Ephesians 2:1-10

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

In our natural state we are dead in our "transgressions and sins" (Ephesians 2:1b), but now we who are God's children are spiritually alive in Christ Jesus!  Praise His holy name!  Praise His name that we have been redeemed from sin, the devil, and "the ways of this world (Ephesians 2:2)!  Ephesians 2:3 reminds us that the ways of the world involve "gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following it's desires and thoughts"  The ways of this world involve ignoring the Lord and His will for our lives.  The ways of the world involve a "my rights" mentality.  The ways of the world involve a philosophy of self-effort and self-improvement instead of turning to the Lord in total dependence for the forgiveness of our sins and the meeting of our needs.

We have been redeemed from "the ways of this world."  We need to make sure this shows in our lives in our everyday walk on this earth.  We must be passionate in our love and obedience to the Lord.  We must live our lives in gratitude for His love and salvation to us.  Our lives and ways of thinking must be totally different from those who do not know and love the Lord.

Ephesians  2:4-5 reminds us, "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved."  Because of God's great love and mercy for us we are no longer condemned for our sin!  We are saved by grace, and we are His chosen children!  Salvation is a gift to us and involves no effort or merit on our part.  We are spiritually alive because of our union with Christ!  Our spiritual standing with God is secure because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

Ephesians 2:6 says, "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."  This verse is speaking about an eternity with Christ.  Notice it is speaking in the present tense.  An eternity with Christ is so certain a future reality for us that we can already claim the promise of eternal joys!  God redeems us from our sins and is preparing a place for us in eternity, so "He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7b). This gift of salvation to us which is totally undeserved brings glory to God.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that you and I are "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  We have been recreated through Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.  He is forming us into His work of art, and He is working out His sovereign plan in our lives.  He is recreating us to do the good works which He planned and predestined for us from eternity.  The Lord has the blueprint for our lives.

Our whole purpose in this world must be different from those who do not know the Lord.  We are His chosen people who were created to serve the Lord and bring praise to Him by our lives.  I Peter 2:9 sums it up beautifully, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."  May it be our passion to live our lives for His glory!