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Now when one who has done the most for his enemies, he does not refuse the least to his
friends. Frederic Louis Godet
Romans 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
2E. THE TIMING
5:6
Ἔτι γὰρ Χριστὸς ὄντων ἡμῶν ἀσθενῶν ἔτι κατὰ καιρὸν ὑπὲρ ἀσεβῶν ἀπέθανεν.
...while we were still helpless
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This verse describes the miserable condition in which we were when divine love was
extended to us.
The inward revelation of divine love, which the Holy Spirit certifies to the believer that his
‘hope of glory’ will not disappoint, is now discussed thoroughly.
The opening particles translated ‘for’ is literally ‘if at least.’
Paul describes the miserable condition we were in when divine love was extended to us.
‘Helpless’ means without strength.
The noun ‘helpless’ means ‘sick’ in 1 Cor. 11:30, but here it expresses the total inability
spiritually to help ourselves.
We were unable to understand spiritual truth.
1 Corinthians 2:14
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to
him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
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All so-called good things that one does while unsaved is called ‘filthy rags’ by God.
Isaiah 64:6
6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy
garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Luke 16:15
15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God
knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of
God.
...at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
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The Lord Jesus Christ died at the right time.
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Galatians 4:4
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under
the Law,
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The development of the history of thought, the search for truth, and the ultimate reality
had passed.
The civilization of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and China had full opportunity to save
themselves by their gods, philosophers, and military might, but all to no avail.
Israel had fourteen hundred years to keep the law, but they too failed.
Man had failed, so salvation must be entirely of the grace of God and the love of God.
Christ came to die for the ungodly.
Paul gives us another word which further describes humanity; the word ‘ungodly.’
‘Ungodly’ means first of all we are unlike God.
God made man in His image and there was something of the glory of God on man.
Romans 3:23
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The image of God that was stamped upon Adam and Eve has become marred and defaced
by sin.
The ungodly have no love for God and in a couple of verses Paul will identify the unbeliever
as an enemy of God.
Man by nature is actively opposed to God, he does not delight in God’s law, and he hates
God.
Every man who is a believer now at one time was ‘ungodly.’
Psalm 10:4
4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are,
"There is no God."
Romans 5:7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man
someone would dare even to die.
μόλις γὰρ ὑπὲρ δικαίου τις ἀποθανεῖται· ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ τάχα τις καὶ τολμᾷ
ἀποθανεῖν·
3E. THE ILLUSTRATION
For one will hardly die for a righteous man
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Paul intends to show that the love of God is unparalleled.
5:7
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A righteous man is an upright man who keeps the law and rules and one who is correct in
his behavior.
The word translated ‘will hardly’ comes from a word meaning hardly conceivable or difficult
to imagine.
Basically you do not find men laying down their lives for the correct man.
...though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
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A good man is a man that is righteous, but it even goes further.
He goes the second mile, if you would ask him for his coat he would give one his shirt.
The word ‘dare to’ comes from a word meaning to have courage for; resolve to.
It is an exceeding rare case, but possible, that one might give up his life for another.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
συνίστησιν δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀγάπην εἰς ἡμᾶς ὁ θεός, ὅτι ἔτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ὄντων ἡμῶν Χριστὸς
ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἀπέθανεν.
4E. THE PROOF
5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us
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God is demonstrating His love [present tense] toward us.
What man will hardly do for that which is worthy of admiration and love, God has done for
that which deserves judgment.
The word ‘demonstrates’ means to establish beyond question the reality of His love.
The phrase ‘His own love’ is that love which is peculiar to Him, contrasting His love with
human love.
His love turns to that which is beneath Him and takes even the character of a sacrifice in
behalf of those who are unworthy of Him.
Isaiah 57:15
...in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
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‘Sinners’ describes those who have fallen short of God’s standard.
The definition of sin is missing the mark.
Romans 3:23
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We have broken God’s law and in this sense it is parallel to wickedness.
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Romans 1:18
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Paul compares man sacrificing himself, with God sacrificing Christ.
The sacrifice of Christ was in behalf of us.
Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from
the wrath of God through Him.
πολλῷ οὖν μᾶλλον δικαιωθέντες νῦν ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ σωθησόμεθα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς
ὀργῆς.
5D. THE ASSURANCE
1E. SAVED FROM WRATH
5:9-11
5:9
Much more then
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The word translated ‘then’ concludes the proof of love already received in the previous
verses and this particle is often translated ‘therefore.’
The ‘much more’ is part of a logical conclusion of the previous discussion of God’s love.
The ‘much more’ proceeds from the greatest to the least.
If we were justified by means of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross while we were helpless,
ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God; how much more will be done for us now that we are
His children.
The summary is in the phrase ‘having now been justified by His blood.’
Romans 5:10
Romans 5:15
Romans 5:17
...having now been justified by His blood,
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‘Having now been’ is participial phrase in the passive voice and aorist tense.
The action of a participle in the past tense precedes the action main verb.
The means by which God is able to declare one righteous is through the blood of Jesus.
This is a new expression, ‘by His blood.’
The previous statement is found in 3:24.
Romans 3:24
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In the next verse [10] Paul will use the express ‘by the death of His Son.’
What makes justification possible is the grace of God, that is, justification springs out of the
heart of God.
The application of justification is through the medium of faith.
What makes justification possible is what happened while Christ was on the cross.
The shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross was the infinite sacrifice that made it possible
for God to justify the sinner.
Jesus was our substitute and He bore God’s wrath as a substitute in our place.
Christ’s death satisfied the holy and righteous God, therefore making it possible for
helpless, ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God to be justified by faith.
The blood reminds the reader of the OT sacrifices.
Leviticus 17:11
11 ~'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make
atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.'
Hebrews 9:22
22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and
without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
John 1:29
1 John 1:7
Revelation 1:5
Revelation 5:9
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That is the MOST our Lord could do for us.
...we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
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The lessor thing is that we shall be saved from the future, eschatological wrath to come.
Salvation is used in three different tenses and senses.
1. We have been saved, saved from the guilt of our sins, ‘having been justified.’ [5:1]
2. We are being saved from the power and pollution from sin.
1 Corinthians 1:18
3. We shall be saved. [Rom. 5:9]
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Romans 8:23
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The wrath of God was borne by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the crosss.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had
with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who
rescues us from the wrath to come.
John 5:24
24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal
life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
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Note the phrase, ‘has passed out of death into life.’
...through Him.
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Everything is through our Lord Jesus Christ.