

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.

Have you ever found yourself wondering, How did I get here?You wake up one day and have a moment of reflection, trying to piece together the events that brought you to where you are. Time seems to have passed so quickly, and you realize you’ve ended up somewhere you never expected… in a place you didn’t plan for. It wasn’t intentional, it just happened.In this message, Mike Breaux, Teaching Pastor at Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, California, takes a deeper look at how spiritual drift happens and what we can do to guard against it.

Mercy is undeserved forgiveness and unearned kindness—and it’s what God wants to give you. But most people don’t understand how merciful God really is. Join Pastor Rick as he looks to the Bible to help us understand how God’s mercy transforms lives.Join Pastor Rick as he explains how God’s mercy empowers you to fulfill your purpose in life.Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future! That’s because of the mercy of God. In this broadcast, Pastor Rick talks about how God wants to use you for his purposes—no matter how badly you’ve messed up.

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The Christian life - the normal Christian life - can never be comprehended without the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Today we want to look at 3 more functions the Spirit has in the believer's life.

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