HIS WORKMANSHIP
Thursday – November 3, 2016
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ from Eastern Gate Ministries International, and The Three Minute Word publication. The picture was taken at an overlook in Rangeley, Maine on October 11, 2016 during a wonderful road trip. God is so good and the wonder of this creation even in the fallen state is still stunning at times. Each of us every day, particularly when we are praying, studying the Word of God, or receiving a Bible teaching such as this one must be mindful to make the conscious decision to have ears to hear and eyes to see. We must determine in our hearts that I am going to receive this Word of the Lord, I am going to prove it is true from the Word of God, and I choose to be changed more and more into His image. Change is not easy or comfortable. At first when we force ourselves to think differently, speak differently, or act differently there will be an awkwardness. The old way of thinking, talking, and acting will try to take the lead once again but we have to by force of our will say ‘no’ this new way is the way of Christ and I chose the new way and I cast down the old way taking those old wrong ideas captive in obedience to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
I will now return to our study of Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
When we said ‘yes’ to God, when we answered His calling by the Holy Spirit we received the gift of salvation. Although very immature both faith and its fuel love were at work in us when we chose the way of salvation. We heard about the good news of salvation, we changed our way of thinking, and instantly we were translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son.
Mark 1:14-15 (KJV)
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The Kingdom of God is no longer at hand it is here, the moment He was raised from the dead and sat at the right hand of Majesty on High and the Holy Spirit was released into the earth the Kingdom of God was once again extended from Heaven into the earth.
This salvation is “the gift of God” it is not a gift of God it is THE GIFT of GOD! Once this gift is received by the exercise of faith all that salvation provides is available to us. I spoke at length yesterday about faith and works. There was absolutely nothing we could do if we lived ten million years to obtain salvation by our work. A gift cannot be given except it be received. We cannot boast that because of our magnificence we are saved it is because of the love of God for us all that we have the opportunity and privilege to be redeemed from death to life in Christ Jesus. At the moment we said ‘yes’ to the wooing, the calling of God by the Holy Spirit, we were a new creation, new creatures, in Christ Jesus, fashioned like no other before us nor will there be any like us to follow.
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Adam was His workmanship and so are we His workmanship with a major difference, we are created in Christ Jesus. However, like Adam we are created to do something, His will, just like Adam. What are the works we are to do?
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
