Text: Romans 5:6–11
Every Christmas season we remember and meditate on the story Christians have told for two thousand years: Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, Joseph’s reassurance in a dream, the angels filling the sky with glory, the shepherds rushing to Bethlehem, and the wise men traveling far to worship the newborn King. These are not fables or moral tales. Matthew and Luke intentionally ground their narratives in real places, real rulers, and real people.
The Christian faith does not rest on myth or borrowed mythology. It rests on history. Jesus is not an idea or a symbol—He is the Son of God who became truly human and entered our world.
And this is why Paul’s words in Romans 5:6–11 are such a fitting commentary on Christmas.
At the Right Time
Paul begins with a simple but profound statement: “For while we were still helpless, at the right time…”
In that one sentence he reveals two truths we cannot ignore.
First, we are helpless.
We cannot save ourselves from death. We cannot restore our relationship with God. We cannot undo the corruption that sin has brought into God’s good creation. On our own, we do not climb our way back to Him. We needed help—real, divine help.
Second, God acted at the right time.
History did not drift along until Jesus showed up. God orchestrated it. He prepared Israel—a people who knew His word and His promises. He prepared the Roman world—an empire knit together by roads, travel, and a shared language that made the spread of the gospel possible. He used the tension between Rome and Israel to create a longing for rescue and a hope for the Messiah.
From a historical perspective, it was the perfect moment.
From a divine perspective, it was the appointed moment.
Christmas reminds us that God is not distant. He is actively involved in human history—moving, guiding, arranging, and fulfilling His purposes.
Why the Savior Came
Paul goes on to explain the reason Jesus came. The child laid in a manger grew to become the man who would lay down His life.
Jesus came to save us from God’s wrath—the righteous judgment reserved for all who have rebelled against Him. Sin shattered the good world God created and broke the relationship we were meant to enjoy with Him. Instead of living as His people, we became His enemies.
But Jesus also came to reconcile us to God. Through His death and resurrection, the relationship sin destroyed is restored. The enemies of God become the children of God. Those separated from Him are brought near. Those without hope receive life.
Paul sums it up beautifully:
“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 (CSB)
- It is God’s love that orchestrated the events of history so the time would be right.
- It is God’s love that took the initiative when we were helpless.
- It is God’s love that sent Jesus—born in humility, crucified in sacrifice, raised in victory.
- It is God’s love that establishes a new covenant between God and humanity.
All of it—every detail of the story—is driven by His love.
Receiving and Reflecting God’s Love
As we celebrate Christmas, it’s easy to get swept up in the activity and the emotion of the season. But Christmas invites us to pause long enough to remember what stands at the center of everything: the love of God displayed in the birth of Jesus.
This love is not sentimental.
It is not seasonal.
It is sacrificial, purposeful, and powerful.
And because God has poured His love into us, we are called to let that love flow out of us. Christmas is not only a time to remember what God has done, but a time to allow His love to shape our own actions.
So this Christmas:
- Receive God’s love with gratitude.
- Let His love drive out fear, shame, and guilt.
- Allow His love to overflow from your life into the lives of the people around you.
The Savior is born.
The helpless have hope.
The enemies of God are invited home.
And the love of God continues to transform the world—one heart at a time.
