Ephesians 2:4-5

New King James Version

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of 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).

For Encouragement

“But God!”

That’s it! You and me right there—our lifeline. We had no life in us because of sin that had separated us from God—without hope and a future. Hell and destruction waited to swallow all in death. That was our fate, folks.

But God!

Those two words became the fundamental change for us—the kindness of God, which makes a difference in our lives. That phrase has changed our lives and everything else along our faith journey.

But God!

He had mercy on us and intervened to save us.

By the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross (2 Cor. 5:14), God has made Jesus the atoning sacrifice for our sins (Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn. 2:2). He did this out of His great love for us (Eph. 2:4-5).

The incredible thing is that God did all of this for us when we were still dead in trespasses and had no ability to do anything for ourselves (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:1-3).

He lavished His grace upon us (Eph. 1:7-8) so that through faith in Christ, He would save us (2:8). What could a dead man do to save himself? Nothing?

But, by uniting us with Christ in His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit has made us alive again. He has resurrected us into a new life in Christ and raised us from the graveyard of sin to sit with our Lord in the heavenly realm, far above all powers and authorities (1:20-21).

So, appreciate those two words,

But God!

Through the Bible, this two-word phrase has changed the lives of many luminous saints who stand out as examples to us.

The flood had receded, with Noah shut in the ark from outside. So how does he get out?

But God remembered Noah (Gen. 8:1).

Abraham raised the knife to slay Isaac.

But [God] called out to him … (22:7).

The brothers of Joseph were jealous of him.

But God was with him (Acts 7:9)

They intended to harm Joseph.

But God intended it for good (Gen. 50:20).

David wanted to build a temple for the Lord,

But God [prevented him] (1 Chron. 28:3). 

The Jews seized Paul and tried to kill him in the temple courts.

But God … helped him (Acts 26:21-23).

Epaphroditus almost died.

But God had mercy on him (Phil. 1:27).

Jesus was dead and buried—the end of the story.

 But God raised him from the dead. (Acts 2:24).

That phrase is the underlying force of Paul’s commanding plea:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Rom. 12:1).

So, appreciate the mercy and grace of God in your life and celebrate His Son and the gift of the Holy Spirit in you. Trust Him to intervene in your life situations for the glory of His name. Amen!