A Note from Our Pastor:

“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

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

It is important that we note the shift in the subject matter that happens with verse ten. All through chapter one and through the first nine verses of chapter two the overall focus has been on our eternal salvation. The Apostle has been establishing that we are sinners by nature, that God loved us, gave his son for us, and that by mercy we are told of our salvation. But now, the subject is going to shift from what God has done for us to what God has done with us.

“For we are his workmanship” — This phrase applies both naturally and spiritually. In a natural sense, yes, we are his workmanship as he created Adam and Eve from the dust and from them are we all created. He created this world, all that is in it, and as the scriptures say nothing that exists happened without his creation. So certainly, in a natural sense, we are his workmanship in bodily form.

However, in this verse that is not the focus of the Apostle. “Created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” The focus in this verse is how we are the workmanship of God so that we might be able to love God first and our neighbor second.

There is much we can say about good works. First, we must be clear that while we are not saved eternally by our works; we are called upon as disciples of Christ and believers in God to perform good works. We could demonstrate those good works by going to church, reading our bibles, singing hymns, praying and in addition giving to the poor, helping the widows and orphans, and assisting in many ways in our communities.

The reality is, there is a limitless number of ways in which we can perform the good works which reflect the love of God in our lives. But the guiding principle should always be the two rules Jesus Christ gave us; first love your God with all of your might, and second love your neighbor.

Finally we are told that God created us to walk in God works. We should be arrested by this verse. If our actions are not for the purpose of loving God first and loving our neighbor second not only are we harming ourselves and others, we are personally offending God. We are walking counter to his creation. Dearly beloved, that is a charge we should not want on our account.

You are the workmanship of God and you were made to walk in good works.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah