Romans 5:6-11

Additional Reading from Psalm 34

Introduction

Principal Clow, when he went to his first charge as a young minister, there was in his congregation a dear saint, Godwin Congton, who said to him “Mr Clow, when you gather us round the Lord’s table, make much of the blood. We women are never tired of hearing our men folk saying they love us, and we who are Christians never tire of hearing of the love of God in Christ Jesus for us”.

Being emboldened by such assurance, we are going to go again to the heart of things. We have touched on these central things over past weeks in Romans 1-5, but now we are going to follow Paul’s thought again as he expounds on the Cross, keeping strictly to this passage before us. Not exactly same as previous statements – not just repetition of what was already said.

Many take just a passing glance at the Cross and imagine they know all there is to know. Yet it is like a jewel with many facets. Books on the Cross, giving various explanations, are endless. Even evangelical books never say exactly the same as others. The theme is endless and will occupy our attention throughout eternity.

Keeping to this passage, and only to this, we will see what Paul says about the Cross. Then some inferences will be drawn from it.

The Doctrine of the Cross

To notice first of all that he traces the Cross on Calvary’s hill to the love of God. Already touched on Cross, but this point has not been developed so far. In it God commends or shows and offers his love towards us. This verse 5:8 is Paul’s equivalent of John 3:16.

Traces it all back to the heart of God. Conceived and planned Son’s death on Cross in order to redeem and save men. No after-thought and not emergency measure because God was caught by surprise when men refused Christ. It was planned long before men fell and indeed before creation – in the eternal heart of God.

Initiative was solely with God. Men are saved solely because of the love of God. Relevant because criterion of evangelical teaching. It is said – sometimes with truth – that we suggest that Jesus is all love but the Father is stern and righteous and just, that Jesus died to persuade God to love us, that there is division in the Godhead – same as saying “schizophrenia in mind of Eternal God”. Not at all. God has always loved us, and therefore Christ died. Not start to love after the Cross. Always loved us but not always reconciled. Until justice was satisfied we could not enjoy the blessings of love. Therefore in his love he provided the sin-bearer.

What stupendous love it was. Note how Paul builds up his argument. Scarcely for a righteous man will one die (5:7). A righteous man keeps the law, obeys rules, very correct in his behaviour. Yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. A good man is not just righteous but goes further. Governed by love, warmth and smile which is not marking the righteous man. But God’s love is not for the good man or even just righteous men. It is for sinners. What a fearful description of us – a devastating indictment. Without strength. Absolutely helpless. Unable to please him or win his favour and salvation. Ungodly. No love to God or resemblance. Utterly opposed to him and his law.

Sinners. Broken his law time without number. Hurting God. Enemies. At enmity with God. How often we have shaken fist in his face. Also subjects of his just wrath and indignation. Nothing lovely, likable, attractive about us. In his sight – utterly repulsive and objectionable and undeserving. Lawless, rebels who would tip him off throne of universe if we could. God was an embarrassment, nuisance, hindrance and enemy to us.

Yet out of fantastic grace – he loves us. Could understand if he loathes, despises, detests and hates us – but no, he loves us!

How do we know? Because Christ, his only Son, not only came but he died for us. God has given the best for the worst. His only Son, not a servant, or prophet, or a great man. Jesus submitted himself to agony, misery, shame and curse of sinner’s death, God-forsaken death – that through his blood we might be justified and reconciled. That sin might be forgiven, and we be reinstated before law, welcomed back into family circle. Saved from wrath of future.

NB Salvation hinges and depends solely on his death. Not save us by life, teaching, miracles, example, parables – he could have done all that yet still we would be lost. Everything depended on his death. How Cross ought to be for us place of wonder, and utter gratitude.

“I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene,

And wonder how he could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean”

People have difficulty in believing in God’s love. Undoubtedly there are some great problems here. Mysteries that are insoluble. Then look at Cross and ponder God’s love for men in state of enmity and hostility, in giving only and eternal Son to die kind of death he did – love can go no further than that.

We are sought and saved. Our lawgiver and judge, against whom we have rebelled a 1000 times, espoused our cause, planned our salvation and provided it at appalling cost. He laid on his dearly loved son our sins and our death penalty – which were borne by him that we might go scot-free.

How secure that salvation is! If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved in his life (5:10) en th zwh autou. Christ who died is risen again and in risen life he is at God’s right hand making intercession for us (Romans 8:34). Pleading our cause, and his pleading ensures our complete safety because it must prevail. If God can save his enemies, how much more can he keep his friends till the last day. If he died for us when we were repulsive, how much more will he take care of us now as his children. If he had achieved greater, he can surely achieve lesser. If he went to all that trouble and expense to save us, he is not going to lose us now.

Inferences from this teaching

Great danger if not converted. Jesus would not have interposed his life and borne thorns and nails and death itself if we were not in great need and imminent peril. Danger of everlasting lost eternity. The Cross is the danger signal. It warns that if God did not spare his Son, he will not spare us. Lighthouse on rocks warning of coming destruction if no turning to the Lord.

Only Christ can save from this danger, and that only through his death. If a lesser price than Christ’s death would have done, then he would have been spared. How utterly irrelevant, indeed how impudent and blasphemous this hope of saving oneself is. The Cross is the one hope for sinful man. And if men do not come for salvation, they are without excuse. More could not have been done for sinners. Asked to turn and trust, and pocket pride and become indebted to another. No matter how far we have fallen – Christ’s atonement is sufficient to cover us. If trust him, shall find debts paid and work done.

So often behind all our excuses is human pride that will not stoop to accept entirely gratuitous salvation. Hard to admit to being ungodly, without strength, sinners, enemies. Dependent solely on free gift from another.

Keep his people from thinking lightly of sin. Pardon has come to us through bitter grief and terrible suffering of the Redeemer. As they survey the wondrous Cross, realize personal responsibility in putting him there. Their sin was responsible. Learn to hate what was the cause of suffering to so dear a Saviour. Every wound of Jesus is an argument against sin. Never realize full evil of sin till we see what it cost Redeemer to put it all away. Could we play with, or even stand the sight of, the weapon that had been stained with the blood of our nearest and dearest? Remember that our sin was the dagger that stabbed the Saviour’s heart.

Grandest argument why we should love and serve him. God’s free love to undeserving and unlovable mankind, ought to move us to the very depths. Dying French saint, giving last embrace to daughter, said “My child I have loved you because of what you are; my heavenly father to whom I go has loved me malgre moi (in spite of myself)”. How different lives would be if we loved him as he deserved. Mrs Booth-Clibborn said “Laughing stock of world and of hell is a religion without sacrifice”. What commandments, demands and threats can never do, love is able to do.

Something in which we should exult. We also joy in God by whom we have now received the atonement – or reconciliation (5:11). The Cross is the theme of angels in glory and will be ours one day. We are tuning up now. Glorifying, praising and making him our delight. Bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 103:1). I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. O magnify the Lord together with me and let us exalt his name (Psalm 34:1-3).

Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice (Phil 4:4).

“Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,

Who like thee his praise should sing”