Verse of the Day for September 22

Paul starts with a very human calculation. Hardly anyone would die for a righteous man, he says. Perhaps, for a really good man, some would even dare to die. He is describing the outer limit of human sacrifice.

Then the turn. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Not when we were good. Not when we were righteous. While we were yet sinners.

The word yet is small and full of hope. It means still, at that time, before anything changed. Christ did not wait for the turnaround. He went to the cross in the middle of the mess.

Verse 9 then reasons forward. Much more then. If he loved us at our worst, how much more will he keep us now that we are justified. Paul is arguing from the hard case to the easy one.

Beginning again is frightening because we assume we must first be different. But the love of God was shown while we were still the old version. If you are starting over this week, after a relapse, a failed course, or a broken promise, start from verse 8. You do not have to become someone else before you come back.

God's love was proved at your worst, so your worst cannot disprove it.

Much more then is how Paul reasons about your future.