Rooted In His WordSample

Human beings in general are the product of God’s handiwork, for everyone is a creature of God. As creatures, we are totally dependent beings – totally dependent upon the creative and providential sustenance of God. But Christians are also God’s handiwork with respect to His providence of grace, for He has graciously determined to create us anew in Jesus Christ. In this respect as well, then, Christians are totally dependent upon God – totally dependent upon the gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Even further, however, God’s handiwork of grace not only created us anew, but it also prepared us for good works. It is in this sense that we have been “Created in Christ to do good works.” The creation mentioned here is the “new creation” that Paul referred to in some of his letters. For example, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (II Corinthians 5:17). Christians, then, are dependent upon God as creatures like the rest of humanity, but also dependent upon God as new creatures in Christ, and even dependent upon God for the good works we perform as new creatures. The works that God had in mind for us were prepared in advance for us to do. Paul believed that our salvation was predestined by God (see Ephesians 1:4-6), but our verse for today makes it plain that he believed the good works we perform as Christians were also predestined for us to do. Christians, then, are not only made into new creatures by God, they are made into new creatures so that they can perform the good works God had in mind from all eternity. None of this means that Christians are not responsible and accountable for the works that they do, for Paul also said that we should “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” but it does mean that “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). Today, when the fear and trembling comes upon you, take comfort in the knowledge that Almighty God Himself is working in you to help you perform the good works He prepared in advance for just you to do.