Created Unto Good Works

Discipleship Devotional, April 7th, 2025

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
— Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

The Bible tells us very clearly that we are not saved by our works, but by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus. It also further tells us that, though we aren’t saved by works, we are saved unto good works. What this means is that, being genuinely born again, the Lord has put in us His nature of righteousness, which yearns to do good works. It is no longer business as usual. If a person is genuinely saved, they have been given the power to say “No” to sin—something they could never do when they were unsaved.

Our anchor text tells us that God has ordained us to do such good works. This is why Paul says in Romans 6 that sin no longer has the power of dominion over a person in Christ. The person in Christ has received the Spirit of Life in Christ, which frees them from the bondage of slavery to the flesh. We are urged, now that we are in Christ, to walk in the newness of life. This is our calling. This devotional today is to encourage you if you didn’t know that you are not helpless in your wrestle against sin. In fact, you have been greatly empowered. You are ordained to walk in the newness of the life Christ has given us.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
— Romans 6:4 (KJV)

The Holy Spirit has given you the righteousness of Christ, and you can walk in the light. You don’t have to fall for the deception of Satan. You are not as weak as you think. No! You are strong. You have been equipped with the whole armor of God; therefore, it is now within your power (through the Holy Spirit) to restrict the reign of sin in your life.

If one must be given to good works, then they must learn to yield to the Spirit. They must learn to yield their members as instruments of righteousness. They must learn to mortify the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit. The solution to living above sin in reality is by the Spirit. The Spirit is the difference that has been introduced into the equation from when we were unsaved. Never think you can do it yourself; you must trust the Spirit’s power in you.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for freeing me from the power of sin and giving me your Holy Spirit to empower me to live for you. Amen.