Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 28, 2012

“For we are His workmanship”

Today’s devotion is Ephesians 2:10.
 
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.
 
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Our faith that we will do good works is not based on our own sense of duty to do good works.  Our faith that we will do good works is not based on our own ability to do good works.  Our faith that we will do good works is not based on our own desire or passion to do good works.  Our faith that we will do good works is not based on our own willpower to do good works.  Our faith that we will do good works is not even based on our own gratitude for all that God has done for us. 
 
Our faith that we will do good works is based on the solid foundation that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Verse 10. 
 
Now, we certainly should feel a sense of duty, be grateful, be willful, be passionate, and be able to do good works.  We should seek those emotions and abilities, and God may indeed exhort us and use those emotions and abilities.  But, our faith is not ultimately in ourselves and what we should do.  Our faith is ultimately in God and what He has done for us and what He will do for us.
                               

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;  the old things passed away;  behold, new things have come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.  
 
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
 
We do note what the Heidelberg Catechism states. 
 
In regards to the doctrine that our good works are not part of our righteousness before God, and that our reward is not based on our merit for doing good works, but rather our reward is based on grace, the following Question and Answer 64 refers to “fruits of thankfulness”.  But, the footnote (d) supporting Scriptures do not mention thankfulness or gratitude.
 
Question 64.  But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane?
 
Answer.  By no means:  for it is impossible that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, should not bring forth fruits of [d]thankfulness.
 
 
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In regards to our duty to do good works, the following Question and Answer 86 of the Heidelberg Catechism refers to “our gratitude to God for His blessings”.  But, the footnote (a) supporting Scriptures does not mention thankfulness or gratitude.
                             

Question 86.  Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?

Answer.  Because Christ, having redeemed and delivered us by his blood, also renews us by his Holy Spirit, after his own image; that so we may testify, by the whole of our conduct, our gratitude [a] to God for his blessings, and that he may be [b] praised by us;  also, that every one may be [c] assured in himself of his faith, by the fruits thereof; and that, by our godly conversation, others may be [d] gained to Christ.

[a]: 1Cor. 6:19,20; Rom. 6:13; Rom. 12:1,2; 1Pet. 2:5,9,10

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In regards to the definition of good works, the following Question and Answer 91 of the Heidelberg Catechism refers to good works as “Only those which proceed from a true faith”.  The footnote (e) supporting Scriptures states:  “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:  for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  Romans 4:23. 
 
Question 91.  But what are good works?
 
Answer.  Only those which proceed from a true [e] faith, are performed according to the [f] law of God, and to his [g] glory;  and not such as are [h] founded on our imaginations, or the institutions of men.
 
 
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In conclusion, true faith in God will produce the good works, including but not limited to faith in today’s Scripture:  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” and that God will work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

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