Bible Study

The Gift of Eternal Life Berean Bible Study Course

Part IV--The Family Of God / The Body Of Christ

A. Lesson 19--The Nature Of Christ's Body

7. READ: EPHESIANS 2:1-22

a. What does God create us in Christ to do?

Answer: We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do, (verse 10).

MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• The Greek word for "workmanship" is poiema. It comes from an old word, the verb poieo, meaning "I make." When the ma is added to form poiema, the meaning is "result." This word occurs elsewhere in the New Testament only in Romans 1:20, where it is translated very literally "the things that are made," or "what has been made"--that which God created. So this can be translated equally well as "handiwork" or "workmanship." We are all the work of His hands, created for His glory, for the display of His splendor:

  Isaiah 29:23: [God said,] "When they see among them their children, the work of My hands, they will keep My Name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel."

  Isaiah 43:6-7: [God said,] "I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth--everyone who is called by My Name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made."

  Isaiah 60:21: [God said,] "Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of My hands, for the display of My splendor."

• The word "created" is not the original creation, but the moral and spiritual renewal in Christ, the new birth, as in Ephesians 2:15 above, and in Ephesians 4:22-24:

  Ephesians 2:15: "His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace..."

  Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

• God "prepared beforehand" or "prepared in advance" the good works that we have been created in Christ Jesus to do. In the Greek, the literal meaning of these words is "to make ready beforehand." Good works by us were included in God's eternal plan. This advance preparation simply carries forward the theme of God's sovereign and eternal purpose and planning as seen in Ephesians, chapter 1.

• To summarize, we are God's creation, the work of His hands. He created all of mankind for His glory--for the display of His splendor. His grace that brings salvation is for all of His created ones. Those of His created ones who accept His grace are created in Christ Jesus (born of water and the Spirit) to do the good works which the Father prepared in advance for us to do to bring glory to Him--to display His splendor. Because we are children of He Who is good, we are to be EAGER to do what is good, that all people may glorify God:

  Romans 15:5-7: "May the God Who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

  Titus 2:11-14: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very Own, eager to do what is good."

  1 Peter 2:12: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us."