Monday, February 9, 2026
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:1-5 CSB
God's Rich Mercy and Great Love For Us
We are in week three of the series called We Are The Church – A Study In Ephesians. In this series Pastor Jim is walking us through what church is, our part as Christians in the church and as the church in the world. Our key truth is, The church is not a destination, but a base of operation. Church is not where we are to quietly live out our days as a believer, but instead it is a launchpad where we are equipped, encouraged, supported, loved, taught, and sent out to do the work God has called us to do as his church – to go out and spread the Gospel far and wide.
In chapter 1 we learned who we are in Christ and some of the benefits and gifts of being a child of God. Now in chapter 2 Paul gives the most important message of all – how do we become a child of God? What does salvation in Christ look like and how does it change us?
Paul begins chapter 2 with the truth of our spiritual condition before Christ – And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. v1-2 Before we become believers we were living in our sinful and fleshly desires, having no part of God but following the ways of the devil. Our only hope was to be rescued by the only One with the power to raise us from the dead and give us new life. God is the only one who can rescue us from a life dead in sin and give us new life. We cannot do this for ourselves. Apart from that rescue and new life, we have eternal separation from God.
But God - But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! v4
Verse 4 tells us how we become a part of the church – the body of Christ. It is only through the grace of God that we are saved -raised from the dead of our sin to new life in him. There is nothing we can do to earn it – it is purely a gift we are to receive and believe which leads to repentance, salvation, relationship with him, and eternal life.
Because of God’s rich mercy and great love for us, He saved us. We don't deserve it and never will. He forgave us and washed our sins away, making us a new creation in Him. Grace is a gift given by God, with no expectation of anything in return. If is free to us at no cost, but grace cost the giver. God sacrificed His own son so we could know His grace, receive His grace and live in His grace. Once we receive His grace, it is ours forever. It does not expire, and God does not take it back. It is a forever gift to us.
The most important way salvation changes us is that we were dead and now we are alive! Going from death to life brings a whole cascade of changes into our lives. We are a new person in him. Our lives should reflect his glory, grace, love, and kindness to everyone around us. Our lives should tell his story of saving grace and loving kindness.
Are you still “dead in your trespasses and sins” or have you been saved by grace through faith? If you have been saved, think about that moment of salvation? Give God thanks for His great mercy and grace in your life? How are you living out that salvation by participating in God’s Kingdom work every day? If you need to know Christ, text TRUST to 72318.
