For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

 Created for good works:

 Ephesians 2:10

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

 

            We’re His workmanship. The Greek word translated workmanship is the one from which we get the English word poem. We are God’s poem. Just like the Creation is His poem, so are we. As magnificent as His creation is, we are even more so. God could only write a poem beyond all others.

            He didn’t “write” us just to sit around and be admired. He “wrote” us for good works. We don’t obtain salvation through works, but if you’re saved, you should be doing in good works. Of course everyone has an idea of what is meant by good works. What is yours? Whatever you do, do with all your might to the glory of God … not to impress others or to obtain favor with God. We do them because we love Him and want to please Him.

            These good works don’t just happen. He planned them long ago and prepared them for us. They’re sitting there waiting on us to do them. It says that we are to walk in them. It should be natural for us to do them as we go about our daily lives. It is our destiny to do them.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I created you, My children. When I did, I did not do it hastily. I thought about all that I wanted for you and through you. You are My special treasure, and I desire that you be perfected in My love. I have written a magnificent poem, and that poem is you. You bring delight to My eyes and My heart. You were chosen for a special purpose, and I desire that you fulfill it. You are My special treasure, and I want everyone to know it.”

 

            39. I am His special poem created to do good works which He prepared beforehand that I might walk in them.

 He knows us and we know Him:

 

John 10:14

14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,

 

John 10:27-29

27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

29 “My Father, who has given them to Me,  is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

 

            We are not just one among the masses to Jesus. He knows us intimately, and we know Him that way too. We can hear His voice, and know that it is He that is speaking to us. It takes practice to recognize His voice. We can also know that it is His voice by the fact that it will always agree with His Word. We cannot depend on that technique unless we also know His Word.

            He gives us eternal life. We will never perish. This is a strong declaration of never perishing. (In the Greek it is a double negative which is very emphatic.) Not only will we never perish, no one can snatch us out of His hand. We may be weaklings, but He isn’t. The Father, who is greater than all, will make sure that we are safe in His hands.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are Mine, little ones. I have chosen you, and I have redeemed you. You are My special ones. I have chosen you from out of the world. Mine you are, and I have chosen you to do a special work for Me. Others have said they were from Me, but I have not sent them. I would not send someone to receive My children. I have come Myself to receive you into My fold. I have chosen you out from the world. You are Mine, and no one can steal you away from Me. I am stronger than all, and no one can snatch you out of My hands.”

 

            38. I know Jesus and am known by Him. I follow Him, and He has given me eternal life. I will never perish, and no one will ever snatch me out of His hands.

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;

 Apostle and High Priest of our confession:

 

Hebrews 3:1

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;

 

            An apostle is one who is sent to do a task such as establish a new church. A high priest is one who intercedes on behalf of someone else.

            We are called with a Heavenly calling. We partake of that calling when we confess Jesus as Lord. We activate it with our confession. In a sense we “send” Jesus to establish us as a new “tabernacle” for God. He also becomes our High Priest to plead our case before the Father.

            There is also a “lesser” sense in which we confess our faith in the Word that we have something that the Word promises us. This confession “sends” Jesus to establish the fulfilling of the Word we believed in. He also acts as our Intermediary to the Father for the fulfillment of that Word.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You do not have to worry that you have no representation before the throne of God. You have My Son, who is your High Priest before Me. You do not have to go to some tabernacle or temple in some far off place to receive ministry by your High Priest. He is within you and before Me. He is always making intercession for you before Me. He will always come to your aid. Do not trust in others to come before Me on your behalf. He is the only way to come before Me; and He does so on a continuous basis.”

 

            37. I have Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of my confession. I can be sure that I have whatever I have asked for that is in accordance with the Word of God.

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

 He is in you, unless you fail the test:

 

2 Corinthians 13:5

5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

 

Colossians 1:27

27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 

            Do you pass the test? Do you know for certain that Christ is in you? If not, then you can know for certain by asking Him to come in and take control of your life.

            This book of course assumes that He is in you and that you don’t fail the test. No student wants to fail the test, and this is one test you want to make sure you pass. Assuming that He is in you, what can we say? That He is your hope of glory. This is not an “I hope I make it to Heaven”. It is a confident expectation that your destination is Heaven.

            It was a mystery to the men and women of old. How could God Himself live inside you? But God said He would put His Spirit within us. The great people of old had the Spirit with them, but we have Him in us. John was told that He upon whom the Spirit came and remained upon that was to be the Christ. They knew about the Spirit coming upon people. He even came upon King Saul after He had strayed, and King Saul prophesied. However, the Spirit didn’t remain with Saul. He stays within us forever.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I am not some God who is far off, but One who is near; even in your heart. Do not look up trying to find Me, but look inward and there you will find Me if you seek Me with all your heart. You are Mine, if I am within you. You have My stamp upon you. My Holy Spirit is the seal of approval upon your heart. You are Mine forever as long as you will have Me.”

 

            36. Christ is within me. Therefore, I pass the test and have Him as my hope of glory.

But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

 What He Became to Us:

            Head of every man:

1 Corinthians 11:3

3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

 

            What is our relationship to Jesus? He is the head of every man (or woman in this sense). Since He is the Head, we should be listening to the Head and doing what He says. He it is who will direct the body, His church of which we are a part.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Would you argue with one of your rulers if he were in front of you? Then why do you argue with Me? I am your true leader. I am your true head. There is no one over Me. I am the end of all discussions. There is no way getting around it. I am that I am. You are Mine, and I am your Head.”

 

            35. Christ is my Head, and as such, I will follow His every request.