John Calvin Commentary Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." — Romans 5:8 (ASV)

But God confirms, etc. The verb, συνίστησι, has various meanings; the one most suitable to this place is that of confirming. For it was not the Apostle’s object to excite our gratitude, but to strengthen the trust and confidence of our souls. He then confirms, that is, exhibits His love to us as most certain and complete, since for the sake of the ungodly He spared not Christ His own Son.

In this, indeed, His love appears: that, not being moved by any love on our part, He of His own good will first loved us, as John tells us (1 John 3:16). — Those are here called sinners (as in many other places) who are wholly vicious and given up to sin, according to what is said in John 9:31, God hears not sinners, that is, men abandoned and altogether wicked.

The woman called a sinner was one of a shameful character (Luke 7:37). And this meaning appears more evident from the contrast which immediately follows—for being now justified through His blood. For since He sets the two in opposition, one to the other, and calls those justified who are delivered from the guilt of sin, it necessarily follows that those are sinners who, for their evil deeds, are condemned.

The meaning of the whole is—since Christ has attained righteousness for sinners by His death, much more will He protect them, being now justified, from destruction. And in the last clause He applies to His own doctrine the comparison between the less and the greater; for it would not have been enough for salvation to have been once procured for us, if Christ did not make it safe and secure to the end.

And this is what the Apostle now maintains. Therefore, we should not fear that Christ will cut off the current of His favor while we are in the middle of our course.

For since He has reconciled us to the Father, our condition is such that He purposes to extend His favor toward us more effectively and to increase it daily.