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timewithgod.blog-city.com — May 2010
Romans 5 -- What I LEAST Expected
What does an unsaved person hear and understand when he reads these words? It's been a long time, but I'm trying to remember. "One man disobeyed God, and many BECAME sinners." I remember thinking that was so unf
What does an unsaved person hear and understand when he reads these words? It's been a long time, but I'm trying to remember.
"One man disobeyed God, and many BECAME sinners." I remember thinking that was so unfair of God. I didn't sin - Adam did. What I didn't understand at the time was that I had the same capacity to sin, and I had sinned already. I just wouldn't admit it.
"So through Christ we will surely be saved from God's anger." That's all I'd ever seemed to hear about - how angry God was, punishing people. I don't know why I didn't pay attention to God's love that permeates the Bible.
So what should I have noticed in this chapter instead?
"While we were God's enemies, He made friends with us through the death of His Son ... Through Him we are now God's friends again."
But I didn't feel like God's friend. In fact, I felt far from it.
"Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God."
I didn't feel that peace, either. What faith? How is one made right with God?
"When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died FOR US, although we were living against God ... Christ died for us while we were still sinners ... God made friends with us through the death of His Son."
Wait a minute ... God killed His own Son so that I could be His friend? What kind of God would do that for me?
One who loves me so much that having me with Him was worth it. Yes, it was a great sacrifice for Him, but He thought enough of me, despite the ugliness of sin in my life, to give up His own SON for ME! (By the way, it was our sin that killed Christ.)
Father, I know what it's like to feel like Your enemy - to be your enemy. I know what it's like to not love You because I don't love myself. It was my sin talking, telling me that I'd never be good enough for You. What amazed me was when I read that there was nothing I could do to come to You, except believe that You loved me enough to give Your Son for me. How could I say no to such love? Thank You for Your awesome love of me, a sinner. Thank You for making me a friend of God.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"One man disobeyed God, and many BECAME sinners." I remember thinking that was so unfair of God. I didn't sin - Adam did. What I didn't understand at the time was that I had the same capacity to sin, and I had sinned already. I just wouldn't admit it.
"So through Christ we will surely be saved from God's anger." That's all I'd ever seemed to hear about - how angry God was, punishing people. I don't know why I didn't pay attention to God's love that permeates the Bible.
So what should I have noticed in this chapter instead?
"While we were God's enemies, He made friends with us through the death of His Son ... Through Him we are now God's friends again."
But I didn't feel like God's friend. In fact, I felt far from it.
"Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God."
I didn't feel that peace, either. What faith? How is one made right with God?
"When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died FOR US, although we were living against God ... Christ died for us while we were still sinners ... God made friends with us through the death of His Son."
Wait a minute ... God killed His own Son so that I could be His friend? What kind of God would do that for me?
One who loves me so much that having me with Him was worth it. Yes, it was a great sacrifice for Him, but He thought enough of me, despite the ugliness of sin in my life, to give up His own SON for ME! (By the way, it was our sin that killed Christ.)
Father, I know what it's like to feel like Your enemy - to be your enemy. I know what it's like to not love You because I don't love myself. It was my sin talking, telling me that I'd never be good enough for You. What amazed me was when I read that there was nothing I could do to come to You, except believe that You loved me enough to give Your Son for me. How could I say no to such love? Thank You for Your awesome love of me, a sinner. Thank You for making me a friend of God.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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