Romans 5:7-8, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
JESUS, THAT'S WHO! The Holy Bible says some men will die for a righteous man. A few will even
die for a good man. But who would give their life and die for an ungodly
sinner? Who would die for a murderer? Who would die for an adulterer? Who
would die for a pedophile? Who would die for a thieving con-artist? Who
would give their life for a street punk? Ah, our
blessed Savior Jesus Christ, that Who!!!
Jesus sacrificed His life for the scum of the planet (big sinners like me). Would you be willing to sacrifice your life for one of your own children, so they could continue living? How about a genuine man of God like Dr. Jack Hyles? Of course, many of us would. But would you sacrifice your life for the gangster-looking thug in the photo to the right? I wouldn't. But do you know what... JESUS DID!!! Romans 5:7-8, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Before we couldn't be called anything other than UNGODLY, God gave His Son to die for our sins!!!
John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt that we could not pay. God proved His love toward humanity, by sacrificing His only begotten Son in our place on the cross! We are not worthy! None of us are worthy of redemption! We are all ungodly sinners!!!
It is not uncommon in Hollywood movies to see the villain get what's coming to them. People love to see the man who cheats on his wife get hurt in a movie. People love to see the pedophile get his head blown off. People love to see the murderer get murderer! I remember that the old Charles Bronson movies all followed this scenario. Horrible crimes were committed by street punks at the beginning of the film, and then Charles Bronson killed everybody with his powerful 54 Magnum gun throughout the rest of the movie. The same plot is true of the popular film, “The Punisher,” starring John Travolta as the bad guy. But the Holy Bible says Jesus Christ willingly died for such wicked street punks, so that they could be forgiven of their horrible sins and obtain eternal life as a free gift, simply by believing the Good News of Christ crucified, buried and risen.
1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
My dear friend, Jesus didn't just go to the cross for your sins and mine, He joyfully did it!!! Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” That is amazing! Jesus felt joy in His heart as He approached His crucifixion on the cross, because He grasped what it meant in the end. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus defeated death and paid for everyone's sins, so that by God's grace anyone can be saved through faith. 1st Corinthians 15:54-57, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Hallelujah!
This is such a beautiful truth that I cannot find the words to express the incredible joy I feel in my soul this moment. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR!!! Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Whenever I encounter someone who obnoxious, unhygienic, annoying, ugly, hideous or otherwise offensive, I always immediately think to myself, “This is a human being for whom the Son of God was willing to give His life, and die on the cross for their sins. Who am I to disfavor them?” I promise you that if you will do the same, it will transform the way you view everyone. When some Christians look at singer Elton John, they see a faggot. I see a needy sinful man for whom Jesus Christ died. When some believers look at Madonna, they see a whore. I see a needy sinful woman for whom the Son of God died on the cross. When some people meet a smelly homeless person at MacDonald's, they see an offensive bum. I see a needy fellow human being for whom the Son of God died on the cross. Do you see what I am saying? But by the grace of God, there go I.
I was walking behind Chamorro Village yesterday, along the ocean on Guam. There are numerous homeless people who literally live there in the park. There's one elderly woman who I've seen off and on for the past ten years. She lives outside. I have given her a few hundred dollars over the years, a little here and there, with a Gospel of John. I once gave her $100 at one time in an envelope to cheer her up. I once gave her some bags of food and items to help her, when she lived in a local bus-stop (which has since been torn down). On a couple of occasions I had my daughter hand her some money. It breaks my heart to see someone homeless. I wish I could do so much more to help hurting people, but I am only one man. I once heard Dr. Jack Hyles (my hero) say that for this very same reason he wished he were omniscient (so he knew everyone's needs), and omnipotent (so he could meet all those needs). I agree totally. I feel so helpless oftentimes. But what I see most often in that homeless woman, is a human being for whom Jesus Christ joyfully died on the cross. Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
And please notice that Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus is both the “AUTHOR” and the “FINISHER” or our faith. 1st Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Notice that the Bible says to be “confident” of this very thing, that God will finish what He has started in each of us (His children). The moment that you get saved, God comes to live inside you in the form of the Holy Spirit (1st Corinthians 3:16-17; 1st John 3:24; Romans 8:9).
God
begins working on you, to conform you into the image of His dear Son.
Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren.” Carefully notice in the Scripture we just read that God
doesn't conform us to salvation; but rather, into the IMAGE of His dear Son.
God knows before we're even born whether or not we will receive Christ. For
those whom God foreknows will get saved, He predestinates (plans ahead) to
mold them into the image of Jesus. It's just like two parents that are
expecting a baby. They plan ahead. They buy a crib. They start saving money
to pay for their child's college education (if they can). They plan that
child's life before the child is even born. God does the same thing with us,
so excited that He will one day fulfill all His dreams for us (Romans 8:32).
God knew before we were ever born that we would trust upon His only begotten (biological) Son. So God the Father made plans to conform us into the very image (likeness) of Jesus. 1st Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” Colossians 1:22, “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” If you are saved, GOD HAS BIG PLANS FOR YOU AND ME, MY DEAR SISTER OR BROTHER IN CHRIST!!! I can't wait! Amen! My dear friend, do you realize that if you are saved, everything that God has will also be yours!!! Revelation 21:7, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
To “overcome” means to be saved, it is that simple. 1st John 5:4a, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.” If you are born-again, you have overcome the world, and you will inherit all things in eternity. Also, please consider Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Amen, we are saved BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!!! 1st John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Don't miss that important truth! 1st John 5:4a, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.” If you have parked your trust in the Good News of Christ crucified, buried and risen, you are saved certain and forever. It is that easy, free and simple to be saved!!!
Some people would die for a righteous man. A few might even die for a good man. But no one except Jesus would die for an evil and unthankful person. Luke 6:35b, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Jesus is precious!!!
