For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2: 10 (ESV)
Scripture: Ephesians 2: 1-10
Ephesians 2: 10 can be a little confusing. Paul told us that we are not saved by works but says we were created for good works. This devotion discusses whether works are needed for salvation, and if not, considers what works Paul was talking about.
Cliff Notes
- Works aren’t needed for salvation as there is nothing we can do that is good enough to earn us salvation.
- Salvation and faith comes from God as a gift because of His love for us.
- After we gain salvation, works show others that God is living in us.
- The work that Jesus did is manifested in us.
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My ladies and I call Paul the Energizer Bunny. He just seemed to have a fire in his soul. I bet he was always thinking and talking about God. He was always preaching and writing.
We do know that Paul also worked. “Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was” (Ac. 18: 3 NLT). He wasn’t a slacker.
Paul knew we couldn’t work our way into heaven. However, he also knew that works have their place.
Works Aren’t Needed for Salvation
When we read Ephesians 2 and get to verse 10, Paul had just gotten done saying that works weren’t needed for salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2: 8 ESV). The only way we can gain salvation is to admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer (i.e., have faith that this is all true), and confess God as Sovereign Lord.
There is nothing we can do that is good enough to earn us salvation. We can’t buy it. We can’t fulfill the law — do all the do’s and don’t do all the don’ts.
Salvation comes from God as a gift. Faith comes from God, too. It comes out of God’s love for us.
Everyone who has faith is saved. That is because having faith changes us. It takes our focus off the worldview and puts it on the Godview. This change doesn’t happen — salvation doesn’t happen. When we acknowledge and accept our faith and begin to make the changes needed to be obedient to Him, we accept God’s gift of salvation.
It is probably a good thing that salvation isn’t based on works. If salvation was based on running a marathon, I would be doomed. If salvation was based on doing all the do’s and not doing any of the don’ts, none of us would make it.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
Works Are Needed to Show Our Salvation
After we gain salvation, works show others that God is living in us. We work to further God’s kingdom.
Our works show that we are following Jesus’ example. We have to become a disciple. We have to love God and others. We have to meet His standards. We have to let God be Lord of all in our lives.
We know Jesus expected us to work. “Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Mt. 9: 37 NASB). He didn’t expect us to just sit around and bask in God’s grace until He returned. Jesus expected us to work to further His kingdom.
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Believers have to do what God tells us to do. We have to follow His Word and determine His Will for our lives. Then we just have to do it.
We Are His Workmanship
We are important to God. Man was created in God’s image (Gen. 1: 26). We were created to praise God. We were created to live holy lives and tell others of His greatness.
The work that Jesus did is manifested in us. That is why Paul calls us “… his workmanship …” (Eph. 2: 10 ESV). Jesus was born, died, rose, and ascended so that we could be offered salvation. This was the plan that God had since the dawn of creation.
At the time of our salvation, we are made into a new creation, which is really taking us back to what God originally intended.
Making the Connections
Remember a couple months ago, we talked about our initial salvation was where our relationship with God was restored? However, we are in the process of working out our salvation. Only when we are called home (either by death or Jesus’ return) are we changed and ditch this sinful body.
We don’t need works to restore our relationship with God. We just need to accept His gift. We work through our salvation (Phil. 4: 12) by doing the works to further His kingdom.
Doesn’t this give you a sense of peace? Salvation isn’t dependent on us — except that we have to accept it. We could be what we consider the worst person on the planet — or the best — and God is ready to offer us salvation.
How Do We Apply This?
In order to apply this, if we have not already done so, we have to admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, and confess God as Sovereign Lord. We have to accept God’s offer of grace.
We then have to do the good works. Remember, we said this was becoming a disciple, loving God and others, meeting His standards, and making God Lord of all in our lives. We have to live the lives to which God calls us.
Works are important, not to gain salvation, but to show our lives have been changed by God. His grace should be reason enough for us to want to live the lives to which He has called us.
Loving Heavenly Father. It is amazing that You have called humans as flawed as us to be Your children. Yet, You have. You freely extend the gift of salvation to us because You love us. Help us to live the lives to which You have called us and to do the work You have assigned to us. May we always do Your Will. Amen.
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This explanation is so spot on. We cannot earn anything. Our works with His lead just show others the way to Christ. Beautiful!
Yes. If it were our works, it would be about us, not Him. Plus, it would follow the way the world thinks it should go. Thanks for the comment.
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