God’s work (Ephesians 2)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10).
Ephesians 2 emphasises God’s glorious work of salvation in Christ. Paul begins by reflecting on the past lives of his fellow Christians at Ephesus. Once, they had been controlled by the influences of the world and satanic power. These influences were evident in the idolatry that ruled their city (Acts 19). Their lives were engulfed in practices which were contrary to God and their own welfare, and would come under the judgement of God (vv. 1-3).
Then we read “But God…” God moved towards them in the richness of His mercy and the greatness of His love. Through the work of Christ in grace, He had taken them out of spiritual death and made them alive in Christ. There is a tremendous sense of the power of God’s work in their salvation and its transformation of their lives. They were alive in Christ. Paul speaks to all our hearts in describing where we were in the past. He brings before us our position before God in Christ now. He also explains that this work of grace and kindness in all His people will one day be displayed throughout creation (vv. 4-7).
In the first chapters of the Bible we see God’s work of creation. In Ephesians 2, we see God’s work of redeeming grace. The physical creation was entirely the work of God. God’s work of grace in the new creation is also entirely His. And the faith that brings us into this salvation is His gift. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus and enabled by Him to work out our salvation in lives of righteousness for His glory (vv. 8-10).
The Ephesians are reminded further of their history. They are described in the past as being aliens and strangers and of “having no hope and without God in the world” (v. 12). Then once more, Paul adds “But…” and writes the beautiful verse: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (v. 13). Christ is our peace. His work at Calvary brought us near to God and near to each other. Christ removed the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile. He formed His Church as one body through the cross. Jew and Gentile were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. But on the cross, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the work of salvation, and through it preached peace to the Gentiles who were afar off and Jews who were near. Now we are made one and are citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. And by the one Spirit, we have access to the Father (vv. 11-19).
God’s work continues in building His Church (vv. 20-22) as a holy temple in the Lord made, as Peter tells us, of “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5). It is a place where God dwells by the Holy Spirit. The Church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ Himself, as the chief cornerstone, and also the ministry of the apostlesand prophets. God works continuously in each of our lives and in the fellowship of His people to demonstrate His work of love, grace and mercy. We witness to this in our of worship of God, our oneness, our love for one another and by seeking to do good until the day when His Church is complete. In grace God works in us and through us.
