In these devotional thoughts at the
beginning of this new year, I am following suggestions from Robert J.
Morgan’s book 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart
(Nashville; B & H Publishing Group, 2010). Today’s progression
through “The Roman Road: The Plan of Salvation” falls on the
third of five verses from Romans which succinctly tell of God’s
love for sinners and His provision of a Savior, and what the person
should do to be saved from sin. The five verses in “The Roman
Road” are Romans 3:23, 6: 23, 5:8, 10:9, and 10:10. I suggest (and
so does Rev. Morgan) that we memorize each of these verses and mark
them in a favorite Bible and New Testament. In this way, we can
easily access them and know them when we talk to someone about
becoming a Christian.
“But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This verse, being introduced by “but,” indicates that a
statement of great truth also precedes this verse. Let us examine
from Romans 5:5 and forward to this verse. Paul the Apostle writes:
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
(v. 5) “For when we were still without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly.” (v. 6). “For scarcely for a
righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would
even dare to die.” (v. 7). These verses preceding our focal verse
for today tell us, as does John 3:16, that God has great love for the
highest of his creation, man. He desired and did make a way for
broken fellowship to be restored. The Holy Spirit, the third person
of the Trinity, bears witness to the love God has for us by giving
His only Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. We had no strength to
save ourselves. If we tried works or godly living on our own, we
failed in both respects. And since, “without shedding of blood
there is no remission of sins,” God sent His Son into the world to
live a perfect life and then to die for us. And that brings us to
our focal verse: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (v. 8)
This is a truth that the person accepts
on faith. By repentance of sins and a deliberate acceptance of God’s
provision of love through His Son, our relationship with God is
miraculously restored. Our finite minds have difficulty
understanding a love so comprehensive and complete. But faith steps
in and allows the believer to know that this is indeed true.
Subsequent verses help to make our decision understandable and
affirming: “Much more, then, having now been justified by His
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (v. 9) “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.” (v. 10). “And not only that, but we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the
reconciliation.” (v. 11).
What a progression, and all a gift from
God: Faith, confession, forgiveness, restoration, reconciliation,
and abundant life—for this earthly life and the eternal life to
come! Praise be to God who wrought our salvation through His beloved
Son! - Ethelene Dyer Jones 01.08.2016
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