“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Look at the verb tense:
- God demonstrates his love
- Christ died for us
This passage would make more sense if it read “But God demonstrated his love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us.”
But that’s not what the text says. And for very good reason.
The present tense implies that there is never a time when we do not need the Savior in our lives. It’s not just the unsaved people who need Jesus. Christians need Jesus too. There is never a time when we do not need our Savior’s guidance, our Savior’s help, our Savior’s leading. There is never a time when we are sufficient on our own. We always need Jesus.
You see, that’s why, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we remain repeat (my own translation) sinners, Christ died for us.
Praxis: Faith in Action 