Christ’s Bleeding Love – Romans 5:6-11

Romans verse by verse. In these verses, we get a wonderful picture of the magnitude of God’s love displayed in the Person of Jesus Christ

The Apostle has just made reference to the salvation love that is shed abroad in the believer’s heart by the Holy Spirit (Vs. 5)

The theme of God’s love is now enlarged upon and proved in these verses.

There are 4 qualities of this love we observe in these verses…

A Love that Substitutes (Vs. 6)

The Timing of Christ’s Death (6a)

1. “without strength” = reference to our weakness. Salvation is only by God’s power and might.
2. “due time” = the proper, appropriate time
   1. The timing of Christ’s coming to earth to die was 100% perfectly in line with God’s Divine program.
   2. Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
   3. Note: Jesus often referred to the fact “his hour” had not yet come.
   4. Historical setting: Location of Israel as a land bridge connecting East and West trade routes; Influence of Jewish Synagogue in the world at that time; Greek language widely spoken; Roman infrastructure made travel easier, hence aiding the rapid spread of the Gospel message

The Type of person for whom Christ died (6b)

1. ‘ungodly’ = without fear or reverence for God. Note: Remember link between ungodliness and unrighteousness in 1:18
2. The Gospel is for sinners
3. Luke 5:32 “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
4. Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
5. Illustration: “You’re just too good to go to heaven.”

A Love that Shows (Vs. 7-8)

The limitations of human love (Vs. 7)

1. A righteous man
   1. Words here not used not in their N.T. sense here but in its classic sense referring to one who is upright and just. He is drawing an illustration from human experience.
   2. ‘scarcely’ = root word ‘toil’, hence meaning ‘hardly’
2. A good man
   1. One who is not just upright but one who is benevolent and kind. Difference between these two words is one of sympathy. A righteous man is upright but without sympathy whereas a good man is kind. (RWP)
   2. ‘peradventure’ = perhaps, we could vaguely entertain the idea of someone dying for such a man but still it is remote and rare.

The largeness of God’s love (Vs. 8)

1. “Grace and love like mighty rivers, poured incessant from above, and heavens peace and perfect justice, kissed a guilty world in love.” (Hymn: Here is Love)
2. ‘commendeth’ = contains two concepts:’
   1. To prove or demonstrate
   2. To recommend
   3. McLaren: “A significant word employed in 2 ways in the N.T. It sometimes means to establish, or to prove, or to make certain. But ‘prove’ is a cold word, and the expression also means to recommend, to set forth in such a way as to appeal to the heart, and God does both in that great act. He established the fact, and He, as it were, sweeps it into a man’s heart, on the bosom of that full tide of self-sacrifice.”
   4. In present tense. God’s love continuously established in the death of Christ (Wuest)
3. “while we were yet sinners” = our condition before God. Observe the words in these verses that describe our state. “without strength”, “ungodly”, “sinners”, “enemies”
4. “Christ died for us” = cuts right to the heart of the Gospel. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4) Substitution again seen.

A Love that Secures (Vs. 9-10)

Saved from wrath (Vs. 9)

1. “justified by his blood” = the basis of our justification
   1. Romans 3:24 – Justified by grace
   2. Romans 5:1 – Justified by faith
   3. Romans 5:9 – Justified by His blood
   4. Summary: Grace points to the source of my justification, it is solely by Divine mercy. Faith points to the medium through which justification is received. His blood points to the atoning sacrifice which is the ground/basis of my justification.
2. ‘wrath’ = the future judgment of God
3. Illustration: Passover – “when I see the blood”

Saved by His life (Vs. 10)

1. We were reconciled to God through Christ’s death
2. His life guarantees our security for the future. So long as He lives, I will always be saved!
   1. Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
   2. Rev. 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
3. Refers to my future glorification.
4. Applies to my present sanctification.

A Love that Satisfies (Vs. 11)

The Focus of our joy (11a)

1. “not only so” = in addition to all that has already been described. It is as though the Apostle says, “and that isn’t all!”
2. “joy in God” = means to glory, boast & rejoice. Same word used in Vs. 2 & 3. Similar to the “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” in verse 2. We have come a full circle again. In the first instance our rejoicing is in expectation of God’s glory in the future. Now it is our rejoicing in God Himself in light of the richness of our salvation.
3. “Now the Apostle represents the believer as arrived at the fountain- head, looking through all the blessings conferred on him, and rejoicing, boasting, or glorying in God Himself as the source of them all. God is the great and ultimate object of his joy.” (Haldane)
4. The wonder of our salvation should give us cause to rejoice in the LordGlory I’m Saved Glory I’m saved – I’ve been Adopted, atoned for, accepted, begotten, born-again, chosen, cleansed, clothed & called.I’ve been delivered, drawn, elected, enlightened, forgiven, found, freed, glorified, gifted – the gift of grace, the gift of eternal life, the gift of righteousness, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the gift of God, the unspeakable gift.

   I’m an heir of God through Christ, illuminated, indwelt, justified, a king unto God, loved with everlasting love, made whole & a new creature.

   I’ve been propitiated, pardoned, purified, made a priest to God, quickened, redeemed, regenerated, reconciled, righteous, sealed, sanctified, set apart, separated, saved – saved by His mercy, saved by His grace, saved by His love, saved by His death, saved by His resurrection, saved by His life & saved from wrath.

   Translated from darkness into light, washed in the blood of the Lamb – GLORY I’M SAVED

5. Habakkuk 3:18 “…I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
6. Psalm 34:2-3 “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD…O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
7. Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.”
8. Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of a miry clay, and set me feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”
9. Challenge: Perhaps today you need to pray with David, “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation…” (Psalm 51:12)

The Mediator of our joy (11b)

1. Notice how often the name of Christ appears in these verses (Vs. 1, 6, 8, 10, 11). We can only joy and glory in God through Christ.
2. It is through Christ that we have received the atonement. Root word means reconciliation.

Conclusion

1. Have you experienced God’s saving love?
2. Are worshipful and thankful towards God for so great salvation?
3. Are we allowing our lives to be a channel for this kind of love? Remember the context of Vs. 5. God even requires us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44-45)

Sermon 21 of 42 in Romans Series

Sermon Audio Id: 1118171429592