not of works, but created in Christ unto good works

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NAS

BINGO. Exactly what I have said all along. But some folks literally say one can be saved 50 years, and never do anything. Well, what new creation would want to do that?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NAS

The question will come up,didn’t the same GOD that spoke In the Old Testament speak the New Testament and since we know GOD IS perfect and does not change why did HE make a new covenant?

Helpful Hint:
The WORD of GOD says that no one could keep the old law perfectly.
They say but do not do.

GOD IS a SPIRIT and those that worship HIM MUST worship HIM In Spirit and In TRUTH.

The law of GOD IS perfectly righteous but man Is carnal,sold,a forgone conclusion that they will be brought Into captivity to the law of sin because of the weakness of the flesh although the spirit Is willing the flesh Is weak.So then GOD counted all coming short of HIS glory not being able to be perfectly righteous In our own strength.

What works did the thief on the cross do?

The thing Is salvation doesn’t hinge on our works ALTHOUGH a person that has been saved WILL seek to purify themselves even as they are pure.

So then don’t look at It that a person Is saved but they haven’t done anything for GOD In 50 years.

Yeah, and?

What works did the thief on the cross do?

The thing Is salvation doesn’t hinge on our works ALTHOUGH a person that has been saved WILL seek to purify themselves even as they are pure.

So then don’t look at It that a person Is saved but they haven’t done anything for GOD In 50 years.

Sorry but I cannot agree with the above.

I know many secular people who do good works because they love the recipient of their good good works and expect nothing in return.

Maybe clarify what you mean by "only if it benefits them"

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

I think most of us agree that we are saved through faith, that it's a gift and not as a result of works.

We can only become his workmanship if he is in us as a result of this faith.

So these works were prepared before hand.
Not after we come to Christ but before we do.

So it's not like God is thinking they have believed in my son so now let's reveal these works.

If anyone disagrees with the above sentence then please say so.

Maybe we could look at the works that we should walk in.

What are these works?

After all we may know many non believers that do good works out of love but have not faith.

Do we need to look beyond V10?

Ephesians 2:11-13

Brought Near by His Blood
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you 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. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Was there an issue between the Jews who believed in Jesus and the Gentiles who believed in Jesus

Jesus himself said "By this the world will know you are my disciples if you love one another"

James addressed this in chapter 2 concerning sectarianism.

I'm not saying that we restrict works to the church but it does seem that Paul had the address issues in the church as well as James did.

We know that Jesus raised the bar.
Love your enemies, to the Jews.

Anyway I hope I have made some sense but also want to solicit the thoughts of others concerning what these works are that were prepared before hand.

What do you suppose the purpose of God is creating us new in Christ Jesus? Hint, the answer is in the verse.

Regeneration is new birth, resurrected to new life. Not to get saved or be saved, or to earn anything, but because we know the PURPOSE of God in saving us. Not just to float around on a cloud with our feet in the air, but tone the praise of His Glory both now and in eternity. Not to earn or retain salvation, but because that is Gods purpose for us.
I’m a layman. Why am I saying this to a preacher?

Yeah, and?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NAS

Some of my friend believe salvation by grace, not by work, mean you can do what ever you want, steal, murder etc and still save, go to heaven, but you lose your reward and relationship with Jesus.

Seem to me, in matt 25 Jesus relate between faith and work. People that don't have love not go to heaven, they think they do, they may have faith that they Will go to heaven, they surprise Jesus say I don't know you.

Matt 25

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Yes those people you spoke of are the ones spoken of by Jude. Turn the grace of God into a license to immorality. Some people here say they don’t do that, but turn around and say unrepentat adulterers, fornicators and idolators to heaven

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NAS

What kind of works are you not born of?
The law or moral works?
What do you consider to be the bible's definition of a good work?
Giving to the poor or going to church?

Some of my friend believe salvation by grace, not by work, mean you can do what ever you want, steal, murder etc and still save, go to heaven, but you lose your reward and relationship with Jesus.

Seem to me, in matt 25 Jesus relate between faith and work. People that don't have love not go to heaven, they think they do, they may have faith that they Will go to heaven, they surprise Jesus say I don't know you.

Matt 25

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Just wondering, do you think King David, a man after God's own heart, and the apple of God's eye, will be in heaven, when he committed adultery, murder, and lied?

You misunderstand my position...

I believe in salvation by faith alone. I believe if a person believes in faith right before death, they are bound for heaven. But those of us who hang around in this world for a while need to know the PURPOSE and intent of our salvation. NOT just to go to heaven, that is great, but there is something greater and more fundamental. We are saved to be the PRAISE of HIS Glory, both in this world and the next. Ephesians 1:12

So we do not talk about works and fruit as the basis of salvation, rather, we merely understand Gods purpose in saving us. That we might bring glory to Him. Those who miss this, miss the point of salvation