One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Romans 5:8. It's a very important verse in scripture. It tells me that God's timing is perfect. It reveals to me the character of God's love. It involves true sacrifice.
Let me explain. If I ever found myself in the position of having to choose between my life, or the life of my wife and/or one of my three daughters, I would readily and easily decide to die for them so that they may live. Okay, that was easy. Let's make it a little harder. A few people (maybe me depending on the situation and the person involved) might possibly be willing to die to save the life of a good person. But would you sacrifice your life for an evil, guilty, condemned person; someone who hates you, or that you would consider one of your enemies? Raise your hand if you would sacrifice your life so that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or Adolph Hitler or Osama Bin Laden or Pontius Pilate or (you fill in the blank) might live? I don't think so.
Yet, this is exactly what Christ did for you and I. He didn't wait for us to get our act together (not that this is even possible). No, at just the right time (Galatians 4:4), God showed the nature and degree of His true love. He sent Jesus to save the lost, the powerless, the ungodly, us sinners and even His enemies! He came to save Ahmadinejad, Hitler and Bin Laden and .... God loves these people just as much as He loves you and me. That's hard to swallow. That kind of love goes well beyond anything I am capable of or willing to consider.
SIDERANT: How has the church so completely screwed up this concept? Why do people feel they aren't "good enough" to come to church? Why does a homosexual feel like an outcast in God's church? Why does the church erect barriers (or perceived walls) for unkept, unclean, impoverished, social misfits, outlaws, or just ordinary people who we judge as "not having it together yet?" Could it be because we are incapable or unwilling to love others as God loves us?
Jesus did not make this sacrifice begrudgingly, but lovingly and willingly (John 3:16). His sacrifice makes us right with God and saves us from certain judgment.
Christ's death on the cross achieved three things: redemption, satisfaction, and reconciliation. Redemption pertains to sin, satisfaction pertains to God (Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:2), and reconciliation pertains to you and I. Reconciliation with God is the removal of the hostility that stands between us and God, and is the basis of restored fellowship between Him and us. God did not stop at saving us from ourselves. Neither did He call it "game over" with the satisfaction of knowing He had made everything right again. He desire a relationship with us. He calls us friend. Amazing love! Only God!
This is the story of Easter. This is the story of God's love.
Peace,
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