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Why would Jesus save me?
When we come face to face with our sin and failures along with the weight of that sin, we may become despondent. A feeling of doom may settle in. We know from last week's lesson that because of our sin we are subject to God's wrath (Romans 1:18; 3:23). But we rejoice also in knowing that the story doesn't end there. God - the holy, righteous God who condemned our sin - also loves us and has stepped in to save us (3:23; 5:9). Yes, we deserve judgment and hell, but God provided the way to forgiveness and hope: it's called JESUS CHRIST.
Tell me something, what emotions do you experience when you get lost? When have you had reason to panic? When have you been in what seemed like a hopeless situation?
Tell me something, what emotions do you experience when you get lost? When have you had reason to panic? When have you been in what seemed like a hopeless situation?
Lost in darkness and gripped with fear...
Has Jesus saved you?
Has Jesus saved you?
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
“It was a dark and stormy night.” That sentence is considered the classic opening for a bad novel. But it’s also a scenario you don’t want to experience when you’ve been knocked off a boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Trust me.
As a young man, I worked on an offshore drilling rig. On this particular “dark and stormy night,” I was offloading materials from a supply boat. The small craft was being violently tossed in the waves when a cable hit me and launched me overboard. The pounding waves carried me further into the dark waters of the Gulf. I drifted so far that I no longer could see the lights of the rig.
After two hours went by, I gave up hope of being saved. I was lost in the darkness and gripped with fear. Suddenly a light burst through the turbulent waves—a boat equipped with a searchlight. When that light hit me, my hope was restored. I was saved!
Darkness, fear, separation, and hopelessness. That’s also an apt description for being spiritually lost. But as we’ll see in Romans 5, we still have hope because of Christ.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Romans 5:6-8
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Let me get right to the point: Jesus is the Light of the world. He dispels the darkness of our lives, removes all fear, reconciles us to God, and brings us hope. Jesus did all of this through His death on the cross—and He did it for the least likely group of people imaginable.
Paul notes three kinds of people in these verses:
- The just person. Paul is not using a theological term at this point, but describing a person others see as morally upright or exemplary in his or her conduct.
- The good person. This person is generous, kind, and loving toward others. While the just person appears to never do anything wrong, the good person is simply someone everyone likes to be around. It’s conceivable that someone might possibly die for that kind of person.
- The sinner. The ones Jesus died for are neither upright nor good. They are corrupted by sin. “Christ died for the ungodly”—and this title fits all of us.
The apostle Paul placed great emphasis on the love and grace of God. Heroism might motivate someone to die for a good person, but only unmerited grace and unconditional love can drive people to die for their enemies. Jesus did just that. He died for the helpless, the ungodly, the sinners. He died for us.
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Romans 5:9
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
In Christ we are “justified.” The Greek word for this phrase was a legal term that simply meant “declared not guilty.” When we follow Jesus, our sin—all of it!—is removed, and we stand before God completely forgiven, justified, and righteous in His eyes.
Don’t miss that word “wrath.” Because God is holy, He must punish sin. In fact, His righteous character demands that He deal with our sin. Justice demands payment. However, in an act of divine love, God sent Jesus to suffer and die in our place. Christ willingly came to die as the substitute for our sin. By His death and shed blood, He is able to declare us righteous.
In eastern Afghanistan, children make money from recycling used shell casings they find lying on roads. As a military convoy headed down one particular road, several soldiers jumped out of their vehicles to move the children out of the way before the heavy trucks came along.
After the children were on the side of the road, one young girl ran back to pick up another shell casing. Unfortunately, she ran out in front of a 16-ton armored truck. National Guard Sgt. Dennis Weichel saw this and ran to get her out of the way. He got her to safety—but not before he was hit by the truck. The 29-year-old from Rhode Island died just weeks after arriving in Afghanistan.1
This is similar to what Christ did for us, only we’re not innocent children. We’re the enemy. Because of our sin, the wrath of God was barreling down on us. But Christ came as our Rescuer. He absorbed the full brunt of our punishment. In doing so, He gave us not only the chance to see our sins forgiven, but also the gift of hope.
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Romans 5:10 -11
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Here we find Paul making an argument from the greater to the lesser. Since Christ declared us righteous even while we were ungodly sinners, then He will certainly save us from God’s wrath now that we are His righteous children. The first truth increases the likelihood and power of the second truth.
Through His death, Christ has provided the way for peace between the sinner and the Creator. The dividing wall has been torn down between God and humanity. For this reason, Paul wrote, “Now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” We can be even more certain of the salvation He provided because He has risen from the dead and is alive forever.
Let’s look deeper at that word “reconciled.” To reconcile something is to reestablish a relationship. Jesus brought reconciliation in order to reestablish the peace humanity enjoyed with God before Adam gave in to temptation and brought sin into the world. We don’t have the ability to reestablish our relationship with God, but Christ is able—and He took the initiative to make it happen.
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- Our future is secure. We are reconciled to God by Jesus’ death, but our security is in His life. Jesus rose triumphantly from the dead, and His bodily resurrection is the proof that His rescue mission was successful. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
- We have a reason for joy. Look again at Romans 5:11: “We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” True joy is knowing our sins are forgiven and we are at peace with God. The ultimate source of this joy is the hope we have in Christ.
This same hope, joy, and secure future are available to all who repent of sin and surrender their lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Sadly, countless people around the world and in our communities are lost, and they don’t even realize it. They need to reach out and receive God’s forgiveness for their sins. They need to take hold of the hope and purpose they’ve been searching for all their lives. They need Jesus.
We can actively seek out those who need to be rescued and reconciled to God. Indeed, Christians have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation: “That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:19-20).
If you know Jesus as your Savior, then you are an ambassador for His kingdom. You have work to do. So what are you waiting for?
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LIVE IT OUT
- Write your testimony. Write out the story of your own salvation. Focus on three questions: (1) What was your life like before salvation? (2) How did you come to know Jesus? (3) What is your life like now since you’ve been saved?
- Share your testimony. Pray for the opportunity to share your testimony with someone who needs to hear it. Commit to sharing the truth of the gospel with at least one person before your next group gathering.
- Invite five people. Take steps to connect with the five people you listed in the “My Hope in Christ” activity. Invite them to visit your Bible study for Session 5.
Drifting alone and frightened in the Gulf of Mexico is bad. But drifting through life in the spiritual darkness of sin is much, much worse. Seek out Jesus, the Light of the world.
Amazing Grace
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Teacher's Notes:
“Sua Sponte”
The Army Ranger motto for the past 200 years has been Sua Sponte, Latin, meaning “of their own accord” or “I chose this.” A Ranger would say, “I volunteered for this. This is what I signed on to do. You don’t pay anything for this. I give up my life for you. That’s my job.” When you look to the cross and see Jesus hanging there, what you hear Jesus say is “Sua Sponte. I volunteered for this. I willingly sacrifice myself for you.”
Lessons so far...
1. One Great Creator – Psalm 33:6-9, 13-15; Colossians 1:15-17
2. One Great Purpose – Isaiah 43:1-7
3. One Great Problem – Romans 3:9-12, 19-20, 23
4. One Great Savior – Romans 5:6-11
I. Jesus Died for Us
Listen for evidence of God’s love.
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) 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 man, though for a good man 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.
What is significant about Paul’s wording, “at just the right time”?
Jesus died for us:
What’s the contrast Paul is showing here between the limited display of human love and the vastness of God’s love?
Paul suggests “for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” What kinds of situations might he be talking about?
How is this kind of human love limited?
How is God’s love unlimited?
What do these verses teach us about God’s character?
Paul placed great emphasis on the love and grace of God. Heroism might motivate someone to die for a good person, but only unmerited grace and unconditional love can drive people to die for their enemies. Jesus did just that. He died for the helpless, the ungodly, the sinners. He died for us.
Who are these people? Who are the ungodly and wicked people Jesus died for? Paul spent the first two-and-a-half chapters of the Book of Romans telling us that we all are those people.
II. Jesus Saves Us
Listen for how we are justified.
Romans 5:9 (NIV) Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him!
How does Christ’s death justify a person in God’s sight?
What is the relationship between God’s’ love and His wrath?
God declares all believers to be justified by faith in Christ. What does it mean to be justified?
What are the benefits of being justified with God?
The battle between God and us is finished - and He won, how…by winning us. Some never knew they were out of peace with God, but they were like drivers ignoring the red lights of a police car in their rear-view mirror - they are in trouble even if they don't know it, and it will soon catch up to them.
Remember that the Bible doesn't say we have peace with the devil, peace with the world, peace with the flesh, or peace with sin. Life is still a battle for the Christian but it is no longer a battle against God, it is fighting for Him. Some Christians are tempted to believe the battle against God was almost a better place to be, and that is a dangerous and damnable lie.
How does the salvation God offers affect our past, present, and future?
Past
Present
Future
We were saved (justification), are being saved (sanctification), and will be saved (glorification).
We were saved from the presence of sin that would threaten us. We are being saved from the power of sin that would overwhelm us. We will be saved from the penalty of sin that would destroy us.
III. Jesus Reconciles Us
Listen for how we are reconciled.
Romans 5:10-11 (NIV) For if, when 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 rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
What does Paul mean when he says we were formerly God’s enemies?
Think about the kinds of things that can happen to a captured enemy, what are they?
In contrast, God provides a means of salvation for us … because He loves us!
What does it mean to you to be reconciled to God?
Christ’s death reconciled us with God!
In our human relationships, a person who loves another looks for ways to communicate, demonstrate, and prove that love. Certainly, love may be expressed through words, but even words of love need to be supported by acts of love. When we do so, love as an emotion takes on flesh, so to speak. It becomes a tangible reality. It is no longer only a spoken concept; it is proven as true; something not just heard, but seen.
The truth that God loves all humankind is threaded throughout Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Yet, God gave His love visibility in Jesus, the Word who became flesh. God definitively demonstrated His love by giving His Son to die. By our faith in Him, we can be reconciled to God, receive the forgiveness of sin, be saved from the wrath of God, and enjoy the hope of eternal life.
Jesus becomes our great Savior!
Hope to see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Favorite Saving Heroes from the Movies
“Sua Sponte”
The Army Ranger motto for the past 200 years has been Sua Sponte, Latin, meaning “of their own accord” or “I chose this.” A Ranger would say, “I volunteered for this. This is what I signed on to do. You don’t pay anything for this. I give up my life for you. That’s my job.” When you look to the cross and see Jesus hanging there, what you hear Jesus say is “Sua Sponte. I volunteered for this. I willingly sacrifice myself for you.”
Lessons so far...
1. One Great Creator – Psalm 33:6-9, 13-15; Colossians 1:15-17
- Creation is more than an accident or coincidence. It reflects divine actions, intentions, and purposes.
2. One Great Purpose – Isaiah 43:1-7
- Our salvation is not just about us…we were saved for a purpose! Since we have experienced God’s love and grace, we are called to express that love and grace to the world, so that God is glorified.
3. One Great Problem – Romans 3:9-12, 19-20, 23
- Christ came to do more than teach, heal, or perform miracles. He came to address the greatest need of mankind – the forgiveness of SIN. SIN is the greatest problem and JESUS is the only answer!
4. One Great Savior – Romans 5:6-11
- Today Paul gives us a description of how peace, hope, salvation, forgiveness, and a right relationship with God were accomplished through the reconciling death of Jesus Christ.
- God offers us hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ
I. Jesus Died for Us
Listen for evidence of God’s love.
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) 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 man, though for a good man 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.
What is significant about Paul’s wording, “at just the right time”?
- His death on the cross was neither an accident nor only the outcome of an improbable collaboration of Roman and Jewish jurisprudence. The salvation that came through Jesus’ death was neither accidental nor an afterthought, as if God simply made the best out of a bad situation. No, the atoning death of Jesus was God’s redemptive plan for calling out a people as His own who would bring Him glory.
Jesus died for us:
- at just the right time
- when we were still powerless
- while we were still sinners
What’s the contrast Paul is showing here between the limited display of human love and the vastness of God’s love?
- Christ died for us, on our behalf, even though we were sinners.
- Paul’s purpose was to magnify the difference between the limits of human love and the boundless love of God.
- The highest example of human love is a rare willingness to die for a righteous person and the slightly more common impulse to die for a good person.
- On the other hand, Christ died for the ungodly who deserved nothing and wanted nothing to do with Him.
Paul suggests “for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” What kinds of situations might he be talking about?
- A soldier falling on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers
- Someone who puts themselves in danger by donating one of their kidneys to a relative
- A Secret Service agent must be willing to take a bullet to protect the president
How is this kind of human love limited?
- You probably wouldn’t jump on a grenade for someone you don’t like
- We cannot love those who do not love us, those who abuse or harm
- When someone wrongs us repeatedly, we must escape
- If someone quits loving us, our response is usually the same
- We are incapable of really loving more than a few close people
How is God’s love unlimited?
- He continues to love us even if repeatedly rejected
- He loves us enough to have died for us
- He continues to seek after us, even when we turn our backs on Him
- He has done this and continues to do this for every person who ever lived
What do these verses teach us about God’s character?
- God loves us, even when we don’t deserve it
- God is powerful and sovereign, able to solve the problem we cannot
- God deals with sin in a way we cannot, in a way we might never think of
- God is holy (unique, separate, different) and righteous/just … the sin problem had to be solved
Paul placed great emphasis on the love and grace of God. Heroism might motivate someone to die for a good person, but only unmerited grace and unconditional love can drive people to die for their enemies. Jesus did just that. He died for the helpless, the ungodly, the sinners. He died for us.
Who are these people? Who are the ungodly and wicked people Jesus died for? Paul spent the first two-and-a-half chapters of the Book of Romans telling us that we all are those people.
II. Jesus Saves Us
Listen for how we are justified.
Romans 5:9 (NIV) Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him!
How does Christ’s death justify a person in God’s sight?
- Jesus’ shed blood
- Jesus actually died in our place … we deserved death/destruction because of our sin
- Jesus took that punishment upon Himself
What is the relationship between God’s’ love and His wrath?
- God’s wrath is declared against sin and sinners
- He is a Holy (unique/separate/different) being cannot stand the presence of evil/sin/rebellion against Him
- We deserve death/destruction
- He took that punishment upon Himself
- He loved us so much that He experienced the death we deserved
God declares all believers to be justified by faith in Christ. What does it mean to be justified?
- Made right, vindicated, made acceptable, excused, declared right, just as if you never sinned, just as if you always did right
What are the benefits of being justified with God?
- In right standing with God
- No longer guilty of sinful status
- No longer guilty of sinful actions and attitudes
- Can be united with God … eternally
- Receive eternal life .. eternal union with God
The battle between God and us is finished - and He won, how…by winning us. Some never knew they were out of peace with God, but they were like drivers ignoring the red lights of a police car in their rear-view mirror - they are in trouble even if they don't know it, and it will soon catch up to them.
Remember that the Bible doesn't say we have peace with the devil, peace with the world, peace with the flesh, or peace with sin. Life is still a battle for the Christian but it is no longer a battle against God, it is fighting for Him. Some Christians are tempted to believe the battle against God was almost a better place to be, and that is a dangerous and damnable lie.
How does the salvation God offers affect our past, present, and future?
Past
- Previous sins forgiven
- Past offenses blotted out
- Sins forgotten by God (He chooses not to act on the offenses)
Present
- Peace with God
- God’s presence in our lives in person of the Holy Spirit
- Fruit of the Spirit
- Spiritual armor, weapons
- Spiritual gifts
Future
- Eternal union with God
- No punishment for sins (ever)
- Death is not an end, it is beginning of beautiful existence in Heaven
We were saved (justification), are being saved (sanctification), and will be saved (glorification).
We were saved from the presence of sin that would threaten us. We are being saved from the power of sin that would overwhelm us. We will be saved from the penalty of sin that would destroy us.
III. Jesus Reconciles Us
Listen for how we are reconciled.
Romans 5:10-11 (NIV) For if, when 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 rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
What does Paul mean when he says we were formerly God’s enemies?
- Sinful condition
- In rebellion (passive and/or active) against who God is
- Before repentance, confession of our sin we are stuck in sinful actions and attitudes
- Before receiving God’s forgiveness by faith, we are in rebellion against God
Think about the kinds of things that can happen to a captured enemy, what are they?
- Put in POW camp, abused, even executed
In contrast, God provides a means of salvation for us … because He loves us!
What does it mean to you to be reconciled to God?
- To make an enemy a friend
- To be returned to favor
Christ’s death reconciled us with God!
- God’s requirement for sin’s punishment (death) is satisfied
- A death was recorded which counted for the death I deserved
- My sinfulness has been justly punished, now I can know and experience a relationship with God
- We are reconciled to Him, we are no longer His enemies because of our sinful condition
- We are saved from the penalty of sin because He died in our place
- We are saved from the power of sin in our lives, given a new life, a new power at work in our lives
- Eventually (in heaven) we will be rescued from the very presence of sin
In our human relationships, a person who loves another looks for ways to communicate, demonstrate, and prove that love. Certainly, love may be expressed through words, but even words of love need to be supported by acts of love. When we do so, love as an emotion takes on flesh, so to speak. It becomes a tangible reality. It is no longer only a spoken concept; it is proven as true; something not just heard, but seen.
The truth that God loves all humankind is threaded throughout Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Yet, God gave His love visibility in Jesus, the Word who became flesh. God definitively demonstrated His love by giving His Son to die. By our faith in Him, we can be reconciled to God, receive the forgiveness of sin, be saved from the wrath of God, and enjoy the hope of eternal life.
Jesus becomes our great Savior!
Hope to see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
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