Ephesians 2:4-7 Complete Jewish Bible
4 But God is so rich in mercy and loves us with such intense love 5 that, even when we were dead because of our acts of disobedience, he brought us to life along with the Messiah — it is by grace that you have been delivered. 6 That is, God raised us up with the Messiah Yeshua and seated us with him in heaven, 7 in order to exhibit in the ages to come how infinitely rich is his grace, how great is his kindness toward us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.
Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
The good news of the Bible is that God is rich in mercy. Mercy is compassion toward people who have willfully done wrong and deserve to be punished.
“Rich in mercy” (2:4) means that God demonstrates lots of it. That’s a huge comfort for people who know their own heart, can see they need God’s mercy.
The experience of receiving mercy gives us relief that goes beyond words.
We were utterly smothered, suffocated in sin and totally unable to get ourselves out of it. God’s great mercy frees us in ways that only God can accomplish in us.
Paul writes that this mercy flows because of God’s “great love for us.”
In other words, divine mercy doesn’t just spring from superficial kindness. The root of God’s mercy runs much deeper. This mercy flows from the heart of God.
It flows from God’s love.
And what does this mercy do?
It gives us new life! Paul writes that God “made us alive with Christ.”
Here is God’s (Psalm 23, 121, 139) provision for a world in need of salvation.
But for God’s rich mercy to have meaning in our lives, it needs to be accepted and embraced.
If you find it too difficult to accept the mercy that God offers each one of us, pray for God’s Spirit to awaken you to the wonder of knowing this mercy in your own life.
The Scriptures are clear about the good news of God’s great love for us and the richness of his mercy.
John 3:16-18 Complete Jewish Bible
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved. 18 Those who trust in him are not judged; those who do not trust have been judged already, in that they have not trusted in the one who is God’s only and unique Son.
In Ephesians 2, Paul helps us better understand who we used to be before the grace of God transformed our lives.
Before we knew Christ, we were dead in our “transgression and sins” (v. 1).
We “followed the ways of this world” while being controlled by the devil (v. 2).
We gratified the “cravings of our flesh”, following its desires and thoughts.
We were even “deserving of wrath” (v. 3).
But, take a long look at the contrast that begins in verse 4!
The conjunction “but” introduces God’s actions toward us while sinners.
This is the good news: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.”
In the Greek text, the word “God” immediately follows “but,” placing it in an emphatic position.
God is the subject of the passage.
When highlighted against the backdrop of our desperate and sinful condition, God’s grace toward us is abundant and invaluable!
To emphasize the fact, Ephesians mentions “riches” five times and “grace” twelve times.
God expressed the value of His grace by making us alive with Christ!
He raised us up with Christ and “seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (v. 6).
Saved by His grace, we are His “handiwork” or “workmanship”—you are a work of art, God’s masterpiece! (v. 10).
What an incredible contrast!
What an indescribable transformation!
Going Deeper
How valuable is God’s grace to you?
In what ways can you show God how valuable He is to you today?
In what ways can you share how invaluable God is to you today?
In the name of God, the Father, and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
Praying …
Psalm 103 Complete Jewish Bible
103 (0) By David:
(1) Bless Adonai, my soul!
Everything in me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless Adonai, my soul,
and forget none of his benefits!
3 He forgives all your offenses,
he heals all your diseases,
4 he redeems your life from the pit,
he surrounds you with grace and compassion,
5 he contents you with good as long as you live,
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6 Adonai brings vindication and justice
to all who are oppressed.
7 He made his ways known to Moshe,
his mighty deeds to the people of Isra’el.
8 Adonai is merciful and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in grace.
9 He will not always accuse,
he will not keep his anger forever.
10 He has not treated us as our sins deserve
or paid us back for our offenses,
11 because his mercy toward those who fear him
is as far above earth as heaven.
12 He has removed our sins from us
as far as the east is from the west.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
Adonai has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he understands how we are made,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 Yes, a human being’s days are like grass,
he sprouts like a flower in the countryside —
16 but when the wind sweeps over, it’s gone;
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the mercy of Adonai on those who fear him
is from eternity past to eternity future,
and his righteousness extends
to his children’s children,
18 provided they keep his covenant
and remember to follow his precepts.
19 Adonai has established his throne in heaven;
his kingly power rules everything.
20 Bless Adonai, you angels of his,
you mighty warriors who obey his word,
who carry out his orders!
21 Bless Adonai, all his troops,
who serve him and do what he wants!
22 Bless Adonai, all his works,
in every place where he rules!
Bless Adonai, my soul!
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 