The Christian and Good Works

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

We are meant to do good. We can do good through Christ who has freed us from sin. This passage from Paul's Letter to the Church in Ephesus tells us who we are, how we came to be and why we do what we do!

We are handcrafted by God. We are His workmanship. Can the pot say to the potter, "Why have you made me like this?" (Rom. 9:19-21) A watchmaker makes a watch to tell time. We are created by the creator to walk in good works.

How often do we question ourselves wondering if we are doing God's will? Perhaps we should ask ourselves if we are doing God's will? Do we care that we are doing God's will? As slaves of righteousness, we will want to do the Master's desires.

And we must be careful of falling into the trap of believing in anything like 'Karma'. We cannot influence the outcome of our days. We read in Scripture, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Prov. 16:9) and "A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?" (Prov. 20:24) God directs our every step for those who are in Christ Jesus! Can we ever stumble? Of course! But God is there to pick us up! "The steps of man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)

When we are in Christ Jesus there are just some things we cannot help not do like meditating on the Law (Psalm 1), reading Scripture (Psalm 119:105), and daily taking up our cross (Lk. 9:23-27).  All of this is because we have the Holy Spirit in us directing our will! (Rom. 8:1-11)

Albeit that Good Works, which are the fruits of Faith, and follow after Justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively Faith insomuch that by them a lively Faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit.  (Article 12, The Articles of Religion, see also Article 13 on Works before Justification)