�When We Were Still Without Strength�

Introduction. This morning I would like us to consider together a powerful element of a beautiful text in Paul�s epistle to the Romans (Rom. 5:1-11).

I. Christ Died for Us When We Were �Without Strength� (Rom. 5:6).

A. Have you ever felt helpless? Perhaps you have experienced a�

�         Devastating situation

�         Harmed by sin another

�         Personal mistake

Illustration. In 2006, my wife and daughter and I had a wreck on the way to Florida. Five hours out of Amarillo, our vehicle was totaled, a ligament in my wife�s ankle was torn, and my daughter was bruised and sore. This was one of the times in my life I felt more helpless than any other.

B. Scripture is filled with people of God who have felt helpless.

�         David when Absalom sought to take his kingdom (Psa. 3:1-8).

�         Elijah when Jezebel sought to kill him (1 Kings 19:1-4, 8-10).

�         Mary and Martha when Lazarus died (John 11:17-21).

C. Paul is not talking about this kind of helplessness, but something much more devastating�the overwhelming burden of sin.

�         Sin makes us helpless ��without strength.�

The problem is most of the world doesn�t see this. They see sin like a�

�         Typographical error (like i before e).

�         Poor etiquette (salad or dinner fork).

1.      Paul says it makes us �enemies� (Rom. 5:10; 8:7-8; NASB & ESV �hostile.�

2.      James says the same (Jas. 4:4).

Illustration. Imagine in the middle of a war�perhaps on a field at Gettysburg July 1, 1863 I go rabbit hunting. I shoot into the woods at what I think is a rabbit and kill a soldier.Will anyone see this as an accident? No. Because a war is going on!

3.� Every soul of right mind, who comes to an accountable age at some point sins. Gal. 3:22 �the Scripture has confined all under sin.�

D. In helplessness Christ died for man.�

II. We Were Not Righteous, or Good, but Sinners (Rom. 5:7-8).

A.        �Righteous� here of probably speaks of moral innocence.

B.         �Good� here probably speaks of positive acts.

Part of the reason more people don�t obey the gospel is because it is easy for us to see ourselves in one of these categories. It is true that�

�   �Children are innocent. �Of such is the kingdom of heaven� (Matt. 19:14). When the Israelites sinned by engaging in child sacrifice, they shed �blood of innocents� (Jer. 19:4).

�   �The accountable are not innocent (Rom. 3:10-18).

Someone says, �I haven�t done bad things� I�m a good person!� That may have been what you thought, but you aimed at a rabbit, and hit a soldier in time of war! Now you are an enemy! Now you are helpless�what are you going to do about it?

III. Paul Speaks of a Time When They Were �Still� Without Strength (Rom. 5:6). That infers that his readers were no longer helpless.

A.        Paul could write �I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me� (Phil. 4:13). Lit. �I am strengthened to all things through Christ who empowers me.� A relationship with Christ changes this helplessness.

�         In persecution (2 Tim. 4:16-17).

�         �Out of weakness were made strong� (Heb. 11:32-34).

B. What changes helplessness to strength? (Rom. 5:8-10).

�         When we are justified by His blood (5:9a). His blood can restore innocence.

�         When we are saved from wrath through Him (5:9b). Christ alone can change an enemy to a friend.

C. How did this happen for the Romans?

�         The same way it can happen for us�faith (Rom. 5:1)

�         Access to grace (Rom. 5:2).

�         Which comes when we are buried with Christ in baptism (Rom. 6:3-7).