for us in this - “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (v. 8) We did not deserve His sacrifice, yet He gave Himself freely out of pure love. I think of the story of the firefighter who gave his life to rescue a complete stranger trapped in a burning building. This is the type of gracious love Jesus shows.
The result of His sacrifice is our reconciliation with God - “we have now been justified by his blood” (v. 9). Despite our sin, we are made right with God and saved from His wrath because of what Jesus did on the cross. It’s like a death-row criminal, guilty beyond doubt, receiving a full pardon from the governor on the day of execution. This is the mercy we have been given!
Not only are we reconciled, but we now rejoice as God’s children, saved for eternity. “We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.11). Through Him, our relationship with the Father is restored. God now looks at us as His beloved sons and daughters.
I pray this deep truth of the gospel seeps into our hearts - while dead in sin, we have been made alive by the sacrifice of Christ our Savior. May this grace and love overflow into how we live and relate to others, giving them grace and love and forgiveness as we have received from God.
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