The Result of Justification (8):

God's Love Poured Into Our Hearts Through the Holy Spirit

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in

 our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without

 strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:5-6)

In Romans 5:6, the Korean Bible begins with "When we were still weak..." but in the original Greek, there is the conjunction "therefore," so the correct translation is: "Therefore, when we were still weak..." Here, "therefore" connects with what Paul said in verse 5, where he writes, "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts." In other words, Paul is explaining what the love of God poured out in our hearts means, starting in verse 6.  Romans 5:6 also says, "when we were still weak." This refers to a time when we were extremely weak, unable to do even the smallest things. At that time, we had not yet been justified by faith (v. 1), we could not enjoy peace with God (v. 1), we had not yet gained access to this grace by faith (v. 2), we could not hope (or rejoice) in the glory of God (v. 2), we could not rejoice in our sufferings (v. 3), and we did not have the Holy Spirit, nor had the love of God been poured into our hearts (v. 5).  The phrase "at the right time" in Romans 5:6 refers to the appointed time. It means that God had predestined from before the foundation of the world that we would be saved, and that the appointed time had come. At that time, the Bible says, "Christ died for the ungodly" (v. 6). This is God's love (v. 5).  Consider Galatians 4:4: "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law." At the appointed time, Jesus Christ, God's only Son, came through the seed of a woman. God sent His only Son to be born of a woman.  Also, look at Matthew 1:16: "And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ."

In Romans 5:6, the Bible speaks of the "ungodly." This refers to those who suppress the truth through unrighteousness (1:18). The ungodly are those who resist and betray the truth. Additionally, in Romans 5:6, the word "for" is used, but there is a distinction between "for" and "in place of" (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, 21). Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, and 21: "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again... For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  The word "for" here means that we can die for our children. We may be willing to die for others, but we cannot die in place of them. The phrase "in place of" means that, as sinners, we cannot die for someone else. Only Jesus, who had no sin, could die in place of us. As a perfect God and a perfect man, only Jesus could die in place of others, and we could never do that. Jesus died on the cross for each one of us because He loves each one of us. That’s why God chose us, justified us, and did many other things for us.  To die "for" someone does not mean that the person will live forever, but to die "in place of" someone means that the person will live forever. That’s why the Bible refers to the death of believers as "sleeping." The Bible expresses Stephen's death by saying, "He fell asleep" (Acts 7:60). The Bible also says, "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15, the Apostle Paul mentions "those who are asleep" three times: "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep."  When we reflect on the great love of God, who, in His appointed time, died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6), we should be thankful and moved. This great love of God is like death, or rather, stronger than death (Song of Solomon 8:6-7). This love has been poured into us by God through the Holy Spirit, and because of this, we must obey Jesus' double commandment. Let’s look at Matthew 22:37-39: "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

We must love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbors as ourselves, all with the love of God. We are no longer weak people but strong people. We have been justified by faith (Romans 5:1). We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 1). We have entered into this grace by faith (v. 2). We hope for and rejoice in God’s glory (v. 2). We rejoice even in tribulation (v. 3). And through the Holy Spirit given to us, God's love has been poured into our hearts (v. 5).