When did God love us?
Scripture teaches God loved us even when we were dead in sins, ungodly, sinners, and by nature children of wrath. His great love and mercy reached us while we were still enemies, before any good works or merit, and He quickened us together with Christ.
Les teaches from this passage that we were by nature children of wrath, disobedient, enemies of God, dead in sins, and filthy. Then comes the great 'but'—not by any person, but God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us. He commended His love toward us while we were yet ungodly. That is when He reached down and quickened us, made us alive together with Christ, picturing His resurrection.