ESV Reformation Study Bible – Eph 2:4
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Eph 2:4

2:4 But God. Paul paints this bleak portrait of the human situation to throw into relief God’s gracious and merciful response to it.

because of the great love. God loves His people of His own will. Paul excludes any consideration of merit, effort, or ability on the part of those who come to life (cf. Deut. 7:7, 8). The hopeless condition of sinners apart from Christ that Paul has described in vv. 1–3 is the basis for understanding his teaching on God’s election in 1:4–6, and on His gift of life here in vv. 4–10. Note the summary in Rom. 8:29, 30.