Salvos para Buenas Obras

SAVED FOR GOOD WORKS

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NVI)

"8 by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast."

We have spoken in previous weeks about how we are saved.

Verses 8-9 explain that

There is nothing we can do in our own strength to be saved. Therefore it is not by work.

The only thing we "do" is believe (by faith) in order to receive.

However, verse 10 explains that while

"We are not saved BY works but we are saved "FOR" good works."

" 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

God’s handiwork

Scripture refers to us as God’s handiwork.

The Greek word is not just a result of effort or labor for all human beings created by God.

But this verses are talking about those that have been saved by grace.

They are "God's handiwork" as a result of artistic skill and craftsmanship.

The first phrase of Ephesians 2:10 reads,

"For we are God's handiwork" (NIV).

God's "workmanship" (ESV, KJV),

"masterpiece" (NLT).

poiema, which is related to our word "poem." But poiema, related to the verb poieo (to make), had a broad range of meaning in Greek, referring to many things made by a creative agent, usually a human being.

This phrase emphasizes our new identity in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

When we respond to God's grace through faith we are remade by God's creative power.

We become new people, even though we continue to live in our old bodies. In this sense, we are God's handiwork, accomplishment, workmanship, or masterpiece.

As God's Masterpiece you are created to be seen.

To be a testimony to others.

To influence to reflect God's love and holiness.

But also you were created with a purpose/function

Created in Christ Jesus to do good works

Good works do not earn salvation, but they do follow salvation.

After we become new in Christ Jesus (after salvation), He empowers us for good works as an expression of the fact that we have been saved by grace.

Salvation is Isn't simply a ticket to heaven after death.

Rather, it is being brought from death to life by the love and grace of God.

God has good works for us to do, works that contribute to the restoration of the world, works that build up rather than break down, works that help the world to be fruitful, works that fulfill us and make our lives meaningful.

Which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This raises an obvious question: What good works has God prepared for you?

Many of us would be inclined to answer this question by pointing to specific things Christians tend to do as expressions of our faith. Good works would include: attending worship services, praying regularly, studying Scripture, giving money generously, joining a small group, going on mission trips, caring for the poor, working for justice for the oppressed, loving our neighbors, and so forth. These are surely among the good works God has prepared for us. We rightly engage in these activities as people who have been transformed by God’s grace through Christ.

But, if we think of good works only in these terms, we miss the expansive breadth and depth of God’s plan for our good works. Our translation explains that we are created for good works, “which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The Greek original reads more literally, “which God prepared in advance, so that we might walk in them.” The language of walking was used by teachers in the time of Paul in the way we might talk of living a certain lifestyle. In other words, the good works of verse 10 are not only religious activities but rather, these good works encompass the whole of our life, all that we do by God’s grace for God’s purposes.

Ephesians 2:10 is similar to other passages of the Pauline letters that envision all of life as lived through and for God.

Romans 12:1,

“I urge you… to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” This offering takes place not in identified temples but in everyday life.

Colossians 3:17 proclaims, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

This means that your good works can include that which you do at work, in the classroom, on the soccer field, in your neighborhood, and in your community. If you’re a boss, part of your good works involves the way you manage your employees. If you’re a parent, your good works include making dinner for your children as well as praying with them as you tuck them into bed.

Thames Town.

*I don't know if you have heard about Thames Town. This is a beautiful town in China. They built it with European architecture. They invested millions of dollars in building beautiful brick houses with great interior designs with awesome craftsmanship. But for many reasons people did not move into those houses. So since 2006 most of these houses have been empty. They have referred to this as a "ghost town." Beautiful well built houses that will rot with time because they are not used for the purpose they were created.

God has made us his workmanship and masterpieces at a great price (His son's life at the cross). Let us not waste his love and mercy in our lives.

Conclusion

A lot of people don't feel comfortable with the "masterpiece" translation. But it rightly conveys something about the nature of our new creation in Christ. After all, God doesn't make damaged goods or even mediocre products. Whatever God makes could, in a real sense, be called a masterpiece.

I realize that you might not feel like a masterpiece today. You may be feeling like something far less than this. Perhaps your body is aging and you're struggling even to do things you once did without a second thought. Or you may be sensing your moral and relational failures. Or you might be struggling at work. Or, you name it. How is it possible that you are a masterpiece?

My answer is that your status as a masterpiece is true, not because of how healthy you are, how accomplished you are, or how moral you are. You are a masterpiece because of what God has done in your life by his grace. You have been newly and wonderfully created through Christ, so that you might live in relationship with God and for his glory.

Here are some final thoughts.

We cannot do all the good that the world needs but the world needs all the good that we can do.

Not everyone can do great things but everyone can do small things in a great way

John Wesley wrote "do all the good you can buy all the means you can to all the people you can in all the places you can as long as you can."

The Bible says: (Galatians 6:10)

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people"

AMEN