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

 

Pray for our country.

 

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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