The Great Love of God

Certain verses in the Bible always make me pause and thank God. Usually these are key verses that remind of God's salvation or God's love or Jesus' sacrifice. Romans 5:8 is all of these things.

I am always struck by the phrase "while we were still sinners." Jesus died for people who were enemies of God. Yes, through His death, He made it possible for people to come to God. But He provided this way for people not even looking for it.

Let's see that verse in its context: 

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:6-8

 Paul writes that someone may choose to die for a just person. Someone may choose to give his life for a good cause, a worthy good person. But that's not what Jesus did. He died for the ungodly. He died for those who chose to live in opposition to His Father. He died for us while we were still sinners and before we even had a glimmer of something that wasn't sinning.

The great love of God runs throughout the Bible, through Jesus' life on earth, culminating in the crucifixion and resurrection. Easter is God's love on display.

God's love calls. God's love convicts. God's love provides the faith we need to move from enemies to children of God.