When We Were Yet Sinners, Christ...

Romans 5:8-10 “8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

When we were yet sinners, because God loved us, Jesus died on the cross for us. Jesus, who had no sin, was reviled for us, yet He reviled not again; He suffered, yet He threatened not; He Himself bare our sins in His own body on the tree; and by His stripes we were healed (1 Peter 2:22-25). Therefore, God, as it is written in Philippians 2:9-10, highly exalted Jesus and gave Him a name which is above every name, so that those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth should bow every knee at the name of Jesus. And as it is written in John 14:6, no man cometh unto the Father, but by Jesus.

After Jesus rose again and ascended into heaven, He made known to us more clearly, through His disciples, what salvation through Jesus truly is.

Acts 4:8-12 “8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

The name of Jesus is the name of salvation. In Acts 3:1-8, the man who had been lame from birth was able to rise, stand, walk, and leap, not by the silver or gold of this world, but by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The people thought that Peter and John had healed him, and they gathered together, looking earnestly at them. But Peter said this to those who were looking at them.

Acts 3:11-16 “11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?... 16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

Amen. We must never become believers who look to man and follow man. We must believe only in the name of Jesus. When we believe in the name of Jesus, we can be saved from a spiritually lame faith. Believing in the name of Jesus! That is the faith which comes through Jesus, and it is salvation!

Now, as it is written above in Romans 5:9, we shall much more be saved from wrath through Him. Therefore, when we believe in the name of Jesus to the end and live by the strength of that name in our daily lives, we will receive the love of God, salvation, and life!

John 17:26 “And I have declared unto them thy name (=the name of Jesus), and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name (=the name of Jesus).”

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

*Prayer)

Jesus, even the love between parents and children on this earth brings tears and deep emotion, but the love that God our Father has shown us through Jesus is a greater and more precious love that cannot be compared with any other love. Now, according to the love You have shown us, please help us, through the name of Jesus, to finish the race of faith, and help us to love one another with a true heart. We have prayed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.