Paul reminds the Ephesians of God’s Great Love for
them
Ephesians
2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved;) KJVPaul having completed his discourse to these Ephesians detailing for them the complete deadness of their spiritual condition before hearing the Gospel, now reminds them of God the Father’s Great Love for them. Although the language in the previous two verses (Ephesians 2:2-3) was filled up with such horrible facts about these Ephesians, and Paul, and all of us today, Paul completely changes gears going back to his train of thought in Ephesians 2:1 by using the English word “But” which is translated by the Greek word de which is a primary particle an adversative expressing antithesis or opposition; Introduces something in contrast or unexpected; however, on the contrary. In other words, Paul is declaring that God is not driven back or away from these Ephesians because of them being dead spiritually to Him in their trespasses and sins. Instead, Paul declares God the Father to be “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4). The English word rich is translated by the Greek word plousios meaning abounding in or existing in abundance. The English word mercy is translated by the Greek word eleos meaning Divine compassion or a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering, that is tender and active; understanding the suffering and wanting to do something about it; it is the overflowing and endless wealth of God to fallen man.
In other words, God the Father sympathizes with man’s fallen/corrupt nature, for it was not His desire or intent in our original design, but because the first man (Adam) disobeyed, man’s corrupted nature is the result, but He gives His mercy to all who will ask for it that they might be blessed despite being born with a corrupt nature. Therefore, because of “His great love wherewith He loved us” (Ephesians 2:4), He has shown us said love by way of His mercy to these Ephesians and to us by not giving us what we deserve which is His Wrath and Judgement, but instead giving us His Grace that we do not deserve through our Lord Jesus Christ as Paul wrote in this manner to the Thessalonian believers, “And [how you] look forward to {and} await the coming of His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead--Jesus, Who personally rescues {and} delivers us out of {and} from the wrath [bringing punishment] which is coming [upon the impenitent] {and} draws us to Himself [investing us with all the privileges and rewards of the new life in Christ, the Messiah].” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
By Nature God is Love (1 John 4:8); by nature we are un-loving (Romans 3:10-18). God’s Love for sinners pities their state of sinful bondage and enslavement and it is from His Great Love that pours out mercy. It is not His Love for sinners that saves sinners from their sins, it is His Love for sinners that gave us the “mercy seat” (Christ Jesus our Lord) (John 3:16) upon which our sin was placed as Paul declared it in this manner explaining to the Corinthian believers, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). It is in our natural state or condition with only our corrupted nature within us that God expresses His Great Love through mercy and grace to us.
Perhaps the greatest picture of God the Father’s love for rebellious sinners is found in the relationship of King David to his son Absalom. Absalom had organized an uprising against his Father King David in order that he would overthrow his Father and sit on his Father’s Throne as King of Israel (2 Samuel 15). However, when we fast forward to 2 Samuel 18 we find King David completely grief stricken over the news of the death of his rebellious son Absalom and here are the documenting words, “Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, ‘Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.’ Then the king said to the Cushite, ‘Is it well with the young man Absalom?’ And the Cushite answered, ‘Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!’ The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!’” (2 Samuel 18:31-33). The cry of the heart of King David was that he would have died in the place of his son Absalom, and this is exactly what God the Father did for these Ephesians and for us today, on the Cross our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ died in our place that we would be forgiven of all our trespasses and sins, past, present, and future sins. We will never have one sin charged to our account as this same King David spoke of in this very manner when he said, “Just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. ‘Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.’ (Romans 4:6-8). Amen! Is there any greater Love than this?
Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV): “The Lord has appeared from of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you.” When many people read the Old Testament they see a vengeful, mean, and angry God. The Jehovah of the Old Testament, however, is the Lord Jesus of the New Testament. The Lord said I am the Lord and I change not. The Lord Jesus Christ was not different in His incarnation when He walked on earth as a man. He showed compassion above any man who ever lived. But along with His loving-kindness, He always displayed His contempt for sin. When we begin to be in want for nothing but intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ we will see Him as He really is through and through. We will never come to know all the depth of His love and His nature or character. Excerpt from my Book entitled, “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs”
“God by His love does not, because He cannot, raise these dead souls into a life of righteousness without Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ comes to be the channel and the medium through which the love of God may attain its end. God’s pitying love, because ‘He is rich in mercy,’ is not turned away by man’s sin; and God’s pitying love, because ‘He is rich in mercy,’ quickens men not by a bare will, but by the mission and work of His Dear Son.” Alexander MacLaren
“Mercy is a perfection of the Divine Nature, and is essential to God; and may be considered with respect to the objects of it, either as general, extending to all men in a providential way; or as special, reaching only to some in a way of grace; for though mercy is His Nature, yet the display and exertion of it towards any object, is the act of His Will; and special mercy, with all the blessings and benefits of it, is only exhibited in Christ Jesus: and God is said to be ‘rich’ in it, because He is free and liberal in dispensing it, and the effects of it; and that to a large number of persons, in great abundance and variety, by various ways, and in divers instances; as in the covenant of grace, in the mission of Christ, in redemption by Him, in regeneration, in pardon of sin, and in eternal salvation; and yet it is inexhaustible and perpetual; and this sets forth the excellency and glory of it.” Dr. John Gill
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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