From childhood you are taught to do good and be good, and perhaps at times you were even told that you were good. In society, men and women are described in general as “good people” who do good things. From the human perspective, doing good is essentially defined as any deed designed to serve and promote the well-being of another.
However, God’s assessment of humanity and God’s definition of good is radically different.
According to Psalm 14:2 – 3 (also see Psalm 53:1 – 6, Romans 3:10 – 12), when the LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God, he saw three things about humanity. 1) They are all gone aside, 2) they are all together become filthy and 3) there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Just in case you think God is using hyperbolic or exaggerated language, he clarifies…no not one!
God’s definition of doing good is not limited to deeds done in the body but penetrates the thoughts and motives of the heart. No one by nature understands (sees, perceives clearly, knows) God therefore no one by nature seeks (pursues after) God, and this is not good. How then can a man that is not good possibly perform good works?
What Does the Bible Say About Good Works?
In Ephesians 2:10 the Apostle Paul writes,
“For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
If you examine closely verses 1-10 of this chapter, you will notice Paul gives the order of salvation as it relates to conversion.
First, humanity is dead in sin (Ephesians 1:1-3), which means all that men do by nature is rooted in seeking fulfillment of the desires of the flesh and the mind. Spiritual death and spiritual enmity toward God mean that our disposition is set against God. By nature, you don’t desire God or treasure God because spiritual death means you are dead to God.
Dead to the glory and beauty of God.
Second, in this condition of death and depravity, God acts sovereignly in rich mercy and love to quicken sinners and make them alive in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7). Quickened together, raised together, seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Third, the grace of God that made us alive spiritually saved us, not by works, but by uniting us to Christ by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Lastly, the God of grace that created, or called into being, that spiritual life in Christ Jesus and saved us by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) empowers us for good works (Ephesians 2:10) in Jesus Christ alone. God’s grace rescues sinners from spiritual death and gives life in Christ (2:4), faith in Christ (2:8), and works by Christ (2:10). By grace you have been saved through faith, not works, so that you should walk in good works.
What Does “God’s Workmanship” Mean in Ephesians 2:10?
The Greek word for workmanship is poeima which means “something that is made” by God Himself. We get our English words “poem” and “poetry” from this root word. The only other time poeima is used in scripture is Romans 1:20 where Paul writes,
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
When you gaze at the wonders of the galaxies or look into the sky with your natural eye, you are reading the poeima of God. His poem in creation declares the glory of His power and Godhead. In Ephesians 2:10 however, Paul uses this word to teach us that we are the poem He is creating in Christ Jesus.
As a poem is meant to express the ideas, thoughts, and emotions with a unique style of the one that created it, God’s design in creating us as new creatures in Christ Jesus is meant to express the uniqueness of His glory in good works. As Jesus put it,
“…that others may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16b).
The Lord has so arranged that when others read the poem of good works in your life all boasting goes to the Poet and not the poem, the workman and not the vessel.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship…”
Boasting is specifically excluded on the basis that we are God’s workmanship of grace from start to finish. The refrain of God’s song of grace is repeated in chapter 1 to highlight God’s great purpose that we should be “…to the praise of the glory of His grace…”
(Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). As Peter echoes in I Peter 4:11, “if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.” In other words, when you serve (good works), do that serving in the ability (faith) that God is supplying (grace) so that God gets the glory (praise) in your serving.
Why God Prepared Good Works for Believers
While good works are not necessary for salvation, they are a result of salvation and necessary to demonstrate we are alive and united to Christ by faith (James 2:20; 26). God has “before ordained” good works and therefore we “should walk in them.”
The two English words “before ordained” are translated from one compound word that means “prior to” and “to prepare.” Together the meaning is to prepare in advance.
In what sense can it be said that the good works of a believer are prepared in advance by God? The only other place in scripture this word is used is Romans 9:23,
“And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”
It involves the idea of a previous determination, or an arrangement beforehand for securing a certain result. The result that God secures in this text by His afore determination is seeing and embracing the riches of His glory. In Ephesians 2:10, the ordination of God beforehand secures the result and expectation of good works in those saved by His grace through faith.
How Christ Produces Good Works in Believers
God didn’t make advanced preparation to create us in Christ and then leave us to work alone. According to Jesus words in John 15:5,
“…He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
No fruit, no good works, no love, no obedience, no sanctification, no holiness without Christ. When Paul writes “…we are His workmanship…” he uses a present tense verb which simply means that God before prepared and planned to be the ongoing source of good works by faith in Jesus Christ. Grace has saved us by faith in Him and grace will sanctify us through faith in Him which is the only means of bearing the fruit of love and good works (Romans 7:4).
God secured this result, not by proxy, but by personally coming to be a permanent resident inside of you.
What is your experience of God living or abiding in you?
In the same context, Jesus identified this experience when He replaced the words “I in him” in verse 15 to “my words abide in you” in verse 17 as follows,
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
When we add Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:17, “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…,” the means of experiencing the indwelling Christ whereby fruit and good works flow is by faith in the word of God.
Are you letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly?
How Good Works Bring Glory to God
The word for boasting in Ephesians 2:9 is also translated “rejoice” in Romans 5:2 and “glory” in Romans 5:3. While grace eliminates boasting or rejoicing in oneself because we have been made accepted in the beloved, grace creates boasting in God because He is the workman of salvation and any good works that follow.
How can good works boast in the God of your salvation?
How can men read the poeima of God in your life?
When others see you love your enemy, bless the ones that curse you, and do good to them that hate you (Matthew 5:44), they are reading the poeima that God is writing.
When others see you feed and give drink to your enemy (Romans 12:20), they are reading the poeima God is writing.
When men see you blessing rather than returning evil for evil and railing for railing (I Peter 3:10), they are reading the poeima of God.
When you go the extra mile willingly (Matthew 5:41), they are reading the poeima of God.
When others hear you pray for those that despitefully use you (Luke 6:28), they are reading the poeima of God.
When men see you rejoice when you are reviled, persecuted and all manner of evil is spoken against you falsely for Christ’s sake (Matthew 5:11 – 12), they are reading the poeima that God is writing.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
However, God’s assessment of humanity and God’s definition of good is radically different.
According to Psalm 14:2 – 3 (also see Psalm 53:1 – 6, Romans 3:10 – 12), when the LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God, he saw three things about humanity. 1) They are all gone aside, 2) they are all together become filthy and 3) there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Just in case you think God is using hyperbolic or exaggerated language, he clarifies…no not one!
God’s definition of doing good is not limited to deeds done in the body but penetrates the thoughts and motives of the heart. No one by nature understands (sees, perceives clearly, knows) God therefore no one by nature seeks (pursues after) God, and this is not good. How then can a man that is not good possibly perform good works?
What Does the Bible Say About Good Works?
In Ephesians 2:10 the Apostle Paul writes,
“For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
If you examine closely verses 1-10 of this chapter, you will notice Paul gives the order of salvation as it relates to conversion.
First, humanity is dead in sin (Ephesians 1:1-3), which means all that men do by nature is rooted in seeking fulfillment of the desires of the flesh and the mind. Spiritual death and spiritual enmity toward God mean that our disposition is set against God. By nature, you don’t desire God or treasure God because spiritual death means you are dead to God.
Dead to the glory and beauty of God.
Second, in this condition of death and depravity, God acts sovereignly in rich mercy and love to quicken sinners and make them alive in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7). Quickened together, raised together, seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Third, the grace of God that made us alive spiritually saved us, not by works, but by uniting us to Christ by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Lastly, the God of grace that created, or called into being, that spiritual life in Christ Jesus and saved us by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) empowers us for good works (Ephesians 2:10) in Jesus Christ alone. God’s grace rescues sinners from spiritual death and gives life in Christ (2:4), faith in Christ (2:8), and works by Christ (2:10). By grace you have been saved through faith, not works, so that you should walk in good works.
What Does “God’s Workmanship” Mean in Ephesians 2:10?
The Greek word for workmanship is poeima which means “something that is made” by God Himself. We get our English words “poem” and “poetry” from this root word. The only other time poeima is used in scripture is Romans 1:20 where Paul writes,
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
When you gaze at the wonders of the galaxies or look into the sky with your natural eye, you are reading the poeima of God. His poem in creation declares the glory of His power and Godhead. In Ephesians 2:10 however, Paul uses this word to teach us that we are the poem He is creating in Christ Jesus.
As a poem is meant to express the ideas, thoughts, and emotions with a unique style of the one that created it, God’s design in creating us as new creatures in Christ Jesus is meant to express the uniqueness of His glory in good works. As Jesus put it,
“…that others may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16b).
The Lord has so arranged that when others read the poem of good works in your life all boasting goes to the Poet and not the poem, the workman and not the vessel.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship…”
Boasting is specifically excluded on the basis that we are God’s workmanship of grace from start to finish. The refrain of God’s song of grace is repeated in chapter 1 to highlight God’s great purpose that we should be “…to the praise of the glory of His grace…”
(Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). As Peter echoes in I Peter 4:11, “if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.” In other words, when you serve (good works), do that serving in the ability (faith) that God is supplying (grace) so that God gets the glory (praise) in your serving.
Why God Prepared Good Works for Believers
While good works are not necessary for salvation, they are a result of salvation and necessary to demonstrate we are alive and united to Christ by faith (James 2:20; 26). God has “before ordained” good works and therefore we “should walk in them.”
The two English words “before ordained” are translated from one compound word that means “prior to” and “to prepare.” Together the meaning is to prepare in advance.
In what sense can it be said that the good works of a believer are prepared in advance by God? The only other place in scripture this word is used is Romans 9:23,
“And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”
It involves the idea of a previous determination, or an arrangement beforehand for securing a certain result. The result that God secures in this text by His afore determination is seeing and embracing the riches of His glory. In Ephesians 2:10, the ordination of God beforehand secures the result and expectation of good works in those saved by His grace through faith.
How Christ Produces Good Works in Believers
God didn’t make advanced preparation to create us in Christ and then leave us to work alone. According to Jesus words in John 15:5,
“…He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
No fruit, no good works, no love, no obedience, no sanctification, no holiness without Christ. When Paul writes “…we are His workmanship…” he uses a present tense verb which simply means that God before prepared and planned to be the ongoing source of good works by faith in Jesus Christ. Grace has saved us by faith in Him and grace will sanctify us through faith in Him which is the only means of bearing the fruit of love and good works (Romans 7:4).
God secured this result, not by proxy, but by personally coming to be a permanent resident inside of you.
What is your experience of God living or abiding in you?
In the same context, Jesus identified this experience when He replaced the words “I in him” in verse 15 to “my words abide in you” in verse 17 as follows,
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
When we add Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:17, “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…,” the means of experiencing the indwelling Christ whereby fruit and good works flow is by faith in the word of God.
Are you letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly?
How Good Works Bring Glory to God
The word for boasting in Ephesians 2:9 is also translated “rejoice” in Romans 5:2 and “glory” in Romans 5:3. While grace eliminates boasting or rejoicing in oneself because we have been made accepted in the beloved, grace creates boasting in God because He is the workman of salvation and any good works that follow.
How can good works boast in the God of your salvation?
How can men read the poeima of God in your life?
When others see you love your enemy, bless the ones that curse you, and do good to them that hate you (Matthew 5:44), they are reading the poeima that God is writing.
When others see you feed and give drink to your enemy (Romans 12:20), they are reading the poeima God is writing.
When men see you blessing rather than returning evil for evil and railing for railing (I Peter 3:10), they are reading the poeima of God.
When you go the extra mile willingly (Matthew 5:41), they are reading the poeima of God.
When others hear you pray for those that despitefully use you (Luke 6:28), they are reading the poeima of God.
When men see you rejoice when you are reviled, persecuted and all manner of evil is spoken against you falsely for Christ’s sake (Matthew 5:11 – 12), they are reading the poeima that God is writing.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Mike Stewart, Pastor | Heritage Baptist Church
Mike was born and raised in central Mississippi. After graduating from Mississippi State in 1986, God changed his course of direction with a deep conviction of sin and desire to follow Christ. He then met his wife, Peggy, while attending church in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1998, he was ordained to the ministry in BelAir, Maryland, and ultimately moved to Huntsville, Alabama, to begin his first pastorate. In 2005, Heritage was formed and called him to be her founding pastor.
Posted in Bible Study / Exposition, Christian Living, Doctrine, Ephesians, Salvation
Posted in Ephesians 2:10, Good Works, God’s Workmanship, Grace Through Faith, Glory of God, New Creation
Posted in Ephesians 2:10, Good Works, God’s Workmanship, Grace Through Faith, Glory of God, New Creation