Romans 5:6 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. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 John 4:9-10 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
While we were helpless and with no hope and at the right time God sent His Son to die (redeem) the ungodly. This does not mean God universally saved all of mankind, but that His Son, Jesus Christ, universally paid the price that universally saves all who would believe. There has to be a connection between what Jesus did and each individual person. This connection is belief first. Without belief in God, His Son, and the need for His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you, then there is no need for Him. Some may say that they believe in God but they have never come to the place where they realize the need for Jesus Christ. They may even say they get more and more convinced about God the older they get and still they do not come to the place where they know they need Jesus Christ. Still, others, as they get older, get bolder and bolder in their denial and rejection of God. What good is the death of Jesus if you do not see a personal need? If all you see is a universal general payment for the sin of mankind then the point of His death is still missed. The death of Jesus, for your personal sin, must be a known heart-deep certainty. If it is not personal then His death has no benefit for you other than to judge you unwilling to believe your need and for His death a full once and for all payment (redemption and forgiveness) for your sin. Once you come to the point where you know the need, then by faith you trust in, cling to, and rely solely on Him. There is nothing you can do to earn it. It is a free gift of grace, mercy, and love. There is no work you can do to become worthy of it. Belief and faith are the work God has established for redemption, salvation, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. You can’t vow your way there. You can’t do enough good to get there.
While we were helpless, lost, disobedient, rebellious, selfish, self-centered, self-righteous, self-worthy, and self-reliant, God, out of grace, mercy, and love, sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the redemption, salvation, and forgiveness. While we were yet sinners. We had nothing to do with why God purposed this act of overwhelming love toward us. It is only out of His grace, mercy, and love. There is no earning this. If we did not earn it, then it was not due us, and if it was not due us then it is a gift from God. This gift is offered to each and every person, but they are never required to take it. Eternal life in heaven awaits those who accept this gift of redemption through Jesus Christ. The very hand of God is offering this gift of eternal life and how sad is it that the gift from the God of the universe is so easily cast aside and deemed unworthy of our self-centered lives?
