Created in Christ Jesus unto Good Works (Ephesians 2:10)
2023-11-02
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
The previous two verses, Ephesians 2:8-9, say, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” This shows that salvation is a gift from God as clear as possible. We don’t work to be saved. He saves us apart from what we do. Our salvation is settled before anything else happens.
Now with verse 10, it becomes clearer: We might not work to be saved, but we are saved to work for Him. The order is reversed from what most of the world would think. The real order is saved first, then works. We were created in Christ for that purpose. We were all created in Adam; here, it speaks of being created in Christ, which refers only to the Christian. The only real works that we can do are the ones that the Lord has appointed for us, and they are done in His power. He chose the works ahead of time, and we should do them.
What are these works? Well, any of Jesus’ commands would be obvious. But it sounds like there are also things very specific for each of us to do, which the Lord will lead us to do if we seek Him.