TO THE SAINTS AT EPHESUS...(WALKING THE TALK) EPHESIANS 1

TO THE SAINTS AT EPHESUS... 

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: 10

THESE PAGES WILL BE ADDED TO AS WE GO ALONG

Ephesians 2:10 reads: "for we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. Which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them."

The phrase, "we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus..." carries an obvious meaning of God's work in the already created  believer re-creation or rebirth-reborn.

(poihma). Old word from poiew with the ending -mat meaning result. In N.T. only here and Revelation 1:20. Created (ktisqenteß). First aorist passive participle of ktizw, not the original creation as in Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 3:9,  but the moral and spiritual renewal in Christ, the new birth, as in Ephesians 2:15; Ephesians 4:24.

"Truly truly I say to you unless a person is be born again (or "born above" as the oldest MS) he cannot see the Kingdom of God"     JOHN 3:3 "Truly truly I say to you I say to you, unless one is born of the flesh and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:5

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in his name. Who were born not of the blood nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13's

HOW DO YOU RECEIVE JESUS--JUST LIKE THE THIEF ON THE CROSS.  (See our blog COMMENTARY ON Isaiah 53:11,  and OUR IMMORTAL SOUL, EPHESIANS 2:8-9)

"for good works--Prepared that we should walk in them (good works)?

Verse eight assures us that we are saved by grace, which must be void of our good works otherwise grace is not grace.

1.      "... Through faith, and that not of ourselves, but it is the gift of God." Even the faith is not of ourselves, but it's God's gift.

2.      There is an example in John 21 that might explain this sentence.

JOHN  21:15-17 (PLEASE READ)

In this particular setting Simon Peter has taken the lead, as he usually did. Where this group was when Peter said this, I don't know, but the last event of Jesus's appearance was in Judea. For them to go fishing on "the sea of Tiberius," which was the Sea of Galilee, meant over three days of walking. So here they were in their old habitat and doing what they did before Jesus.

There is another saying that John writes about in John 13:36, Scriptures record: "Simon Peter said to Him,' Lord, were you going?' Jesus answered,' where I go you cannot follow Me; but you shall follow later'. Peter said to Him,' Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.'

Jesus answered, 'will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times."

Peter would try to defend Jesus by cutting off the high priest's servant's right ear, but then he did exactly what Jesus said, and denied Jesus three times.

Then Jesus would be crucified, which would traumatize  Jesus' followers, most of all Peter. Then the glorious victory of Jesus rising from the dead and appearing to these disciples--which were hiding and frightened and disillusioned group of wretches, including Peter. 

The only thing they would've turned this group around was the appearance of Jesus Christ risen from the dead, and he gives them empirical evidence by physically having them touched them even touching the wound that he had from the cross. John that this time it's a little parenthetical statement of why he's writing this in John 20:30-31.

 "Many other signs, therefore, Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these have been written to you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and that believing you may have life in his name." 

Now in John 21, and in verses 15 through 17, Peter is the focus

so when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He (Peter) said to Him, "yes, Lord; you know that I love You." He (Jesus) said to him, "Tend My lambs." He (Jesus) said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John do you love Me?" He (Peter) said to Him, "yes, Lord, You know that I love You." He said to him (Peter), "shepherd My sheep." He (Jesus) said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He(Jesus) said to him (Peter) the third time, "do you love Me?" And he (Peter) said to Him, "Lord, do you know all things; I love You." Jesus said to him, "tend My sheep."

The translators translated the word "love" as if Jesus used the same word as Peter did. This translation is common in most translations, however not the case in the original Greek.  Jesus uses the Greek word agape in the first two instances and a meaning of a strong self-sacrificing type of love. Peter doesn't use this word once, but uses the Greek word, Philo. The meaning of this Greek word has more of a friendly brotherly type of love.