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Leslie Wittenmyer

October 14, 2023

Romans 5:8-11, New Living Translation

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son, while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God, because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”


What is the gospel? It is the good news of Jesus Christ! What is the good news of Jesus Christ? Paul tells us clearly in Romans 5:8-12 (NLT) what the good news of Jesus Christ is. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son, while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God, because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

 

Why do we need this good news? If you are not a Christian, here is why you need Jesus. Many of us may think we are really good people. But ask yourself these questions… Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever looked at a woman or man with lust? Have you ever hated anyone? Have you ever taken the Lord’s name in vain? Have you ever told a lie about a friend or neighbor to make yourself look better? If you have answered yes to any of these questions you have broken some or all of the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:3-17, NLT) This means that you have sinned against God, and if you have used the Lord's name in vain, it makes you an enemy of God.

 

We all are or were sinners. There’s not one person on this earth, with the exception of Jesus Christ, who hasn’t sinned against God. If you look back and read Romans 5:8-11, it tells you that you are saved by the blood of Jesus and made right with God. How does this happen? Do I just believe? No. It takes more than believing. You have to repent from your sins, turn away from them, confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ as your savior and believe. In Acts 2:38 (NLT) Peter is addressing the crowd and says, “Each of you must repent of your sins, and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Then you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 

Once you have received Jesus as your savior, you are no longer a sinner, but a saint, a holy one. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) says, “This means anyone who belongs to Christ, has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” 1 Peter 2:9-10, (NLT) says, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of darkness into his wonderful lateness. Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once he received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

 

If you haven’t given your life to Christ, I would urge you to seek Him. In a life of sin and destruction, you are on a road to hell that lasts eternally. But because of Christ, taking your sin, my sin, the sins of the world, we can have the promise of eternal life.

 

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13, NLT) Jesus laid down his life for you, for me, and for this world. Don’t let His death be in vain! Freely receive His gift of salvation and love for you!

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