The Gospel of God: God's Love (Romans 5:1-11)

1. God’s Love is Active (Romans 5:6-8)
2. God’s Love Surpasses (Romans 5:9-10)
3. God’s Love Compels (Romans 5:1-5,11)

When we look at the world around us – it is clear to see the world values loves.
Shows such as the Bachelor, Love Island and If You are the One reveals to us
that human love is emotional and superficial.

In contrast to this, Romans 5 reveals how different God’s love is. In Romans 5:6-6,
we see God’s Love is active – seen by Jesus dying on the cross for us while we
were still sinners. Paul examines how out of the ordinary this all is by comparing
how someone would rarely consider dying for a righteous person, let alone an
enemy. Yet God does just this, choosing to love us when we were his enemies.

The passage further explores God’s love. In verse 9 and 10, we see are
challenged that if we were saved when enemies of God, how much more will
we gain now that we have been reconciled. This surpasses the expectation of an
ungodly person being justified. God’s love exceeds all our human understanding –
now that we are reconciled, how much more shall we be saved by his life.

But how should we be responding to such acts of Love and sacrifice?

The passage highlights the transformative nature of God’s Love. When we
understand what it means to be loved by God, our heart changes and our attitudes
changed. We are compelled to rejoice – even in our suffering. This concept is so
counter-cultural. We rejoice, even when we are suffering. The world tells us that
when we suffer, we should just be sad, to be angry, to think life is unfair and cruel.
But Romans 5 reminds us how God has shown is love – and that empowers us to
change our attitudes even when life is seemingly at its toughest. Our suffering isn’t
purposeless, no, instead it produces character and ultimately hope. A hope that we
too will share in the Glories of our Lord and Saviour. We rejoice in our sufferings.

Human love is emotional and superficial. God’s love is indescribable and
supernatural. Ask, pray, read what God has done for you – as his love surpasses
anything we can experience.

Anthony Yoon