SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
PROPOSITION: to use this text and others to show that all of fallen humanity is spiritually dead and without strength to perform any kind of righteousness that would please God. and to show that natural men have no strength to keep themselves from the love of sin. and to show that those who die in this miserable state of moral coruption and weekness will find that all of their righteousness is as filthy as their sin, and that the only thing it has ever accomplished was to provoke Gods pure eyes and treasure up wrath. and also to show that God pitied us sinners when we were in this impotent and despicable state of depravity, and sent his own Son to be the ONLY Saviour from sin, and that all who will come to God through Christ will never be cast out.
1.) In what way are sinners without any spiritual or moral strength?
A. Sinners are without strength to offer to God any righteousness that would please God in any way because of the depravity of their heart. their heart is a cesspool of sin and everything that springs forth from it is a stench in the nostrils of God. Romans 8:8 "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."
Romans 6:20 "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness."
B. Natural men are without any strength to understand spiritual things. Sinners are blind to God's majesty, glory and the mysterys of the kingdom of God, the natural man has no more strength to understand these things then does a horse to understand the mechanical aspects of a diesel engine.
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
C. Unregenerate men are without strength to break free from the corruptions that enslave them, these corruptions are so active, and so powerfull that no amount of determination can in anyway cause a sinner to put away sin and walk in the way of holiness.
John 8:34 "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
D. Natural men are so morally without strength and corrupt that apart from the mighty moving of the Spirit of God upon their souls they will not seek the God who formed them in the womb, or in any way offer him glory. some unregenerate religionists may honour him with their lips but their heart is far from him.
Romans 3:11 "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."
E. Unconverted men are so week and without strength that they lack any ability to repent of their sin, however if they are willing to acknowledge the truth through the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit, God will give them repentance.
Acts 5:31 "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for TO GIVE REPENTANCE to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
2 Timothy 2:25 "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure WILL GIVE THEM REPENTANCE to the acknowledging of the truth;"
F. Unconverted men are without strength to even come to Christ, and if it were not for God who draws men by his Spirit and gives the sinner faith through his word they could never believe.
Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
2.) "Without strength", some sinners use this to make an excuse for themselves to continue in sin, but here are some scriptures that illustrate men being commanded to do things that they had no strength to perform, but when they were willing God gave them the power to obey? which shows that all men "are without excuse."
A. Christ commanded the man with the withered hand to stretch it out, this was physically impossible but the man was willing to believe and because of this God gave his hand strength to respond.
Matthew 12:13 "Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other."
B. Christ commanded a paraplegic to take up his bed and walk, this man had no strength to perform such a task but he was willing to believe, so strength came into his body and the ability to walk was restored to him. he is a perfect picture of helpless and hopeless sinners that receive new life when they are willing to take God at his word.
John 5:8-9 "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked..."
C.Some may atempt to make an argument that they have "no strength", and therefore they are excused to live in sin, but this is a vain scheme that has no foundation in the word of God. When Paul was preaching on mars hill he said that God "commendeth all men everywhere to repent" and those who were willing to believe and be saved were given "repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth", God will always give repentance to those who are willing to come to him by faith. See Acts 17:30-34
Question: if repentance is a gift, and faith is a gift, how could eternal life and salvation be anything but a gracious gift? and how could we glory in any merit but in the merits of Christ?
1 Corinthians 4:7 "...what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"
3.) Why would Christ give himself up to such a cruel and humiliating death for those without strength?
A. Christ saw sinners in their impotent and miserable condition and had compassion upon them, the infinite worth of God's glory could never be compromised, God could never overlook sin, so Christ offered himself up as a payment for sin, vindicating God's glory to the satisfaction of devine justice. Christ's propitiatory sacrifice threw the door of mercy wide open. Christ suffered as the sinners substitute "the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God"
4.) Is it possible that spiritually dead sinners who have no strength could be given life and strength through Christ?
A. Yes, through a new birth sinners are given a new life and new desire to love God and serve God, "a new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you", and they are also given new power as they yield to the Holy Spirit that indwells them.
1 John 4:13 "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
Romans 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
CONCLUSION: Sinners are without strength, they have complete inability to break free from the bondage and enslavement to sin, but God had mercy upon us in our pathetic condition, God provided a way we can be given repentance and salvation from sin and live a victorious life, to the honour and glory of God, this way is NOT through churchianity, but ONLY through The Lord Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Mark 1:15 "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
