S – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace

Ephesians 2:4–5 CSB

O – Great nuggets in the commentary:

• In the Greek text God immediately follows “but,” thus placing it in an emphatic position. “God” is the subject of the whole passage.
• He is described as rich in mercy.  In the New Testament eleos means “undeserved kindness” toward sinners. Thus God, who is rich in exhibiting this undeserved kindness, acts on behalf of sinners because of His great love for us.
• The noun for “love” (agapē) comes from the verb agapaō that means “to seek the highest good in the one loved.” Since sinners are spiritually dead toward God, they have nothing to commend them to God. This is why Paul described this love as being “great.
•  God’s love has done three things: (a) made us alive with Christ, (b) “raised us up with Christ” (2:6), and (c) “seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (v. 6). An unbeliever, spiritually dead, is “made … alive” by God “with (in association with) Christ” (cf. Col. 2:13).
• The “us” includes both Jews and Gentiles (cf. “us” in Eph. 2:3–4). The only way a spiritually dead person can communicate with God is to be made alive, and that must be done by the One who is Himself alive. He is the living God, “who gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:17).
• God is fully aware of the unbelievers’ state. It was clearly described in Ephesians 2:1–3 and is repeated here: even when we were dead in transgressions (cf. v. 1).
• This act of God in making the unregenerate alive is an act of grace: it is by grace you have been saved. Paul elaborated on this last statement, which is actually parenthetical, in verse 8. The verb “have been saved” is in the perfect tense which expresses the present permanent state as a result of a past action. 

     “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Love the richness of the commentary.  It breaks down each component. It brings me to a place of gratitude.  Christ in his love for me, went to the cross, was resurrected and ascended to heaven to be with God.  He sent his Holy Spirit to make his presence known in my life each day. Why?  He loved me before I loved him. 

R – Lord, thank you for all that you have done for me. Your love built a bridge of relationship through Jesus.  Your love empowers me daily with your presence through the Holy Spirit.  Let my life be a reflection of all that you have done for me as I grow with you and with people today.