Amazing Grace
"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]
What better way to start off a page that has the objective of learning and growing more in Christ than a Gospel verse. I don't really do "New Year Resolutions", but one of my goals for the year is to memorize more scripture and this is definitely one of them. It beautifully captures the fullness of the Gospel in just two sentences! The true wonder though is how incredibly rich these two sentences are! I am going to break them down into 5 points for us.
"But God,": Two simple words that change the course of our lives radically. When we look back at the previous verses in the chapter, they describe our total depravity, which makes us wholly unworthy of even Gods mercy, let alone His love, BUT GOD - this demonstrates His all consuming power, love & mercy. He is not only able to save us from utter despair, but willing to do it at great cost to Himself to demonstrate his GLORY.
"being rich in mercy because of the great love with which He loved us": God is not made up of parts - one part mercy, one part love, one part just - He is what we call "Devine Simplicity" . He is wholly all of those things and more. He is merciful because he is loving. He is loving because He is just. He does not depart from His nature at any point. He does not "break the law for love". That would make Him a sinner and God is HOLY and WHOLLY without sin or mistake. He did not make an exception for us to come into communion with Him, but He laid the cost of our rebellion upon the only one who could bear it. Himself. Christ willingly went to the cross and accepted the righteous wrath of the Father (Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10; 2 Cor. 5:21) because of the "great love with which He loves us."
"even when we were dead in our trespasses": before Christ, we are not just making mistakes, we are hopelessly fallen. Romans 3:10-20 speaks in great detail of our condition, "None is righteous, no not one. no one understands, no one seeks for God."A dead man can not lift his hand up to signal for help. A dead man does not struggle against sin. This isn't a "ok, their heart has stopped momentarily no let's revive them" death. This is a been dead for 7 days, rotten & smelling, decomposing death.
"made us alive together with Christ": In our decomposed state, Christ "made us alive". It's a "Lazarus, come forth" moment! Not only does He do what is wholly impossible without Him by breathing life into our soul and giving us a heart of flesh (Eze. 26:36) but He makes us alive with Christ. We, who were wretched, are made whole and set to experience communion with the Almighty. We, who were paupers are made to dine with the King of kings at the wedding feast of the Lamb not as guests alone but as the BRIDE OF CHRIST! (Rev. 19:7-10; Eph. 5:25-27; Isa. 62:5). We cannot understand the magnitude of what He has done without understanding clearly who we are and who He is.
"by grace you have been saved": All that comes to mind when I read this verse is Amazing grace so I will put the lyrics here
Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come This grace that brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home
When we've been here ten thousand years Bright, shining as the sun We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we first begun
Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind but now I see
- John Newton
