For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Love is an interesting topic in our culture. Most Americans today would probably admit that they desire to be loved by someone, and that there are people in their lives who they love–but at the same time, most Americans would probably have difficulty defining what love is.
The difficulty to define love in our culture could stem from several factors. For starters, we might clumsily use the word love to describe both our feelings toward our children and our pleasure toward our favorite hamburger—two things so vastly different in importance that they do not deserve the same verbiage.
Another reason for our culture’s struggle to define love could be the fact that there are people who do not believe that love can be defined. There is a large segment of the population that believes love is an undefinable, uncontrollable feeling. The myth of Cupid’s arrow has been around for over 1,000 years, but is still an adequate illustration for how large portions of our culture view the emotional—some might say “random”—nature of love.
Thankfully, biblical love is deeper than our culture’s notion of love. Voddie Baucham gives the following definition of love: “Love is an act of the will, accompanied by emotion, that leads to action on behalf of its object.” This accurate definition pictures love as something greater than aimless, uncontrollable emotions, and instead sees love primarily as an intentional act of our will. This definition also recognizes that true love is not just an internal state, but leads to favorable actions on behalf of those who are loved.
Every part of this definition of love is seen in God’s love for His people in Romans 5:6-8. In Romans 5:6 we are described as both “without strength” and “ungodly.” Paul has already proved these points in his epistle to the Romans, stating that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), that no one is righteous (Romans 3:10), and that no one seeks after God (Romans 3:11). Even though creation bears witness to God (Romans 1:20-21) and our conscience bears witness to God (Romans 2:12-16), we are without the strength in our natural, sinful condition to be worthy of God’s love.
It is in this powerless, depraved condition that God’s love is seen as most lovely. Romans 5:8 makes clear that God’s great demonstration of love is the gift of His Son and the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. According to this verse, when Jesus died for His people, we were not attractive, holy, or wise; quite the opposite: we were sinners opposed to God, rightfully declared His enemies (Romans 5:10).
God’s love for the unlovely led Him to an unfathomable act. Though there was nothing good in us, God’s plan called for the perfect Son of God to die in our place, taking the punishment we deserve as sinners. This incredible act of love brought us peace with God (Romans 5:1), brought us access to God (Romans 5:2), brought us hope (Romans 5:2, 5), brought us deliverance from God’s holy wrath (Romans 5:9), and brought us reconciliation with God (Romans 5:11).
Biblical love is infinitely deeper than is the culture’s definition of love. Biblical love is not merely rooted in emotional feelings—though emotions are included in biblical love—but is based on God’s love for His people, a love that led to Jesus sacrificing Himself for His people (1 John 3:16).
As imitators of Christ, Christians are then called to love others as He has loved us (John 15:12). Christlike love for others reaches out even to our enemies (Matthew 5:44) and is a forgiving love that can cover all sins against us (Proverbs 10:12). Just as God loved us when we were unlovely, we are called to demonstrate love for the unlovely around us—a love that goes beyond mere words and can be seen “in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
My call to you all this month is to be led by love. Begin by remembering the amazing love of God toward you that was demonstrated in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for your sins. In the power of that love, make a decision of your will to love those who God has put in your life. Choose to love those who are hard to love; choose to make true sacrifices in your life for those you love, remembering the ultimate sacrifice made to purchase your salvation. Choose to love one another as Christ loves you (1 John 4:7-8).