#23 HCBC 3-18-07 AM
Contrasting Our Sin and God’s Love
Romans 5:6-11
INTRODUCTION:
We often gain an understanding of something by contrasting it with something that’s quite
the opposite!
We might gain a better understanding of big by looking at small!
We gain a better understanding of hot by feeling cold!
We experience gratitude for wealth when we contrast it with poverty!
We appreciate light when we are in the dark!
We gain insight into power when we examine weakness!
We grow in our understanding of godliness as we observe sinfulness!
In Romans 5:6-11 Paul contrasts our sin with God’s love!
Some people say that the preacher doesn’t say enough about our sin!
Some people say that the preacher doesn’t say enough about God’s love!
Here we have both in the same passage!
I. Our Sin
Powerless vs 6
You see, at just the right time,
Gal 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born
of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that
we might receive the full rights of sons.
Eph 1:9-10 And he made known to us the mystery of his will
according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their
fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
when we were still powerless,
We didn’t have the ability that God gives to His people!
Ephesians 2:1-3
Ephesians 2:8-9
We didn’t have the ability that God gives to His People!
If we did, we would have something to boast about!
Powerless
Ungodly vs 6
We didn’t have the character that God grows in His people!
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
2 Timothy 2:16
“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become
more and more ungodly.”
2 Pet 2:5 tells us that God brought the Flood upon the ungodly people
of Noah’s day!
Jude 14-16
Powerless
Ungodly
Sinners vs 8
…While we were still sinners,…
We didn’t have the behavior that God changes in His people!
The Bible never uses the word “sinner” to describe a person who is in a right
relationship with God.
The word “sinner” is always used in the Bible to describe someone who has
not yet come to God to have his sins forgiven!
Psalm 1
Proverbs 1:10; 23:17
Matthew 9:10-13
Powerless
Ungodly
Sinners
Enemies vs 10
For if, when we were God’s enemies…
We didn’t have the attitude that God expects of His people!
Philippians 3:17-21
Paul, once an enemy of Christ, contrasts the Christian life with the life
of God’s enemies!
Hebrews 10:26-27
In this call to persevere in the Christian life, the writer contrasts two
different kinds of people – those who change and grow out of
their sin and those who continue to live as enemies of God!
James 4:4
People who live spiritually unfaithful lives express hatred toward God!
Choosing to be a friend to the world, makes one an enemy of God!
God says: Are you on my side or are you my enemy?
II. God’s Love
The Description
Christ Died vs 6, 7, 8
John 3:16
God the greatest lover
So loved the greatest degree
The world the greatest company
That he gave the greatest act
His only begotten Son the greatest gift
That whosoever the greatest opportunity
Believeth the greatest simplicity
In him the greatest attraction
Should not perish the greatest promise
But the greatest difference
Have the greatest certainty
Eternal life the greatest possession
Verse 7 contrasts God’s love with conditional human love!
While man might possibly die for someone of good enough character,
God’s love caused Him to die for His sinful enemies!
We are saved vs 9, 10
Titus 3:4-7
The Result
Reconciliation vs 10-11
We didn’t have the ability that God gives to His people!
We didn’t have the character that God grows in His people!
We didn’t have the behavior that God changes in His people!
We didn’t have the attitude that God expects of His people!
Romans 11:15 (13-15)
The rejection of the Messiah by the Jews led to the salvation of
us Gentiles!
The gospel is now offered to everyone!
We how were not a part of God’s family have been invited in!
We were given the privilege of being reconciled and adopted!
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
It was God’s Love, made greater by the contrast of our sin,
That caused Him to reconcile us to Himself!
The Love of God
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell,
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win:
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall for evermore endure –
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure shall still endure,
All measureless and strong:
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race –
The saints’ and angels’ song.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall for evermore endure –
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were ev-‘ry stalk on earth a quill
And ev’ry man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Tho stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall for evermore endure –
The saints’ and angels’ song.