Ephesians 2:10 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
There are three key ideas found in vv. 8-10. The order of these ideas is important. First comes grace. Grace is God’s offer to change us, save us from sin, and provide eternal life with him. Second must come our faith in response to God’s grace. Faith receives this grace and allows it to do something in our lives. Third comes obedience. Based on God’s grace and the salvation that God brings to our lives, we then must respond in obedience. Obedience is faith that acts and responds to grace. Obedience without grace and faith is only human effort, which Paul states in v. 8 cannot save us. But faith without obedience is only intellectual consideration and not true faith.
When we let God’s grace work in our lives, we can become who God created us to be in Christ. Verse 10 explains this idea further. It brings together divine gift with human response. Each part of this verse has an important application.
First, we are God’s doing. Some translations have “workmanship.” This word is related to the common Greek word for doing or making something. God has created us to do something. God created us for a special purpose. We were created in his image. Every person is special in God’s sight. God loves every one of us. God’s words in Jeremiah 31:3 are timeless: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Second, we have been created in Christ Jesus. Later in the twin epistle of Colossians, Paul writes in 1:15-16, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” We are able to do God’s will because of what Christ has done for us and what Christ is doing in us right now through his Holy Spirit. We have been created to be in relationship with Jesus Christ. We will not find fulfillment until we are found in Christ.
Third, the purpose of our creation is for good works. There is a different word for “works” used here. It is related to the word for energy and power. We have been created to be channels of God’s grace working in us. First John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” God works in us to accomplish his purposes in this world. God’s purposes for us in Christ are best experienced when we walk the path of total faith in Christ.
Fourth, God prepared these special works for us before we were even born. As Paul wrote earlier in 1:4, “God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight in love.” God’s plan for every human before God ever said, “Let there be light,” was for us to be in relationship with Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord.
Finally, the purpose of our creation is so that we learn to live this life of faith, every day, living out these good works. God purpose for us is to follow his design for us. We will find completion and purpose only when we walk in the obedience of faith.
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