“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:8-10, NKJV).

God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. The Bible says there is no greater love than laying down your life for your friend. So, the greatest love was shown to us while we were sinners.

One, His love is steadfast, unfailing, unchanging. So why do we ever act like we can’t trust Him to love us? I can’t trust Him to answer my prayers. I’m not sure that this is going to happen. I’m not sure I’m going to be provided for. I’m not sure I’m going to have what I need. I’m not sure I’m going to be protected. Acting in fear about these things, when we were complete sinners apart from Him, He showed us the greatest love. His love for you isn’t going to shrink at any time. He’s unchanging and His love is steadfast and sure; it never fails—love never fails. And He is love; He can’t fail you. So, that’s how we get our confidence. We’re not going to lose His love. He’s never going to stop loving us.

Next, “much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” We’re saved from wrath. What’s wrath? Wrath’s the flood. Noah is in the ark; wrath is the bowls being poured out on the population: destruction of a third of the earth kind of thing. Wrath is the earth opening up and swallowing Achan whole. It’s the end. Wrath is no more chances—done. That’s not for us, it’s not for believers; it’s never going to be for the believer. Wrath is not for us. We are saved from wrath.

This is different from trials and tribulations. Trials and tribulations are a blessing to the believer. They are a gift to us. Everything that happens to the believer is a blessing. The only thing Satan can do to you is bless you. What?! Because all things work together for good. God is working all things together for those who love Him and have been called according to His purposes, which is you if you are a believer, and you have the spirit of God in you, which makes you a believer. Because we can’t believe without Him. It’s all a gift from Him, from our good God.

Last verse: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” Let me just stop there at the first half of the verse. While we were enemies. Jesus said love your enemies. He doesn’t ask us to do something He didn’t do first. When He died for us, we were enemies.

We’re either a friend to the world and an enemy of God, or a friend to God and an enemy of the world. There is no middle ground. There’s a line drawn in the sand. He is so patient and puts up with a lot, waiting for us. He wants us—He wants everyone to be saved—but it’s black and white. You are in the kingdom of Satan or you’re in the kingdom of God. You’re an enemy of God or an enemy of the world. You’re a friend of God or a friend of the world. You don’t get it both ways and you shouldn’t want it both ways. But He said love your enemies; He did it first, He loved us. We were enemies of God and He loved us, and He died for us. He showed us that greatest love: love your enemies.

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled,” (we’re at peace with God now), “we shall be saved by His life.” That’s how we’re saved. We’re saved, not by reading our Bible a lot, or getting ourselves “good.” (Works are dead works. It will kill you. Don’t do it.) We’re saved by His life. We’re transferred out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God. We’ve crucified ourselves and His life is resurrected in us. It’s not our best life now. It’s not Him making our lives better. Our lives are to be dead and gone. The old creation has passed away. That’s dead, dead, you pass away, you’re dead, crucified. I’m crucified with Christ—self, old-self is nailed to the cross. We’re crucified. We’re dead and it is His life that is resurrected in us. It’s His life that comes through us; it’s His words in our mouths; it’s His thoughts in our minds; it’s His feelings in our hearts; it’s His power in our bodies—it’s His life. The life we live in the flesh we live by faith in the son of God—it’s His life. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me—it’s His life. It’s His life that saves us. He is eternal life. Flesh is going to fail and pass away like the flowers just fade away; His life is the eternal life. It’s His life in us that gives us eternal life, starting now that will continue on forever. You have eternal life if you have the Holy Spirit in you.

Living His life is abiding in Christ. In the vine, we’re connected to Him. His life flows through us—His peace, His joy, His righteousness. You cannot sin because it’s His life in you and He is free from sin, which means the life in you is free from sin. You have the power in you to live righteously because it’s His work, not yours. You can’t do it. You can’t do it, but He can. He can live through you. He can live all those good things through you.

Jesus was the visible image of the invisible God. The disciples said, “Show us the father,” and Jesus said, “You’ve seen Him. You’ve seen me; you’ve seen the Father.” Who’s the visible image now? We’re the visible image of Christ on the earth. People are supposed to look at us and see Christ. It’s a high calling, except it’s not our work, it’s all His work. There is no good in us. Even Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good but God.” There’s no good in us, so you don’t have to try to be good. It’s His goodness in us. We just have to love Him and get to know Him. Know Him. Love Him. Totally simple—not always easy—but totally simple, because it’s not our work, it’s His.