The Gallery

God’s grace and mercy are the focal point of the Gospel. They are so magnificent that they are put on display for all to see and appreciate, but we struggle to do that. Appreciating God’s grace is life-changing, we need to gaze on it and pray that He would help us to comprehend it with our whole being.

Scripture

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Bible Study Scripture

But God

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV But God….

The text of verse 1-3 of this chapter focuses on the fact that all people are dead in their sin and under the control of the world, the evil one and our own sinful desires. Now the attention shifts to what God has done about that. How does Jesus change our fatal destiny?

Mark 5:41 ESV Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

Luke 7:14 ESV Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

John 11:43 ESV When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

John 5:24-26 ESV Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

Rich in Mercy

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV But God, being rich in mercy,

God’s immeasurable wealth is revealed in His great mercy. What is His Mercy?

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Great Love

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

God’s love motivates His wonderful mercy towards us. What is this love with which He loves us?

1 John 4:10-11 ESV In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Made us Alive

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…

God’s great love, expressed in His mercy, is manifested in His supernatural act of raising us from spiritual death. We’re enabled to hear His voice calling us back to life and empowering us to respond. How is physical resurrection, like spiritual resurrection?

Colossians 2:12-15 ESV having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

By Grace Alone

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

We’er saved by God’s grace alone, given to us as a gift that we could never earn. How does our instinctive reaction to the parable of the workers in the vineyard, and the rescue of the criminal on the cross, reflect our typical problem with accepting God’s grace?

Matthew 20:12-14 ESV saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.

Luke 23:40-43 ESV But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Lifted with Him

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks life into us who believe and raises us from the dead, spiritually first and ultimately physically. It doesn’t edn their though to what is the body of Christ raised, what is placed under the feet of the body of Christ?

Ephesians 1:20-23 ESV that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Displayed through the ages

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

All of the mercy and grace is poured out onto us as a free gift. What is the purpose of God’s loving mercy and His unmerited grace? What is the ultimate reason for Him raising us up with Him?

Matthew 26:13 ESV Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”