“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)
Someone who is willing to sacrifice his own life to save another person IS CONSIDERED A HERO. But who would be ready to DIE FOR AN ENEMY? Jesus Christ PROVED HIMSELF TO BE THE ULTIMATE HERO BY DYING TO SAVE HIS ENEMIES. In Romans 5, Paul is teaching the Roman believers how to endure through suffering. He encourages them to rejoice in suffering, “knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” (Romans 5:3–4)
I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE SAY, “The deepest and rarest and most satisfying joys of my life have come in times of extended ease and earthly comfort.” Nobody says that. IT ISN’T TRUE. In the end, suffering allows believers to share in Christ’s glory. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—HEIRS OF GOD AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17) “But how does suffering produce hope?” “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent THAT YOU PARTAKE OF CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS, that when His glory is revealed, YOU MAY ALSO BE GLAD WITH EXCEEDING JOY.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham