But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
— ROMANS 5:8 —
Erwin Quimboy: The Expositor’s Academy | Philippines
Twenty-five years ago someone shared the gospel with me. I listened politely as he read John 3:16. Then he encouraged me to replace the word “world” with my name. “For God so loved Erwin.” Those words melted my heart. But for someone who was born in a country where patriotism is premiere, where heroes die for country and countrymen, I am rather acquainted with the thought of dying for other people. He [Jesus] died to pay the penalty of my sins, for one who is not worthy of such grace, for one who is His enemy by nature. God gave His Son to die in my stead, but how was His death so different from the deaths of the many heroes that died for my nation? This thought nagged at me during my early years as a Christian, that is until I read Paul’s letter to the Romans. His gospel presentation was powerful, showing the beauty of redemption and the ugliness of sin. As I turned my Bible to Romans 5, reading verse after verse, it hit me. While I was still weak and His enemy, Christ died for me. He showed His love by dying for me while I was still a sinner. A famous line from one of our heroes goes, “The Filipinos are worth dying for.” In Jesus’ case, however, He did not wait for me to become worthy, for I never could. He died to pay the penalty of my sins, for one who is not worthy of such grace, for one who is His enemy by nature. This is a powerful demonstration of true love, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This is how much He loves you and me.
