![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Banner-MOG-701.gif\" "\\"Ministry")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Because of God\u2019s mercy we don\u2019t get what we deserve. It\u2019s not fair, it\u2019s mercy!<\/p>\n The word \u201crich<\/span>\u201d is translated from plousios<\/span><\/em>, which is the condition of having ploutos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cwealth or riches, in money or possession.\u201d Figuratively, it means \u201cto have an abundance of something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMercy<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek noun eleos<\/span><\/em>. This word refers to \u201csorrow over the misfortune of others, which disposes a person to overlook personal offenses and to treat an offender better than he or she deserves\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of<\/span>\u201d is a translation of the Greek preposition dia<\/span><\/em>, which means \u201cthrough, either positionally or instrumentally.\u201d In the current verse it means that God\u2019s mercy is a result of His love.<\/p>\n The adjective \u201cgreat<\/span>\u201d is from polus<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cmuch or many.\u201d This is not a measure of size, that would be the Greek word megas<\/span><\/em>, it is a measure of quantity.<\/p>\n The words \u201clove<\/span>\u201d and \u201cloved<\/span>\u201d are from the same root, agap\u0113<\/span><\/em>. This word refers to a kind of love in which the lover is focused on that which will do the most good for the loved one. It is a self-sacrificing love which places the good of the loved one above the good of self.<\/p>\n In the past few verses the Apostle Paul has been describing how we were dead in sin before we were saved. Our manner of life was controlled by Satan and his world system. We followed the lusts of our flesh and we were deserving of the full weight of God\u2019s wrath.<\/p>\n Here he goes on to describe how all that was changed. The instrument of our change, freedom from the bondage of sin, was God, Himself. We know how rich our God is. In the fiftieth chapter of Psalms we are told that he owns the cattle on a thousand hills (in the Old Testament wealth was measured by how many animals you owned). Paul now tells us that His wealth is not just in material things; He also has an abundance of mercy. Because of this mercy we will not receive from God what we truly deserve, His wrath.<\/p>\n This mercy that God has shown to us is an outgrowth of His love. This love and mercy are so great toward us that He forgave us of all our sins (past, present, and future). We learn in Romans that the penalty for our sins is death. Instead of our death, however, God gave up the life of His Son, who did not deserve death, as the ransom to set us free from death.<\/p>\n The next time you complain to God that things are not fair, that you are not getting what you deserve, remember that what you deserve is death and the wrath of God. Instead, because of His mercy and His great love with which He loved us, He has given us eternal life. Our response to His mercy should be gratitude demonstrated by a life of submission to Him. Let\u2019s take a few minutes right now and thank God for His mercy. Let\u2019s recommit to serving Him out of a heart of gratitude.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n