CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MARCH 31, 2020.

SUBJECT: CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS!

Memory verse: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them..” (Ephesians 2 vs 10.)

READ: Ephesians 2 vs 8 - 10:

2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

INTIMATION:

We become Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. Christians have been created anew in Christ by obedience to the gospel (Romans 6 vs 4 - 5). Since they are recreated in Christ p, they respond with good works of thanksgiving. They have been so created, not by good works, but for good works. The Christian is not saved by works of merit that he or she has devised according to his or her own desires. They are saved for the reason that God might work through them. 

While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit, but to serve Christ and build up the church. Christians thus work in response to what God has done for them (First Corinthians 15 vs 10). It is their works that manifest their response to the grace of God. While good works cannot save believers, they are true indications of our faith and love for Christ. Their works are not meritorious conditions upon which they will be judged. They are indications of their thankful response to God for His grace. Final judgement will be based on our deeds because our deeds proclaim what sort of heart is within us. 

The Christian owes all that he is to God who gave him a reason for transforming his thinking and life (Romans 12 vs 1 - 2). Through the manifestation of God’s grace, Christians have been driven by faith to conform their lives to the will of God (See Romans 3 vs 31). They do good works in thanksgiving of the grace of God (Second Corinthians 4 vs 15). Credit of the transformed life, therefore, must go to God for His grace that gives reason for hope by focusing our lives on God. We are God’s masterpiece. Our salvation is something only God can do. It is His powerful creative work in us. 

Good works are faithful service, acts of charity, and involvement in civil affairs. They are actions that are above reproach; gracious, godly, and winsome behavior that shows Christ in your life, who in His earth walk was full of good works (John 10 vs 32; Acts 10 vs 38). When Christians engage in good works, they effectively become the light of the world that people will see and glorify the Lord (Matthew 5 vs 16). Good works are winsome. If you want someone to act a certain way, be sure that you live that way yourself. Then you will earn the right to be heard, and your life will reinforce what you teach.

When Christ saves us, we move from a life full of sin to one where we are led by God’s Holy Spirit. All our sins, not merely some, are washed away. In becoming a Christian, the believer acknowledges Christ as Lord and recognizes His saving work. We gain eternal life with all its treasures. We have a new life through the Holy Spirit, and He continually renews our hearts. None of this occurs because we earned or deserved it; it is all God’s gift. This was so important that the Triune God participated fully in the work of salvation: Based upon the redemption work of His Son, the Father forgives us and sends the Holy Spirit to wash away our sins and continually renew us. Therefore, our gratitude to God for all His gifts, is demonstrated in our good works.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to continually engage in good works, as Your masterpiece and ambassador here on earth, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!