For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready.
—Ephesians 2:8-10 AMP
Praise God for His wonderful compassion and favor on us! Jesus has delivered us from judgment for our sins and given us eternal life through His finished work of grace! We never could have saved ourselves. It is only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus that we are saved and not through our own efforts. It is only Christ within us who produces good works.
We are God’s masterpiece—His work of art! We were created in Jesus, reborn a new creation in Him, spiritually made new, and ready to be used for His good work. Our attempts to live a perfect life do not give us right standing with God. We are incapable of proving ourselves to Him. Only Christ receives all the credit for our salvation. We only receive right standing with God through faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work of grace.
Before we were reborn as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), we had nothing to offer God. We were spiritually bankrupt and totally dependent upon our own efforts. But when we were born again, we, who had been spiritually bankrupt and dependent upon ourselves, became the righteousness of God in Christ. We, who had been focused on our completely insufficient efforts to receive God’s righteousness, suddenly, when we were saved, received all the righteousness of God. We no longer had to prove ourselves to win God’s love through what we did. Christ had won God’s love for us by what He had done.
When we are saved, we are “remade” new in Christ. No longer are we “self-made” people. Now that we are saved we should no longer continue to “remake” ourselves. We are born again as new creations in our spirits (John 3:6). We are His workmanship. Any good thing in us is a product of His grace. We can’t save ourselves. The role we play is either acceptance or rejection. We either surrender to His love or we refuse Him in our pride. Pride in our good works—boasting in our salvation by our good works—is as absurd as a work of art boasting that it has created itself.
Good works cannot create a new nature, but a new nature should create good works. There is a huge difference between being saved “by” good works and being saved “for” good works (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV). Our good works do not gain us salvation, and our good works do not keep us saved. But our good works do confirm that we have received salvation.
“He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6, AMP).
The letter of the law kills our faith in Christ. The law reveals sin and demands our efforts to make things right with God. But Jesus has justified us. He has made us right with God and presented us as new creations without fault to His Father (Ephesians 1:4). We have received the seal of the Holy Spirit, and our right standing is assured (Ephesians 1:13). We are no longer held captive by our own efforts to win God’s love. We are free to receive God’s love.
If righteousness had come through the law, there would have been no need for Christ’s sacrifice for our sins (Galatians 2:21). There would have been no need for a “new” you. Your works would have made you righteous. But you were not made to save yourself. The “old” you had no chance without Jesus. The “new” you has no chance to be your identity when the “old” you still determines your life.
You need to know this masterpiece—this newly reborn “you” Jesus has created. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind to know your new nature born in true righteousness and holiness. Put on your new identity (Ephesians 4:23-24). You have been crucified with Christ. It is not you who lives, but Christ who lives in you. You live this “new” person by the faith of the Son of God, who loved you and gave His life for you (Galatians 2:20, KJV).
You do not need to prove you are God’s masterpiece. You already are His masterpiece. You are created in Christ Jesus, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and ready to be used for good works that God has already prepared for you.
The capacity for His good work is within you. Do you desire to be used for His good purpose? Have you surrendered your own efforts? Are you determined to take God's path and live the good life He has planned for you?
Live by faith in Him. It is Christ who lives in you.
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