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even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n God loves us instead of giving us what we deserve.<\/p>\n The words \u201cwhen we were<\/span>\u201d are translated from the verb eimi<\/em><\/span>, which is the verb of being, meaning \u201cI exist.\u201d It is expressed here in the first person plural (we exist), but it is written as a present participle as well. Thus, the most literal translation of this is \u201cwe being.\u201d<\/p>\n The words \u201cdead in trespasses<\/span>\u201d are translated from the same two words (ontas nekrous<\/em><\/span>) translated that way in verse one of this chapter. Though verse one refers to \u201cyou\u201d and this verse refers to \u201cwe,\u201d in both cases Paul is talking about Christians before we were saved.<\/p>\n \u201cMade us alive together<\/span>\u201d is from an interesting Greek word. It is sudz\u014dopoie\u014d<\/em><\/span>, a double compound word made up of sun<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ctogether,\u201d dz\u014don<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto give life to,\u201d and poie\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto make.\u201d Thus, this word literally means \u201cto make alive together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGrace<\/span>\u201d is translated from charis<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cfavor, good will, or kindness, especially that which causes joy and gratification.\u201d When used of God\u2019s grace toward us, since we don\u2019t deserve it, it is sometimes referred to as \u201cunmerited favor.\u201d<\/p>\n The word translated \u201csaved<\/span>\u201d is s\u014ddz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto deliver, to protect, or to save.\u201d<\/p>\n To understand this verse we must combine it with the previous verse:<\/p>\n But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),<\/span><\/p>\n There are three significant things expressed here: a main idea, a parenthetical idea, and a great theological truth.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with the parenthetical idea. It is \u201cbecause of His great love with which He loved us, we being dead in trespasses.<\/span>\u201d As we mentioned in yesterday\u2019s verse study, the word translated \u201clove<\/span>\u201d is God\u2019s self-sacrificing agape love. The amazing truth that we are told here is that God loved us with this perfect love while we were sinners with a sentence of death on our heads, who were living in violent opposition to Him. We were so unlovable that only God could have loved us.<\/p>\n The main idea expressed in these two verses is: \u201cBut God, who is rich in mercy\u2026 made us alive together with Christ<\/span>\u201d In the previous verse we said \u201cmercy<\/span>\u201d means to overlook personal offenses and to treat an offender better than he or she deserves. While we were sinners, dead in trespasses, in violent opposition to God, He overlooked our offenses and gave us eternal life in Jesus Christ!<\/p>\n The great theological truth expressed here is that we are saved by God\u2019s grace. We will expand on that in the next few verses.<\/p>\n Before you were saved you were a dead sinner, in violent opposition to God, not deserving anything but God\u2019s wrath. But – God loved you anyway! Can you say, \u201cThank you, God!\u201d?<\/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
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