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. —Ephesians 2:4-5.
We have no claim to bring to God that he should love us, accept us, or call us his children! We have no right to demand salvation because we earned our righteousness! We have no power within us that can secure life for us beyond the expiration of our mortal bodies! Only God’s love can bring us salvation and life. Only because of God’s mercy extended to us in Jesus can our sins be forgiven. Only God’s loving grace can bring us salvation and genuine hope. Only God’s gift of Christ can awaken us from the death-slumber of sin and death. But praise God for “his great love for us” and his desire to be “rich in mercy” to us. Because of God, we are made alive and ensured of life in glory (Colossians 4:1-3). Left breathless at God’s love, there is nothing more to say than, “Hallelujah!” and “Thank you!”