ASLC Devotions - Thursday

Romans 5:8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

I was at a lecture a couple weeks ago with a great New Testament theologian (I know, you're all jealous!). He was talking through Romans and reminded me of something I once knew but that reinforced this verse and it's meaning for me. Slavery was common in the Roman empire. But it wasn't quite like the slavery we know from the American south. Slaves were either enemies captured in war or were debtors. It wasn't always a life-long condition, which is how we often think of it. People were sold into slavery and bought out of slavery with some regularity. When you bought someone out of slavery it was called "redemption" - you paid the debt they owed that got them into slavery in the first place, with interest of course. People did that for their family, for their friends, for business associates.

That's what Christ did for us - bought us out of slavery - redeemed us. But Paul reminds us in Romans that we weren't friends at the time. We didn't deserve it. We hadn't done anything to deserve it. We in fact still rebel against the God who bought us out of slavery on a regular basis. Some thanks that is! Christ bought us out of slavery not because we deserved it, not because we had earned it, not because we were friends, but WHILE WE STILL WERE SINNERS Christ died for us, because God loves us. End of story. For me that really drives home the familiar words, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me."

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Remember to join us for worship at 8:30 and 11 this coming Sunday and visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar of events and ministry opportunities.