Romans 5:6-11

⁶ For while we were still weak [meaning lack of moral strength], at the right time Christ died for the ungodly [all of us]. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [At its best, human love will motivate one to give his life for a truly good person. Jesus, sent by God, did not die for truly good people but for rebellious, undeserving people. Therefore, God’s love is far greater in its magnitude and dependability than even the greatest human love.] ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified [legal term that declares us to be in the right] by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. [If God has already done what was impossible for man—justification—he can and will take care of the easier thing—saving us from wrath.] ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled [relational term] to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. [We are saved not only when we were justified, but through the Holy Spirit we are being sanctified, and our sanctification will be completed on the day of the general resurrection. Therefore, we can say, “I have been saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved.” Verses 10 & 11 say basically the same thing but in different ways.] ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. [St. John Chrysostom writes: “And so the fact of his saving us, and saving us too when we were in such plight, and doing it by means of his only-begotten, and not merely by his only-begotten, but by his blood, weaves for us endless crowns to glory in.” We have a hope and a future.]