Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. The words being opened, enlarge upon — I. GOOD WORKS AS THE THINGS IN WHICH GOD'S PEOPLE ARE TO WALK. Illustrate this in a young convert passing through various connections in life to old age. II. GOD AS THE AUTHOR OF THESE GOOD WORKS IN THEM. Shew how the Scripture speaks of this. "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean," etc. (Ezekiel 36:25, etc.). "Hath not the potter power over the clay," etc. (Romans 9:21). "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). III. GOOD WORKS WROUGHT IN US AS CONSEQUENCES OF UNION WITH CHRIST. "I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman," etc. (John 15:1, etc.). "For if thou wert cut out of the olive, tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree," etc. (Romans 11:24). "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things," etc. (Ephesians 4:15, etc.). IV. THE COMMANDS OF GOD IN HIS WORD, AND THE WORK OF HIS GRACE IN US, AS CORRESPONDING; LIKE THE SEAL AND THE WAX. "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin," etc. (Romans 6:17). Exemplified in Zaccheus — Paul — Prodigal. Address to the careless — the Antinomian — the self-righteous — the regenerate. (H. Foster, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. |
    |