Christ died for the ungodly

Christ died for the ungodly

by Justin Kang

Romans 5:1-11

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

If you may ask, what is ungodliness? Well, to be ungodly is primarily, to neglect God, withholding from Him all that He rightfully deserves, which is worship, love, adoration, faith, obedience and much more.

In the scriptures at verse 6, the word powerless or without strength means that we are utterly condemned forever in our situation which is sin and that we have no way of escape other than to rely completely for someone capable to save us. And that someone is Jesus.

To be justified is to be made right. Jesus made you right because you were wrong. But even more so you are saved from God’s wrath and reconciled to God. From enemies of God, you become friends of God.

This is THE TRUTH –CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY

Jesus. Who is He? The Son of The Most High God. Without blemish or spot. Sinless. Perfect. Full of Light. In whom has no sin. He cannot tolerate sin for He is Holy. Destroyer of sin.

All these are just a small glimpse of who Jesus really is, yet He took our cause of ungodliness(sin) , when He Himself had no part in our fall or sins that arise due to our fall(note: Adam and Eve was tempted by Satan, NOT God).

Jesus Christ. ‘Christ’ means ‘Anointed One’. This is a title given by God to Jesus because Jesus was sent by God on a special mission. He was set apart to do God’s work and was qualified for His whole ministry here on earth by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Some may ask, ’Why did God have to send Jesus to die for us? I am just fine now. I don’t need help. I do a lot of good works’. Well, my answer to that is God is a holy God and He demands justice. Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man(Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— . God’s wrath is destined against all man for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10-12).

God viewed men as ungodly people, far from God, wicked by thoughts and actions, dead in their sins, corrupted, enemies of God. Jesus died for us out of pure pity at our helpless state, which was repulsive and grotesque to Him because He is holy. Why did I state it this way? Why did Jesus pity us? Because how can He love us out of our character, or actions or thoughts when all that we do is wicked and completely opposite of who He is? There is nothing in us that can attract Him, only repel Him. BUT He loved us in spite of us being fallen and miserable creatures, He loved us according to His loving kindness and tender mercies. He viewed us as scum and disgusting and ungodly, yet He still loved us.

Romans 5:8

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This shows that when we are saved, we have lost all rights to boast about ourselves or our efforts.

Eph 2:8-9

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

Now, how can we say that ‘Jesus died for the godly’ as some people do? What good is there for Christ to die for a just person? Do just people need reconciliation with God? Can a just person die for another just person? Would a just person need the blood of Jesus and all the pain and suffering that He went through? If being honest was a condition to be saved by Jesus, how would the thief at the cross be saved? If purity, how would the woman that loved much be saved? If courage, how would the disciples be saved when they all except John fled when Jesus was crucified? The gospel of Christ did not come as a prize for being good, but it presents us forgiveness of sins, it didn’t come because we are healthy, it came to be a medicine for the sickness.

For instance, let’s say that there is a perfectly innocent from actual sin and an unblemished man on this earth, without any tendency to sin and. And I told him that Jesus died for his sins, he would have the right to say ‘What use do I have for a Saviour? Can’t I make myself just without Him?’ So it is certain that Jesus died for the ungodly, the just don’t need to be justified and reconciled to God, only sinners.

Now how about us? What are we going to do since we know that Jesus went so far for us even till death for our sins to be upon Him and Him being punished by the whole wrath of God till God was satisfied and our sins put away forever. FOREVER!

In my life at certain points, I was so depressed and down until I felt that life became meaningless and even contemplated that suicide is the only way to end this nightmare. Satan had managed to plant many suggestions into my mind. But this was what I felt in my heart in the dark days, Jesus told me that He came exactly for people like me, scared, fearful, in despair, helpless and without hope. His Word was life giving and life breathing in the darkest time of my life. It still is today. I urge you to read His Word everyday and experience His love to you daily as He leads you on to paths of grace.

Jesus was separated from the Father, scourged, whipped, spat at, mocked, pierced, suffered in the hands of you and I, the very people He came to save. Now that we know that Jesus paid a huge price for us, how can we take sin lightly? We would be appalled by the thought of sinning because it was sin that caused our Saviour to be nailed to the cross. Imagine that your family or close friend was stabbed to death by a knife. Would you play with the knife drenched in your loved one’s blood? Impossible! You would throw it away! Sin is like the knife that pierced the heart of our Redeemer. Flee from sin and rely on His Spirit to teach you to deny all unrighteousness and teach you His ways of life.

Luke 7:36-50

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[a] and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

I encourage you my brothers and sisters, in spite of circumstances and feelings and emotions, always keep in your mind the love of our Saviour and thank Him daily for all He has done for you. For it is the knowledge of how much your sins worth, that was fully paid by Jesus that determines how much you love Jesus. And I want to say, your sins is so big that it required God’s only begotten Son to come to earth to die for you. Look to Him now and live.

Amen.

For non-Believers

If there has been anyone ungodly, not Christian that read this article, it is plain that you are in grave danger. Jesus would not have to go through all the sufferings if there wasn’t an imminent danger. You will be under God’s judgement and wrath of God will be against you. God sent his only begotten Son for you. This shows that the eternal death and hell that will be awaiting you is something God doesn’t want you to go through forever.

Only Jesus can help you escape from this danger. But rejoice for Jesus Christ died for the ungodly. I urge that you do not reject the forgiveness of sins that Christ offers to the people of this world.

If you have decided to believe in Jesus, visit this website to know more http://www.intothelight.org/answers/sinners-prayer.asp