Romans 5:6-11
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.
Welcome back to Delving into the Scriptures! This is the fourth (and last – though we could certainly go more!) post on this paragraph in Romans. In case you haven’t followed along, here are the first three -
At the Right Time
The Record is Clean
Saved from Wrath
Today we will cover Verses 10 and 11. Verse 10 is basically a redo of Verse 9, from a different viewpoint.
For if when we were enemies…. Jesus came to save us from our sins – when we were in sin, and in a position of eternal separation from Him. We were enemies of God – we were certainly objects of displeasure, as we had all sinned, and we all went our own way, contrary to what we were created for. Yet while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God!
God loved us so much, that despite our position with Him, he went out of His way to make us friends again – to put us back in right relationship with Him. I am sure you could also think of many parallels in our own lives, but focus on this – while we certainly didn’t deserve it, Jesus went out of His way to find you and make you right with God.
So since that was done while we were enemies – how much more will it be completed now we are not! For if He would do that for an enemy, for one who truly deserved nothing but ‘wrath and punishment’ (see the saved from wrath post), what will He then do for us who are friends?
Another way to look at it also is that Jesus death on the cross resulted in our Justification – resulted in the record being wiped clean for those that accept Jesus – but His resurrection to new life guarantees and completes our salvation. It not only proved He was who He said He was – but it completed the work that had to be done for us.
So onto verse 11 – what is our response? To rejoice in God through Lord Jesus Christ! It means our response to our reconciliation with God is one of thankfulness and one of worship. Every time I think of the effects of Jesus death on the cross – that of our salvation – that despite our previous lives, despite the things we have done, our record of sin is clean and we are right with God – that brings amazement and worship. For me – it is an act I cannot comprehend – the depth of that one act to reconcile us while we were in the wrong, is just beyond my earthly abillity to comprehend. I know what it means, I know it’s effect, and I thank God for it – but I still cannot be anything but amazed as it is beyond my comprehension!
So to summarize where we have been over the past few weeks
- Jesus came at the right time for us to be saved
- His work on the cross Justified us – that is, our record of sin is gone, we are once again right with God
- If while we were enemies God still went to make things right for us – how much more will he complete it now we are friends!
- And finally – our response. Thankfulness. Worship. Pure amazement!
I pray that God will one day help me understand truly what happened 2000 years ago, even give me a glimpse of understanding into what that truly meant – but I know enough now to know I am saved and to thank God. And that, for now, is enough.
Lord God, give us revelation into the work you did for us on the cross, into our position with you now that we are saved, teach us not to take this for granted but continue to be amazed and thankful. In Jesus Name. Amen
Yet while we were enemies – Romans 5:6-11