Definition: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down Ephesians 2:4. It's a really beautiful and important passage about grace and salvation. Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.” Let’s unpack that: “But God…” : This sets up a contrast – it's not just any God, but a God who is incredibly generous and loving. “…who is rich in mercy…” : This is the key part! “Rich” means abundant or plentiful. "Mercy" refers to God’s forgiveness, compassion, and kindness. So, God is overflowing with mercy. It's not just a little mercy; it's a HUGE amount. “…for his great love wherewith he loved us…” : This explains how that richness manifested. “Great love” means a very powerful and deep affection. "Wherewith he loved us" is a bit more poetic – it means He showed His love in a significant way. So, the whole verse basically says: God's love for us isn’t just a casual feeling; it’s a massive and incredibly generous outpouring of love. It’s so much that it’s almost overwhelming! What does this mean for us? This verse is really important because it tells us: We are loved by God: He has chosen to love us, even though we were once lost and separated from Him. We aren't worthy of His love: We didn’t earn it! It's a free gift. We are in a special relationship with him: Because of this incredible love, we have a chance to be reconciled to God (made whole again). In short, Ephesians 2:4 is a message of grace – that God loves us unconditionally and offers us salvation. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this verse in more detail? Perhaps you'd like to know: What "reconciliation" means? How does this verse relate to our faith?