What Makes God, God? His Mercy: Ephesians 2:4
Ephesians 2:4- "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,..." Have you heard the riddle, which came first, the chicken or the egg? I heard someone recently explain why the chicken must have come first, because otherwise where did the egg come from? Seems like a sensible argument. The grace and mercy of God offer the same kind of conundrum. Which comes first, the grace or mercy of God? Or are they concurrent acts of a loving God on our behalf? The point of grace and mercy does not relate to how they benefit us, but rather they reflect God's providential choice to relate to us. I like to think of God's grace and mercy acting like a door. John wrote in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Grace prompted the Father to knock so we could open the door at the sound of His voice. But mercy keeps the door open. Whi...