Christ died for the “ungodly”

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ROMANS 5:6–8

It’s a powerful truth, isn’t it? People rarely die for other people. Occasionally we read about someone giving his life for someone else. It’s rare, even for the best of men, that someone would actually die on their behalf. It’s notable when it happens. It is also true that sometimes for a good man someone will dare to die. But have you ever heard of anybody willing to die for a wicked, vile, evil man? That doesn’t happen…unless you’re Jesus Christ. And what kind of love is it that causes Christ to die for the worst of us? That’s the wonder of the love of God demonstrated toward us. Christ died for us. Christ died for the “ungodly.” What a statement! It wasn’t based on how worthy we were, how lovable we were, how godly we were. He died for the unworthy, the weak, the perverse. You can’t say it any more directly than He died for the ungodly—not the righteous, not the good. He died for sinners, and He did it because of His love toward us. A love we didn’t deserve produced a sacrifice we didn’t deserve. But that’s what grace does, and I hope you’re overwhelmed with gratitude.