and the meaning of this statement was

Back in college at a Bible study, learned that placing emphasis on different words in Scripture often highlighted various nuances of particular verses. Used that knowledge the last time before the flock in examining the first line of Ps23. Mulling over a verse for the upcoming big day, and listened to myself change the stress on the last three words of Rom5:8 and found the one I'm going with. But the three different choices you have are: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners . . ."

". . . Christ DIED for us." This is the natural emphasis, and the one I'd always assumed was most popular. The verse makes the point that the love of God is directly reflected by His death. It stresses that love drove His action, and that He was even willing to experience death, He loved us so much.

". . . Christ died for US." In the story I'm sharing before this verse, it reinforces the point that we weren't worth dying for. We are wretched creatures enslaved by sin, not worth the death of the Holy One of God. It stresses that love drove His action, and that He was willing to lay down His life for us when we were still His enemies.

". . . Christ died FOR us." This is the one I'm leaning toward, and the one whose emphasis is probably skipped over. But it reminds us of one of the fundamental concepts of Christianity -- the propitiation of our sins by the Lamb of God. The whole of the OT rules and regulations, the sacrifice system laid out by God, Calvary's Cross -- the whole point of that was to satisfy God's holiness. It stresses that love drove His action, and that He bore our wrath.

I'm also content with seeing which one of these flies out of mouth on the big day. I trust that He who placed the thoughts in my head probably knows which works best for His message.