Good Works in Christ Jesus
Good works in Christ Jesus
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Praise God our Father for the good gifts that he has given to us. God, by His divine good pleasure, is leading us at this time through the book of Ephesians on Wednesday nights. We would love to have you join us if you have not yet come!
The beginning of the book of Ephesians is saturated with glorious truths about our King Jesus, truths that have become the possession of all who have received the gift of faith in Christ Jesus. It should not surprise you that we run out of time every Wednesday, barely scratching the surface of the immeasurable riches contained in God’s word.
Paul teaches the truth of every Christian’s identity and testimony in Ephesians 2:1-9. After expounding the truth of every Christians identity, being formerly dead in trespass and sons of disobedience but made alive by God because of the great love with which he loved us, Paul expands on one of the divine purposes God has in this redemption.
Paul says that the follower of Christ is God’s workmanship, for walking in good works. As with all of Ephesians, this idea rests “in Christ Jesus”.
It is easy to recognize the work of a master craftsman – there are many in our community who are able to glorify God with the work that they create with their hands. Paul is using this same language to describe the work of God in the Christian – we are his workmanship. We are beautiful creations because of the righteousness we have in Christ, and we are beautiful when we reflect the character of Christ as we are sanctified. It is important that we encourage each other by recognizing the ways we can observe God’s work in sanctifying each other (men, especially in your wife and believing children!)
God is truly the master craftsman making something beautiful and good out of that which is dead!
Call to mind what God said repeatedly in the beginning of Genesis – “it was good”. God’s workmanship, His creation, is always good. He can do nothing but good – it is his nature. As His workmanship, in being “made alive” or being a new creation, we are now good. It is so vital that we recognize that the only way to be made alive is to be in Christ Jesus by faith. The only way to be good is to be in Christ Jesus by faith.
We were created in Christ Jesus. Paul goes on to explain that God had purpose in this act of creation. Christians are created in Christ Jesus for walking in good works.
The idea of good works leads many Christians to confusion. We have already highlighted that Paul inseparably links good works with being created in Christ Jesus. Moreover, Paul says that these good works were prepared beforehand by God. This thought is linked directly to God’s sovereign will in Ephesians 1:3-14. Not only did he predestine us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, but he also prepared beforehand the good works that he would have us walk in! Good works, therefore, are not performed by the ability of any man or woman. Surely, men and women, believers and unbelievers alike can do “good” things by their own ability, and can even outwardly perform what the law requires. But this is not what Paul is talking about. Paul is talking about that which is acceptable before God – good works in Christ Jesus, by the indwelling power of his Spirit.
Good works in the Christian are the result of being in Christ. Good works are the evidence of true faith, not a requirement to have or earn true faith.
Let us leave off with this exhortation, Christian; we have no more to do than walk in the good works which God has prepared beforehand. We have no less to do than walk in the good works which God has prepared beforehand. Praise and thank God that good works are only performed in and through Christ Jesus as he sanctifies us.
Your brother Sam
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Praise God our Father for the good gifts that he has given to us. God, by His divine good pleasure, is leading us at this time through the book of Ephesians on Wednesday nights. We would love to have you join us if you have not yet come!
The beginning of the book of Ephesians is saturated with glorious truths about our King Jesus, truths that have become the possession of all who have received the gift of faith in Christ Jesus. It should not surprise you that we run out of time every Wednesday, barely scratching the surface of the immeasurable riches contained in God’s word.
Paul teaches the truth of every Christian’s identity and testimony in Ephesians 2:1-9. After expounding the truth of every Christians identity, being formerly dead in trespass and sons of disobedience but made alive by God because of the great love with which he loved us, Paul expands on one of the divine purposes God has in this redemption.
Paul says that the follower of Christ is God’s workmanship, for walking in good works. As with all of Ephesians, this idea rests “in Christ Jesus”.
It is easy to recognize the work of a master craftsman – there are many in our community who are able to glorify God with the work that they create with their hands. Paul is using this same language to describe the work of God in the Christian – we are his workmanship. We are beautiful creations because of the righteousness we have in Christ, and we are beautiful when we reflect the character of Christ as we are sanctified. It is important that we encourage each other by recognizing the ways we can observe God’s work in sanctifying each other (men, especially in your wife and believing children!)
God is truly the master craftsman making something beautiful and good out of that which is dead!
Call to mind what God said repeatedly in the beginning of Genesis – “it was good”. God’s workmanship, His creation, is always good. He can do nothing but good – it is his nature. As His workmanship, in being “made alive” or being a new creation, we are now good. It is so vital that we recognize that the only way to be made alive is to be in Christ Jesus by faith. The only way to be good is to be in Christ Jesus by faith.
We were created in Christ Jesus. Paul goes on to explain that God had purpose in this act of creation. Christians are created in Christ Jesus for walking in good works.
The idea of good works leads many Christians to confusion. We have already highlighted that Paul inseparably links good works with being created in Christ Jesus. Moreover, Paul says that these good works were prepared beforehand by God. This thought is linked directly to God’s sovereign will in Ephesians 1:3-14. Not only did he predestine us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, but he also prepared beforehand the good works that he would have us walk in! Good works, therefore, are not performed by the ability of any man or woman. Surely, men and women, believers and unbelievers alike can do “good” things by their own ability, and can even outwardly perform what the law requires. But this is not what Paul is talking about. Paul is talking about that which is acceptable before God – good works in Christ Jesus, by the indwelling power of his Spirit.
Good works in the Christian are the result of being in Christ. Good works are the evidence of true faith, not a requirement to have or earn true faith.
Let us leave off with this exhortation, Christian; we have no more to do than walk in the good works which God has prepared beforehand. We have no less to do than walk in the good works which God has prepared beforehand. Praise and thank God that good works are only performed in and through Christ Jesus as he sanctifies us.
Your brother Sam
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