In the movies we sometimes see the hero give his life for the woman that he loves, or a mother sacrificing herself for the lives of her children. Fortunately in real life this doesn’t need to happen that often, but many people would not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for those that they love, such as their children. However, do we ever see someone voluntarily step up to die in the place of a convicted criminal, particularly one whose crime was against them personally? I don’t recall ever hearing of that happening. Oh yes, there is one time that I know of. That is what happened when the Lord Jesus died on the Cross for us, His enemies. This is what the Apostle Paul writes about in our Scripture today from the Book of Romans.
As our Scripture passage begins, Paul gives four descriptions of people who are lost and unsaved. First they are “without strength” (vs. 6). This isn’t speaking of physical strength, for as we know, many unsaved are physically fit and strong. It is speaking of being spiritually powerless. They are unable to save themselves from eternal damnation, unable to reform themselves from their sinful ways, and unable to come to God on their own. Next, they are “ungodly” (vs. 6). They aren’t good, morally decent people, or even just neutral. God calls the unsaved ungodly. Third, they are “sinners” (vs. 8). The Bible doesn’t describe the unsaved as just merely people who have made some mistakes, but as those who have violated God’s Laws. Lastly, they are described as God’s “enemies” (vs. 10). Before becoming saved, they are not God’s friends just waiting to be invited in. They are hostile rebels. Humanity is not basically good. We are radically fallen creatures. Salvation is not God helping good people become better. It is God rescuing His enemies.
In the first half of our Scripture passage we see Paul contrasting human love with divine love (vs. 6-8). As mentioned at the start, I described how sometimes someone may die for someone they love. Occasionally we might see someone die for a “righteous” or “good” person, if they were admirable or noble enough. However, in contrast, we see God’s love for mankind when His Son, Jesus, died for us while we were ungodly, sinful, and hostile against Him. The Cross is the greatest proof of the unchanging demonstration of God’s love. This is not a sentimental love. It is sacrificial, holy, and rooted in what Jesus did on the Cross.
In the second half of our Scripture passage Paul describes salvation in three stages (vs. 9-10). First, we are justified by Jesus’ Blood (vs. 9). Jesus Christ’s shed Blood satisfied God’s just judgment against sin. This is substitutionary atonement - the sinless Jesus dying in place of the sinner, atoning for their sins. Jesus died for us, in our place, bearing the wrath we deserved. It is not by any “good” works that we earn salvation, it is only through accepting His death on the Cross on our behalf. Next we are “saved from wrath” (vs. 9). People don’t like to think of God’s wrath, preferring to think of Him as only a loving God, but His wrath is real and it is righteous. However, if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we will never face it because Jesus bore that wrath in our place on the Cross. Because of this, those who are believers are reconciled to God (vs. 10). The hostility between us and God is removed and the relationship is restored.
First, Christ died for us when we were His enemies. Then when we accept Him as our Savior, personally accepting what He did on our behalf, then we are reconciled to God, and we shall be saved by His life. Because God did the harder thing, saving us when we were His enemies, He will certainly do the easier thing, keeping us saved and protected now that we are His children. Our relationship with God is no longer based on fear, but is based on His love for us (vs. 11).
“Saved by His life” refers to Jesus’ resurrected, ongoing, intercessory life (vs. 10). Because Jesus lives, our salvation is secure! Our justification is permanent. We cannot lose it, nor will it ever run out or expire. Our reconciliation will never be undone. Contrary to what some may teach, our salvation is eternally secure.
Perhaps you feel unloved in life, that no one genuinely cares about or loves you. Maybe you feel that you could never be good enough to deserve anyone’s love, especially that of God. Here we see that God has thought of you as being so special that He sent His only Son to die for your sins. He did this while you and I were still sinners. He didn’t wait for us to “clean up”. We never need to question God’s love. The Cross is the final answer. Our salvation is secure, as Christ’s living intercession guarantees it. For those who have come to Jesus in repentance, we are no longer enemies, but are now friends with God.
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