Romans Road Lesson 4

God’s Love Demonstrated Through Christ

Romans Road Series for New Converts

Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Introduction: The Greatest Love Ever Displayed

When we walk through the Romans Road, we have already learned that we are sinners by nature (Romans 3:10, 23), that sin earns death (Romans 6:23a), and that God offers eternal life as a free gift (Romans 6:23b). But now the apostle Paul takes us to the very heart of the Gospel: the love of God demonstrated through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:8 stands as one of the most beautiful and powerful verses in all of Scripture. It is simple enough for a child to understand, yet deep enough that no theologian could fully exhaust its meaning.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 (KJV)

The Romans Road is not merely a path of doctrine—it is a pathway of love. It is the story of a holy God who looked upon a world rebellious, broken, and spiritually dead, yet chose to love that world anyway (John 3:16). It is the story of a Savior who willingly laid down His life for His enemies (Romans 5:10). It is the story of grace stronger than sin, mercy deeper than judgment, and love greater than our failures.

This lesson is about God’s love revealed, proven, and demonstrated—not through words alone, but through the blood-stained cross of His only begotten Son.

I. God’s Love Is Not Merely Declared — It Is Demonstrated

Romans 5:8 begins with, “But God commendeth his love toward us…”

The word commendeth means to demonstrate, to show, to prove, to put on display. God did not merely tell humanity that He loved us—He showed it. He proved it. He put it beyond all question.

The world often defines love in emotional terms—feelings, affection, sentiment. But in Scripture, love is revealed primarily in action.

1 John 3:16

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…”

We do not perceive God’s love by looking at our circumstances.
We do not measure His love by our emotions.
We see the love of God at only one place: Calvary.

1 John 4:9-10

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us… Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The Bible teaches that love is something shown, not simply stated.
God doesn’t love us because we are lovable—He loves us because He is love (1 John 4:8).

At the cross, God shouted His love to the world.
At the cross, He proved it for all eternity.

II. God Loved Us “While We Were Yet Sinners”

Romans 5:8 says that Christ died for us “while we were yet sinners.”

This truth demonstrates a kind of love that is divine—far beyond natural human affection.

Consider what the Bible says about our condition before salvation:

We were ungodly (Romans 5:6).
We were without strength—unable to save ourselves (Romans 5:6).
We were sinners (Romans 5:8).
We were enemies of God (Romans 5:10).
We walked “according to the course of this world” (Ephesians 2:2).
We were “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3).
Our hearts were “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Yet Christ did not wait for us to clean ourselves up.
He did not wait for us to reform our lives.
He did not wait for us to make the first move.
He did not wait for us to love Him.

He made the first move. He initiated the relationship. He pursued us.

This is extraordinary. Human love is often conditional. We love those who love us back. We are good to those who are good to us. Jesus Himself said:

Luke 6:32

“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.”

But God loved us when we had nothing to offer Him.
He loved us when our hearts were far from Him.
He loved us when we were rebels against His will.

This is grace—undeserved, unearned, unmerited love.

III. Christ Died “For Us” — A Substitutionary Sacrifice

The last three words of Romans 5:8 are as precious as any in Scripture:

“Christ died for us.”

This is the doctrine of substitution—Christ taking our place and bearing our punishment.

Isaiah 53 beautifully foretells this truth:

“He was wounded for our transgressions…
He was bruised for our iniquities…
And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
— Isaiah 53:5-6

Christ didn’t die as an example.
He didn’t die as a martyr.
He didn’t die merely to inspire us.

He died as our substitute.

He bore the wrath we deserved (Romans 3:25).
He paid the price we owed (1 Peter 1:18-19).
He suffered the death our sins earned (Romans 6:23).

1 Peter 3:18

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God…”

The sinless One died for the sinful.
The holy One died for the unholy.
The innocent died for the guilty.

This is not only love—it is redemption.

IV. God’s Love Is Unique, Unmatched, and Unconditional

Romans 5 contrasts human love with divine love:

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die… But God commendeth his love toward us…”
— Romans 5:7–8

Paul is making a comparison:

A person might die for someone good or noble.
But Jesus died for sinners, rebels, enemies, and the undeserving.

God’s love is:

✔ Unconditional

He loved us “while we were yet sinners.”

✔ Unchanging

Jeremiah 31:3 — “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.”

✔ Unending

Romans 8:38–39 — Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

✔ Unfathomable

Ephesians 3:18–19 — Paul prays we would comprehend “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” of Christ’s love.

✔ Undeserved

Titus 3:5 — “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”

This love is unlike anything the world can offer.
It is perfect, holy, infinite, and divine.

V. Christ’s Sacrifice Fully Satisfied God’s Justice

God’s love does not ignore sin—He is holy.
But Christ’s death satisfied God’s justice and expressed His love.

Romans 3:25–26 explains this truth:

God set forth Christ “to be a propitiation through faith in his blood… that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Propitiation means the satisfaction of God’s wrath.

At the cross:

God judged sin fully.
God’s wrath was poured out.
The penalty was paid in full.
God’s justice was satisfied.
And God’s love was gloriously displayed.

The cross is where justice and mercy meet (Psalm 85:10).

VI. Christ’s Love Demands a Personal Response

God has demonstrated His love. But receiving that love is not automatic.
Every sinner must choose to:

✔ Admit their sin (Romans 3:23)

✔ Acknowledge the penalty (Romans 6:23)

✔ Believe on Christ’s finished work (Romans 10:9–10)

✔ Call on Him in faith (Romans 10:13)

God’s love is universal—but salvation is personal.

Christ died for the world (1 John 2:2), but each individual must believe for themselves.

VII. God’s Love Should Transform the Life of a Believer

For the new convert reading this lesson:
God’s love is not only something you receive—it is something that should continually shape your life.

1. His Love Produces Gratitude

We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

2. His Love Motivates Obedience

John 14:15 — “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

3. His Love Brings Assurance

Romans 8:1 — No condemnation.
Romans 8:38–39 — No separation.

4. His Love Compels Service

2 Corinthians 5:14 — “The love of Christ constraineth us.”

5. His Love Encourages Holiness

1 John 3:1–3 — Those who know His love “purify themselves.”

6. His Love Helps Us Love Others

Ephesians 4:32 — Forgive as Christ forgave.
John 13:34 — Love as Christ loved.

When a believer truly grasps the love God demonstrated at the cross, it changes everything.

Conclusion: The Cross Is God’s Eternal Testimony of Love

If you ever doubt God’s love…
If you ever feel unworthy…
If you ever feel distant from Him…
If you ever wonder whether God cares…

Look to the cross.

Romans 5:8 is God’s everlasting reminder:
You are loved—deeply, passionately, eternally.

Not because of who you are,
but because of who He is.

Not because of what you have done,
but because of what Christ has done.

The cross is not simply a part of the Gospel.
The cross is the Gospel.
It is God’s love written in blood-red letters for all the world to see.

Discussion Questions for Lesson 4

What does the word commendeth mean in Romans 5:8, and why is that significant?
How does the Bible describe our spiritual condition before salvation?
Why is it important that Christ died for us “while we were yet sinners”?
What is substitutionary atonement, and where else is it found in Scripture?
How does God’s love differ from human love?
In what ways should the love of God change the life of a believer today?
Why is the cross the ultimate demonstration of God’s love?
How does Romans 5:8 personally strengthen your assurance of salvation?