Saved To: The Mercy & Love of God
Saved To: The Mercy & Love of God
Tuesday
"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."
— Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
— Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
"But God." Two words that change everything. After three verses describing our hopeless condition, Paul pivots with the most important conjunction in Scripture. We were dead—but God. We were enslaved—but God. We deserved wrath—but God.
What motivated this divine intervention? Paul stacks the reasons: rich mercy, great love. Not reluctant pity or obligated duty, but overflowing compassion from a Father who couldn't bear to leave His children in the grave. God didn't wait for us to clean ourselves up, reach out, or show potential. He acted "even when we were dead." Dead people don't contribute to their resurrection.
"Made us alive together with Christ" reveals the intimacy of salvation. We weren't just resuscitated in isolation; we were united to Christ Himself. His resurrection became our resurrection. His life became our life. When God looks at you, He sees you joined to His Son—inseparable, identified, and included in everything Christ accomplished.
Then Paul adds what feels almost like a parenthetical whisper: "by grace you have been saved." It's as if he can't help himself. The wonder of grace keeps interrupting his theology. He'll say it again in verse 8. Some truths bear repeating.
What motivated this divine intervention? Paul stacks the reasons: rich mercy, great love. Not reluctant pity or obligated duty, but overflowing compassion from a Father who couldn't bear to leave His children in the grave. God didn't wait for us to clean ourselves up, reach out, or show potential. He acted "even when we were dead." Dead people don't contribute to their resurrection.
"Made us alive together with Christ" reveals the intimacy of salvation. We weren't just resuscitated in isolation; we were united to Christ Himself. His resurrection became our resurrection. His life became our life. When God looks at you, He sees you joined to His Son—inseparable, identified, and included in everything Christ accomplished.
Then Paul adds what feels almost like a parenthetical whisper: "by grace you have been saved." It's as if he can't help himself. The wonder of grace keeps interrupting his theology. He'll say it again in verse 8. Some truths bear repeating.
1. What "but God" moments can you identify in your own story?
2. How does knowing God acted while you were still dead affect your confidence in His continued faithfulness?
3. What does it mean to you personally to be "alive together with Christ"?
2. How does knowing God acted while you were still dead affect your confidence in His continued faithfulness?
3. What does it mean to you personally to be "alive together with Christ"?
Lord, I am undone by Your mercy. You didn't wait for me to become lovable—You loved me when I was dead in my sins. Your grace interrupts my despair with resurrection life. Help me to live today as someone who has been made alive, not merely improved. Thank You for joining me to Christ forever. Amen.
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