Ascension Lutheran Church

The Apostle Paul says, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I
have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I
want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Ro. 7:18-19, ESV). Paul’s frustrating,
disheartening battle is one that we all go through. Our text says that by nature we’re “ungodly.”
We don’t have the strength to stop sinning and save ourselves from our sins. But our text has
wonderful news: “When we were still without strength” (literally from the original text, “When
we ourselves continued to be without strength”), “in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
“Christ” is emphasized in the original text. We deserved eternal death in hell because of our
sins, but Jesus died for our sins on the cross in our place. Sometimes we’re deeply troubled by
our “ungodly” sinful nature. But our text assures us that “Christ died for the ungodly.” So each
of us can say, “Jesus died for me!”