While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 5:7-8 - God reconciled with mankind despite our separation from Him: the very definition of grace.
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:7-8 NIV
The Apostle Paul inspires Christians past, present, and future through his writings in the New Testament. In this chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, Paul is laying out the benefits of being justified through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. In these two verses, he explains the significance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
The first verse might be confusing if one equates being righteous with being good. Paul knew the difference between righteousness and goodness very well. When he was a righteous Pharisee, he was not a good man! Paul actively persecuted those who followed Jesus, to the point that he held the cloaks of the men who gathered to stone Stephen to death.
There’s nothing wrong with being righteous, following God’s law and moral codes to the letter. But without being good at the same time — that is, benevolent and kind towards others — God’s love is not being demonstrated to other people.
Paul is pointing out that many people would not go out of their way to sacrifice themselves for someone who was righteous. Why? We humans have a tendency to prioritize our own self-preservation over sacrificing our lives for others. The Old Testament made a big point of highlighting the righteousness of people like Noah and Job, but rarely did you see one of these figures giving up his or her life for others. That makes the nature of Christ’s sacrifice even more extraordinary.
What defines a good person? At the time Paul wrote Romans, a good man would probably be someone who actively helped others. Think of the Good Samaritan Jesus described, who went well beyond what was required of him to help another person. The two righteous men (described by Jesus as a priest and a Levite) were not good, as they passed by without helping. A truly good person would inspire loyalty and sacrifice by others.
How did God demonstrate His love for us? He demonstrated it throughout the Old Testament through actions — delivering Israel from Egypt (Exodus 14) and providing the Law (Deuteronomy 7:9). In the New Testament, His love was demonstrated for humanity by having Jesus die for our sins.
The next phrase points out how humanity was (and still is) when God took His action. We were still sinners, rebelling against God as mankind has been since the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. By describing us as “still sinners”, Paul shows that God’s love for us and Christ’s sacrifice were not contingent on human righteousness or repentance. God reconciled with mankind despite our separation from Him: the very definition of grace.
The last four words, Christ died for us, describe the primary doctrine of Christianity. His death was the ultimate sacrifice that fulfilled the Old Testament system of atoning sacrifices as well as the many prophecies that pointed to Him taking the place of sinners.
The Romans used crucifixion as a method of execution for only the most serious offenses, which highlights just how significant Christ’s sacrifice was. That sacrifice was the fulfillment of God’s plan to bridge the gap between His holiness and the sinful nature of mankind.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for Your incredible love for us, which we will never fully understand or appreciate in this life. I thank You that Christ died for me fully aware of my sin, and that He has raised me into a new life in Him. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
BibleHub was accessed on January 26 for commentary on Romans 5:7-8.