The Workmanship of God
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 NASBS
Beloved of God, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our obstinate hearts. By His Amazing Grace, we have been born again to a living hope through Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead. This is not seen by the natural eye, as those of mere earthly descent remain blind to the things of God, as they do not possess the mind of God.
However we who have been born again through the supernatural means of regeneration have the mind of God through His Spirit, who dwells inside of us. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
The Holy Spirit confirms within us that we are indeed children of God, heirs to the divine Kingdom that He has established for those He loves—those who approach Him in faith and repentance, eagerly anticipating the return of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. The distinguishing factor of true biblical Christianity, in contrast to mere intellectual ascent or any other religion on this earth, is the active presence of the Holy Spirit, drawing us toward the sweetness of God’s Word. This sanctifying work is what sets us apart as children of God.
Paul addresses this separation with clarity, offering profound insights in his letter to the church in Rome who were under great persecution.
He writes, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
He further encourages those in Rome, who had not abandoned their faith, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
In essence, dear Christian, as being the workmanship of God, the Holy Spirit continually leads us to the truths found in the holy Scriptures, nurturing in us a desire to submit to the supremacy of God’s Word rather than our own sensual, fleshly impulses. We are called not to surrender our bodies to the appetites of this world that seek to destroy us, but to embrace what glorifies and honors the Lord Jesus Christ through our obedience to His Word. Since the Holy Spirit resides within us, testifying to the reality of His death and resurrection by which grace was granted to us, our communion with Him is of the highest importance.
The Scriptures address this matter as well: “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Understand, the Holy Spirit is sanctifying every believer through His Word, shaping their will to align with God’s will regarding the passions that seek to ensnare them. Consequently, all genuine Christians willingly submit to His truth as the Holy Spirit leads them into all righteousness.
The Apostle Paul cautioned Timothy during a time of great deceitfulness, saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”
Let us not be deceived, dear reader. The facade of Christianity often disguises itself in religion, providing a means to justify sinful desires. Do you possess the mind of Christ? Do you have a deep longing for God’s holiness? Do you love Jesus with a passion that transcends all earthly desires? Do you think of Him daily, with sincere convictions of repentance for your sins?
If not, consider your ways, for those who are not under the conviction of the Lord, do not belong to Him (Hebrews 12:8).