Jesus Died for Sinners Not the Righteous

I recently wrote that Jesus came for the sinners and not the righteous and this morning I am reading and writing on the extension of that premise.

“⁷For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:7-8 (ESV)

I am continuing my study of the word “righteous” and have been in Romans seemingly on the “Roman Road” as it is commonly known to those in evangelism. This morning brought to verse seven in Romans chapter five which leads into verse eight which is the verse on the “Roman Road”. Verse seven speaks to the idea that dying for the righteous or even the good is something that we in this world would likely not undertake. Yes, there are heroic moments in emergency situations where one will risk their life to protect or save others and I do not want to take away from those moments. I will say however that it is not in the nature for someone to actually consciously die for others. Jesus did.

Jesus came to this world with the purpose of providing salvation for all. He first came as the hope for salvation. Then He preached salvation. And finally He died for our salvation. He was not a sinner, yet He took on the sins of all and was gruesomely treated to the point of dying, and other than asking if there would possibly be another way, did not try to get out of it.

Look back at the words of Paul and look at the life and work of Jesus to see who Jesus came for. As I noted before, it is the sick in need of a doctor, not the well. Jesus came for the sinners, not the righteous. Jesus died for me, the sinner. He died for you, the sinner. He died for our neighbor, sinner. Jesus came to die for sinners.

I think that sometimes I forget this as a Christian. As I have been saved by grace and salvation, I may sometimes see that since I have been saved, I am somehow above the fray now and can relax for I am somebody. The reality is that I have to remember that my salvation was a result of Jesus coming for me and I have just accepted Him before others. I have to remember that I am a sinner as are you and as is our neighbor. It is my task to bring the gospel forward to ensure that everyone knows that Jesus came for all of us as sinners. I may have accepted Him sooner, but I am no better and in fact are the same as you and our neighbor, in need of and thankful for the grace of God.

What are your thoughts on who Jesus came for? Are you of the thought that He came for those who are somehow righteous? What if you took on that Jesus came for the sinners like you and me and accepted His grace knowing that He died for us as sinners, not the righteous?