Proof by Comparison :: Romans 5:1-9
We are always comparing and contrasting. When we need to buy something we inevitably ask ourselves ... What's the best product? What's the best brand? What's the best value?
Our minds are constantly evaluating different ideas, putting them side by side. We want the best. We also do this to ourselves. Although we may not like to admit it, we’re always comparing ourselves to others, comparing how we look, where we work, how much money we make, what we have. Is it enough? Is it ever enough?
Our text this evening invites us to compare and contrast. We read:
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God shows his love, the apostle Paul says, when you stand next to the cross of Christ and you are compared to Jesus.
So .... in light of such love,
WHERE DO YOU STAND BY COMPARISON?
Standing next to Jesus, how do you measure up? How do you compare?
When you stand with Jesus, what does it reveal about you?
What does it reveal about Jesus?
Obviously, standing next to Jesus, there is no comparison.
Jesus is the Son of God, true God and true man. He is righteous, knowing no sin.
As God, he has all power and might. You, by comparison, stand in sharp contrast to Jesus. Next to the Righteous One, your unrighteousness is painfully obvious.
Standing next to the Word Incarnate, your ungodliness becomes all the more evident.
Standing next to the almighty God, your weaknesses become crystal clear. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden after they fell into sin, we then try to hide in our proverbial closets, attempting to cover our shame, keep it to ourselves, and hoping it is never exposed.
This begs the question ...
What is your shame? What idolatry pervades your life?
Is it the idol me, myself, and I? The longing to know? In whom do you trust most for financial security, physical safety, emotional support? Are you expecting only good from God in every situation, or are you worrying, doubting, complaining?
You may foolishly seek to cover your sin with a few fig leaves, but standing next to Jesus ... who you ARE and who he IS clearly are shown, demonstrated, and proven. When we are honest, we recognize that by nature, we are weak, sick, and ungodly.
In our Gospel reading, the Samaritan woman found herself comparing and contrasting. She discovered that as she stood next to Jesus, the contrast and differences between the two could not be greater. To be sure, their ethnicity is different ... Jew and Samaritan ... but that is nothing in comparison to everything else ... righteous beside unrighteous ... godly and ungodly ... the All-Knowing One speaking to the One who doesn't know and doesn’t understand.
She then tries to hide from her sin: I have no husband, she said. The truth was, she has had five husbands and now has a man who is not her husband. Just like all of us, she then changes the subject, deflects, and hopes to debate the proper place for worship.
But the contrast remains painfully obvious: This woman is in the presence of one sent from God to come to her and to find her ... the One who knows her past and present.
When we recognize this truth about ourselves, Jesus sets us free. Suddenly, when we find ourselves standing next to Jesus, we begin seeing the cross, and God’s love for us. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And that is exactly what Jesus is preparing to do for the woman of Samaria, and what he has done for you.
Listen to this glorious contrast and comparison: For while we were still weak, longing for living water ... at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In other words, Jesus says, he has come to give his life for yours.
He has come to die so that you can live. Nothing in our world compares with that.
You might offer your life to save the life of your loved ones, especially your children ... but would you really do it for a murderer? A thief? A gossip? Would you really do it for the adulterer?
Of course not. That’s unheard of! We stone adulterers in our society.
Except on Good Friday.
At the foot of the cross on Calvary, we see our sin and our savior in the most glaring comparison. He has taken away your sin, your evil desires, your ungodly words, your unrighteous deeds. He has taken your adultery, your gossip, your immorality. He who had no sin became sin for you, and saw to it that your sin was punished on his cross.
Jesus gave his life for yours. He endured the punishment you deserve. He has willingly laid down his life for you, even though you are one of the sheep that loves to wander. He has paid your unpayable debt. As we sing so often during Lent.
The sinless Son of God suffered in sadness, so that we may live in gladness. (439:5)
II. Now when you stand with Jesus, he offers his life for yours, and in this comparison and contrast God’s love is revealed for you.
Because of Jesus, your standing before God now has changed.
Paul writes: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Since Jesus offered his life for you, in the eyes of God you are no longer unjust
You are justified,
you are no longer unholy ...
He has declared you to be holy.
He has clothed in the pure white garments of righteousness washed clean
by the shed blood of Christ,
and now he calls you a saint as he takes away your sins.
You are forgiven and free.
Consider this comparison and rejoice.
The love God has shown for you is revealed in the cross of Christ, that hideous instrument of torture and shame that has brought you freedom and peace.
You’ve come to this place with all your suffering, trials, afflictions, burdens, and cares, thanks be to God who continues to shower you in his baptism. And more than that because he has defeated death through his resurrection, you have eternal life with him, today, because he has united himself with you through baptism.
If it were not for the grace of God, you would not be able to stand. But through Jesus, our standing before God has changed. The proof is the cross of Christ.