But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7, NASB)
God is certainly rich in mercy toward us. The Bible is consistent in that we’re all sinners, and there’s nothing good in any of us humans. This passage from Ephesians says that God is rich in His mercy toward us anyway. Why? Because He loves us! You and me!
I’m constantly in awe that the Creator of the universe should have regard for me, a lowly sinner. But His divine plan includes a way for us all to be forgiven of our sins, for reconciliation with Him, and to spend eternity with Him! The Apostle Paul says here that even before we asked God for forgiveness, we were “dead in our transgressions.” If you have become a follower of Jesus, then you’re now alive. Forgiven. Made new!
God is so holy that He could never stand for sin in His presence. When He sees someone who’s accepted His gift of salvation, He sees His Son. When we ask for salvation in the blood of Jesus, then we can approach God’s throne of grace, eligible to spend eternity with Him.
The passage also says that we are saved by grace. We’re not saved by anything we’ve done. God’s grace, through His Son, is the only way to secure fellowship with Him. As my friend and mentor, Brigadier General Dick Abel (USAF, Ret.) has always said, “It’s all about Jesus, and it’s all about grace.” Period.
God loves us so much, that even when we were dead in our sin, He made a way for us to become alive: Jesus. Have you asked Him to be your Savior? Being alive in Christ brings hope for the future!
Worship: Alive, by Big Daddy Weave