Key Verse: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7 CSB)
One of my favourite lines from a recent worship song is, “If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.” This lyric highlights the incredible richness of the grace of God that we get to experience in Jesus Christ. It’s as if we’re almost drowning in it!
In the preceding verses of Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul has begun to take a deep dive into the grace of God toward us, and why His grace is so overwhelming. Paul began by reminding us of our desperate need for grace. We were dead in our sin, and thus under the wrath of God (v.1-3).
Notice though the transition that occurs in what Paul says next. “But God” (v.4), he wrote. This is arguably the greater pair of words in the Scriptures to be found. We were dead in our sins. We were under God’s wrath. The world, Satan and our sinful desires were controlling us. But God! He chose in His incredible grace to step in and do something about it.
What exactly did God do? How did He intervene? Paul wrote that God graciously “saved” (v.5) us, and “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus” (v.6). This is the result of God’s grace toward us. We have been saved by grace through faith from eternal death, and granted new life forever with Jesus.
Paul goes on to describe the reasons why God chose to do this for us. It is first because God is “rich in mercy” (v.4). Part of the unchanging character of God is His mercy. Through Jesus, we can “approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Secondly, it is “because of his great love that he had for us” (v.4). God’s love is always a great place to pause and reflect. Even while we were still living vehemently opposed to God, He loved us. He loved us first before we ever loved Him back (1 John 4:19). This is God’s natural inclination toward us as His children. Because He overwhelmingly loves us beyond anything we could even imagine, He chose to extend His grace to us in Christ Jesus.
Finally, God did all this, “so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (v.7). Ultimately, it’s all about God’s glory. Anytime someone goes from death to life, it’s a testimony of the incredible grace of God. He receives the honor and glory, as we stand transformed into new life because of His grace.
Prayer: God, you are rich in mercy and great in your love toward me. I praise you for the immeasurable riches of your kindness and grace that you have displayed in the new life I have received in Jesus. Fill me with wonder and praise for your overwhelming grace! Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
