While We Were Yet Sinners
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While We Were Yet Sinners
There are a lot of things in this life that we are totally helpless in. Personally helpless situations can include being in an earthquake, hurricane, or tornado — being cut off from a job as the company lays off workers — having someone dear to us die, or maybe we might be in the process of dying from cancer or whatever.
These are all earthly situations showing our helplessness. An even worse tragedy is being helpless spiritually. Every one of us is born a sinner into a sinful world. Throughout our whole lives we face situations of helplessness as sin shows its ugly face in many ways that affect us personally. There are murders, thievery, cheating, adultery, lying, gossiping, blaspheming, back-biting, political corruption, hating, and all sorts of evils that wear us down.
To top all that off, we are not innocent either. Our sins affect the lives of those around us as they are helpless in controlling us or setting us straight. Nothing so sinful as we are is allowed in heaven. Therefore, we are all condemned to die for our sins.
We were all without hope until God sent Jesus Christ to suffer and die to pay the penalty for our sins. That is mercy and love without measure. It is impossible for us to do enough good works to pay for our sins, so Christ made the payment for us and paid the penalty.
Therefore, Paul writes in Romans 5:6-8,
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
It is for this very reason, that when we honestly see and understand how greatly loved we are by God Almighty, that we begin to love as we have been loved. As we begin to love, our behavior changes.
We no longer want to sin in the ways of this world. We won’t be perfect as we face life’s challenges, but, our thankful hearts will be expressing themselves by doing good things of all sorts. We won’t want to lie, cheat, commit adultery, be hateful, gossip, blaspheme, or do anything else that might show an ungrateful heart towards God’s willing love and sacrifice for us.
Christ did not die for us because He saw how hard we were trying to be righteous all by ourselves and just couldn’t quite reach perfection. We were all sinners without a clue about love, loving, and being loved. We were all condemned to eternal death for being so loveless, selfish, conceited, proud, dishonest, hateful, and every other evil thing that hurts everyone around us.
But, God loved us, even in that trapped, helpless, hopeless condition. We really have good reason to take a look at that love and accept the fact that it is for us, too. God wants us to accept His grace and love — for our own sakes — and for the sake of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.
It will be worth it in all eternity.
As we look to God our Savior for all the help we need in this life, we say, “Hallelujah! Lord, Your love is so great, it is beyond words. Thank you for loving each and every one of us.”
Love,
Margaret
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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods
This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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