"But God who is rich in mercy..."

“But God who is rich in mercy, because of the His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…” (Ephesians 2:4-5 NKJV)

    This is the passage that sparked the entire study! What a life-changing statement this is!! It has not only changed my life, but your life as well, and the life of each and every one who believes!

    We grew up and became accountable before God. Even for those of us who were “raised in the church”, there was no bubble wrap for us in regard to sin; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all at some point followed after temptation and sinned (Ephesians 2:2-3), we may have even made a habit out of it, but when we sinned, we died, spiritually.

    BUT GOD, RICH in mercy - absolutely abounding in lovingkindness (Psalm 103:8-18) – because of His GREAT love for us, gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)!

    God gave us hope – He granted us life again – He gave us opportunity to be revived and walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). God, by His grace, gifted us with new life in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9)!

    Because of God’s rich mercy and great love in sending His Son to die for us, we, although lost in darkness, were able to seek God and find Him (Acts 17:27). We could listen to His word and believe it (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6). When we realized our state – our deadness in sin – we could run to God for help, for hope (Acts 2:37) and find both in abundance!

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV)

    As a child of God (Romans 8:12-17), made alive by grace (Ephesians 2:1-10), belonging to the body of Christ through baptism (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), we have help, and we have hope not only in this life but in the one beyond as well!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV)   

    Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

    If you have not yet been revived to spiritual life with God through Jesus, if you have not yet been baptized for the remission of your sins, let today be the day! Let this be the day you begin to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4-13)!!

Let today be the day!!