An Amazing Mystery

This morning I am continuing my reading from Paul's letter to the Romans.

Romans 5:6-8 NIV:
[6] "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Just thinking through these three passages, it is an amazing mystery, and amazing gift that we have been given in salvation. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians how were were chosen before the creation of the world, and predestined to be adopted as His children (Eph 1:4-5) and we see here the action He took to make that possible, dying for us. Paul writes as one who was alive before Jesus death, and after, and saw in his own person the miraculous application of the mercy of God towards him. This mercy of God is no less available to us, for each of us, as we become aware of our own sinfulness and need for a savior, have already been paid for by Jesus' death.

His death and sacrifice is timeless, in that it is applied throughout all time to every person who comes to Him humbly. There is no one single time in our lives where His mercy is only available, but rather it is available every moment of every day, and regardless of our sin or situation He welcomes us to receive Him, for He has already paid the price for us all. This was not some blanket cancellation of sin, without emotion or feeling or knowledge, but rather a deliberate act of love, with full knowledge of the price to paid, and the ones who would receive the benefit, for He knew us and chose us before the world was created.

So let me paraphrase Paul's writings this way - God demonstrates His love for us in this, He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for all our sins, ultimately dying on the cross. He knew what sins we would commit, and still loved us and wanted us for His children and paid the price wth His body and blood. The price has already been paid, and we only have to ask that the price be applied to our life, and He will do so, for He knows us and loves us. That is an amazing gift, and an amazing mystery of love, sacrifice and redemption.