Christ’s Sacrifice for the Ungodly
(John 3:1–21)
Romans 5:6-11 (MSB) For at the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! 10 For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! 11 Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
V6 For at the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Even though Jesus, the Messiah, was prophesied beginning in Genesis 3:15), it was approximately 4,000 years later that the Messiah was born to the virgin. Why the long time from the promise to the fulfillment? The Bible does not reveal it, but we know that many things needed to happen as well as the various prophets prophesying of His coming. God chose and planned for Israel to be the nation through which the Messiah would come, the Scriptures given, the Law received, and if Israel had obeyed the Law, they would be the example of God’s way of life.
We were powerless, but not as dead as a rock. Death is separation from God. We were powerless because we cannot save ourselves. If the Holy Spirit does not initiate salvation (John 16:8), no one would be saved.
Christ died for the ungodly refers to all people who are sinners except the one born of the virgin—Jesus Christ. Since all are ungodly sinners, provision has been made, but since few accept and believe, the application is applied only to a few.
V7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
There might be someone who would do this.
One example provided by Grok:
“Arland D. Williams Jr. (1982)
- Context: During the Air Florida Flight 90 crash in Washington, D.C., the plane crashed into the Potomac River, and survivors were stranded in icy waters.
- Act of Sacrifice: Arland Williams, a passenger, repeatedly passed the rescue helicopter’s lifeline to other survivors, ensuring their safety. By the time the helicopter returned for him, he had succumbed to the freezing water.
- Outcome: Williams was posthumously honored for his heroism, as his actions saved others at the cost of his own life.
- Connection to Romans 5:7: His selfless act reflects the rare willingness to prioritize others’ lives over one’s own, akin to the “good person” described in the verse.
V8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The Greek word for commend/proves is (G4921) συνιστάω synistáō, which means (Thayer) “to set one with another i.e. by way of presenting or introducing him, i.e. to commend” also “to put together by way of composition or combination, to teach by combining and comparing, hence, to show, prove, establish, exhibit.”
Here it is used in the latter sense of prove. Jesus didn’t just talk (John 15:13-14), He lived what He preached. He proved His love.
V9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!
There is no forgiveness by animal blood, ritual, or work. Animal blood is not human, so it is ineffectual (Hebrews 10:4). We can’t save ourselves so this is meaningless for we are sinners with sinful blood. Only the sinless blood of Jesus is qualified and accepted. See Hebrews 9 in particular Hebrews 9:22.
Salvation includes forgiveness of sins, saved from God’s wrath, justification, reconciliation, adoption, the Holy Spirit living inside the believer’s soul, and many more.
V10 For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
When Adam sinned, he became an enemy of God and needed to be punished. Adam’s sin was a rebellion against the King of kings. This is punishable by death.
Since Jesus died for sinful humanity, we, by faith, can have Jesus’s blood from His death provide reconciliation, etc.
We are now saved from God’s wrath to serve Him forever.
V11 Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
If that is not enough, now we can rejoice, glorifying God because of the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through Him and only through Him that one can be reconciled.
Some quotes found in Constable’s notes:
- “Peace and joy are twin blessings of the gospel: as an old preacher put it, ‘peace is joy resting; joy is peace dancing.’” [Note #246: Bruce, p. 114.]
- “Our peace with God is not as between two nations before at war; but as between a king and rebellious and guilty subjects.” [Note #247: Newell, p. 165.]
- “It is well known that Romans lacks any extended christological discussion per se, but Paul’s repeated insistence in these chapters [5-8] that all the believer experiences of God’s blessings come only through Christ develops a very significant christological focus in its own right. Christology, we might say, is not the topic of any part of Rom. 5-8, but it is the basis for everything in these chapters.” [Note #248: Moo, p. 300.]
We learn:
- How people can be reconciled to God.
- How God provided for salvation.
- How the Temple sacrifices are not good for salvation?
Questions:
- Are you reconciled to God?
- How is your rejoicing?