Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11, NRSV)
Rarely would a man die for another when he already loves them and adores them.
I think about the events that would make me lay down my life for another. Anything that were to happen to my wife or children would make me lay down my life. I would step in front of a bullet or a knife for them.
Then I think about my friend who is a Secret Service agent, and could have to be on protection detail for the president some day. Here they protect the position and possibly not a person they believe should be in the position. But they detach the person and die for the position.
Maybe that is what happened for us… God disconnected the fact you are His creation a beloved child from your sinful nature and died to protect the child He created. And now He asks us to do the same.
To disconnect the sinful person from the child He loves and love them as He loved us.
Because He knows that our suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because it is the hope of the promise of God!
aSacredRebel 