I was reading today about the section in Romans chapter 5 where it talks about how no one would die for a righteous man, but they might think about it for a good man.

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— – Romans 5:7 ESV

As I was studying and realizing the difference that Paul meant between a righteous person and a good person. I have always thought higher of a righteous person at first glance, but then the sentence does not make much sense. RC Sproul did a good job of explaining that in this verse, the righteous person is actually just a religious person that keeps the law, but the good person described is an all around favorable person. One that you consider a close friend, a loved one.

In RC Sproul’s message he had a great insight that I really wanted to share. I think it really describes our challenges, if we are really honest with ourselves.

In the heart of every corrupt human being, even in one who is partially sanctified, there remains a little buzz that seeks to persuade, “I was not that bad.” Rarely do we come to a full conviction of our helplessness and wickedness. All the power of our psychology is a work every minute to suppress full admission of our guilt and hopelessness. When people repeatedly give me reasons as to why they are Christian while their friends are not, I begin to wonder if they are in the kingdom at all, because they certainly have not yet been convinced of their helplessness and sin. – RC Sproul

Until we fully recognize and understand how messed up we are, we cannot understand how merciful our creator God is. Can you relate to the internal battle of justifying how great you are and how much you deserve to be saved by Jesus? Or the harder question, do you judge others and declare that they have no chance at redemption?

Come join us this Saturday at Panera Bread, in Columbus, GA at 8AM, as we discuss more Romans chapter 5.