Christ Died for You

Romans 5:6-8 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

There aren’t many people who we would consider dying for if we had to. There would be some usual exceptions such as spouses, children, and other close family members. But would we die for an enemy? Would we sacrifice our very own life for someone who hates us?

Jesus flips human logic on its head by showing love to us first when we did not love Him. We typically show love to those who love us, but He goes even further to show love and patience when He was struck, spat on, scourged, beaten, and mocked. Our human instincts tell us to only do good to those who do good to us. Yet Christ triumphs over human rationale by giving up His own life for those who did not love Him and were still living lives of sin.

It’s unthinkable to die for an enemy out of love and mercy for them, but that’s exactly what He did.

When I look back on my own life when I was an atheist, I am moved that Christ would have made the first move towards me by showing patience, compassion, mercy, and love. Not just any kind of love, but the ultimate love of self-sacrifice even when I had no interest in Him, didn’t believe Him, didn’t live for Him. It’s astounding that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. While you were still a sinner, Christ died for you.