STILL

Text:

Romans 5:8:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Theme:

STILL

 

Introduction:

• In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul is writing to a group of people who are the heart of the Gentile nation. These are a people who do not and cannot relate to the strict traditions and rhetoric existing in the Jewish community. They couldn’t understand “Old folk talk”.  They needed things to be broken down to plain and simple terms that relate to their real existence.  Paul did just that.  He wrote Romans closer to the “How To” methodology than any of his letters.
  • The church in Rome was begun by Christians after Pentecost and had in its population a large number of Romans or Gentiles.
  • Paul’s purpose is to explain the great “truths” of the gospel to the Jewish-Gentile church in Rome
  • It is unique in that it is a systematic exposition of the gospel of universal application à Salvation is free to all.
• In the 5^th chapter of the Epistle of Romans, Paul provides the explication, Illustration and application of justification by faith.
  • The fruits of justification (verses 1-5)
  • The foundation and fountain of justification in the death of Jesus, the Christ (verses 6-21)
• Our text is couched in the 5^th chapter to give the foundation of justification and its outpouring onto our lives…
  • Justification is defined as “a showing to be just or conformable to law, rectitude or propriety; vindication; defense.”
    • SINCE it is a SHOWING it must NOT have been seen previously
    • WHEN there is a SHOWING there is a change in the perception and definition of an object or person
    • AFTER there is a SHOWING the sentiment is that the object or person is STILL just and conformable
      • Remember…innocent until proven guilty
      • The common colloquial response to justification or the “showing” is a very airy WHEW!!! J
    • To be justified by Jesus, the Christ, dying for us makes us to know that when judgment comes we will STILL be in relationship with God
      • Our part we have to do…
        • Had to have had a relationship before…if not then STILL does not apply to you
      • What God already does…
        • God LOVES us
          • God LOVED us when He created us
          • God LOVED us when He has provided for us
            • Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
          • We are going to focus on what God does when He forgives us for our SIN
            • God loves us…STILL!

 

Body:

• In 1979, the Commodores came out with a hit single entitled, STILL. The most familiar portion of the lyrics read as follows…

But then most of all, I do love you … Still.

• The song speaks of all that had happened in their relationship…
  • Played the games people
  • Made mistakes along the way
  • They need each other
  • Now they are separated
  • He can’t stop thinking about her
  • He has feelings for her
  • HE DOES LOVE HER….STILL!
    • How many of us can so well remember when we loved (or love) someone…STILL J
      • Even though they treated you wrong
      • Even though they aren’t the best match
      • Even though you may have moved on
      • You love them STILL
    • Paul captures the essence of the concept of STILL but in a Divine context

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

• Just as the man in the song loves the woman STILL…God loves us STILL

• Our text makes it plain in its short expression of the 5 things that God STILL does for the believer (as we will see that John preaches the same)
  • DIVINE ACTING
    • God COMMENDS à not commands è God is more than just lip service…ACTION
      • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
  • DIVINE GIVING
    • It’s about God’s LOVE à God’s love is who He is è God gives HIMSELF
      • 1John 4:8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
      • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
      • John 10:30, “I and [my] Father are one.”
  • DIVINE INTENDING
    • Love given to US à God is intentional è What God has for ME is for ME
      • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
  • DIVINE GRACING
    • In Spite Of à God looks beyond our faults è GRACE
      • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
  • DIVINE ATONING
    • Jesus FIXED it à His Blood COVERS and CLEANSES è ATONEMENT
      • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

Conclusion:

• Like the man in the song, there are many things that God has experienced with us that should make God give up on us…SIN
  • Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”
  • We have all fallen short in some way…
    • Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
  • But…instead…God loves us STILL
    • God FORGIVES us STILL
    • God PROTECTS us STILL
    • God HAS MERCY ON us STILL
    • God PROVIDES FOR us STILL
    • God TEACHES AND RETEACHES us STILL
    • God SAVES us STILL
      • God LOVES us STILL

#989