From The Editor -- By: Glenn R. Kreider
Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 176:704 (Oct 2019)
Article: From The Editor
Author: Glenn R. Kreider
From The Editor
“We were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:3–5, NIV).
In this succinct statement, the apostle Paul summarizes the story of redemption. Paul had a short career as a persecutor of Christians (Acts 8:3). Then he met Jesus and everything changed (9:1–6). He came to understand that he was not merely harming Christians; he was persecuting the resurrected Christ. He deserved God’s wrath, he deserved to be left alone to suffer and die in his sinfulness, and God would have been just had he done so (cf. 1 Tim 1:15). “But God.” That makes all the difference. God is love and rich in mercy. God’s love is manifested in his grace, his unmerited favor.
We deserve condemnation, but we are saved by grace. Our salvation from beginning to end is not due to any merit or worthiness in us but only because of God’s love and mercy. Grace is our only hope. Thanks be to God that he is merciful and gracious.
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