But God: The Power of Divine Intervention in Ephesians 2:1-5

We live in an age that tells us we are the masters of our fate, the captains of our souls. The world is infatuated with the idea of self-improvement, self-determination, and self-salvation. Yet, the Word of God tells a different story—one that does not flatter human pride but exalts divine mercy.

Ephesians 2:1-5 is one of the most potent declarations of the gospel’s power. It strips away any illusion of human ability and lays bare the radical depravity of man. But at the heart of this passage are two words that change everything: “But God.”

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 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 2:1-5, ESV)

Dead in Sin: Our Hopeless Condition

Paul does not begin this passage with encouragement. Instead, he begins with the most sobering reality of all: we were dead in sin. This is not sickness; this is spiritual death. A sick person can still respond to treatment, but a corpse can do nothing. The unbeliever is not merely weak, confused, or misguided—he is utterly incapable of seeking God (Romans 3:10-12).

This is why human effort, moral reform, or religious ritual can never produce salvation. Dead people don’t revive themselves. They need an external force, a resurrection power beyond themselves. That power does not come from within; it comes from God alone.

But God: The Triumph of Grace

If verse 3 had been the end of our story, we would all be doomed. “Children of wrath” does not describe people who made a few mistakes—it describes our very nature. We were rebels, enemies of God, and fully deserving of His righteous judgment.

But then come the greatest two words in Scripture: “But God.”

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…”

It is not our effort, our goodness, or our seeking that changed our destiny—it was God alone. His mercy intervened. His love initiated. His grace resurrected.

John MacArthur puts it this way:

“The depth of human depravity can only be matched by the heights of God’s grace. The sinner’s only hope is that God Himself will act in sovereign mercy.”

This is what makes the gospel so scandalous. God loved us when we were unlovable. He made us alive when we were spiritually dead. And He did it all by grace—not because of anything we did, but in spite of everything we did.

A Living Testimony: The "But God" Life

This reality is more than theological truth—it is deeply personal. Every believer who has been saved by grace is a walking testimony of a "But God" moment. We were lost, but God found us. We were enslaved, but God freed us. We were condemned, but God redeemed us.

That is why the "But God" Script Tee from 5 Alone Threads is more than just a design. It’s a declaration. When you wear it, you proclaim the gospel in two simple but profound words. You are telling the world that your salvation is not your doing—it is the work of a sovereign, merciful, and loving God.

Conclusion: Live in the Light of Grace

The world tells us to trust in ourselves. The Bible tells us to trust in God alone. The world tells us to earn salvation. The gospel tells us it is a gift of grace. The world says you are good enough. The Bible says you are dead in sin—but God makes you alive in Christ.

Let us never lose sight of these two words. They are the anthem of every redeemed soul and the hope for every lost sinner. "But God" changes everything.

View Shirt

---

Sources