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2026 Special Lecture (January 25, 2026)

Because of His Great Love

Ephesians 2:1-10

Key Verse 2:4-5

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

1. What does it mean to be “dead in your transgression and sins” (1)? What are the characteristics of the old way of life, and what are the consequences (2-3)? Why do we all need to be reminded of our old way of life? (see also 4:22–24)
2. What specific attributes of God are listed as the reasons for His intervention (4)? Why is it important to know “the great love of God”? What does it mean to be “made alive together with Christ” (5; cf. 1:19–20)? How does this resurrection change our current identity and daily perspective (6)?
3. What is God’s long-term purpose in saving us (7)? What does it mean that our salvation is the “gift” and “not a result of works” (8-9)? Why is it vital to God’s love that we cannot boast about our own salvation?
4. What does it mean to “do good works” and that these works were “prepared in advance for us” (v.10)? How is this different from being saved by good works? How can we see ourselves as “His handiwork,” and why is this so important?

2026 Special Lecture (1/25/2026)

Because of His Great Love

Ephesians 2:1-10

Key verses 2:4-5

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

The 2026 NY UBF key verse is Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Here, love is not a suggestion but a command: “You shall love.” Loving God is the first and most important commandment in the Bible. However, in reality, this command is not easy to obey simply because love cannot be forced. Genuine love does not come from obligation or pressure. We cannot truly love God unless something deeply moves and motivates our hearts. God does not desire a forced or mechanical obedience, but a sincere and willing love that flows from within. So, what can motivate us to love God? 

I would like to begin with a story from the Bible—the story of a sinful woman in Luke 7:37–43. Jesus was once invited to a Pharisee’s house. While he was eating, a woman who had lived a sinful life came with a jar of expensive perfume. Standing behind Jesus at his feet, she was weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them with her hair. She kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus then said to him, “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither could pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” The Pharisee answered, “I suppose the one who had the greater debt forgiven.” Jesus said, “You are correct.” Then Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

This story teaches us the true motivation for loving God. Our love for God begins with God’s love for us, recognizing how great the love of God is.

We have been studying the book of Hosea to understand the love of God. The love of God revealed in the context of the Old Testament, through Israel’s history. I think Ephesians 2:1–10 reveals well the great love of God in Jesus Christ. Through this passage, let us examine what God has done for us because of His great love.

1. God made us alive in Christ.

Look at verse 1, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,” This verse uses the word “dead” to describe the believers' previous spiritual condition.

Spiritual death is similar to physical death. What is the indication of physical death? Many people here work in the medical field. One of the necessary certifications for them is CPR certification. I am a school nurse, so I have to recertify every two years. CPR is not performed randomly. A few things must be checked before CPR. The first thing to check is responsiveness to verbal and tactile stimuli, saying, “Are you okay? Are you okay?” while gently shaking the person. If there is no response, we then check breathing and pulse. If there is no response to all, then CPR is performed. If CPR is effective, the person comes back to life. But the person is already dead, there is no response to CPR. Likewise, being dead means having no ability to respond, no matter what the stimulus might be. A dead person cannot react because there is no life within them to respond. In the same way, a person who is spiritually dead, they are not able to respond to God, His words, or spiritual things, much less live a spiritual life. A spiritually dead person is alienated from God and therefore alienated from life itself.

Verse 1 says we were “dead in [our] transgressions and sins.” “Transgressions” refers to specific acts of willfully stepping over a known boundary or law. “Sins” is a broader term, literally meaning “missing the mark,” and includes both intentional and unintentional failures to meet God’s perfect standard. We were dead in transgressions and sins. This means we belonged to the domain of sin. In other words, committing sinful acts does not make us sinners; rather, we commit sinful acts because we are sinners. It is like a dead body that decays and produces a foul smell. The smell does not make the body dead; it is because the body is dead that the smell appears.

Look at verse 2,  ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. When we were spiritually dead, two external forces controlled us: the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air that is Satan.  The ways of this world refer to values and systems in this ungodly world, such as secular humanism, materialism and hedonism and pleasure and self-seeking lifestyles. These systems operate under Satan’s influence and are still at work in those who are disobedient.  

Look at verse 3, ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. Spiritual death also brought internal corruption. We were driven by the strong inclinations and desires of our fallen, sinful nature, such as pride, envy, greed, lust, anger, gluttony and sloth. All of us once lived according to the lust of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and thought, and were by nature deserving wrath, just like everyone else. “By nature” means something humans are born with, not merely something learned or chosen later. So all of us deserved the wrath of God by birth having the sinful nature within us. Romans 2:8-9 read, “But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;” The wrath of God is often experienced as deep trouble and distress that accompany a life lived apart from Him. When people follow their own desires and reject God’s truth, they may believe they are gaining freedom and satisfaction, yet Scripture reveals a different reality. Even when people pursue what feels right to them, life under God’s wrath is marked by emptiness, trouble and distress. Self-centered desires may offer temporary pleasure, but they ultimately lead to frustration, fear, and separation from God. 

Look at verses 4-5, ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. By nature, we were dead, not able to make us alive with our own power. We were in a helpless and hopeless condition to escape God’s righteous judgment and condemnation. However, because God is rich in mercy and has great love for us, he made us alive with Christ.

The word love here is ἀγάπη (agapē)—God’s active, unconditional, and sacrificial love. The word rich means that God’s mercy is so abundant that it is inexhaustible and never runs out. We often use the words justice, mercy, and grace. Mercy and grace are sometimes used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Justice means getting what we deserve. Mercy means not getting what we deserve. Grace means getting what we do not deserve. In justice, we deserved God’s wrath and condemnation because of sin. However, because of His great love and rich mercy, He did not condemn us but made us alive in Christ. By grace, He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to be punished in our place, and through Him He has granted us salvation. Just as a dead person cannot revive themselves, we were unable to revive ourselves spiritually. We were completely helpless and unresponsive, but he was made alive in Christ. What a great blessing it is. 

I grew up in the countryside in Korea, in a small town of about 30 houses. It should have been a very quiet village; however, my home was always filled with tension because of my father’s alcoholism and violent behavior. I did not want to live like my father. I wanted to be a gentle person and to build a harmonious and peaceful family. I attended church with the desire to be a good Christian. However, I was not free from my sinful nature—lust, anger, bitterness and self-seeking. I was trapped by these sinful natures and driven by them. Yet, because of God’s great love, He showed me His great mercy through Jesus Christ. As Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” I was spiritually dead because of my sinful nature, unable to do anything to save myself, and wandering farther from God. But by His grace, He made me alive in Christ. I praise God for His great love for me. 

2. God has given us a new identity in Christ. 

Look at verse 6: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Because of God’s great love, He moves the believer from a status of condemnation to life, shifting our identity from children of wrath to those who share the very life of the risen Christ. In this verse, Paul uses the words raised and seated. In Greek, these words are in the aorist tense, which views the action as a completed event. When we are in Christ, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we were legally and spiritually raised with Him and are now seated with Him. In the ancient world, being seated was the posture of a victorious king. To be seated with Christ means that believers share in His triumph over sin, death, and demonic powers. It signifies believers’ new identity and position as victors in Christ.

The phrase “in the heavenly realms” does not refer to a physical relocation to heaven after death, but to a present spiritual reality. Believers still live physically on earth, yet they are spiritually seated in heaven. Imagine that we are sitting together with the victorious King, Jesus Christ. As we live in this world and face many trials and struggles, we may sometimes feel as though we are dealing with invincible forces. However, the victory is already ours in Christ. We must remember that we are not struggling for victory; rather, we are called to claim the victory that has already been given to us. Whatever challenges we are facing, let us claim victory over every negative spirit and thought each day.

Now look at verse 7: “In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” The phrase “the coming ages” uses the plural ages. So, the coming ages refers to the present and continues into eternity. The incomparable riches of God’s grace in Jesus Christ were shown to us once before, but this is not a one-time event; it continues now and will continue into eternity. Throughout eternity, we will keep discovering and receiving God’s grace and kindness.

The future often seems uncertain, and that uncertainty shapes people's lives. Many people are consumed by worry, anxiety, and fear that something bad or unwelcome might happen to them, their family members, or those around them—such as possible failure in school, not getting a job, unexpected illness, or the loss of loved ones. All of these fears flow from an uncertain future. We do not know in detail what lies ahead, what will happen tomorrow, or what the near future holds. However, in the midst of uncertainty, we can find true security because our God has great love for us and is rich in mercy. As Romans 8:37–39 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” True victory and security come from knowing that we have the incomparable love of God and that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. This is our confidence and security.

Furthermore, Paul reminds us in verses 8–9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Salvation is a gift from God, not a reward or paycheck earned through performance. It is initiated and accomplished entirely by God’s power, not by human effort. In truth, we do not possess the ability to make ourselves acceptable before God. Faith means relying completely on what Jesus Christ has already done, rather than on our own ability to be “good enough.”

People naturally want credit for the good things that happen in their lives, even for salvation. However, no one can claim credit for their spiritual standing. God has given us salvation and a new status as children of God by faith alone. It is God’s great love that makes salvation a gift; otherwise, no one could be saved or have their status changed. Therefore, let us rest in God’s grace with grateful hearts. We do not need to strive to earn His love, because it has already been freely given. May this truth bring us humility, confidence, and deep joy as we live each day trusting in what Christ has accomplished for us.

3. We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus. 

Look at verse 10, ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Although good works play no role in gaining salvation, they are essential for living out our salvation. Salvation produces a transformed life.

We are God’s handiwork. The word handiwork emphasizes that we are God’s hand-crafted work, His masterpiece. However, this does not mean that we are perfect: more handsome or beautiful than others, or possessing flawless character, or being strong without weakness. We continue to deal with weaknesses and shortcomings, both physically, emotionally and spiritually. Beginning in early 2025, I suffered from tinnitus and weakness in my right leg, similar to symptoms of a stroke. I expected the condition to improve over time and assumed the leg weakness was caused by my chronic back problem, so I tried to improve the symptoms by exercising and strengthening my back muscles.  However, it was due to a big dumbbell shaped tumor located in my C1 and C2 nerves that were pressing the nerves. By God’s grace, surgery was scheduled quickly, and the tumor was successfully removed. I was grateful and hopeful for a full recovery because of the successful surgery. Yet some weakness remained in my right leg, along with lingering dull pain in the back of my head and pain in my neck. I felt a bit disappointed.

However, I was reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Like the apostle Paul, I pleaded with God to remove the pain and weakness completely. But, this verse reminded me that God’s grace is always enough, even when we are weak and limited. God often allows weakness to remain so that His power may be more clearly displayed.

The words “weakness” and “perfect” seem to carry opposite meanings. It appears paradoxical to say that perfection is found in weakness. However, when God intervenes in our lives, weakness is not a barrier to His work; rather, it becomes an opportunity for His grace to operate fully. All of us are still imperfect—like uncut diamonds. Yet God, the divine Master Craftsman, is continually shaping, refining, and forming us. He is not finished with us, but His work will continue until we are conformed to the perfect likeness of His Son. When God called us, He had already predestined us to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29) God works through everything we experience. Both joy and hardship are used by Him to accomplish His purpose, crafting us to reflect Christ more clearly and to grow into spiritual maturity in Him.

Do you know what traction is? Traction is a pulling force that creates tension. When an archer draws back a bow, tension is created. The stronger the traction, the farther the arrow can travel. In the same way, God sometimes allows difficulties, hardships, disappointments, and discouragements in our lives—not to break us, but to help us experience His love and grace more deeply. As we continue to experience God’s great love and grace, that love becomes the traction that carries us through every hardship. It shapes us into the likeness of His Son and enables us to live lives that reflect His love to the world.

May we continue to experience the pulling force of God’s love. Through that love, may we walk faithfully in the good works He has prepared for us, moving forward with hope, confidence, and joy. As we come to know and treasure all that God has given us through His great love, may we be motivated to love Him with our whole hearts and joyfully throughout this year.