Ephesians 2:4-5

⁴But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.

Just as v1 of this chapter began with, “And you,” and some pretty bad news, so v4 of this chapter begins with, “But God,” and some of the greatest words in the entire Bible. In those words, we see the mercy and love of our Creator. And from here on out to v10, Paul elaborates on the election and predestination of the Father originally mentioned in Ephesians 1:3-6. See also Romans 8:28-30 for this thought process of Paul as well. This passage is about the movement from death, under the just judgment of God for our sin, to life in Jesus Christ, because of His finished work. Paul is moving us through the divine actions that rescued us out of our predicament and brought us into the freedom and life of sons and daughters of the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I lift my eyes unto the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Now in these two verses, we get some rich language: “great love;” “rich mercy;” “alive when dead;” “saved by grace.” In v4, we see that God’s great love for us motivated Him to make us alive even when we were dead. Our spiritual death had brought a great chasm between us and God, but that didn’t stop Him. His forbearance and forgiveness were up to the task – all for His glory.

Paul says that God is rich in mercy, and when you take the abundant mercy of God and the great love of God and mingle them together, you get grace (v5). In v5, we see that God made us alive. He didn’t stop there, but He had to start there. Paul ties what happened to Jesus in His resurrection and enthronement at God’s right hand to our experience in union with Christ. It was true of Him, and it’s true of us (v5-6). God made us alive with Christ. Paul has to sum this up with a simple thought – “it is by grace you have been saved.”