Steadfast, Immovable, Abounding

Second installment of the Romans Road series

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

Two primary attributes of God that we see displayed throughout His word are justice and grace. Without either of these two, He would not be the God we know. Justice—giving the recipient what he deserves. Grace—giving the recipient the good he does not deserve. How can these both simultaneously be indispensable parts of God’s character? How can He demand for sin to be paid yet grant eternal life to His fallen creatures at no cost? This is the mystery of the gospel. In incomprehensible love, the sacrificial Lamb paid the price the righteous Judge required. He did this because He knew, even better than we do, that we are completely incapable of meeting our Father’s standard of holiness.

I love the word “demonstrates” in the above verse. Paul is telling us that God’s love for us is not confined within the sacrifice of Christ. Our Lord’s redemption of sinners was not the beginning of His love for us; it is a great and grand illustration of the love that has existed since before time. Salvation does not bring the realization that “God loves me now,” but that “God has always loved me—and now, in love, I will serve Him all my days.” 1 John 4:10 says, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The truly amazing part of the Father’s plan of salvation is that He gave His life while we were yet sinners. While we claimed we could do it ourselves…while our every deed violated His law…while we angrily shouted “crucify”…while our sins pierced His hands and feet…while we sat dead in our church pews…while we acted unlovingly toward “the least of these”…while we lived unworthily of the calling to which we have been called…He loved. He loved graciously, unconditionally, and unrequited.

I love what Psalm 103:10-12 says: “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Remember, these verses were written long before the birth of the Messiah. It can be tempting to separate the “harsh”, “demanding” God of the Old Testament from the loving, forgiving, God of the New. But we must remind ourselves that the Lord’s character has not changed, and this gospel of grace has been His plan since long before Eve took that cursed bite.

While Jesus hung dying upon the cross, two thieves, one on each side, shared this crucifixion with Him. One joins the crowd in mocking Him, but Luke’s gospel tells us, “But the other answered, and rebuking him said, ‘Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he was saying, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!’” (Luke 23:40-42). The second thief recognized his inequality with the Master who hung beside Him—Jesus was innocent; he was not. This is the realization each of us must have. If we try to contribute anything to the price Jesus has paid, we are calling His sacrifice insufficient.

I love what Paul writes in Colossians 2:13-14—“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it our of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” These verses seem to proclaim, “It is finished!”. He has put death to death, and we who are redeemed cannot be held in its power. How often do we celebrate this? How often do we marvel at the undeserved grace that we have been given? How often do we thank our God for this incredible gift, instead of letting ourselves grow numb and apathetic to the gospel we have heard so many times? We wait until Easter to reflect on His plan of redemption and the unfathomable price He has paid. Yet if this sacrifice is to make any difference in our lives, the celebration of it should be often in our minds and hearts. Ephesians 1:7-8 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” The grace of God isn’t something to be obtained, stored away, and forgotten. It is greater than the words we routinely sing or the quotes we absently share. It is greater than any one of us, and best of all, it is far greater than the sin which bound us. Take time today, and every day, to be amazed by His grace—it is truly greater than we could ever imagine.

To God be the glory,

Great things He hath done.

So loved He the world

That He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life,

An atonement for sin,

And opened the life-gate

That all may go in.