“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

We may have experienced troubled relationships that lhat left us feeling wary-or even afraid-of trusting someone’s promise of love. We may even feel this way about God’s love, wondering where the catch is. There is, however, no catch. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God has proven His love because of our sinful state separated us from God, He reached out to us by giving Jesus to die on our behalf. Because of this, our sins are forgiven, and we can look forward to eternity with Him.

Whenever we wonder whether we can truly trust God’s love, let’s remember what Christ did for us on the cross. We can trust His promises of love, knowing that He’s faithful.

Daily Questions

1. When or why have you found it difficult to trust God’s love?
2. How can knowing Jesus died for you change your response?

Daily Thoughts

Dear Jesus, thank You for the great love You showed us by dying for us. Let Your love change us, heal us, direct our relationships.

Romans 5:6-8

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Bonus Information

Reconciliation restores those who’ve been alienated. paul uses the word recocile more than any other New Testament author, often multiple times in a passage; for example, he uses it three times in Romans 5:10-11. He also uses it in Romans 11:15, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, and 1 Corinthians 7:11 (related to human reconciliation).

Today’s passage highlights the necessity of Jesus’ death for our reconciliation to God. But that isn’t the end. Our reconciliation through His death leads to our salvation through His life. Paul writes, “How much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10). Notice that there are two different tenses used: we have been reconciled and we shall be saved. Paul says that both the death of Jesus and His resurrected life are necessary to our salvation.