Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 5:6

"For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly." — Romans 5:6 (ASV)

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

He did not regard us as saints, but as actually ungodly, when he died for our redemption. It was not man's righteousness that brought Christ from heaven; but man's sin, and the infinite pity of God.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

This is one of the most surprising sentences on record. If it had not been inspired, there are many who would find fault with it. Indeed, many do find fault with it even now, for it is still currently believed that Christ must have died for the righteous. Yet it is written: In due time Christ died for the ungodly. And this is the commendation of that death, and of the love which prompted it:–

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).

And as He died for us when we were ungodly, what will He not do for us now that He has sought us as His own? He gave the highest proof of His love to us when we were most unworthy of it; so will He leave us now? God forbid!

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

That was our character. There was no good point about us. We were ungodly and we had no strength to mend ourselves or to be other than ungodly.

The strength for reformation had all gone. The strength for regeneration we never had. We were without strength, and then Christ died for us—died for the ungodly.

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

When we had no power to do anything that was good, when we were strengthless and hopeless, then Christ died for us. This is a wonderful gospel expression, which ought to bring comfort to those here who have no pretence of godliness, "Christ died for the ungodly."

for when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Are these not very wonderful words? Christ died for the ungodly. Pick out all those who are the naturally good people, and this text has nothing to do with them; but find out the ungodly, the sinful, the wicked, and here is a text exactly suitable for them: Christ died for the ungodly.

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

What a wonderful statement! "Christ died for the ungodly." Yet it was no slip of the pen, for the apostle takes up his own expression, and preaches the following little sermon upon it:

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Not, "Christ died for saints, because the saints were such gracious people." No, no; but, when we were yet without strength, – when we could lift neither hand nor foot to help ourselves, – in due time Christ died for the ungodly.