Tag: prepared beforehand

Romans 9:23 – Undeserved Glory

Posted on by Will

and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

Truth to Learn

God chose some to know the glory of heaven for eternity.

 

Behind the Words

“Riches” is from the Greek word ploutos which refers to “fullness or abundance.” It is often associated with possessions or money and is thus often translated as “wealth” or “riches.”

The expression “had prepared beforehand” is translated from the Greek word proetoimadzō, which is composed of pro, meaning “before, in time or place” and hetoimadzō, meaning “to prepare” or “to make ready.” Hence, proetoimadzō means “to prepare beforehand” or “to predestinate.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating action that was done at a point in time in the past (a single action, not a process).

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked about one class of people, namely those who are sinners whom God has prepared for damnation. In the current verse Paul talks about the other class of people. This class of people also includes sinful people, but God has chosen them and has declared them to be righteous.

According to Paul, the reason that God did this is so that He might make known “the riches of His glory.” This is a Hebrew expression meaning the abundance or fullness of His glory. But what does this term “glory” refer to? It often refers to the glorious manifestation of his presence (called the shekinah glory). The use of the word in today’s verse, however, refers to the eternal state in the presence of Almighty God. This eternal state blends together everything that constitutes honor, dignity, purity, love, and happiness. All these attributes are in various places attached to the word “glory,” and all mingle in the eternal state of the righteous.

In the previous verse we noted that the “vessels of wrath” were “prepared for destruction.” The word “prepared” is translated from a form of the Greek word katartidzō, which means “to establish, arrange, or prepare.” In the current verse Paul says that the “vessels of mercy” (the saved elect) were “prepared beforehand for glory.” So we see that the Potter prepared the vessels of wrath for the damnation that they will receive as a result of God’s righteous judgment, but the vessels of mercy were prepared beforehand (before time) to be recipients of His gracious gift of salvation. The opening verses of Ephesians also speak of this preparation before time began:

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, for us be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as his sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Ephesians 1:3-5)

That should be enough to make any born again Christian fall to his or her knees and thank our heavenly Father for choosing us and granting us His salvation, not because we deserved it or earned it, but because He chose to do it!

 

Application

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you for choosing me in spite of the fact that I am an undeserving sinner. I don’t know why you chose me of all people, but I praise you for it! You deserve all the praise and all the glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 2:10 – Salvation and Works

Posted on by Will

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Truth to Learn

We were saved so that we can do good works.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “workmanship” is poiēma, which is derived from the verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” It literally means “that which has been made” or “that which is done.”

“Created” is from ktidzō, meaning “to create” or “to produce from nothing.” In Homer’s writings it is the verb used to indicate the founding of a city.

The words “good works” are from ergois agathois. Ergois is a form of ergon, which we saw in the previous verse, meaning “any work, deed, act, or action.” Agathois is a form of agathos, meaning “good, benevolent, useful;” in other words, “that which is of good character.”

“Prepared beforehand” is translated from a single Greek word, proetoimadzō. This is a compound word made up of pro, meaning “before, in time or place” and hetoimadzō, meaning “to make ready” or “to prepare.”

“Walk” is translated from peripateō. This is also a compound word composed of peri, meaning “through or around” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” So, literally peripateō means “to walk around” or “to walk through.” It is used metaphorically meaning “to walk through the pathways of life.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the preceding verses we learned some very important doctrinal truths:

  • We are saved by the grace of God, which He wants to showcase for all of eternity.
  • We are saved (declared righteous) through faith.
  • Our faith and our salvation are a gift of God.
  • We did not do anything to earn or deserve salvation.

These are such important truths, that verses eight and nine are often memorized. The problem with memorizing individual verses is that we often miss what comes immediately before or after them. For instance, most people know John 3:16. Do you know what it says in John 3:15 or John 3:17?

In the verse preceding today’s verse Paul told us that salvation is not attained by works, so that no one would be able to boast about it. God wants to boast about our gracious salvation and He doesn’t want anyone else to be able to. If we did something to earn it, then we could boast, but we didn’t, therefore we can’t. In today’s verse Paul tells us why: we are His workmanship. He did the work of salvation for us!

Then, where do good works come in? Paul says that we are created in Christ Jesus. When we were saved we became a new creation (see 2Corinthians 5:17) and the purpose of that new creation is that we should do good works. Our good works are the evidence that we have become a new creation. That was God’s plan from the beginning; we were saved so that we could walk in good works. That’s precisely what James teaches us in the second chapter of his letter.

 

Application

We are saved by faith and faith alone! We are not saved by doing good works. However, if you are saved, then you will do good works as a result of that salvation. Do your actions give clear evidence of your salvation?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 2:10 – Salvation and Works

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 2:10  – Salvation and Works

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Truth to Learn

We were saved so that we can do good works.

Behind the Words

The word translated “workmanship” is poiēma, which is derived from the verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” It literally means “that which has been made” or “that which is done.”

“Created” is from ktidzō, meaning “to create” or “to produce from nothing.” In Homer’s writings it is the verb used to indicate the founding of a city.

The words “good works” are from ergois agathois. Ergois is a form of ergon, which we saw in the previous verse, meaning “any work, deed, act, or action.” Agathois is a form of agathos, meaning “good, benevolent, useful;” in other words, “that which is of good character.”

“Prepared beforehand” is translated from a single Greek word, proetoimadzō. This is a compound word made up of pro, meaning “before, in time or place” and hetoimadzō, meaning “to make ready” or “to prepare.”

“Walk” is translated from peripateō. This is also a compound word composed of peri, meaning “through or around” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” So, literally peripateō means “to walk around” or “to walk through.” It is used metaphorically meaning “to walk through the pathways of life.”

Meaning Explained

In the preceding verses we learned some very important doctrinal truths:

  • We are saved by the grace of God, which He wants to showcase for all of eternity.
  • We are saved (declared righteous) through faith.
  • Our faith and our salvation are a gift of God.
  • We did not do anything to earn or deserve salvation.

These are such important truths that verses eight and nine are often memorized. The problem with memorizing individual verses is that we often miss what comes immediately before or after them. For instance, most people know John 3:16. Do you know what it says in John 3:15 or John 3:17?

In the preceding verse Paul told us that salvation is not attained by works, lest anyone should boast. God wants to boast about our gracious salvation and He doesn’t want anyone else to be able to. If we did something to earn it, then we could boast, but we didn’t and we can’t. In today’s verse Paul tells us why: we are His workmanship. He did the work of salvation for us!

Then, where do good works come in? Paul says that we are created in Christ Jesus. When we were saved we became a new creation (see 2Corinthians 5:17) and the purpose of that new creation is that we should do good works. Our good works are the evidence that we have become a new creation. That was God’s plan from the beginning; we were saved so that we could walk in good works. That’s precisely what James teaches us in the second chapter of his letter.

Application

We are saved by faith and faith alone? If you’re saved, do your actions give clear evidence of your salvation?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:

Romans 9:23 – Undeserved Glory

Posted on by Will

Romans 9:23 – Undeserved Glory

and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

Truth to Learn

God chose some to know the glory of heaven for eternity.

Behind the Words

“Riches” is from the Greek word ploutos which refers to “fullness or abundance.” It is often associated with possessions or money and is thus often translated as “wealth” or “riches.”

The expression “had prepared beforehand” is translated from the Greek word proetoimadzō, which is composed of pro, meaning “before, in time or place” and hetoimadzō, meaning “to prepare” or “to make ready.” Hence, proetoimadzō means “to prepare beforehand” or “to predestine.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating action that was done at a point in time in the past (a single action, not a process).

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked about one class of people, namely those who are sinners whom God has prepared for damnation. In the current verse Paul talks about the other class of people. This class of people also includes sinful people but God has chosen them and has declared them to be righteous.

According to Paul, the reason that God did this is so that He might make known “the riches of His glory.” This is a Hebrew expression meaning the abundance or fullness of His glory. But what does this term “glory” refer to? It often refers to the glorious manifestation of his presence (called the shekina glory). This use of the word, however, refers to the eternal state in the presence of Almighty God. This eternal state blends together everything that constitutes honor, dignity, purity, love, and happiness. All these attributes are in various places attached to the word “glory,” and all mingle in the eternal state of the righteous.

In the previous verse we noted that the “vessels of wrath” were “prepared for destruction.” The word “prepared” is translated from a form of the Greek word katartidzō, which means “to establish, arrange, or prepare.” In the current verse Paul says that the “vessels of mercy” (the saved elect) were “prepared beforehand for glory.” So we see that the Potter prepared the vessels of wrath for the damnation that they will receive as a result of God’s righteous judgment, but the vessels of mercy were prepared beforehand (before time) to be recipients of His gracious gift of salvation. The opening verses of Ephesians also speak of this preparation before time began:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Ephesians 1:3-5)

That should be enough to make any born again Christian fall to his or her knees and thank our heavenly Father for choosing us and granting us His salvation, not because we deserved it or earned it, but because He chose to do it!

Application

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you for choosing me in spite of the fact that I am an undeserving sinner. I don’t know why you chose me of all people, but I praise you for it! You deserve all the praise and all the glory!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to: