Ephesians 2:4-9 - "God Who is Rich in Mercy and Grace..."

Todaywe're looking at Ephesians 2:4-9. In the first three verses, we saw the realityof sin. The reality of sin and how sin works against us. We learned how we areborn dead in trespasses and sin. Because of that, we are sons of disobedience.We are disobedient people. We are depraved people going our own way, fulfillingthe lust of our flesh. And then we also saw that we're children of wrath. We'redoomed. We have no hope at all except the grace of God and the mercy of God inChrist Jesus.  Inverses 4-9, we see at least activities that are performed on behalf of sinnersto save them from the consequences of their sins. And that's why verse fourstarts out with a “But God”.  Despitesin's work against us, despite our state of condemnation, we are told, “But Godloves us with a great love”. And that's what Paul tells us about first. Thework of God in His love. “But God, who is rich in mercy because of His greatlove with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, He made usalive with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”  Theseawesome and wonderful verses bring us hope and salvation through Jesus Christ.Now, one of the things we really need to understand, by nature, God is love (1John 4:8). But God would love us even if there was no sin and there were nosinners. God would still love because He is love. Because love is a part of Hisvery being.  Theologianscall love one of God's attributes. But God has two kinds of attributes: thosethat He possesses of Himself. These are intrinsic attributes such as life andlove and holiness. And then those attributes by which He relates to Hiscreation, especially to man. These are called relative attributes. For example,by nature, God is truth; but when He relates to man, God's truth becomesfaithfulness. God is by nature holy; and when He relates that holiness to man,it becomes justice.  Myfriend, love is one of God's intrinsic attributes. When this love relates tosinners though, it becomes grace and mercy. And that's what we see in theseverses. God is rich in mercy (v.4). But also, in verse 7 we find God is rich inHis grace toward us. Oh, how wonderful is that? Here we also discover we arenot saved because God loves us. We all know John 3:16; “For God so loved theworld that He gave His only begotten Son…”. But this doesn’t mean that weare saved because God loves us.  Weare not redeemed and forgiven of our sins because God loves us. Now, thatshocks a lot of people today. We're saved by God's mercy and His grace. In Hismercy, He does not give us what we do deserve. And in His mercy, He gives uswhat we do not deserve. And all of this is made possible because of redemption,because of the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross of Calvary2,000 years ago. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, theforgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Itwas at Calvary that God displayed His hatred for sin and His love for thesinners (Romans 5:8; John 3:16). It was at Calvary that: “Mercy and truthhave met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed” (Psalm 85:10). Thiswas the God’s ministry of reconciliation that took place that day on the crosswhen His Son, Jesus Christ, suffered, bled, and died in our place for our sins.God’s holiness demanded justice and punishment for our sin and at the same timeGod’s love for us would not let us go. His answer was reconciliation throughthe “blood of the cross”.  Remember2 Corinthians 5:18-21: “Nowthen, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: weimplore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knewno sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Yes,God is a God that is rich in mercy and rich in grace. And His grace and His mercyis what brings us the salvation of Jesus Christ. Thank the Lord for that today.