Images of Salvation #4

Relationship (Reconciliation)

(Romans 5:6-11)

Introduction:

I. The Evidence of God’s Love

The evidence of God’s love is seen in two ways:

A. Subjective evidence of God’s love–the voice of the Holy Spirit in us

Romans 5:5 (NIV) 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 8:14-15 (NIV) 14 …those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

B. Objective evidence of God’s love–the death of His Son for us

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 man, though for a good man 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.

II. The Extent of God’s Love

The extent of God’s love is seen in two things:

A. The costliness of the gift

Romans 5:10 (NIV) 10 ...we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son…

B. The unworthiness of the recipients

Romans 5:6-10 (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 man, though for a good man 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. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Conclusion: Friendship with the Friend of Sinners