Many professed Christians tend to think of themselves as “pretty good church people” — but Romans 5:6 reminds us that genuine Christians were, at least once, very much otherwise: “For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” Those words, “while we were still helpless … the ungodly” need to be a wake-up call for numbers of us. 

This verse reminds us that Christ died for the “ungodly.”  He did not die in order to complete the “little shortcomings” of those who were already pretty good and just needed a little help. This seems to be the attitude of many churchgoers today. They look down on others who are “ungodly” — as if they had never been ungodly themselves — or WOULD not have been, had the Lord not had mercy on them and delivered them from it in His providence. But this scripture reminds us that Jesus died for us when we were “ungodly.”

Every true Christian knows this. It is an inherent part of becoming a Christian: you must admit that you were a sinner, and then trust Jesus’ death on the cross as your only hope of salvation. Thus if you are a follower of Jesus, you are self-admitted sinner.  Where then is the place for you to look down on anyone else for their sin? Where is the place for you to exhibit a “holier than thou” attitude? There is NO place at all for it!  “For while WE were helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” “We” here means you & me; every true Christian. Without Christ, “WE” were “helpless”; WE” were “ungodly.”  That truth should greatly affect our outlook regarding ourselves — and soften our hearts towards any who are as yet “ungodly” as well.