For we are his workmanship
Not as men only, but as Christians; not as creatures merely, but
as new creatures; the work of grace upon the soul seems chiefly
designed, which like a poem, as the word may be rendered, is a
very curious work; the king's daughter is all glorious within,
for this is an internal work, and is a good and excellent one; it
is not indeed perfected at once, but is gradually carried on,
till the finishing stroke is given to it by that hand which begun
it; the author of it is God, it is not man's work; nor is it the
work of ministers, no, nor of angels, but it is God's work:
sometimes it is ascribed to the Spirit, who regenerates and
sanctifies; and sometimes to the Son of God, who quickens whom he
will; and sometimes to the Father, who reveals his Son, and draws
men to him, and who seems to be meant here: the subjects of this
divine operation, are the persons described in ( Ephesians
2:1-3 ) and include both Jews and Gentiles; and express the
distinguishing grace of God, that they and not others, and who
were by nature children of wrath as others, should be his
workmanship: and this is mentioned to show, that salvation can
not be by any works of men, since all their works are either
wrought for them, or in them, by God; salvation is a work wrought
for them without them; and sanctification is a work wrought in
them by God, of his good pleasure; and all their good works are
fruits of his grace, as follows:
created in Christ Jesus unto good works;
the work of grace is a creation, or a creature, a new creature;
not a new vamp of old Adam's principles, but; an infusion of new
ones, and is a work of almighty power; and such who have it
wrought in them, are said to be created in Christ; because as
soon as a man becomes a new creature, he is openly and visibly in
Christ; and by these new principles of grace which are created in
him, he is fit and ready, and in a capacity to perform good
works; the new man formed in him, is formed for righteousness and
true holiness; the internal principle of grace both excites unto,
and qualifies for, the performance of righteous and holy actions:
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them,
or has "before prepared"; for the preparation of good works to be
performed by saints, and the preparation of them for the
performance of them; are both from the Lord; God has appointed
good works to be done by his people and in his word he has
declared what they are he would have done; and it is his will not
only that they should do them, but continue to do them; not only
that they should do a single act or more, but walk in them; their
conversation and course of life should be one continued series of
good works; but the intention is not that they should be saved by
them, but that they should walk in them; and this being the
pre-ordination of God, as it shows that predestination is not
according to good works, since good works are the fruits and
effects of it, so likewise that it is no licentious doctrine;
seeing it provides for the performance of good works, as well as
secures grace and glory.