¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2: 10 ESV).

     This week we are discussing the second good work that every believer must do even as they work to keep and protect their salvation. The text tells us that we are created for good works. What a revelation. Salvation emancipates the believer from the power and control of sin to a life of righteousness and truth which elevates us into a life of good works.

      So, what are the good works of the believer? There are several that comes to mind. The fruit of the Spirit is the new way of living you walk into when you abandon the living of the fruit of the flesh. This new living of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV),” is the testimony that salvation is evident. It is the evidence that in receiving salvation you have “crucified the flesh (and its works which are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,  drunkenness, orgies, and things like these Gal. 5:19-21 ESV), to a life of good works.

      Have you noticed that it all requires work, regardless of which side we are on? Believing in Jesus and accepting His Salvation changes the trajectory of one's work life. It is changed from evil works to good works. The Apostle Paul says the believer has become the workmanship of Jesus Christ. In other words, specifically designed and fashioned to be like Him. Jesus went about sharing the gospel He brought to the world, calling men and women to follow Him and when He departed He commissioned every believer to go out into the world and teach men everywhere about Him of what they have seen and heard (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV). He actually said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

      So, as a believer working to keep and maintain our Salvation, we are commissioned to go tell others of our Salvation and bring them into the fold of Jesus Christ. What we are understanding here is that this commission is not an assignment only for the spiritual leaders, like the pastors, bishops, etc., but rather for every believer of Jesus Christ. Every believer of Jesus Christ must go and make disciples of all nations and people. So when Paul speaks of ‘Workmanship,’ he is saying that when someone puts their faith in Jesus Christ and believes and accepts Him as their savior, He saves them and rebirths them into disciples and ambassadors of Him.

      This second work is that of Kingdom Ambassadorship, representing Christ in the world and speaking on His behalf. Discipling for Jesus Christ. If we so believe and enjoy the life in Christ, it behooves us to share it with others so that they too may enter in and enjoy that very life and the rewards of such a life. In this second work the believer is a disciple making disciples. The disciple is teaching others how to walk away from the works of the flesh and into a works of the Spirit of God. Having worked the works to keep their salvation, they are now equipped to teach others how to so walk. This is the second work of the believer.

A True Story

      Someone was sharing how she had known this young lady all her life since she was a little girl and what a sweet young lady she was. However, she died suddenly and in sharing of the loss of this special friend or acquaintance, she said it suddenly dawned on her that she didn’t know if the young lady knew Jesus Christ, or if she had salvation. Tearfully she shared how she failed her friend for knowing her and being in her life for such a long time and never once shared her faith in Jesus Christ to make sure that she too got to know Him. She was sorrowful that although her friend was a good person she probably died not knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Time For Reflection

      As believers of Jesus Christ, we are His disciples commissioned to make disciples in our world and we do not have to go far to find candidates. We do not have to travel to another state or nation but right around us are potential disciples. Start your discipleship from right where you are sitting, standing, or lying. It is your family member, friend, coworker, business partner, fiancé, spouse, child, and the list goes on. Potential disciples of Jesus Christ are everywhere, but we must be so minded or vigilant that we don’t see them only in the capacity of our acquaintance but also as potential disciples of Jesus Christ.

Deterrents To The Work of Discipleship

There are a few factors that can deter a disciple from his or her work and they are:

• Afraid to let others know of their commitment to Jesus Christ
• Not wanting to offend anyone
• Ashamed of their faith (possibly because they are not living the first works of Salvation)
• Lack of self-confidence, etc.

      But these are issues that can be overcome. Be bold about your faith and love for Jesus Christ. There is nothing about our salvation to be ashamed and timid of. Salvation has transformed our lives for the better in this life in preparation to meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when we die. The Bible tells us that it is appointed unto man once to die…”  We all must and will die and that alone should be the impetus to motivate and push us into the work of discipleship, that no one in our proximity dies without knowing Christ and is ready to meet Him. Crying after their death cannot change their status of death. They must be saved before death. Believe in Jesus, believe in your faith in Him and what He has done for you in your life and how He has transformed it. That is what you teach them, your first-hand personal experience with Jesus.

As living examples of Jesus the Christ, let us work the works of Him who has commissioned us while it is yet day, for the night cometh when no man can work (John 9:4).”

Blessings!