Romans 5:6-11
6Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. 7Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. 8Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us.
9Since Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God’s anger. 10If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. 11In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ lets us continue to brag about God. After all, it is through Christ that we now have this restored relationship with God.

I. WHILST WE WERE HELPLESS (POWERLESS) GOD SHOWED US LOVE

God’s love is forgiving: Luke 15:7
I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval

God’s love is beyond measure: Romans 8:38-39
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.

God’s love is sacrificial: John 3:16-17
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world

George Eliot wrote, “The first condition of human goodness is something to love; the second is something to worship.”

Love is a command from God: James 2:8
You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself

II. JESUS SACRIFICIAL DEATH (“HIS BLOOD”) MEANS WE ARE NOW APPROVED BY GOD.

God’s approval should be our highest priority: John 5:41-44
“I don’t accept praise from humans. But I know what kind of people you are. You don’t have any love for God. I have come with the authority my Father has given me, but you don’t accept me. If someone else comes with his own authority, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept each other’s praise and don’t look for the praise that comes from the only God?

God’s approval comes through obedience to Christ: John 8:31-32
”If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Other people’s approval is not the same as God’s approval: When many people approve of us, we feel good, but that should never cloud our thinking or affect our decisions. We should not live to please the crowd - especially in our spiritual lives. We should also put our trust in God alone.

III. APPROVAL FROM GOD LEADS US TO REPENTANCE OF SIN.

Repentance demonstrates real faith: Romans 2:4
Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don’t you realize that it is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act?

Repentance makes inward changes a visible reality: Mark 2:22
People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins.”

Repentance breaks the bondage of sin and sets us free:Psalm 68:6
God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives.

Things don’t change, we change - Henry David Thoreau

IV. REPENTANCE LEADS TO NEW LIFE.

New life is demonstrated through transformed life: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence