God's Workmanship Ephesians 2:10

Paul the apostle declared to the Ephesians that it is “by grace” they were “saved and not of” themselves, but it is “the gift of God”. This salvation came “not of works” that people can do because then they could “boast” about how much they have done and therefore have “earned” their salvation. In chapter two and verse ten of his letter, Paul shared how we are God's “workmanship” or “poem” “unto good works” where we read:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,

which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

The verse begins, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,...” Paul began with the words, “For we are his” which refers to “” “workmanship” which in Greek is the word “poiēma” from which we get our English word “poem” and means “that which has been made or the works of God as creator”, “created in” or “made habitable, formed, shape or completely changed or transformed” “Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “unto good works” which means “to useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright and honorable business, employment, and that which any one is occupied or undertakes to do”. We are in essence God's creative “poem” as we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and from this relationship we do “good works”.

The verse goes on to say, “...which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” Paul added, “which God” who is “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “has before ordained” which means “prepared and made ready beforehand” “that we should walk” or “make our progress, make due use of, regulate and conduct oneself in the use of opportunities” “in them” which refers to “the good works”. God in His foreknowledge “prepared and made ready beforehand” that we should “make progress and due use of “the opportunities” He has given to us to “work” in His kingdom.

When we think through these words of Paul, we understand that we can do nothing to “earn” our salvation. Salvation of man was purchased through God's grace through the blood of Jesus Christ upon the cross, and no “works” that we can do add to it. However, we are God's “poem” or “creative work” that can “from” salvation engage in “good works”. It is not our “good works” that saves us, but from the time we are saved, we “work” as unto the Lord. Again, it is not “for” our salvation, but “from” our salvation. As Christians we are to “work” in the Kingdom of God, nevertheless, these “works” do nothing toward our salvation. They are manifestations of the “work”, the “creative work”, that has been done within us by God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son. May all glory and inspiration for “good works” be unto Him who is praised forevermore.

Next time Paul shares about spiritual “circumcision”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.