The Workmanship of Christ

Ephesians 2:8-22

A mural depicting the development of the oilfield industry in the San Juan Basin was painted on the side of one of the buildings in Farmington. From time to time vandals paint their design over parts of the mural, and it must be cleaned off and repainted. The graffiti sometimes obscures parts of the picture, and other times just makes the picture look trashy. It is disgusting to me to see, so I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for the artist and his sponsors to see his workmanship destroyed by the selfishness of others.

Can you imagine how it must affect the Lord when we insist on putting our own work on what he has done? Our salvation, and our Christian life were completed through faith in his work. None of our effort was required, and in fact was excluded to prevent boasting on our part.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Just as the vandals add nothing of value to the mural, but detract from it, so our efforts to demonstrate our righteousness detract from what Christ has done. The works never help anyone. Galatians 2:16 describes the situation. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

The insistence on our own good deeds frustrates God’s effort to provide a complete salvation. Paul says he refuses to frustrate God’s effort by insisting on works. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” If our efforts are required, either to obtain or to keep salvation, then Christ wasted his life dying for us on the cross.

Looking at Ephesians 2:10 again, we find that we were created through his efforts to do good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Good works are the result of our conversion, not the cause of it. James 2:15-26 makes this very point. Faith that doesn’t result in action is dead, and has no power to save. The works demonstrate the reality of the faith, or as James 2:22 says, perfect or complete it.

As gentiles, we are fortunate that Salvation is not by the law. If it were, we would have no hope, as the Law would exclude us. It is only Christ that has made God’s covenant available to us. We need to recall where we stood and be reminded of this.

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:11-13)

Without Christ, we had no claim to any of the promises of God. Thanks to the sacrificing of his blood for our sins, we now have a part in the promises and covenants. Because it is not based on law, we have the same claim as the Jews. Our salvation is exactly the same as theirs. As Romans 10:12 says, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” Being Jewish gave an advantage in knowing what God’s standard was, according to Romans 3:1-2, making them aware of their inadequacy. It gave no advantage in receiving or serving him. Dependence on Christ eliminates any advantage. The Jew has no more to bragging rights than the gentile. Paul said he had to give up his bragging rights in order to receive Christ in Philippians 3:8.

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” (Ephesians 2:14-17)

For several years, my folks lived in a house built from two old trailers. Because of the care my brother and my dad devoted to joining them, most people did not realize that trailers had ever been part of the house, and could not decide where the joining had taken place. It was a single house in every way. Even floor and wall framing had been changed to interconnect everything. Christ has joined both Jew and gentile into a single construction even more completely.

“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18-22)

Converting two trailers into a single home required eliminating a hallway, an extra kitchen, and various windows and doors. Access to bathrooms and bedrooms had to change as well. To join various gentile groups to the Jews as a single entity required eliminating the separations between them, and especially the Law. Faith replaced the law, applying to both equally.