Eph. 2:4

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy. Let us ponder this line for a while, Because of his great love for us. What does that mean? I think it means that God is motivated by his central attribute – love. Paul, here, asks, “Why did God act to save us?” Paul peels away layer after layer until he arrives at the very heart of God and finds there the motive that caused God to act, he did what he did and he does what he does “Because of his great love for us.” That is it! We are objects of God’s love.

It is not just generic love or amorphous love, but specific love. Paul uses the expression, “love for us.” Love is only operative when it has an object. I am the object of God’s love.

All of us sinners are included, no matter our social status. God acted on the basis of love – that is divine love that gives expression, so to speak, to God's many virtues. The only possible answer to the question of what motivated God to save me is very simple, God loves me and his love acted to save me.

“But.” Our text opens with the word “But.” The text states, in essence, we sinners are doomed. Who can stand against God’s anger? No one. We are all the objects of God’s wrath. Does that mean that we are all doomed? That is absolutely correct – unless God’s wrath is dissuaded or withdrawn. That is exactly what happened. God’s wrath was poured out and spent, so to speak, as Jesus took upon himself my sin and the sin or sinfulness of all mankind. As we believe that we are transformed and accept God's grace of forgiveness, a further expression of his love. That is the only way we can live in peace with God.

That is why Paul can begin the sentence with the word, “But.” Were it not for that “But”- that God is “rich in mercy” - all is dark and hopeless. Paul exclaims, God is “rich in mercy.” In his mercy, prompted by his love, he made a way for us to have perfected fellowship with himself.

God hates sin because it separates himself from people. He is furious because he created people to have an intimate relationship with himself – a purpose thwarted by Satan who encourages people to reject God. It is little wonder that God detests sin and disobedience to his divine will, because it defeats the purpose of creation.

So, how is God going to deal with sin without destroying the sinner who is guilty of sin? Paul points to God’s love and the glorious truth that God is rich in mercy. All mankind, it seems, agrees that God is full of wrath. Few agree the he is full of mercy. In that truth lies the nub of the Gospel. Jesus Christ, the sinless one, took upon himself the sins of all mankind, past present and future, and carried them in his own body on the Cross where the wrath of God was expended on those sins. The result is that, as we hide ourselves in Jesus, our sins are purged and we stand liberated and full of joy before God himself, covered, not with our own righteous ness, but with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Can we ever really understand the mystery of it all? Never. But that does not preclude us from reveling in the reality of it all, either. And rejoicing with joy unspeakable.