Verse of the Day 1/20
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Our Monday Men's Bible study went through this passage this morning. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest passages in the New Testament in explaining being "saved by grace through faith". Verse 1 in Ephesians 2 starts off by saying "you were dead in your trespasses and sins". Not in a stupor, not comatose, but dead, without hope. Today's verses show us the greatest turnaround, "but God". He has other plans for us, not by anything that we have done buyt what He accomplished in sending Jesus for us.
Why did Jesus come? He came to rescue us, reign in us and lead us through this life and into eternity. Think of these words that describe God - rich in mercy, Not by anything we have done but by His mercy He made us alive. We are alive in Christ. It is because of His great love for us. This is the only time that Paul uses the phrase "great love"
Have you felt His great love for you? This "great love" was referred to 3 times in the Old Testament book of Daniel:
At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved." (Daniel 9:23)
"O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." (Daniel 10:11)
And he said, "O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." (Daniel 10:19)
Wherever you are today, if you are in Christ, realize that you are greatly loved. Realize that you have been rescued, that God reigns and will lead you through this life.This is all possible because of what He accomplished at calvary.
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.
2
By God's Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary.
3
Now I've giv'n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary.
4
Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!
Blessings,
Mike
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
By Grace Through Faith
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
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