“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:6-10).
I love the before and after in this passage. Prior to our accepting of the gospel message, we were helpless, ungodly, sinners, and enemies; a description taken straight from these verses. After we believed the gospel, we became justified, saved, and reconciled. The before and after is incredible, staggering, and powerful. But there is something in this Scripture that does not have a before and after.
The never-ending boundless love of God has no before and after. Look at when God first loved us, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The ultimate act of God’s love, Christ’s death in our place, took place when we were lost; when we were God’s enemies actually.
No righteous action on our part, no belief in Jesus even was required for God to show His love to us. His love has been flowing to everyone on this big blue marble since time began, regardless of our accepting it or turning to Him with a love of our own.
You can say with complete truthfulness to every person on this planet, whether saved or lost, believer or unbeliever, saint or sinner, “GOD LOVES YOU !!!, GOD LOVES YOU !!! GOD LOVES YOU !!!”
Let’s take it one step further. As a vessel with God inside us, with the treasure of Christ living His life through us, we are carriers of that love to every person we meet. Understanding this will change your relationships on so many levels. But let’s start with this one thought. The folks God brings into your journey (again, saved or lost, believer or unbeliever, saint or sinner) will see and feel and comprehend the depth of God’s love for them when they see it from us.