Spurgeon: The portrait of the true Christian
“…while we were still without strength, Christ, in its time, he died for the wicked” (Romans 5:6).
Here we see how God came to meet our inability through the interposition of the Lord Jesus. Our inability is absolute. It is not written: “While we were still a while’ weak Christ died for us” or “While we only had little strength”; the expression is clear and unambiguous: “While we were still without strength”. We didn't have any resources that could help us gain salvation; the words of our Lord correspond exactly to the reality of the facts: “Without me you can do nothing”. I wish I was even more esp
licito reminding you with what love the Lord has loved us, even “while we were dead in our trespasses and sins”. Being dead is much worse than being powerless.
The only thing on which a sinner without strength must trust, and consider it the only anchor of hope, it is the divine assurance that “Christ died for the wicked in due time”. Perhaps you have heard these words before, but without fully grasping its meaning. They have something wonderful, it's not true? Jesus did not die for our righteousness, but for our sins. He didn't come to save us because we deserved His salvation, but because we were completely unworthy and hopeless.
Some might argue, confessing their impossibility: “My lack of strength mainly consists in the fact that I cannot repent sufficiently”. Many have a rather strange idea of what repentance is! Many imagine that it is necessary to shed rivers of tears, raise complaints, and face an infinite number of distressing situations. Where does such a misconception come from? Unbelief and despair are sins, so I don't see how they can be fundamental components of true repentance; yet many see them as an integral part of a true Christian experience. These people are wrong. However I know what they mean, because in the days when I was unaware of the truth, I too felt the same way. I wanted to repent, but I thought I would not be able to do it, and yet I was doing nothing but repenting. Strange as it may seem, I felt like I couldn't get the right emotions. I would sit in a corner and cry because I was unable to cry sufficiently and experienced a deep bitterness because I could not be bitter for my sin. What confusion we create when in our unbelief we begin to judge the condition in which we find ourselves! Inside I was gripped by anxiety because I thought my heart was hard as a stone. I was heartbroken at the thought of not being able to experience a broken heart. Now I understand that I was demonstrating the very requirements that I thought I did not possess, but then I didn't know how to orient myself in the labyrinth of my emotions.
The person who truly repents is never satisfied with his repentance. We cannot repent perfectly just as we are unable to live perfectly. As pure as our tears may be, there will always be some’ of dirt in them: even in the best of repentance there will be something to repent of. But listen! Repenting means sincerely repenting of the sin committed, commit to living a holy life, develop a new vision about Christ and the things of God. This implies repentance, but we must not stop there; the fundamental thing is the conversion from sin to Christ. If there is this conversion, you will have realized the essence of true repentance.
If you can't repent as you would like, it will help you to firmly believe that “Christ died for the wicked in due time”. Think about it. How can you continue to have a burdened heart knowing that “Christ died for you too”? Erase all fear, sit back and reflect on this glorious display of undeserved love, unexpected and unparalleled.
Is written: “…they will concern me, to him whom they have pierced, and mourn for it as mourning is done for an only child…” (Zaccaria 12:10; cf.. Giovanni 19:37). Repentance in itself will not make you see Christ, but seeing Christ will lead you to repentance.
Another situation that manifests all human vulnerability is that of those who affirm: “I am tormented by terrible thoughts. Wherever I go, blasphemous thoughts haunt me. Often, while I work, an evil suggestion overwhelms me and even in bed the murmurs of the evil one do not make me sleep. I cannot escape these terrible attacks”. Friend, I know what you mean because I too was persecuted by this beast. It is easier to take down a swarm of flies with a sword than to subdue thoughts when guided by the devil. No wonder you feel without strength to be able to stop these insidious and abominable thoughts that plague your soul, but I want to remind you of the words of the verse we are considering: “While we were still without strength, Christ died for the wicked in due time”. Jesus knew our conditions; he saw that we were unable to overcome this treacherous opponent; he knew we would be intimidated by him, but even then, seeing us in that condition, Christ died for the wicked. Drop the anchor of your faith on this truth. The devil himself cannot tell you that you are not ungodly; then believe that Jesus died just for someone like you. Remember how Martin Luther countered the devil with his own weapon. “But you are a sinner” said the devil to Martin Luther. “Yup” he answered and “Jesus died to save sinners”. In this way he defeated him on his own ground. If you stand firm on this truth your blasphemous thoughts that you don't have the strength to hunt will go away by themselves, because Satan will see that there is no point in continuing to use them to torment you.
These thoughts, if you hate them, they don't belong to you, but they are insinuations of the devil, and therefore he is responsible for it. If you hate them, they are no more yours than the bad behavior of the people you meet on the street. Through these thoughts the devil would like to plunge you into despair, or at least prevent you from trusting in Jesus. The woman with the flow of blood could not come to Jesus because of the crowd, and you are in the same condition because of the throng of these thoughts that push you here and there. Yet she reached out her hand, she touched the hem of Jesus' robe and was healed. Fa’ the same thing you too.
A final example of human inability is represented by those who affirm: “My weakness consists in the fact that I cannot keep faith with the intentions made. I listen to the preaching on Sundays and I am impressed, but during the week I meet a bad partner and all my good intentions disappear. My colleagues don't believe in anything, they say terrible things and I don't know how to react, so I see myself overwhelmed”. I also know this situation very well and I tremble for the person who is stuck in it, but I can say that if there is a truly sincere attitude, divine grace can meet human weakness. The Holy Spirit can drive out the evil one who frightens that individual. He can make a coward brave. Remember that you don't have to stay in this state. Stand up and look around, you will see that you were not created to be like a toad under a harrow, life threatening whether you move, whether you stay still. This is not valid only on a spiritual level, but for every aspect of human life. I will be able to do many things to please my friends, but I will never venture to go to hell to please them. It might be a good thing to do this or that out of friendship, but it would make no sense to lose God's friendship in order to maintain good relations with men. “I know” says that man, “but despite this I can't find the courage. I can't expose myself. I can't sit still in my feelings”. Good, the same word applies to you too: “While we were still without strength, Christ died for the wicked in due time”.
If Peter were here he would say: “The Lord Jesus died for me when I was weak to the point that the servant who stoked the fire led me to lie and swear that I did not know the Lord”. Yup, Jesus died for those who abandoned Him and fled. Grasp this truth firmly: “Christ died for the wicked while they were still without strength”. This is your way out of cowardice. Let it work in your soul: “Christ died for me” and soon you will be able to “die for him”. Believe that He suffered for you, in your place, and offered you a complete and satisfying atonement. If you believe this you will be forced to think: “I cannot be ashamed of the One who died for me”. A full conviction of this truth will instill fearless courage in you. Consider the church martyrs of the early centuries. At the dawn of Christianity, when the great thought of Christ's immense love was shining with all its freshness in the church, believers were not only ready to die, but they were even proud of suffering for the faith and presented themselves in the hundreds before the magistrates confessing Christ as their Savior and Lord. This proves what I am saying, and that is that possessing the awareness of the love of Jesus raises the mind above all fears that men may inspire. Because it shouldn't have the same effect on you? May this inspire you with the courageous determination to come out beside the Lord and follow Him to the end!
May the Holy Spirit help us hit the target through faith in Jesus!
