"Christ Died for the Ungodly"

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8 ESV)

What an incredible statement Paul made to the Romans. It is a truth we dare not forget, for it encompasses the transformative power of Christ's mercy and love in the gospel. What I am going to say is almost counterintuitive, and it is undoubtedly not preached in all churches today.

Christ did not come to save the righteous; He came to save sinners. We should know that. In the context of the Bible, 'righteousness' refers to a state of moral perfection that is unattainable by humans due to their sinful nature. First and foremost, there is no righteousness; we are all sinners. We are made righteous by the blood of Christ, but we are still sinners. In many churches today, there is a belief that people are “good enough” to be saved.

That does not make sense according to the Scriptures. Some pastors say that, deep down, people have a good heart; they just make bad choices. Nonsense, Romans 3:23 tells us just the opposite, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Paul also wrote, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”(Romans 3:10-12)  Given the fact that we are depraved, Christ did not come for the righteous but for the ungodly, enemies of God, sinners. How amazing.

The calling of Levi is an example of this. Levi (Matthew) was a tax collector, the worst of the worst, despised by the Jews because they were collaborators with the Romans and extorters of the people’s money. Yet, Jesus called on Levi to “follow him.” Levi did follow him, leaving all the money on his tax table and walking away from that life. Now this is significant because Levi could never go back to being a tax collector; the Romans would no longer have him because he walked away from their work, and the Jews would not have him because he, in their eyes, was a tax collector. This was a bold decision. The others were fishermen and could return to fishing. In fact, they did briefly after the crucifixion. Levi walked away from everything forever, for Jesus. There are many other examples in the Bible, such as the woman caught in adultery and the thief on the cross, who were all sinners but found salvation in Christ.

Luke tells us. “And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:39-32) Verse 32 of this text clearly states the same principle: Christ did not come to save the righteous, but to save sinners.

We are also told about those who claim to be righteous. Christ often condemned the Pharisees for this very thing. Jesus tells us this in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14) It is the failure to recognize one's own sin that can lead to eternal destruction.

What is so important about this concept of Christ coming for sinners only? Well, for those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, the offer is open for you to find Salvation through grace, by faith in Christ. This means that even those who think they are so far from God that it would be impossible to be loved can still receive salvation. Everything is possible for God.

It is not about praying some prayer and thinking that is enough. We acknowledge Christ as the risen Son of God. We believe that Jesus' finished work on the cross makes salvation available to all who believe. We acknowledge we are sinners and turn from our sin in repentance. Becoming a Christian is a deliberate act, and it changes one’s life forever.

Because of this, many should examine their faith and consider whether the doctrine they are taught aligns with what is said in the Scriptures; if not, they too should turn to Christ. We cannot assume we are saved if we do not know how salvation is received. Paul said, “Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith.”(1 Corinthians 13:5). 

God is amazing and has left instructions for salvation for everyone; these are found in the Bible. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Read the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Is that you, prideful and boasting of your righteousness? The key to heaven is in the Heart of the Sinner. Christ only comes to that heart through faith.

Grace and Peace.