A Broke Evangelist

November 4, 2024

Romans 5:6-8

Powerlessness, Love, Propitiation and Dependence

“6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Studying this chapter couldn't have come at a better time. A dear friend just experienced the heartbreaking loss of his wife, who suffered a stroke and passed away shortly after he rushed her to the hospital. Through it all, his faith remains strong, and he’s comforted by the hope of being reunited with her one day.

I've been reflecting on the process of being justified by faith, which brings us to a place of grace. This grace empowers us to endure tough times, building perseverance, character, and, ultimately, hope—the kind of hope that reminds us of the beautiful promise waiting at the end of our journey here on earth.

As my friend sang to his wife while she slipped into heaven’s embrace and into the arms of Jesus, she was instantly healed, now walking with our Savior. What a beautiful thought to hold on to in moments of sadness. Please keep my friend in your prayers tonight.

Let’s move on to what I covered today…Romans 5:6-8…

Romans 5:6 - You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Paul gives us a great picture of God’s love—a love so great it reaches out to the undeserving, the weak, the ungodly, and the sinners. This shows that God’s reasons for loving us come entirely from Him, not from anything we’ve done. So, who are these "ungodly" and "wicked" people Jesus died for? Well, according to Paul, that’s all of us. He spends the first couple of chapters in Romans making it clear: we’re all in the same boat, and we’re all in need of that incredible love.

God sent His Son at just the right time. It might have seemed a little late to some, but in God’s perfect plan, Jesus came right on schedule. When it was “at just the right time,” God sent Jesus (Galatians 4:4). Everything in the world was set up: spiritually, economically, linguistically, politically—set in place for Jesus’ arrival and for the spread of the Gospel. And not only that, “right time” also means that Jesus died at just the right time for us—while we were still sinners in need of a Savior. His timing was flawless.

Paul also brings up the idea of a substitutionary sacrifice dying for the ungodly, also known as “propitiation” or a sacrifice of atonement (Romans 3:25). Here, he reminds us again: Christ died for the ungodly. In the Greek, the word is "huper," meaning “for the sake of, on behalf of, instead of.” To truly say, “Jesus died for me,” we must first recognize, “I can’t save myself. I am ungodly. I am a sinner.” And it’s exactly people like us that Jesus came to save and transform.

Romans 5:7 - Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.

It’s rare for someone to give their life for another—even if that person seems “good” or deserving. It might be easier to make the ultimate sacrifice for someone who’s a blessing to society rather than someone who's a bit of a troublemaker. We've all seen those heroic people who dive into danger to rescue a pet, and even more so a child or a loved one. But God’s love goes way beyond that. Jesus didn’t give His life for the “right kind” of people; He died for those who weren’t particularly good or righteous at all.

Paul makes an interesting distinction in Romans 5:7 between a “righteous” person and a “good” person. A “righteous” person does what’s right and lives morally, but they might not be all that warm or caring toward others. Meanwhile, a “good” person not only does the right thing but also has a kind heart—a willingness to go the extra mile with generosity and compassion.

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

How does Jesus’ death on the cross show the Father’s love? Because it was incredibly difficult for the Father to send His only Son, and because God the Father was fully present in Christ, working to bring the world back to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Theologian Leon Morris once said, “It would be easy to think the cross shows God’s indifference—a God who watched while the innocent Jesus was taken by wicked men, tortured, and crucified…unless we understand that the Father and Christ are one. Without that, the cross wouldn’t show God’s love at all.” Jesus’ work on the cross is God’s ultimate proof of His love for us. He might show us other signs of love, but none could be greater than this. If the cross is the ultimate display of God’s love, it’s also a stark display of humanity’s hatred—yet even the depths of our hatred can’t outdo the heights of God’s love. Yet, God’s love isn’t just shown in the fact that Jesus died; it’s shown in who He died for—undeserving sinners and rebels against Him. That’s love beyond what we can imagine.

As we build on that blockchain of scriptocurrency, we have the foundation of justification, grace, tribulation, perseverance, character, hope, and now add dependence. 

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 4, 2024

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