Plumbing the Depths of the Love of God (part 4)

Plumbing the Depths of the Love of God (part 4)

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Plumbing the Depths of the Love of God (part 4) ------------------- Date: 3/4/2001
Keywords: "love of God"
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Passage: Romans 5:1-8*

1. Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2. through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

3. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

4. and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

5. and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.

8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Questions

1. The passage above tells us that the timing for Christ's death was particularly good. What was so good about that timing?

2. Who are the people in your world for whom you might consider laying down your life? Would you be more likely to lay down your life for someone who treated you respectfully or for someone who made fun of you and mistreated you?

Practical help

Just as a diamond's brilliance is displayed most gloriously against a dark velvet background, so God's love is seen in its most awe-inspiring beauty when viewed against the backdrop of our sin. God not only did not wait for us to "clean up our acts" prior to showering us with His love, He sent His love while we were shaking our fists in His face!

How great is the love of God for you? Consider this: Won't any loving father throw himself in front of a speeding car to save his child? Sure he will. Is that father as likely to do the same for a child who has been bullying his own child at school? Probably not.

But God's act of sending His Son, Jesus, to die for you is similar to that father, who would have been sacrificing himself for his own son's enemy.

As the verses above point out, the sacrifice of God was made for you at precisely the moment you deserved it least - when you were a sinner.

The next time you are tempted to surf for porn in front of a phosphor screen - remember God's love for you. There is no more powerful motivator to resist temptation than the awesome love of God.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLEŽ, Š Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."