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For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n We were saved so that we can do good works.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cworkmanship<\/span>\u201d is poi\u0113ma<\/em><\/span>, which is derived from the verb poie\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto make\u201d or \u201cto do.\u201d It literally means \u201cthat which has been made\u201d or \u201cthat which is done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCreated<\/span>\u201d is from ktidz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto create\u201d or \u201cto produce from nothing.\u201d In Homer\u2019s writings it is the verb used to indicate the founding of a city.<\/p>\n The words \u201cgood works<\/span>\u201d are from ergois agathois<\/em><\/span>. Ergois<\/em><\/span> is a form of ergon<\/em><\/span>, which we saw in the previous verse, meaning \u201cany work, deed, act, or action.\u201d Agathois<\/em><\/span> is a form of agathos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cgood, benevolent, useful;\u201d in other words, \u201cthat which is of good character.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPrepared beforehand<\/span>\u201d is translated from a single Greek word, proetoimadz\u014d<\/em><\/span>. This is a compound word made up of pro<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cbefore, in time or place\u201d and hetoimadz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto make ready\u201d or \u201cto prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWalk<\/span>\u201d is translated from peripate\u014d<\/em><\/span>. This is also a compound word composed of peri<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cthrough or around\u201d and pate\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto walk.\u201d So, literally peripate\u014d<\/em><\/span> means \u201cto walk around\u201d or \u201cto walk through.\u201d It is used metaphorically meaning \u201cto walk through the pathways of life.\u201d<\/p>\n In the preceding verses we learned some very important doctrinal truths:<\/p>\n 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<\/strong><\/span>. Do you know what it says in John 3:15<\/strong><\/span> or John 3:17<\/strong><\/span>?<\/p>\n 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\u2019t want anyone else to be able to. If we did something to earn it, then we could boast, but we didn\u2019t and we can\u2019t. In today\u2019s verse Paul tells us why: we are His workmanship. He did the work of salvation for us!<\/p>\n 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<\/strong><\/span>) 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\u2019s plan from the beginning; we were saved so that we could walk in good works. That\u2019s precisely what James teaches us in the second chapter of his letter.<\/p>\n We are saved by faith and faith alone? If you\u2019re saved, do your actions give clear evidence of your salvation?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Application<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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