Ephesians 2:4

The first three verses are fairly grim. Paul lengthens on about our previous state before being alive in Christ. However, that tone is cut by the words "But God". These words have been described as being the gospel summed up in two words. Without God stepping into the picture, we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins. But God steps in and does something.

What's interesting is that what God does isn't really explained in this verse. It's not until later that we read about what God actually does. However, what's described are some of God's qualities and reasons for this intervention. First of all, God is rich in mercy. We certainly need mercy if we are dead in our trespasses and sins. Without mercy, there would be no withholding of fair and due punishment for the sins we commit. But because God is rich in mercy, there is some sort of withholding of something that we deserve. Fortunately he is rich in it; otherwise it would be expended according to how dead we really are in our sins.

The next thing is his love. The reason precedes the actual action. The reason for the action that is coming up is because of his great love for us. He loves us. And that's really cool too because we are dead. We are dead and filthy and are by nature children of wrath. Yet, God loves us and it is because of his love for us that he is motivated to do something. Not only that, but his love is described as great. His love is not small or miniscule. His love isn't mediocre or just average. There is so much in this word great, and it describes his love for us.

What's interesting is that later in Ephesians when his love is referred to again, it is described as having dimensions. There is breadth, length, height and depth to his love that we try to comprehend. It's really cool, to say the least.