"Indeed, of him we are workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God predestined that in them we should walk."1
This word for predestined, (from pró, "beforehand" and hétoimos, "make ready, prepare") – properly, made ready in advance. It is derived from a word that means fitness thus "fitting, prepared," ready for use. This word for workmanship is poiém, "a thing made, a work, workmanship." The workmanship is this thing made, a new creation in Christ Jesus, made alive, prepared beforehand ready for good works. "because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ,"2
"Indeed, he says in the time acceptable, I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is the time of God's favor, behold, now is the day of salvation."
Salvation made ready. Today is fitting, ready for salvation. Jesus spoke of maidens who were prepared or ready to enter the wedding while others were not.2 Also we are told to be prepared or ready for the hour that the Son of Man would come.3 Jesus said to his brothers, his time had not yet come but their time is always ready, prepared, fitting.4 It was salvation through faith that was made ready to all men through Christ.
"to an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading being reserved in the heavens for you, who by the power of God kept through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time."5
For every good work we are to be prepared or fitting.6 This preparing or making ready is through Christ being sanctified in the hearts of us, "so that we are ready always for a defense to everyone asking on the account concerning the hope of you with gentleness and reverence."7 This word for defense is apología (from apó, "from" and lógos, "intelligent reasoning.") Faith is divine persuasion or intelligent reasoning with God, a mature believer is able to reason with others, but he must be founded on the Word.
"that might ready the man of God towards every good work having been equipped."8
This word for ready is artios, "perfect, complete, fitted, ready." It is the scriptures, that readies a man, more specifically the Word, of him we are workmanship. The Church seems to be good about "saving" and "serving," but we are warned by Jesus, good works doesn't equate to salvation, it is a "knowing" experiential relationship. In fact He will declare these who did many "good works," who trusted in their own works to be workers of disobedience.9 A disciple is he who abides, continues in the Word, one that is completed and established, His workmanship.
"to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."10
It was John the Baptist that would prepare or make ready the way of the Lord. This word for prepared is from katá, "down, exactly according to," intensifying skeuazō, "to prepare exactly, using a vessel, implement, or tool") – properly, prepare (make exactly ready), skillfully using implements according to a tooled-design. This vessel is spoken of often in scripture, jars of clay prepared for use by the potter's hand or of silver and gold being refined, purified.
"Therefore, if anyone himself cleansed from these, he will be a vessel for honor, having been sanctified, useful to the Master for every work good having been prepared.11
Sanctification is His workmanship. This word cleansed is from ek, "completely out" and katharós, "purge, cleanse, purify, pruned") – with the outcome of deeper sanctification (J. Thayer.) A vessel "himself" doesn't cleanse, this would be like the Pharisee who cleansed the outside of the vessel and not the inside, but Himself cleansed... having been sanctified. The washing of the Word. The inward sanctification comes out, a "working out" of the inward salvation. Jesus said clean the inside of the vessel first.
"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire..."12
Malachi prophesies of Jesus coming as a smelter of silver who would purify the priests, refining them like silver, so they may present offerings in righteousness. We know in the new we are priests and he is our High Priest, mediator before the Father. The Father, "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."13 We are fruit bearing trees, though he prunes us. While a silver smith smelts in a refining pot, God refines the heart.14
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."15
Established by Grace through faith, yes, this workmanship surely God gets all the credit for, "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."16 His power establishes us, His Grace is sufficient for all good works, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."17 Our good works abound in the sufficiency of grace.
"Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith;"18
The workmanship is not the "good works" that we do nor the preparation of good works, it is not the accomplishment of our mission statement, no, the workmanship is that which he has prepared beforehand, the preparation for a vessel for his use. When the vessel is prepared, when the clay is molded, when his church is transformed, it will produce good works.
"through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."19
Your Grace On Which I Stand
This word for predestined, (from pró, "beforehand" and hétoimos, "make ready, prepare") – properly, made ready in advance. It is derived from a word that means fitness thus "fitting, prepared," ready for use. This word for workmanship is poiém, "a thing made, a work, workmanship." The workmanship is this thing made, a new creation in Christ Jesus, made alive, prepared beforehand ready for good works. "because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ,"2
"Indeed, he says in the time acceptable, I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is the time of God's favor, behold, now is the day of salvation."
Salvation made ready. Today is fitting, ready for salvation. Jesus spoke of maidens who were prepared or ready to enter the wedding while others were not.2 Also we are told to be prepared or ready for the hour that the Son of Man would come.3 Jesus said to his brothers, his time had not yet come but their time is always ready, prepared, fitting.4 It was salvation through faith that was made ready to all men through Christ.
"to an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading being reserved in the heavens for you, who by the power of God kept through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time."5
For every good work we are to be prepared or fitting.6 This preparing or making ready is through Christ being sanctified in the hearts of us, "so that we are ready always for a defense to everyone asking on the account concerning the hope of you with gentleness and reverence."7 This word for defense is apología (from apó, "from" and lógos, "intelligent reasoning.") Faith is divine persuasion or intelligent reasoning with God, a mature believer is able to reason with others, but he must be founded on the Word.
"that might ready the man of God towards every good work having been equipped."8
This word for ready is artios, "perfect, complete, fitted, ready." It is the scriptures, that readies a man, more specifically the Word, of him we are workmanship. The Church seems to be good about "saving" and "serving," but we are warned by Jesus, good works doesn't equate to salvation, it is a "knowing" experiential relationship. In fact He will declare these who did many "good works," who trusted in their own works to be workers of disobedience.9 A disciple is he who abides, continues in the Word, one that is completed and established, His workmanship.
"to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."10
It was John the Baptist that would prepare or make ready the way of the Lord. This word for prepared is from katá, "down, exactly according to," intensifying skeuazō, "to prepare exactly, using a vessel, implement, or tool") – properly, prepare (make exactly ready), skillfully using implements according to a tooled-design. This vessel is spoken of often in scripture, jars of clay prepared for use by the potter's hand or of silver and gold being refined, purified.
"Therefore, if anyone himself cleansed from these, he will be a vessel for honor, having been sanctified, useful to the Master for every work good having been prepared.11
Sanctification is His workmanship. This word cleansed is from ek, "completely out" and katharós, "purge, cleanse, purify, pruned") – with the outcome of deeper sanctification (J. Thayer.) A vessel "himself" doesn't cleanse, this would be like the Pharisee who cleansed the outside of the vessel and not the inside, but Himself cleansed... having been sanctified. The washing of the Word. The inward sanctification comes out, a "working out" of the inward salvation. Jesus said clean the inside of the vessel first.
"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire..."12
Malachi prophesies of Jesus coming as a smelter of silver who would purify the priests, refining them like silver, so they may present offerings in righteousness. We know in the new we are priests and he is our High Priest, mediator before the Father. The Father, "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."13 We are fruit bearing trees, though he prunes us. While a silver smith smelts in a refining pot, God refines the heart.14
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."15
Established by Grace through faith, yes, this workmanship surely God gets all the credit for, "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."16 His power establishes us, His Grace is sufficient for all good works, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."17 Our good works abound in the sufficiency of grace.
"Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith;"18
The workmanship is not the "good works" that we do nor the preparation of good works, it is not the accomplishment of our mission statement, no, the workmanship is that which he has prepared beforehand, the preparation for a vessel for his use. When the vessel is prepared, when the clay is molded, when his church is transformed, it will produce good works.
"through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."19
Your Grace On Which I Stand