"To Die For"

"To Die For"

Romans 5:6-8 (NLT)

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Intro: How many have heard the expression "to die For". You know like when someone is describing that is really good.

. I saw a menu one time that was highlighting a dessert that was called death by chocolate. It was so packed with chocolate that it was described in this way.

. The ultimate is when something is to die for. When you are describing something that is so wonderful or magnificent that you say that it is something worth dying for.

. There are not many things worth dying for are there?

. When it comes down to it, not many people would really die for a piece of cake.

. Many times, love of something is demonstrated in sacrifice.

. This guy says to his girlfriend:

“I’d climb the highest mountain for you,

“I’d swim the deepest ocean,

“I’d give my very life for you”

She says, “Oh, honey, that’s so wonderful. But what I really need is for you to help me clean up the garage on Saturday.”

And he says, “Are you kidding? Now you’re just trying to take advantage of me!”

It’s easy to say “I’d die for you,” when we’re pretty darn sure we won’t ever be called upon to fulfill our vow.

. Our love is truly proven by our sacrifice though.

On the southern border of the empire of Cyrus, there lived a great chieftain named Cagular who tore to shreds & completely defeated the various detachments of Cyrus’ army sent to subdue him.

Finally the emperor, amassing his whole army, marched down, surrounded & overwhelmed Cagular's forces, captured him & his wife, & brought them to the capital for execution.

On the scheduled day for their execution, he & his wife were brought to the judgment chamber - Cagular, a fine looking man of more than 6 feet, with a noble manner about him - a magnificent specimen of a man.

So impressed was Cyrus with his appearance, that he said to Cagular: "What would you do should I spare your life?"

"Your Majesty, if you spared my life, I would return to my home & remain your obedient servant as long as I lived."

"What would you do if I spared the life of your wife?"

"Your Majesty, if you spared the life of my wife, I would die for you."

So moved was the emperor by Cagular's words & attitude that he freed them both & returned Cagular to his homeland to serve as its governor.

Upon arriving home, Cagular reminisced about the trip with his wife. "Did you notice the marble at the entrance of the palace? Did you see the tapestry on the walls as we went down the corridor into the throne room? And did you see the throne on which the emperor sat? It must have been carved from one lump of pure gold."

His wife replied: "I really don’t remember any of that."

"Well," said Cagular in amazement, "What do you remember?"

His wife looked at him & said, "I remember only the face of the man who said he would die for me."

This morning folks, I want to talk to you about the one who showed his love for you and me by not just saying He would die for us but actually did.

. Easter is just around the corner. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, the time when we remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and his death on the cross.

. Then on Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

. We have our Easter musical and communion next Sunday so today I wanted to see just who Jesus loved enough t "to die for".

. Our scripture this morning is out of Romans chapter 5:6-8

. Clay has been preaching through Romans and he has aptly named it Theology 101. Romans clearly lays out the foundation of our Christian faith.

. Paul is writing to the church in Rome, making sure that they understand Salvation.

. Let's look at our scripture.

6When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

7Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

8But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

. Folks, mankind was not nor are we good enough for Christ to die for us.

. Look at verse 6 again

6When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

. Without Christ, without Jesus, we would be lost.