“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

Our walk with God begins with God’s gift, to us which comes to us though Jesus Christ. We cannot come into a relationship with God on our own because we have all sinned. Paul would say, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Therefore the only way for God to have a relationship with us is for Him to come to us. That is why God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, was born and lived on this earth. God came to restore the relationship between Himself and those created in His image, who sinned and brought into existence the severed relationship. To restore the relationship, Jesus would take the judgment for our sin and die a death for all of us. We could now, through faith in who Jesus is and what Jesus has done,, through the cross and through the resurrection, be restored into a relationship with God.

In our new relationship with God, He begins to transform our lives from living in sin to living in God’s righteousness.  Jesus, God in the flesh, is our example of a man living in relationship to God. Paul would state, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) When we come by faith God begins to work in our lives making us new in all areas of life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Then He begins His workmanship in our lives.

We must understand that a new relationship with God is not because of anything we have done, but it comes to us because of all God has done. Now, we come to Him in faith, trusting Him for our salvation. As God begins His workmanship in our lives, He begins to restore us as children of God who are anew and are being re-made into the image of God. We are being “created in Jesus Christ.” The aim is for us to walk with God doing what God created us to do. We are to do the “Good Works” which God has prepared for us. The character of God is to be shown through our lives by the works, which we are to do.

The character of God is shown through the reason He sent Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” (John 3:16a) His character of love is to be developed in us, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) Jesus would state this as a command to His Church. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) The motivating factor for the “Good Works” we are to do is the Love from God. That love brings us to our new life to live as those who love as God loves.

The “Good Works” are now to be developed and demonstrated through all our lives. Paul says that we are to walk in them. How do we learn these good works which God has prepared for us? This comes as we walk daily with the Living Word of God, Jesus, and with the Written Word of God, the Bible. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) We learn to listen to Jesus’ voice. Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tmothy 3:16-17) We desire to be equipped. When we learn to listen, we desire to be equipped. God, through His love, will accomplish His workmanship in us. We will grow every day of our lives walking through them with the Living Word of God and the Written Word of God.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block