Phrase

editing

NT

Ephesians 2:4-7

esv

being rich in mercy,

Ground

because of the great love

with which he loved us,

even when we were dead

Temporal

in our trespasses,

Context

But God, ... made us alive

together with Christ—

Accompaniment

by grace

Means

you have been saved—

Explanation

and raised us up

with him

and seated us

with him

Acccompaniment

in the heavenly places

Locative

in Christ Jesus,

in the coming ages

so that ... he might show the immeasurable riches

Purpose

of his grace

Material/Reference/Descriptive?

in kindness

Manner

toward us

Reference

in Christ Jesus.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son... This act of love that flows from God's own love for us is the giving of His Son to be our substitute and atoning sacrifice. God's mercy (his pity that he has and expresses towards the sinner) is dependent on His justice being satisfied (which is what He did when He "loved us" and sent His Son. (Romans 3:21-26)). I say dependent because had God not satisfied His own just wrath against sin and sinners, His mercy would be doing violence to His justice. Only because of God's own willingness to take upon Himself the penalty of sin is He able to possess mercy for those who deserve His wrath.

Romans 5:6-8

phrasing

Notes

Being rich in mercy: God's mercy (his pity that he has and expresses towards the sinner) is dependent on His justice being satisfied, which is what He did when He "loved us" (2:4c) by sending His Son for us. (Romans 3:21-26, John 3:16-18). This great love was shown to us while we were dead, separated, and hostile to God in our sin ( Romans 5:6-8 ). I say dependent because had God not satisfied His own just wrath against sin and sinners, His mercy would be doing violence to His justice. Only because of God's own willingness to take upon Himself the penalty of sin is he able to possess mercy for those who deserve His wrath. This "being rich in mercy" is the ground for His making us alive, raising us up, and seating us with Christ. I'm not totally satisfied with the label "ground" for 2:4 simply because it seems that God's being rich in mercy is expressed by His accomplishing for us the three actions (being made alive, raised up, seated). The idea behind "mercy" is pity, or relief from distress, specifically the distress that is the direct result of sin. God doesn't simply declare us righteous (justification) when he "saves" us,(though being declared righteous on account of Christ alone is the foundation of all other benefits) He affects a real change in us. He makes us alive! He gives us the Holy Spirit who unites us to the risen Christ in whom is eternal life! You can hear the same connection to mercy and that work of regeneration in Titus 2:4-7. "...He saved us...according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit ..." This work of God has one great purpose or goal; to put on display this incredible favor towards us in union with His Beloved Son, Jesus. Amen!

notes