Ephesians 2:10
Christians are works in progress. As we allow the gospel to transform our lives, we know that God works in us to be better people – to look for opportunities to do good, to help others in this life to know the gospel and be saved from sin. This is why Paul stressed the idea that we are God’s workmanship in Ephesians 2:10.
Do we allow God to work with us and in us to become what he wants us to be? And what is the motive for allowing God to work in us?
In Ephesians 2 Paul continues the thoughts he expressed in Ephesians 1, wherein he prays and gives thanks to God for the Ephesians, and to pray that God will give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The more we know what God has done for us, the more we see the hope of our calling and the riches of his glory, and the greater motive that we have to allow God to work in us and help us to become what we can for his glory.
Paul then stresses in Ephesians 2 that God made us alive who were dead in trespasses and sins. Sin kills innocence, and innocence, once lost, is never recovered. Sin kills ideals – each sin makes the next sin easier. Sin kills the will – once something becomes a habit it is not far from being a necessity – sin then becomes the master, and the person becomes the slave of sin!
When a person lives and walks in the present order of this world, notice what life is like without Christ:
It is a life lived like the world and the present age in which it exists. The world sets self as the center; for the Christian Jesus is the center. “The worldly man knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
It is a life lived under the dictates of the prince of the air. It is a life characterized by disobedience to God.
It is a life lived at the mercy of desire; the lusts of our flesh and becoming children of wrath, like the rest of the world.
But our salvation; however is due to God’s exceeding riches of His mercy and grace.
Is due to God’s love in sending Jesus to die on the cross.
Is due to God’s kindness to his creation – man.
Though we were dead in sin, we have been made alive in Christ (2:5). He raised us up together with Christ (see Romans 6:1-6). Colossians 2:12-13 states the same things in these words, “Buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made alive together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses…”
As we consider all that God has done for us, we see WHY we are his workmanship. We are created for the purpose of doing good works.
We are fit, capable and able to do good works. Because I am not trying to please self but God, I can see beyond myself and see the plight and the needs of others. I can see that people need to hear the gospel and encourage them to come to God and allow Him to change them as well. This is why Christians need to realize the impact of their lives, and constantly look to help others in whatever way they can. “People will not care how much we know until they see how much we care.”
All glory goes to God for how he works in us through the word of God, and how we allow ourselves to be changed by the word. Do I realize that I must be transformed by him to become what he wants me to be? Am I allowing him to work in me?
What good works are YOU doing right now for the glory of God? How are You helping a brother or sister in Christ grow stronger in the work of the Lord? What are you doing to aid a friend or neighbor to know God through his word!
WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP!