Joshua Stevens, Faith Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, 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 coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Crossway Bibles, 2001)
But God. Two words that can sum up the entirety of scripture. The whole of the gospel is held together with these two words. Remember from last month that Paul spent the first three verses in this chapter reminding all of us that we are unrighteous, sinful, children of wrath, following only our fleshly desires. Then he transitions to “But God.” God who saw us in our iniquity and sin still loved us.
But God, who in His mercy created a path for salvation through Jesus Christ, by whom all Christians are saved and redeemed in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
But God, who did not let us dwell or suffer in sin and did not leave satisfied in creating a path of redemption for us, gave His only son to the earthly ministry that brought us into right standing with the Father so that we might be shown His grace.
For those of us who grew up in the church, we can, at times, get numbed to the ideas of mercy and grace. These seven verses in the second chapter of Ephesians do an excellent job of reminding us of mercy’s greatest meaning. An action of pity that assumes need on the part of the person receiving it. However, Paul doesn’t use mercy here as an action. He uses it to describe God. God is rich in mercy, and why is he rich in mercy? Because of His love for us.
It is a steadfast reminder to all those who read that the gift of salvation is not a flippant thing that God decided to give us one day, like a friend dropping some coffee off for you. It is more than a reminder of the depraved, sinful state that we once lived. It is to show everyone that God, motivated by His love for us and having no lack of resources (mercy), gave us a path to salvation that we do not deserve, cannot earn, and wouldn’t even be able to comprehend without “But God.”
The first half of this chapter is not just to humble readers; it is to exalt God, who intervened in each of our lives so we could be saved and enter into a relationship with Him. I hope this reminder finds you all well.
Will you join me in prayer? Father, thank you for your great mercies for the plan you made and implemented to save and sanctify us to you. Regardless of what comes, may we all say, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.
In Jesus’ name, we pray,
Amen.
Works Cited:
Crossway Bibles. (2001). The Holy Bible English Standard Version.
Wheaton: Good News Publishers
