Romans 5-1 - God's Love, Incredible Love#
Romans 5-1 - God's Love - Incredible Love
(JP Text - Organized by Yun Dan Feng Qing)
Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise you. Thank you for drawing us to your presence with love. Through your words, we receive your supply from above, and in your words, we are renewed in strength. We are willing to receive your love and live out your love. Holy Spirit, lead us in this time, we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Romans 5:6-11:
For when we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
The topic of sharing is: God's Love, Incredible Love.
In the original text, God's love is not described in the same way as love in Chinese. Love has levels, and there is a highest love called God's love, Agape, which translates to "love doubled" in Chinese. The love God gives us is a love that is doubled; there is also philia, which refers to brotherly love, and between people, it can only be this kind of love. But the love God gives us is a love that is doubled, given by God, and it is incredible.
We can love those who are lovable, love those who love us; this is achievable. However, we cannot love those who hate us or those we particularly hate. This is brotherly love, which cannot reach the level of God's love. While we were still sinners and weak, God has already loved us with His doubled love; while we were still enemies of God, He loved us. This is love doubled.
When we were in sin and weakness, Christ died for us. This is incredible love; it is when we were still in sin that God's love was already upon us, and Christ died for us. Whether you acknowledge this fact or not, the Lord Jesus has actively completed salvation.
People either accept or reject it, but regardless of belief or disbelief, God has loved you this way. Two thousand years ago, Jesus on the cross completed God's love, revealed through this incredible act. When did God love us?
Verse 6: When we were still weak.
The original meaning of "weak" refers to being worthless, useless, hopeless, lacking, and powerless.
When we were of no value, of no use, and unable to save ourselves, God loved us. When we were ungodly, living in sin, God loved us, supplying us with everything we need every day, acting according to His will, at the appointed time, allowing Jesus to come into the world to pay the price for our sins. This is God's love.
Some may not understand why God can still love us when we are unlovable and behave poorly. This is God's incredible love; He does not want us to die in sin but desires to save us from evil and bring us into eternal life.
People must first recognize their weakness and ungodliness, admitting their inability, before they need a Savior. Before Jesus Christ came, the law was first established, and the purpose of the law was to make people aware of their sins. However, the law has limitations; it can point out sin but cannot prevent sin. Ultimately, the law leads people to Christ. He has the power to give life and help people overcome sin.
When the appointed time came, Jesus Christ came, and at the beginning of His ministry, He called out to the people, "The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." At that time, the people of Judea knew they were sinners and recognized their need for a Savior, and many followed Jesus Christ. When Jesus came, He did not constantly point out their sins but revealed God's love and proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom to them.
1 Timothy 2:5-6:
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
God has His timing in doing things. After we pray, we should not be anxious because God will accomplish the most perfect things at the right time. If Jesus Christ had come before the law, people would have asked why they should believe in Jesus. They might think, "I don't see any sin; I don't need Jesus..."
So, the order and timing of these events are the best. John the Baptist came to preach, and at that time, the people of Israel were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Messiah, hoping for a Savior to rescue them. The time had come, and Jesus arrived at the appointed day, when people needed Him the most. The purpose of Christ's coming, according to the appointed date, was to die for all of us; this is God's love!
Romans 5:8: But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This love is already upon us, including those who have not yet believed in Jesus. God desires for people to understand this love early, to accept this love, and to receive His eternal life. If people had not sinned, Jesus Christ would not have needed to die for us at all; He would not have needed to pay such a heavy price. It is precisely because we are all sinners, living in sin, often experiencing troubles, fears, and death, that we need redemption. Therefore, Jesus Christ came; He died for us and became our sin offering.
What is a sacrificial animal? In the Old Testament, if a person wanted to come before God and was a sinner, they had to offer a sacrifice, such as a sheep, a cow, a clean animal, a turtledove, or a pigeon, to the priest. The priest would offer the sacrifice for them. For example, if someone brought a sheep to the priest, they would place their hands on the sheep's head and say, "All my sins are transferred to this sheep." Their sins would be completely transferred to the sheep, and at that moment, all their sins were covered by the blood of the sheep. This sheep had to die. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is our sacrificial animal.
1 Corinthians 5:7: For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
If you acknowledge that you are a sinner, recognizing that you are imperfect, Jesus became your sacrifice on the cross. If you are willing to seek God, Jesus Christ is your sacrifice. If you want to find the one true God, you must go through Jesus Christ, who died for your sins and became our sacrificial animal because He loves us.
Ephesians 5:2: And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Why did He offer Himself before God? Because we need a sacrifice. As mentioned earlier, God's love for us is long, wide, high, and deep; it is incredible love. Even when we feel unlovable, sinning every day, sometimes complaining to God, even then, God still loves you. This is called incredible love. Jesus Christ became the sacrificial animal to reconcile our relationship with God and to receive all blessings from God.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ became the sacrificial animal for you; He died for you, as predetermined by God. Our Heavenly Father has loved you long ago, and at the appointed time, He allowed Jesus Christ to become your sacrificial animal, opening the way between man and God. This is the path paved by Jesus' blood. The death of Jesus Christ became our ransom; today, you no longer need to bring a sheep, cow, dove, or turtledove to find a priest because Jesus is the most perfect and holy sacrifice.
All born of Adam have become sinners. Because of our ancestor Adam's sin, God originally entrusted this world to him, but he gave the authority of the world to the devil. The devil began to rule this world, and Adam fell into sin himself. From then on, all people in the world were under the control of the devil. This authority was deceitfully obtained by the devil, and we cannot redeem ourselves. Jesus Christ became our ransom.
Romans 3:24: And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Previously, we were sinners, but now, through the ransom of Jesus Christ, we have been justified freely. How does God save us? He gave Himself to redeem us from all evil and to purify us, making us His own people, zealous for good works. This is the content of Titus 2:14.
Jesus Christ offered His body as a ransom to redeem us from all evil. Those who have believed in Jesus should be assured of one thing: you have already been redeemed by Jesus; this has been accomplished. Jesus has saved you from all evil and has already purified you. Do not see yourself as a filthy person; do not call yourself a sinner saved by grace. This is an incorrect term and does not align with what the Bible says. In God's eyes, you are either righteous or a sinner; there is no such thing as a sinner saved by grace.
When Jesus Christ gave His life, He gave us a new identity, which is that we are justified. Justification is not related to behavior; do not think that when your behavior is poor, you become a sinner again. When you repent and confess your sins, you do not turn back into a sinner. There is no back-and-forth change of identity; it is clearly stated here that Jesus has given Himself, saved us from all evil, and purified us, making us His own people.
Why can you call God "Abba Father"? Because after Jesus saved you, you have already become His child. This has been accomplished; do not doubt it. If you think you have become a sinner again, then you have no right to call Him "Abba Father." If you call God "Abba Father," you are a righteous person, loved by God.
1 John 2:2: He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
God's incredible love is not only for us but for everyone in the world. Someone once asked me why God saves those despicable people. He said he knows a person who is particularly despicable and should not be preached to; such a person should go to hell.
If we think this way, we ourselves are also unworthy of the gospel. Before we believed in Jesus, we were all sinners. It is God's love that saved us and brought us into Christ. For example, the thief on the cross—what was lovable about him? He had committed murder and arson, doing all kinds of evil, and was nailed to the cross, believing that he deserved such punishment.
But God still loved him, and Jesus became the propitiation for him. This is God's incredible love. We can only love those who love us; we love them. For those who hate us, forgiving them is already commendable, but we cannot love them unconditionally. But God's love is a doubled love, unconditional love. It is incredible love. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the salvation prepared for all humanity; as long as you are willing to accept it, you can receive God's love.
Brothers and sisters, if you feel that no one loves you in this world and that your life has reached a low point, please seek Jesus Christ, for He still loves you. When you return to the church, you will see a group of people waiting for you, accepting and loving each other in love.
Jesus Christ died for all humanity, becoming the peace offering between man and God. It is not that we love God, but that God loves us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins; this is love. To understand God's love, we need to know more about the grace of Christ and His love on the cross. We also need to know God in the church and live in fellowship. As long as you are willing to open your heart and receive this love, your life will be filled with faith and hope. Even if no one in the world loves you, God still loves you.
Sharing God's love is extraordinary, incredible.
Verse 7 says: For one will scarcely die for a righteous person; though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die.
In difficult situations, some people try to save themselves. Some are willing to sacrifice for great ideals; there are many such people. They are worthy of admiration and respect.
The "righteous person" mentioned here is not the righteous person in God's eyes but refers to those we see as upright. Some people think that dying for an upright person is rare; dying for a good person—what is a good person? Translated into another term, it is easier to understand as a good person! For example, someone who often does good deeds; if they encounter problems, perhaps someone would be willing to die for them. Such people may dare to do so.
But only Christ died for us while we were still sinners; God's love is shown here.
But who is willing to die for an enemy, for a sinner? People in the world are unwilling. But Jesus died for sinners, for the ungodly, for the weak. The weak refers to those who are useless, lacking, worthless, and insignificant. Jesus died for such people. This is an extraordinary, incredible love.
If your enemy were in trouble, would you be willing to give your life for him? For someone deemed worthless by society, would you die for him? I once saw a news story about a sewage worker who accidentally fell into a cesspool, and a college student saved him, but the student died. Society debated whether it was worth it for the student to die for someone deemed worthless, saying that the country spent a lot of money training him, and it was wrong to die for such a person.
The world evaluates a person's worth based on what kind of person they are. But Jesus Christ sees every life as precious, as priceless. Therefore, Jesus does not want people to live in sin; He died for you to save your life and change your life. He loves you.
As mentioned earlier, while we were still sinners, God's love has already been revealed to us. The meaning of "revealed" is to point out, prove, show, and explain. This is a present tense. In fact, God has always been revealing His love to the world, but He does not force you to accept His love.
From a young age, many people know about Jesus, but they do not understand that it is God's love for them. We use and receive God's provision every day, but we do not realize that God has been demonstrating His love for us. Just as Romans 1 begins to say, even if you do not know God, through the things He has created, you should know that God indeed exists.
Many times, we do not understand why we came into this world and feel confused. The answer is simple: God loves you. He placed you in this world to make you a precious vessel. When we were still sinners, what could sinners do? The first thing is to disobey God's words.
What is sin? The original meaning is like a person shooting an arrow, but the arrow does not hit the target.
Deviating from God's center is called sin. While we were still sinners, God's love was always upon us. At that time, we disobeyed God's words and were unwilling to accept God, selfishly thinking about our own matters, but God still loved you.
When we act according to our own will, God still loves you. When we pursue the desires of the flesh, living solely for ourselves, God still loves you and leads us to repentance with His grace.
Many people think they are remarkable, able to make money in business, or do great things. If God does not open the way ahead of them, they cannot accomplish anything because God is willing to reveal His love to us. This is love doubled, unconditional love, self-sacrificing love; this is God's love.
Philia is the love between brothers, which we all understand: you love me, I love you. This is the love between people. If I keep loving you, but you do not love me, over time, I will stop loving you. This is human love.
But God's love is persistent; even if you do not love Him, He still loves you. We think that God only saves the righteous and good people; this is human thinking. Jesus Christ came to save everyone, which is incredible love. The lovable, He loves; the unlovable, He still loves. How does God prove His love?
The first point: God let His only Son die for us.
The world would not let their son die for sinners. Imagine our Father's feelings; God knows that people are rolling in sin, but God truly loves us, giving up His only beloved Son. When Jesus was on the cross, He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" At that moment, how painful was the Father's heart because His Son had never referred to Himself in that way.
He had never been separated from the Father.
Previously, Jesus always referred to God as His Father, "My Father," "Heavenly Father." But at that moment, Jesus called out, "My God, my God." The Father could not bear to see His Son; He knew that His Son's actions would forever spare those who believe in Jesus Christ from experiencing the pain of separation from God. If there had not been such separation between the Father and Jesus, God would not have been able to accept us.
At that moment, Jesus was in deep pain because the Father had turned away from Him, pouring all His wrath upon Jesus. Have we ever thought about the Father's heart? He could not bear to be separated from His Son, but for our sake, He gave His Son, allowing Him to leave His side and enter the material world, entering a world of decay, letting the once exalted Prince humble Himself, donning a perishable body, experiencing pain, betrayal, humiliation, and death. Moreover, the Father watched as Jesus was rejected, cursed, mocked, beaten, and ultimately brutally killed, seeing His beloved Son fall into the hands of these brutal people. Yet the Father loved these people, giving His Son; this is something that cannot be understood by our reasoning. This is incredible love.
And what were these loved ones doing? Killing His beloved Son, tormenting Him. But even so, God still loved these people. Our Heavenly Father predetermined that Jesus would die for us on the cross, placing all sins upon Jesus and condemning Him as a sinner, sentencing Him to death. Only in this way could the justice of the law be satisfied. The Father could accept us and call us righteous.
Two thousand years ago, He gave us this; He has already accomplished it for us. Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead three days later, completely fulfilling redemption. Unfortunately, many people today still do not understand the Father's love. They have misunderstandings about God. They do not understand the gospel. We who understand need to spread this gospel, helping more people understand the Father's love and accept the Father's love. This is also the heart of our Father, who desires all to repent and does not wish for any to perish.
Verse 9: Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
How are you justified? By the blood of Jesus Christ, not by human good deeds, accomplishments, or efforts. These are God's grace, accomplished by Jesus. We should not only understand justification but also understand that God is no longer angry with us.
Hebrews 10:16-18
The Lord says, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
"Those days" refer to when Jesus died for our sins, went to the cross, shed blood, and sacrificed Himself. The New Covenant began. At that time, those who believed in Jesus would have the Holy Spirit enter their hearts and dwell within them. The Holy Spirit pours God's love into people's hearts, constantly reminding them that they are righteous, holy, and loved by God in Christ.
At the same time, the Holy Spirit also reminds people that God no longer remembers our sins because these sins have all been forgiven. It is Jesus' blood that grants us forgiveness. He is our sin offering, already presented before God.
Verse 10: For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
We were once enemies of God, often sinning, and what God hates is sin. When Jesus died for us, He reconciled our relationship with God. God no longer looks at your behavior; He looks at Jesus Christ. God sees us through Jesus Christ and can accept us because Jesus has taken all your sins upon Himself. You have been reconciled with God; Jesus Christ has paid the full price for you, and you owe God nothing.
If you were to owe anything, you owe everything to God because this is a gift you received freely. Do not say you owe God; you owe God too much. Everything you have is given by God, including your life. You need to understand how much God loves you, receive this love, and pass it on, telling those who do not yet understand God's love that through Jesus Christ, they too have been reconciled with God and can come before God at any time to receive God's love and accept the blessings from the Father.
Since we have been reconciled with God, we should be saved by His life because Jesus Christ has paid the price for you. We have a guarantee with God; He is our intercessor and mediator. God accepts us, and He will save us at any time. No one can condemn you. This is not something I say; if you think there is a problem with this statement, carefully read Romans chapter 8, which mentions, "Who can bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies."
This proves that Jesus is still alive today. His being alive means no one can condemn you, including the devil. He has no right to condemn you, and you should not accept others' condemnation or incorrect evaluations of you. God no longer condemns you; Jesus Christ has died for you, and you have been reconciled with God. This is a fact. Understand that God's love is upon you; no one can sever this love. Every day, God's love is upon you. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we have been reconciled with God. Accept the endless joy and grace from God. When you know all this, you will surely be a joyful person.
Verse 11: More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Not only that, but it means that besides being saved through Jesus, we have also received other graces. Through Christ, we receive life and, in our lives, we triumph through Christ. We enjoy the joy, peace, and abundant blessings from God in this world. Jesus not only solves our salvation and entry into the kingdom of heaven, but in life, He is also our help and strength. No matter what problems we encounter, no matter how big the problem, He can save us and lead us to victory, allowing us to see His grace in Christ.
Isaiah 12:3: Therefore you will joyously draw water from the wells of salvation.
When you are thirsty, draw water joyfully from the well of Christ. If you have any lack, pray to God; Jesus Christ will supply you. Through Jesus, the Father will hear our prayers and fulfill our prayers, so that our joy may be complete.
When you pray, you can call out to the Father, you can call out "Abba Father," and you can even call out "Daddy" in a close manner. You can change your prayer style. Previously, you might have felt that the Father was somewhat distant, but changing to "Daddy" in your prayers will make you feel that God is very close to you, right beside you, and has never left. This is God's love for you; no one can sever it. At any time, you can call upon the Father, communicate with Him, and He will hear your cries, allowing you to see His love and experience His love.
Many people think that when they sin, God is far from them, that He no longer hears their prayers, and that He no longer loves them. This is a lie from the devil. Through today's message, know that God's love was upon us while we were still sinners. May you remember this: love doubled is unconditional, long, wide, high, and deep; it is incredible love. The reason it is called incredible is that it does not depend on how you behave; He still loves you. When you feel unlovable, He still loves you and will never forsake you.
Whether you are in high places or low, in trials or in joy, God's love for you has never changed or diminished. Jesus Christ is our mediator between the Father. Be assured that God's love will never cease; this is God's incredible love, an unchanging love. May we brothers and sisters experience God's great love more in our lives. Know more about His love. Live a life of being loved.
Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you. Two thousand years ago, you allowed your only beloved Son to die for my sins. I believe this has been accomplished; the cross is the best proof. While we were still sinning, while we were still sinners, you already loved us.
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me this way. Daddy, I know you have always been by my side, whether I am weak or when I have achievements; you have never left me. No one can separate your love for me.
We are willing to be messengers of love, receiving your love and living a life of being loved. Use me to convey the Father's love through me, so that more people can receive this love. As the new week begins, I am willing to know you more in my life and experience your goodness. I know I am a channel of blessings. Please give me strength to share the gospel with more people in need. Glory be to you, we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.