October 31, 2023 – Tuesday
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 RGT
8 But God exhibits his love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Comments
Fourth – there are many more – and last example in this series about the gospel beyond what we read in the verses John 3:16-17, 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
For today I wish to close out with Romans 5:8 (NKJV), 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and (Revised Geneva Translation/RGT), 8 But God exhibits his love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. I wanted to use the RGT because it used exhibits while the NKJV uses demonstrates. Not much of a difference as they are both verbs and show up as synonyms for each other. Yet, looking at their slight differences in definition we find, that demonstrate is to display the method of using an object while exhibit is to display or show (something) for others to see. Thus, God demonstrated His love for us using His Son and He exhibited His love for us show His love for us and everyone else to see. Quick note, if you go here you will find some versions have proved His love for us which is certainly true.
Additionally, this brings to mind 1 John 4:19, 19 We love Him because He first loved us or 19 We love because He first loved us. We have the latter on a piece of artwork my sister Carolyn made for my wife and I. It sits above our fireplace.
To gain the most from this verse thought, let’s look at it in context. Here is Romans 5:6-9, 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. And as verse one of this chapter says, 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are not longer at war with God rebelling against Him.
Bottom Line: God did not wait for us to ‘clean up our act’ but loved us while we were still sinners. He showed us how to love in this way. All too often, we want others to clean up their act before we love them. Thankfully, that is not how God loves.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your love for me while I was yet a sinner, living a life of sin, amazes me. Yet I am so glad You did, so that I could come to faith in Jesus and know peace with You. From You I continue to learn about what love really is and is not. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Still writing and working for the Glory of God