Young People's Group

A Deeper Appreciation of the Lord’s Glory in Salvation

by Mitchell Tan
November 13, 2019

FROM DEADNESS TO LIFE

It takes nothing less than the power of God to make a spiritually dead person come alive spiritually. The apostle Paul understood very well the state of the human heart before it is regenerated. When a person is dead in sin, there is totally no ability within him to respond or react to spiritual stimulus. A person cannot respond to anything spiritual. And yet, it is God who has made us come alive with Christ.

“Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ”
Ephesians 2:5

It is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that we can be brought to life spiritually. The phrase “made us alive together with” is one word in Greek. “Suzóopoieó” has the idea of bringing life to a person together with another. It is the Lord Jesus who makes us come alive.

APPRECIATING THE AMAZING ATTRIBUTES OF GOD IN SALVATION

Paul highlighted three amazing attributes of the Lord God with regards to salvation. These redound to His great glory.

1. APPRECIATING THE GREAT LOVE OF GOD

“Because of His great love with which He loved us”
Ephesians 2:4

God’s love is the underlying reason that brought about salvation. This is where the concept of love is made concrete through His act of love. The Lord Jesus spoke of how the Lord God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for us that we may have eternal life (John 3:16). The apostle Paul also taught of how He demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). There is no reason for the Lord God to love us and to save us. And yet He has. This is the amazing love of God!

2. APPRECIATING THE RICH MERCIES OF GOD

“But God who is rich in mercy”
Ephesians 2:4

Another wonderful attribute of God that we should appreciate is His rich mercy. Mercy can be simply defined as the Lord’s compassionate treatment of all sinners… Jews or Gentiles. It is out of His mercy that the Lord would not leave all sinners in spiritual deadness which was brought about by sin. Every person deserved to be judged for their sins. We deserved to be condemned to death. And yet, the Lord has been most merciful towards us. He sent His only Son to save us from sin and judgment. The Lord’s great mercy is given to us because of His great love.

3. APPRECIATING THE GLORIOUS GRACE OF GOD

“By grace you have been saved”
Ephesians 2:5

Grace can be defined as unmerited favour from the Lord. It is out of His great love and the richness of His mercy that grace is extended. It is grace that actually brings about the power to save us from our sins. It is by means of grace that we are ultimately saved forever through faith. Where sin abounded grace did abound much more (Romans. 5:20). This salvation by grace that brings about spiritual life should have a profound effect on our life.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

Let’s truly appreciate the great mercy, love and grace of God. They are indeed amazing and glorious. Let’s be thankful to the Lord for showing us how merciful, loving and gracious He is. May we always seek to be grateful for the wonderful attributes of God in salvation! May we never take them for granted!

Back to Article Listing