Verse of the Day 8/15

 

Romans 5:8-9  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!  New International Version (NIV)

There are some, perhaps many, that have considered attending or returning to church but hold back because they think they'll have to clean up their life, put things in order before coming to church, coming to God or back to God.  Today's verses are ones that need to be shared with such people.  Think about these words "while we were still sinners" Christ died for us.  While we were still lost He was thinking of us, had a plan for us, and calls to us.

 

Verse 9 points out what we've been talking about.  We've been justified, declared just, to be in right standing with Him if we'll come to Him in faith.  He'll take care of our baggage.  He offers forgiveness.  Why?  John Piper writes:

 

• We are forgiven so that our guilt does not keep us away from God
• We are justified so that our condemnation does not keep us away from God
• We are given eternal life now, with new bodies in the resurrection, so that we have the capacities for enjoying God to the fullest

That is what He wants for us.  What is keeping us from that?  Read those points again.  Think of other verses in the Bible, in Romans that they are grounded in.

 

1 Peter 3:18  For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at http://www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com/

 

Romans 5:7-9

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁷ For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. ⁸ But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! ⁹ Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.