THE KING’S BUSINESS
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have here rendered the word which is trans lated “workmanship” in both- the Author ized and Revised Versions by “making,” because the root of this word is from the Greek verb that means “to make,” and it is entirely different from the word translated “works” a few words further on in the verse. And now Paul uses even a stronger word to emphasize the absolutely Divine character of the operation: he says that we are “created?’ in Christ Jesus for good works (i. e., with a view to the good works that would result from this new creation —cf. 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). It is evident then that we are not saved by good works, but that we are saved for good works. Good works are not the ground of our salvation, but the result of our salvation- The atoning death of Jesus Christ, His good work, is the ground of our salvation. Our good works are the result of believing in His good work and thus being saved through it. These “good works” ' which shall appear in our lives as a result of our being saved and created anew, God has afore (before) pre pared (in every minutest detail mapping our- our lives) that we should walk in them.” These good works all originate in Him, but it is our part to walk in them and thus show that we really have been saved. We are not saved by works, as we have seen, but we are saved for works, created to the end that we might do good works, and if there are no good works in our lives it is conclusive evidence that we have not-been saved. The good works do not save us, but they do prove that we have been saved. God orders our steps. “God makes ready by His Providence the opportunities for the works, and makes us ready for their performance” (cf. 15:16; 2 Tim. 2:21). — -------------- 0 -------------------- M arriag e A n n o u n cem en t Mr-, and Mrs. A. H. Nickell, of Clark- dale, Ariz., announce the marriage of their daughter Bertha Mabel Nickell, a former student of the Bible Institute, to Christian G. Sailer, on Tuesday evening, December 18, 1917, at their home in Clarkdale, where the young couple are now residing.
raised from the dead ■ and he is saved “spirit, soul, and body” and made into the perfect likeness of Jesus Christ at His com ing (1 Thess. 5:23 R. V.;' 1 John 3:1, 2). The context of the verse which we are now studying shows clearly that what Paul has in mind in this verse is our perfect salvation already purposed by God and already pro vided for in Christ- This full salvation that is from first to last a work of grace is appropriated “through faith,” “and that too (i. e., not only the grace, and not only the faith, but the whole operation, grace through faith ) is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” : it is all God’s work. Even the faith by which we appropriate this, gift is itself wrought by God by the instrumentality of the Word (Rom. 10:17), and by the persuasion and power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Phil. 1:29; 2 Cor. 4:13; John 1:13; Phil. 2:13, R. V.; 1 Cor. 12:9)- Paul is determined to make this great truth that salvation is wholly gratuitous as clear as day, so he adds, “not of works.” Our works have nothing to do with it (cf. Rom. 4:4, 5; 11:6). The reason why God has made it wholly of grace and not one whit of works is' “that (more exactly, in order that) no man should boast” (cf. Rom. 3:27; 4;2; 1 Cor. 1:29; 4:7; Gal- 6:14; Phil. 3:3). If there were even one place in sal vation where our works came in then these proud hearts of ours would boast, but there is none, and the most perfect saint has no place to glory over the vilest sinner- He has much to be thankful for, nothing to boast of. But where do works come in? The ¿ext verse will tell us. Sunday, June 30 . Eph. 2 : 10 . Paul has been speaking of our salvation by faith, how salvation from start to finish was by faith, and now he answers the ques tion as to where works come in by saying, “We are His workmanshp,. created in Christ Jesus for good works." A more literal translation of the first part of the verse would be; “His (i. e., God’s, the “His” is very emphatic in the original) making (thing made) are we,” i- e., all that we are in our redeemed life God has made us. I
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