Eph 2:3-5
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.
The most terrifying name by which Paul calls the unbeliever is "children of wrath;" in writing this, the apostle is stating that those in Adam - all unregenerate human beings - deserve divine punishment, they can expect love and mercy from God but they will only get His wrath and ultimately eternal judgement. Rom 1-3, Jude, Rev 20
BUT {yes its true; there are glorious but's in the Bible} thankfully our Creator has not left humanity alone to its miserable fate, but has chosen to rescue a People for Himself (Chosen, Set apart, Elect, Predestined) -those chosen from the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-6)
He comes to His people - who were all born dead spiritually in Adam and unable to respond to His call and performs a spiritual resurrection so that they both have the desire to be saved and believe (Eph 2:8-10) This is God's initiative; He takes the decisive step, for those whom He regenerates certainly come to believe in the gospel of Christ and follow Him in a life of repentance and faith.
So why (you will scream at me) doesn't He do this for everyone? The full answer will remain a mystery until Glory, however we know it is His mercy, love, grace and kindness that does it for anyone; and it is to the praise of His glorious grace (Eph 1:6) and according to His good pleasure and purposes.
Mercy - or unexpected love and generosity - cannot be given to us as something owed, because mercy that is owed is no longer mercy but obligation - as in, God has to forgive that's His job! It can only be given to those who are desperate - and cannot help themselves - there is no way better to describe our situation apart from Christ than utter hopeless despair.
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