Daily Reading: (Romans 5:6-8):
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“You can’t get any closer than being in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22). You don’t get any closer than Christ being in you (Colossians 1:27). You don’t get closer than being united with Jesus (Romans 6:5) and you don’t get closer than being one in Spirit with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
There is only one thing that brought us close to God and Ephesians 2:14 tells us that it was the blood of Christ that brought us close to God. That is wonderful but there was also the problem about the wages of sin which is death but through the resurrection of Jesus we can be guaranteed that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Because He didn’t stay in the tomb. Jesus rose on the third day.
The question that is often asked in reference to closeness to God comes from the text in James 4:8 that appears to tell us that we have a need to come near to God.
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
The paramount question to ask is “who is James writing to here”? The answer is right in the text itself. Sinners. You might think, “well, I sin.” Just because we all sin, our action does not determine our identity and it will not change your relationship with God.
Paul addresses churches like the one at Corinth who were sinning a lot and addresses them as saints. Saints is who they are regardless of what they do. When you understand who you are in Christ, your behavior follows. Stop living in the gutter, when Christ paid for your entrance into the palace. The enemy wants you to believe that who you are is a sinner so you will continue in sin. Christ died to give you your new identity, don’t believe you are who you used to be, believe who Christ has made you to be.
The proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners (not when we got it all right) [if that was the case, we wouldn’t need a Savior] while we were sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Doesn’t that speak of God loving us when we sin or were sinning. God doesn’t want you to sin because He loves you and it harms you. However, your sin doesn’t change the way He thinks of you. The love of men is frail and weak but your Father’s love endures forever (Psalm 136). The real question is not whether God will always love you but whether you know and enjoy His love (1 Cor. 13:4, 7-8, Psalm 136).
Andrew Farley. Twisted Scripture ebook location 2395.