Created in Christ Jesus for good works

Ephesians 2 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

And you were dead in your offenses and sins, ² in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, ¹⁵ by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Today’s text says:  And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.   The world does not understand or accept the equality and the inclusiveness that there is in faith in Christ. John 3:16 says:   “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that whoever who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”  The qualification is believing in Christ and His redemptive work on the cross. Whoever believes will be saved. No one can boast in the own qualifications, righteousness or works. No one can boast or depend on their heritage. Social standing, age, race, gender; all the things that the world uses to define and divide people, do not matter, only that they believe in Christ. Salvation is a free gift, given by God’s grace to everyone who will receive and believe.

No one is saved by their own works, but because of grace, in response to grace, we are to walk in the good works of God, no longer according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Romans 12:2 says: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  Our works cannot save us, but if we are saved by grace then our works should prove what the will of God is. We should no longer be conformed to the world and walking in disobedience to God. In Matthew 7:13-14;21-23 Jesus says: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it… Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”  Even our good works will not save us. We are not approved because of good works, but lawlessness, disobedience and unrighteousness may prove that we have not truly received God’s grace. How could we choose to continue in the very things that Christ suffered on the cross to redeem us from?

The text says: We have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.  1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says:  Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.  In John 14:6 Jesus says: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”  That is not intolerant or non-inclusive, as the world would claim. It is the most inclusive way imaginable.  It is a free gift given by God’s grace. It is simply a choice. In Revelation 3:20-22 the Lord says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.”

May the words of the psalmist in Psalm 67 be our declaration and prayer.  God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah  That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise You, God; May all the peoples praise You. May the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with fairness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah  May the peoples praise You, God; May all the peoples praise You. The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. God blesses us, So that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.  Amen.