4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)
Any time you study the Bible, it helps to ask three questions. First, what does this passage say about the character and movement of God? Second, what does it say about man? And third, what does this passage say about the relationship between man and God. Simple right? This is the work of a theologian, in which we all are regardless of what we believe. Our lives play out according to our views on God, whether we believe or not.
What does Eph. 2:4-7 say about God? We see words such as “mercy”, “Love”, “Grace”, “Riches”, and “Kindness” in these short verses. There is a mass delusion taught by many outside the faith that declares an angry God; a God that is looking for you to trip up. In light of passages like this, it is difficult to make that case. The fact He loves us regardless of “trespasses” states that He is patient, loving, and intentional with a bull-headed humanity. Perhaps the most used phrase in Ephesians is “in Christ”. Paul reminds us of this mantle we receive in faith. That because of His character, and not our own, we gain a seat next to a holy God. To say He favors humanity is an understatement.
What does Eph. 2:4-7 say about man? We are loved and equipped for life. We are freed from our own merit and unleashed to live a grace soaked faith within the walls of our short days. At some point, we are made “alive” through Christ and given a new birth certificate written in His blood. It may be controversial, but God seems to favor us and in this favor, we have a freedom to live out our faith with confidence. We are no longer slaves to ourselves but free grace agents of Christ. But we must choose life.
And what does Eph. 2:4-7 say about our relationship? The answer to this is simply that there is a relationship between us. No matter the chasm of faith, man and God are never distant from each other. This is radical and separates us from every other philosophy and religion. That God would be palpable and present even in the mundane. A relationship is possible and urged between us and Him. Perhaps the greatest tragedy of life is the failure to live out of this relationship. What a waste it is to spend our days looking for the inside track to communion with a God who’s arms are already extended towards us. His inexhaustible invitation arrived to this world when we did and will always seek for our participation.
Lord, thank you for welcoming us regardless of our ego and fear. Create in us a new heart, one that is wrapped in grace and focused on loving as you do.
Matt simon blog 