Origen, on Rom 5:8

“But God commendeth his charity towards us; because when as yet we were sinners, according to the time,”

“By saying that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, Paul gives us hope that we will be saved through him, much more so now that we are cleansed from sin and justified against the wrath which remains for sinners. The One who so loved his enemies that he gave his only Son to die for us will surely be much readier to grant those who have received this gift and been reconciled to him the further gift of eternal life.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.