In Ephesians 2, Paul reminds us of the sobering reality of our condition apart from Christ. We were dead in our trespasses and sins, following the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air. Like Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, we crossed God’s boundary and deserved justice. Yet into that hopeless condition comes one of the most powerful phrases in Scripture: “But God.” Because of His great love and rich mercy, God did not leave us under wrath. Instead, He initiated a rescue plan rooted in grace. From the first shedding of blood in Genesis 3:21 to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, we see that grace has always operated through substitution. Justice is satisfied, and mercy is extended.

Through Christ’s finished work on the cross, our debt has been paid in full. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Grace is not only forgiveness for the past but power for the future. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works, and we are created in Christ for good works.