A beautiful, logically presented sermon creates a receptive atmosphere. Hearing the Bible explained and having difficult passages open up to us increases our store of spiritual knowledge and deepens our understanding of God's administration of grace. But when we are troubled we need the simple proclamation of the Cross, a message of comfort;There are many comforting passages in the Bible. One especially comforting portion of Scripture is Romans 5:6?11. When our sins accuse us, it is difficult to believe that God is merciful specifically to us. At times like this we are ready to believe that God is merciful to everyone else, but not to us. God, however, does not want us to think like that.

In the above?mentioned portion of Scripture Paul comforts troubled hearts by explaining what Christ has done in our behalf. "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6). Are you helpless, without strength to rid yourself of sin, unable to atone for it? Are you ungodly, having no communion with God, hopeless in regard to yourself? If you are, then behold what Christ has done for you. He has died for you and atoned for your sins.

You cannot find this kind of love anywhere in the world, " God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). This means that Christ's blood was shed as a payment for our sins and because of this God has forgiven all our sins. God has therefore already forgiven us, He has forgiven those very sins that are troubling you. The blood of Christ that fell to the ground is a guarantee of this.

This is how God loved us already when "we were God's enemies" (Rom. 5:10). God has first loved us. And what are we like? Paul uses these words to describe us: "helpless" (v. 6), "ungodly" (v. 6), "sinners" (v. 8), "God's enemies" (v. 10). You cannot exclude yourself from this list. Nor can you exclude yourself from the love of God, which has already been bestowed upon you. Just trust in God's grace. Cling to it so firmly that you will not lose your grip when tribulations come. Trusting in Christ you have salvation and everlasting life.

In the words of the Bible you can join in confessing: "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).