For when we were still helpless,

Christ died for the wicked

at the time that God chose.

It is a difficult thing for someone to die

for a righteous person.

It may even be that some might dare

to die for a good person.

But God has shown us how much he loves us -

it was while we were still sinners

that Christ died for us!

By his sacrificial death

we are now put right with God;

how much more, then,

will we be saved by him from God's anger!

We were God's enemies,

but he made us his friends

through the death of his Son.

Now that we are God's friends,

how much more

will we be saved by Christ's life!

But that is not all;

we rejoice because of what God

has done through

our LORD Jesus Christ,

who has now made us God's friends.

Romans 5:6-11