I Love You Th I I I S Much

I Love You Thiiis Much

Rom. 5:6-11

Introduction:

Child to parent or grandparent, “I love you.” “How much?” Holding his arms wide, “I love you thiiis much.” Nothing is more precious to the ears of a parent or grandparent than a child’s declaration of love. But how do we know if that child, or anyone else, really loves us? We know by what they do much more than by what they say.

The same is true with God. How do we know that God really loves us? We know by what he has done for us. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that he GAVE his only begotten son. What does that mean? Perhaps the best commentary on John 3:16 is found in Rom. 5:6-11. Here Paul gives us details on how God showed his love for us.

I. Consider our condition. What kind of people were we that we should be loved by God?

A. We were weak. (vs. 6)

Weak from disease. “Weak as a puppy.” Spiritually weak from sin and unable to overcome our sinfulness.

B. We were ungodly. (vs. 6)

Why are we spiritually weak with sin? Because we are UNGODLY!

The ungodly are those who practice lawlessness, idolatry, profane swearing and impiety, disobedience of parents, murder, adultery, false witness, indifference to God, atheism, pride, vanity, and selfishness. But it is also anyone who has committed just one sin for just one sin is enough to cause us to be imperfect. That one sin is enough to separate us from God (Isa. 59:1-2) and make us not like God who is perfect. Therefore to not be like God is to be UNGODLY!

C. We were sinners. (vs. 8)

Sin is to miss the mark. What is the mark that we are missing? Perfection. And again anything less than perfection is unacceptable to God.

D. We were enemies. (vs. 10)

Jesus said in Matt. 12:30, “He who is not with me is against me.” God declared that we were his enemies because of our sinfulness and our ungodliness.

II. Consider God’s action. God shows his love for us. (Vs. 8)

A. He sent his Son.

Not a man, not a prophet, not even an angel. God sent his only begotten son (John 3:16). No one else in the universe could accomplish the purpose of God which was to secure salvation for all mankind.

B. He sent his son at the right time. (vs. 6)

(Gal. 4:4-5) But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son,

(John 17:1) . . . the hour has come . . .

C. He sent his son to die. (vss. 6, 8, 10)

(Act 2:23) “ . . . this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

He did not send Jesus to be a politician, or reformer, general, or social worker, but to DIE and in his death, become our Savior. The angel instructed Joseph to name his son Jesus because, “ . . . he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)

D. He sent his son to die for us. (Vs. 8) “Christ died for us.”

In our unrighteousness, our sinfulness, our ungodliness, our worthlessness, He loved us and died for us anyway.

E. He raised him from the dead for us. (Vs. 10) “We shall be saved by his LIFE.”

The good news is not just that Christ

died but that he did not stay dead. Paul in Rom. 8:34 tells us . . . “Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

III. Consider the results.

A. We, the helpless are saved from the wrath of God. (Vs. 9)

(Rom. 1:18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. God in his perfect righteousness MUST punish sin or else he is not God ONE sin is enough to bring God’s wrath down upon our heads. The ONLY way to escape God’s wrath is through Jesus Christ who died for us and took the punishment of God on our behalf.

B. We, the ungodly sinners are justified. (Vs. 9)

C. We, the enemies of God, are reconciled to him. (Vs. 10)

D. We will live with God forever. (Vs. 10) “We shall be saved . . .”

Because we have been saved, we shall be saved and have eternal life. Because Jesus Christ lives, we likewise will live forever.

IV. Consider the effect on our lives.

A. We rejoice in hope. Rom. 5:2

B. We rejoice in our tribulations. (Rom. 5:3)

C. “We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Rom. 5:11)