Scripture: Romans
5:6–15
For most of this summer the Epistle lesson will be from Paul’s
letter to the Romans. As is often the case the readings will be
semi-continuous, following the flow of the book, but skipping some sections.
You might want to read Romans 1-5 to prepare yourself get the whole message of
this very important letter. In this part of the letter Paul emphasizes that God’s
salvation came to us when we were weak and incapable of saving ourselves. Jesus
became like a second Adam bringing salvation and justification instead of
condemnation. This lesson speaks to our need for Jesus as our savior to deliver
us from sin and death (sin’s consequence), for we too are Adam’s descendants
and powerless to save ourselves.
Teaching
Christ died for the ungodly. This phrase must be taken to
heart. He did not die for people with, “character flaws.” He did not die for
people who, “made a mistake.” He did not die for people who are, “basically
good.” He died for the ungodly. Our sin is not some small defect, but a deadly
affliction that makes us wholly opposite to God in his holiness. It is utterly
damnable. This must be remembered if we are to appreciate how amazing it is that
Jesus died for us to rescue us from our ungodliness.
The consequence of sin is death. Death entered this world
through sin and is completely un-natural to God’s creation. This is an
important truth that runs counter to the world’s view that sees death as nature’s
means of progress and strengthening the surviving lineage. Death is always our
enemy, and yet Christ entered into death as the sinless one – or, better,
bearing our sin – so that he could reverse death’s impact by removing death’s
cause from us.
Life
Because of Jesus’ death for our sins we are justified. That
word, justified, is very important in
Paul’s writing. It means to be judged right by God, to be declared holy, to be
forgiven, and to be reconciled to God. You are justified not by your excuses,
your reasons, or your explanations for your conduct, but by God’s judgement and
declaration that Jesus’ death on your behalf has been accepted. Your sins are
forgiven!
Isn’t it comforting that God did all of this for us while we
were still weak? Isn’t it a blessing to know that God did not wait for us to get
our act together so that we would come to him? He came to us in our
unworthiness. This means that we can let our sin be sin. We need not make excuses
but let our sin be as vile and damnable as it actually is, for our sin has been
atoned for when, “God showed his love for us in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.” Praise be to God!
Prayer
O God, our sin deserved your wrath and condemnation, and you
lovingly gave your Son to die for us. In him we are justified. Thank you for
your justification! Please forgive us for not seeing our sin for all its awfulness
and wretchedness. Help us to live confidently in your grace, trusting in Jesus’
sacrifice and rejoicing in his salvation. Amen.
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