What is the explanation on Ephesian 2:10?

What is the explanation on Ephesian 2:10?

This is the verse you reference: 

Eph.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.

There are three key points in this verse: God’s workmanship, good works, and before ordained that we should walk in them. Let me clarify each of these three statements to fully explain this verse.

God’s workmanship 

When we hear and respond in faith to the grace gospel, we are redeemed back to God through the payment (sacrifice) of Jesus Christ. Our regeneration and redemption translate us from the kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom, Col.1:13, and exposes us to righteousness through His spirit and word, Rom.5:21; Rom.6:11; 1Co 2:11-12.

It is this very exposure to God’s spirit and word that begins His workmanship within us. It is HIS workmanship, not ours. Let me make this clear by reminding you of a seed planted in the ground. You can water the seed, but it is outside of your power to make it grow. Similarly, the growth and transformation within a believer is God working in them, through His written word, to will and do according to His good pleasure. The good works that are produced in the life of a believer is a result of this transformation. A believer cannot generate these works by willpower. They are the result of the spiritual fruits that increase in a believer as they grow in knowledge of the word of God, and exercise obedience unto righteousness from a renewed mind, Rom.6:16-17; Rom.12:1-2.

I cannot get into this in-depth in this answer, but I want to make you attentive to the fact that God’s workmanship, and the good works that come from it are not primarily the things we do here, in this time on earth. God’s plan for us and His workmanship in us is FAR, FAR, greater than just the time we spend here on earth. Yes, some of His good work spills out into this life, changing us and others we can influence, but the greater bulk of this workmanship will be manifest in us as the glorified Body of Christ in the ages to come. God did not foreordain the good works that you as an individual will do in this life. No. Our work is not here. While here on earth, our focus is not as much good works as it is to grow and prepare ourselves for the time when God will actually use us for His purpose. The foreordained works in reference in this key verse is that which the corporate, glorified Body of Christ will do under the headship of Christ in another dispensation.

Created unto good works

Rom 7:2-4 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. … (4) Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Paul tells us in Rom.7:2, that as a woman is freed by the law from her husband if he dies, so we have been freed from the law of sin and death by the death of Christ, and because of this, in verse 4, Paul continues to say that we should be married to another. Now, just stop right there!! Do you see the word ‘should’. Many believers expect to read that we ‘are’ married to another. But ‘should’ is not ‘are’! Should leaves room for a choice, and this is where many believers fail to move on, or fail to actually marry another, even Christ who was raised from the dead, so that they should bring forth fruit unto God.

So, where am I going with all this? Well, look at the end of verse 4. Those who ‘marry Christ’ are the ones who bring forth fruit unto God. Those who do not ‘marry Christ’ are the ones who, though saved, remain functionally dead to God. You see, the good works are connected to the fruit of righteousness, Eph.5:9, which is produced when one walks in newness of life: to walk after the Spirit through a mind renewed by the written word, given over to obedience unto righteousness.

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

We must understand that Eph.2:10, our key verse, is easily explained by, and involves foundational Christian doctrine, given to us in Romans chapters 6 to 8. These three chapters are to do with one growing in the knowledge of ‘that form of doctrine’, Rom 6:17, given to us by inspiration through Paul’s pen. This is one of the most neglected parts of scripture which many Christians remain ignorant to. Many think that getting saved is the primary salvation experience. Escape hell and I’m safe! Well, salvation if MUCH greater than this. Being saved from hell is only the first step of salvation, called justification. God has much more in store for you, called sanctification, which is the process of being informed of our doctrine, being transformed by the renewing of our minds, and being conformed to the image of Christ. This process produces vessels that are profitable to God, not only in this earthly life, but also in the one to come. This process is God’s workmanship in us.

Before ordained that we should walk in them

2Tim.1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

As before mentioned, God did not ordain works for us as individuals. His plan is greater than that. The works referenced in Eph.2:10 primarily pertain to the ‘holy calling’ which is to God’s own purpose and grace, planned before the world began. Let us read our key verse in the context of its surrounding verses:

Eph 2:4-10  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Notice the following key words: “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”, and “…That in the ages to come…”. God’s workmanship is not limited to our time here on earth. God’s dealings with the Body of Christ are not for these few years we occupy on earth, but for the ages to come in which we will govern the heavens under the headship of Christ, bringing the heavenly places into subjection to His will and purpose. Yes, these verses have a small application to our time here, but we must come to understand God’s great plan of salvation in which we are ordained, as the Body of Christ, to the good works that He has purposed for us. Ultimately, this is the hope we carry and groan for, our ultimate purpose in Christ, Rom.8:23; 2Cor.5:2.

With all this said, read the key verse again and understand that its significance and interpretation should not be limited to our egos and limited scope, but we should read it from the perspective of God’s point of view, and His purpose for us in heaven and earth.

Eph.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.

Amen.