The word “commend” is used sixteen times in the New Testament from the words: ’sunistémi’, and ‘sunistanó’. It means to establish, to demonstrate, to prove, or to hold together something. In the first century it was used by Greeks most often to express: ‘standing with’, ‘composed with’, or ‘cohesion’. This matters a lot when you are interpreting one of the most used verses in the New Testament for Gospel giving— Romans 5.7-8. These two verses tell us a lot about Jesus’ love for us. Verse 7 begins with, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.” That is true—an act of deserved sacrifice. We think a ‘good’ person deserves someone to save them. But that is contrived from human measurements. Jesus’ measurements work much differently. ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ have amalgamated their way into completely different meanings than what God set them as in His scripture. When Jesus was asked by a man in Matthew 19.16-26 about how to earn Heaven (verse 16), Jesus replied with, “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God…” (verse 17). The thought of being ‘good enough’ is tucked into our pride-filled DNA.
What about the love that loves the unlovely? You know, the filthy person, the stinky person, the person who no one wants to have the awkward conversation with. You’ve seen them, the person everyone thinks is invisible, haven’t you? This is where we start to see the measurement of Jesus’ love for us in the next verse of our context, Romans 5.8, ”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The measure of Jesus’ love for us is shown by two things: 1) The degree of His sacrifice in saving us from the penalty of our sin; 2) The degree of our unworthiness that we had when He saved us.
We can hear the measure of His sacrifice in the words, “…He gave his only begotten son…” (John 3.16). Who would do that?! THi sis the greatest sacrifice imaginable! In fact, it’s unimaginable! We also hear it in the word “Christ”itself. This is a name based on the Greek title Christos, or “Anointed One,” or “Messiah.” The Messiah was to be the King of Israel. He would conquer the Romans and bring peace and security to Israel. He did more than that though didn’t He? The person whom God sent, saved sinners, not just release Israel from Roman occupation. He also was His own divine Son, His “only” Son, and the Anointed King of Israel. Indeed the King of the world (Isaiah 9.6-7). When we add to this the horrific death by crucifixion that Jesus endured, it becomes clear that the sacrifice the Father and the Son made, was indescribably great—even infinite. Are we so arrogant to think that we somehow ‘deserve’ this?
Focusing even more tightly on Romans 5.8 we see the measure of His love for us increases when we consider our unworthiness. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5.8). We deserved divine punishment, not divine sacrifice. We are and will forever be undeserving of this love. God demonstrates His value on us humans. He didn’t die for cows or pigs. This means we are worse off than cows and pigs! They have not sinned. They have not rebelled and treated God with the contempt. They have not seen God as being consequential in their lives. God did not have to die for frogs, they aren’t bad enough, but we are! Our debt is so great, only a divine sacrifice could pay it. There is only one explanation for God’s sacrifice for us… It’s not us—It’s “…the riches of his grace…” (Ephesians 1.7). It’s not a response to our worth—it’s the overflow of His infinite worth. In fact, that is what divine love is in the end: a passion to capture undeserving sinners, at great cost, to make us His friend again. The death of Jesus is the demonstration of Christ’sownlove for all who receive it as their treasure (John 3.16; Ephesians 2.9; 2 Corinthians 4.7; Matthew 19.21).
We forget the goal of salvation is fellowship restored. God wants His friend back. He has a place, and a resource, for His friend. “…Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5.25). He wants us (local church) to be in a fellowship, in order to increase our fellowship with Him. He desires an intimate connection with Him, and with each other. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15.13). He did—for us.
The questions must be asked: Am I one of His “friends”? Am I truly in fellowship with Him and His church? His love for us… is the difference maker. The early witnesses who suffered most for being Christians were captured by this fact: “…the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2.20). They took the self-sacrifice of Jesus very personal. They said, “He loved me”(in particular)… He gave himself for me”(in particular). Surely this is the way we should understand the sufferings and death of Jesus. This is about Jesus’ love for me, personally. It’s mysin that cuts me off from God, not sin in general. It’s myhard-heartedness and spiritual numbness that demean the worth of Jesus’ sacrifice. When it comes to salvation, I have forfeited all claim on justice. All I can do is plead for mercy. “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18.13).
I embrace this treasure, and I say with those early witnesses: “He loved me and gave himself for me.” I mean that he paid the highest price possible to give me the greatest gift possible. Me, a filthy person. Me, an awkward outcast. Me, His beloved. As Acts 16.31 says, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”. Or as Romans 10.13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Or again in Acts 10.43: “…through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Who can forget John 1.12: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” And most people’s favorite to quote, “…whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16).
That is the love of Jesus. He demonstrated it. He bought with His sacrifice, a possible cohesion with you and me to Him. He came to us, who are still undeserving, and stood with us, proving His love. He commended alright! Have you seen and heard enough to capture you for His cause? Have you seen enough of the measure of His love demonstrated? Has He not shown it? Has He not established this yet? I believe there are still some who think they are ‘good’ and need not for anyone to demonstrated anything. In fact, the need to demonstrate their own so-called ‘goodness’ is what has handicapped all spiritual life in them.
Ask yourself these questions for pondering and reflection: How much does He love me? How much does He demonstrate that love to me? He did stand (commend) on our behalf on Calvary. And still does demonstrate (show) this to us on the daily. But, how much do I love Him? How much do I demonstrate that love to Him? Do I show it in a tangible way every day? Have I stood with and commended in such a way that it is apparent to all that I love Jesus the most? His love is excessive, infinite even. But how is mine?