God’s Sovereign Love In The Gospel

Jan 28, 2017

Ephesians 2:4-5 states: “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).”

The condition of the person before being saved by the rich mercy and great love of God is described in verse four of Ephesians chapter 2 as DEAD IN TRESPASSES. We have seen the details of this dreadful condition described in the first three verses of Ephesians 2. But the condition of the one who is saved in Jesus Christ is that he is MADE ALIVE. He passes from death to life.

What a wonderful mercy of God it is that He keeps each one of His chosen people alive physically in order that they might be made alive spiritually! John Bunyan, the famous author of Pilgrim’s Progress, served in the military before his conversion. On one occasion he was assigned to guard duty and traded with someone else. That night, his substitute was killed. John Newton, who wrote, “Amazing Grace,” led a most wretched life. He was sold into slavery as a young man and nearly died from the mistreatment he received. Later he, himself, became the ruthless captain of a slave trading ship. So hated was he by his crew that they planned to mutiny and kill John Newton. On the day of the planned mutiny, the man who was to lead it suddenly became ill and died. He was replaced by another man, who was swept into the ocean by a wave. The rest of the crew then decided not to mutiny. God was keeping His man for the day of salvation. And He does the same for each one He has chosen. Though the lives of the elect may take them through many dangers and through many horrible paths of sin, God has His hand upon each one and continues to pursue them. God has kept us alive in order that He might MAKE US ALIVE. As our verse says, “even when we were dead in trespasses, God made us alive.”

Additional Reading