For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)

Christ Died For The Ungodly

The death of Jesus was the greatest tragedy in the history of humanity, yet the greatest act of love in the history of the world. God’s love was so great for the world He willingly gave His only begotten Son to die in the place of rebellious man. The death of Jesus was not a mistake or miscalculation. Everything leading up to the murder of God’s Son was divinely crafted before the world was created. Throughout the unfolding of history, everything pointed toward that fateful day outside the city of Jerusalem.

Jesus of Nazareth was killed by his brethren at the hands of the Romans. Jews and Gentiles alike share in the death of Jesus. All men sin, making them accountable for the death of Jesus. No man can live a sinless life, highlighting the life of Jesus, who lived more than three decades and never sinned. He was tempted in all points like all men, yet without sin. Noah was a great man of faith but a sinful man. God used Job as an example to Satan of the righteousness of a man but not as a perfect man. Job sinned. Abraham, Moses, David, and Peter are examples of great men of faith who failed to live sinless lives.

All men struggle with sin and are enslaved by its power. There will never be a person who can live a life without sin. No man can ever claim he is sinless and perfect. Christ did not die to save sinless men. Jesus died to save the ungodly. An ungodly man is a wicked man. He is damaged goods. There is nothing worthy to be found in an ungodly man. Goodness does not make a person godly. Doing religious things will not make a man perfect in God’s eyes. Christ died because all men are ungodly.

Before a person can understand the death of Jesus, they must understand what they are. All men are ungodly. Not godly or good – ungodly. Destitute. Broken. Deserving the full wrath and fury of God. Without hope. No mercy was given. Undeserving. Jesus died for those who had no strength. He did not die for a righteous man or a good man. Jesus died to save sinners—the enemies of His Father. Nothing is redeeming in man that would qualify him to deserve the sacrifice of God’s only Son.

The picture is complete. Man is ungodly. Sin has darkened the world of humanity, deserving the full wrath of God as unleashed on the world of Noah. And yet, in the midst of this darkness, came the Light of the world to die for the ungodly. The price of the sacrifice illuminates the depth of man’s fall. Animals could never make a man whole because animals are not eternal creatures. The blood of bulls and goats never satisfied the debt of sin to reconcile all men to the Father. Only through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could the wrath of God be averted.

Christ died for the ungodly. He did not die because anyone deserved His death. God allowed men to treat His Son with contempt and hatred and to kill Jesus on the cross in the most horrific manner. Jesus died for the ungodly to show the mercy and grace of a loving Father. The amazing grace of God is measured by the extreme price paid to save a wretched man who is called “ungodly.” You are ungodly. I am ungodly. We did not find salvation through any worth of our own. Steeped in sin, we stood under the wrath of God.

Through the blood of Jesus, reconciliation was given to those who would obey His word. Instead of being the ungodly condemned to eternal death, now the ungodly can be saved from wrath through the grace of God. There is no greater demonstration of love than Christ dying for the ungodly. The saved are justified through His blood and saved from wrath. Praise God. I am redeemed.