His Identity and Ours

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" Ephesians 2:10.

In such a few words, God says so much.   

Ø      His workmanship

Ø      Created in Christ Jesus

Ø      Unto good works

Ø      Which God hath BEFORE ordained

Ø      That we should walk in them. 

His workmanship.  Our identity is grounded in His.  The Creator God says that we are the work of His hands.  We did not just happen.  He is intimately interested in us.  He has a love responsibility towards us.  He started out with a purpose and plan for us.  Even the plan of salvation was not an after thought for Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth.  This is a picture of a God who will fight for us and deliver us from the Egypt's of this world.  He is invested in bringing us out of slavery.  I do not recall who said that man is a spiritual being having a physical experience.  That, to my mind, explains a lot.  The physical experience leaves me feeling like I am never at home.  This Egypt that we are in is most unpleasant.  When I realize that I am in slavery, then it makes sense.  It seems that we are always giving the mind and body preeminence for we think that our very survival is at stake. 

God is always pursuing us and putting Himself in a position of showing us who He really is.  He is not only the Creator God, He is the Redeemer God.  Christ says that if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father.  We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God from the beginning ordained that we should walk in them.  Here is another version which helps our understanding a bit.  For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (AMP) 

Note the recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew).  I like this so much.  What recreates us in Christ?  Christ's work for us through the cross.  God had a plan from the beginning for you and me...living the good life which He prearranged.  Something happened.  We came under condemnation, not from God, but from the Accuser of the brethren (read Romans 8).  Christ came and stood between the Accuser and the Father.  God had been challenged on the point of His law which said the wages of sin is death.  The Accuser wanted our death.  He is a legalist and will use God's own words against Him...the wages of sin is death.  Christ stepped in.  God must be both just and the justifier (Romans).  This is how He maintained the integrity of the Godhead when it came  under attack. 

 What I see happening is that man has a way of taking the scriptures and turning them into a self-centered, works orientation, and we miss completely this beautiful story of God's children who made a mistake and needed rescue (redemption).  God is always fighting for us.  He loves us with an everlasting love.  Man, because of needless guilt keeps trying to BUY the gift of God.  How can I be good enough?   What can I do?  Am I doing it correctly?  My worthiness is not the issue.  My goodness is not the issue.  What can I add to the cross of Christ.  Penance is a man-centered works orientation handed down from church fathers who saw God through their own lenses of brokenness and guilt.  We become changed by beholding the Lamb; not by looking at all our shortcomings.   

That God gives us a way back home (John 17: oneness with the Godhead) is a gift to us that was from the foundation of the world.  There is a plan for us.  God has an original intent for each of us.  As I keep saying, God is love.  We must see scripture through that lens because man's lens is guilt and condemnation.  When you change your lens to that which is truth, you will see the scriptures come alive with the love of God.  God, please give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to know You correctly.   When we really believe that He is on our side, we will be able to trust Him and move from our man-centered, works orientation; we will be able to give up our fig leaf garments.  Praise God!