Join us as we navigate through Romans 5 and unravel the powerful message of reconciliation with God. Discussing verses 6, 8, and 10, we illuminate the concept of being saved not by our merit but by God’s divine initiative. This episode invites you to ponder on the idea that while we were still sinners, Christ’s love was poured out for us, and how this realization can lead to a profound change in our spiritual journey.
We’re about to move into one of those amazing passages of Scripture in the book of Romans, and one of the amazing passages, of course, in the book of Romans itself. Romans chapter 5, verse 6. Paul, having said that now hope does not disappoint us because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us, then says, 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 one would even dare to die, but God demonstrates his own love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more so then, Now here’s some remarkable talk. He says that Christ died for us while we were still ungodly. And that doesn’t mean that he just died and hopes that we’ll accept him. It means, because these verses are parallel with one another, that when Christ died for us, he reconciled us. Because you see, verse 10 says exactly that. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to him. How can it be then that people who are sinners are already reconciled by the death of Jesus? People who are enemies are already reconciled. Well, Paul is beginning to introduce the reality of Christ, who is our representative. He’s going to develop this very, very thoroughly from verse 12 through to verse 21. I would recommend that you read it and ponder it as best you can before we continue this in the next broadcast. You see, Paul’s talking about more than an individual here. You and I and the ones who come to Jesus. There’s something bigger going on. What is happening is that God is creating a new head of the human race, Jesus Christ. When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Now you may feel without strength. You may feel that you’re powerless in regard to sin and addiction. You may feel that you just don’t have what it takes to be a strong Christian. And so you tend to walk away from God because you just don’t have the stuff that a Christian is made of. But this verse and verse 8, this is 6, 8 and 10, allows you to forget all that nonsense. When we were still without strength, you can come to Jesus Christ and you can say, Oh Lord God, I feel I have no strength whatsoever. I just don’t have the willpower to serve you. I don’t have strong desires to love you and serve you. I am without strength. And so, you see, you say that in despair, but what you need to do is to say that in faith and to say, Father, I am without strength. And that reminds me that Jesus died for people without strength. You took my sins upon yourself when I was without strength. You took my whole inhumanity, all of its ungodliness, when I was without strength. You see, verse 8 says a similar thing. That’s why these verses 6, 8, and 10 are parallel. But God demonstrates his own love to us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He didn’t wait for us to become saints. He didn’t wait for us to overcome drugs or alcohol or pornography or terrible food addiction. He didn’t wait for us to be sanctified enough before he died for us. He died while we were still in this state of being sinners. Now again, this may not get home to you until you realize that verses 6 and 8 are parallel with verse 10. Well, what’s in verse 10 that makes it all clear? Let’s read it. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God. Now, you see, the phrase reconciled to God there is parallel to verse 8, where it says Christ died for us, and where it says in verse 6, Christ died for the ungodly. So this means that when Jesus died on that cross, he reconciled us. My goodness, do you realize what that means? So many people, so many Christians, you see, assume that Christ died, well, provisionally, conditionally. I died for you, but you’d better accept it, and if you don’t, my death is of no effect. That’s a provisional death. It is a death based upon certain provisions. And those provisions are that you must accept it and repent and be sanctified. But that is not what the teaching is right here. Because if Christ died for us in verse 6, Christ died for the ungodly, is parallel to verse 8, where Christ died for us, then verse 10 explains to us that that death is more than a provisional death. It means that we are reconciled before we ever knew it. Let’s read the whole passage now to get the parallels. Are you ready? For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, but perhaps for a good man one might even dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love towards 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. Now, you see, verses 6, 8, and 10 have two verses in between them. There’s verse 7 between 6 and 8, and there’s verse 9 between 8 and 10. So let’s just leave those two verses in between out so you get the parallelism clearer. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 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. Now I’m going to dig in a little bit further and omit those clauses that are additional to the parallels. So let’s look at it again. In due time Christ died for the ungodly. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. When we were enemies, we were reconciled. Okay, do you get it? You and I have to have a revolution in our faith based on these verses. These verses do not tell us that if we repent, if we are earnest, if we are sincere, if we are surrendered, if we have discipline, if we have willpower, if we have faith, then Christ’s death will be effective. No. That’s not what it’s saying. It’s saying God reconciled all the world How do I know all the world? Well, because all the world are enemies of God. All the world are sinners. All the world are ungodly. Christ reconciled to himself, brought to himself the whole world while the whole world were still enemies. Well then, you come before God with your struggles, and you say, Father, I am so tempted to believe that my problems and struggles separate me from you, that unless I get rid of these problems and temptations and sins and addictions, then you will not accept me. I feel, Lord, there’s a big barrier between me and you, and that is my addiction. But Father, I will resist that feeling because you tell me that I am reconciled to you even while I’m an enemy, even while I’m ungodly, even while I’m powerless. And so I’m thanking you, dear God, for your reconciliation, that I’ve been brought into your house. Do you see how this passage demonstrates once again that the chapter 5 is all about reconciliation? freedom from wrath, because wrath is to hand over and to send away to the powers of sin. But if I’m freed from wrath, I am reckoned, I’m brought back, you see. And this is what these verses are saying. And so what you do is start this wrestle of faith in your heart, and you say, Dear God, I feel alienated. I feel I’m out of sorts. I feel I desire sin and I don’t desire you. I desire my addiction more than you, and it’s coming in between me and you. But by faith I am saying to you that you have told me I’m reconciled even while I’m an enemy, even while I’m ungodly, even while I am without strength, and I thank you for it, dear Father. Now, you see, do you see what this is doing when you do this? You are already in a state of repentance by having faith that you are reconciled. What these verses tell you is that God’s the one who takes the initiative, not you. Salvation is not about you coming to Jesus. Salvation is about Jesus coming to you. Salvation is about you. You being on the road to Damascus, being quite happy with your righteousness, thank you very much, and God knocks you off your horse, as he did Paul on the road to Damascus. He thought he was just fine. He thought he was altogether righteous. He thought he had everything it takes to be saved. And then he sees the light and the glory of God, and he’s absolutely bowled over. blinded for three days, stunned by what is taking place, figuring it all out in silence for three days. What is this Jesus? Who is this Jesus? How come he overcame me like that? This is what God does with our salvation. I want you to see in these verses the utter revolution that we’re talking about. Modern Christianity is corrupt because it has put you where Jesus should be. You and I have put the cart before the horse when in fact our Jesus, the great white stallion, he’s first pulling the cart. And so, you are reconciled. Now, in whatever state you are, come before Jesus and say, Lord God, I am going to thank you for this because this is massive. Thank you for joining me today, everyone. Colin Cook here, and you’ve been listening to my program, How It Happens. I urge you to read this passage that I just shared with you, chapter 5 of Romans, verses 6 to 11. Read it and ponder it. And also, please listen to my broadcast any time of the day or night on your smartphone. Simply download a free app, soundcloud.com or podbean.com, and key in How It Happens with Colin Cook when you get there. Consider a donation, too, would you? It’s Listen Supported Radio. Please send your donation to Faith Quest, P.O. Box 366, Littleton, Colorado, 80160. Thanks, see you next time. Cheerio and God bless.
