“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” Ephesians 2:4-5
I had an unforgettable experience in college. I was sitting with a group of my friends discussing Ephesians chapter two, when something powerful happened—I began to grasp the depth of God’s love for me.
One person described the idea of being dead in terms of a boating excursion. Being dead in our sin, he said, is not like falling off the boat into the water, floundering for help and gasping for air. It is not simply falling into treacherous water. Being dead in our sins means drowning to death, sinking to the bottom of the sea, and flatlining beyond the point of return. Mercy is God pulling us from the depths of the ocean to breathe life into us. He not only brings us back to life, but raises us to better, newer life!
In his love, God brought us back to life through Jesus’ own life, death, and resurrection. When we put our faith in Jesus, his death and resurrection become our death and resurrection. And it doesn’t stop there. We are given the promise that this saving love cannot be taken from us. There is nothing that can separate us from the far-reaching, steadfast, always-faithful love of God.
The hymn “What Wondrous Love is This” marvels at the love of Christ in setting aside his heavenly crown to rescue sunken sinners. We are born under the curse of Genesis 3, doomed to spiritual death. But in a stroke of divine mercy, Jesus bears the dreadful curse for our souls at the cross, making it is possible for us to enjoy the wondrous love of God. Although the author is unknown, this American folk hymn was first published during the second Great Awakening and used to stir wonder over the great love of God in Christ. We hope you are also moved to wonder as you ponder and celebrate what Jesus has done for us!
- What Wondrous Love is This
- Writing and Arrangement: Austin Davidson, Jonathan Dodson, Anders Lee, Thomas Morris, and Zach Wallace
- Guitars: Nathan Johnson and Michael Guillot
- Keys: Dave Hampton
- Drums: Chris Flores