How to Do Good Works? (Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The Human Condition Before Salvation:
Before our salvation, we were all spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins. We once lived according to the ways of this world and were influenced by the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now at work in those who are disobedient. We indulged in the passions of our flesh, carrying out its desires and thoughts, and by nature, we were children deserving of wrath. Much like how we don't realize physical ailments, such as disease or cancer, without a check-up, people often do not recognize their own spiritual problems. God, however, diagnosed our spiritual state, revealing that before salvation, we were all spiritually dead.
Salvation: God's Grace and Purpose
A miracle occurred: God, rich in mercy and immense love, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. We have been saved by grace, a gift from God, not by works, so no one can boast. This salvation was not without purpose. God saved us to display the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus for all future generations. We are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared in advance for us to do. He remade us as His workmanship so that those who once lived worldly lives could now seek His kingdom, those who followed the prince of the power of the air could follow Christ, and those who indulged in fleshly desires could now live according to the Spirit. He not only forgave our sins but also re-created us for a new life.
The Ongoing Struggle and the Need for Transformation
Despite being saved, are we truly living lives that seek God's kingdom, follow Christ, and are guided by the Holy Spirit? Are we performing good deeds that demonstrate God's grace?
Consider the story of Pastor Cho Jeong-min, a former staunch atheist and news anchor who became a devout believer. He was so committed that he would attend dawn prayer at 5 a.m. even after working all night, sometimes plugging his bleeding nose with cotton. He also attended Wednesday and Friday services. One evening, as he was leaving for church again, his wife confronted him, saying, "You thought you'd completely changed since you started going to church instead of going to bars, but nothing has changed". This accusation struck him like a hammer. He knelt and asked God if this was His voice or Satan's. The Lord's shocking reply was, "Your wife is right". He realized his heart was still filled with self-centered ambition, wanting to prove his transformation rather than genuinely loving God. This revelation, accompanied by prayer and tears, completely changed his faith journey, becoming the day he was truly "bathed" as Jesus spoke of.
This resonates with many of us; haven't we heard similar remarks, like "I thought you had changed after believing in Jesus, but nothing has changed at all?" Those close to us often see us most accurately. Although we confess Jesus as Lord, we are constantly tempted by Satan's lies and influenced by the world, even though we are not of it. The desires of our flesh remain strong, making worldly entertainment more appealing than God's Word or prayer. Therefore, the Christian life is an ongoing struggle, and we often stumble. We may show glimpses of change, only to revert to our old ways.
So, how can we, in our weakness, truly reveal God's grace and live a life that pleases Him?
Three Essential Components for a God-Pleasing Life:
1. Be Sober-Minded and Pray Continually: The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, urges believers, "Wake up, you who sleep! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you". (Eph 5:14) Even though Christians are already saved and made alive with Christ, they are called to rise from the dead, implying that those who have life but remain spiritually asleep are no different from the unsaved. Jesus warned His disciples to be careful, lest their hearts become weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and life's anxieties, causing that day to come upon them unexpectedly like a trap. He exhorted them to "stay awake and pray always". Paul likewise encourages constant prayer and thankfulness. The Apostle Peter further explains the importance of being sober and watchful: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith". (1 Peter 5:8-9)
The devil, described as the "god of this world," is a powerful adversary whom we cannot overcome with our own strength. Recognizing this, we must rely on God's power. Peter urges us to strengthen our faith, and Jesus commanded, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation". Without watchfulness and prayer, we are vulnerable to Satan's temptations.
It's vital to remember that prayer is not merely a defense against the devil; it is itself a good work that pleases God. Jesus came in the flesh and died on the cross not only to forgive our sins but also to become our true friend. His sacrifice demonstrates His earnest desire for our friendship. The Bible states that God called us "to fellowship with His Son Jesus". Can we truly have fellowship or be true friends with the Lord without prayer? Believing in Jesus is our response to God's astonishing love, where He did not spare His own Son for us. We respond by loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. How can we love God without conversing with Him through prayer? The Lord commands us to "pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Through prayer, we overcome evil, commune with God, and live a life that fulfills His will.
2. Discern God's Will Through His Word: While prayer is undeniably crucial, there is more needed. My own experience serving as an educational missionary for a year and a half in a Korean church, known for fervent prayer, was filled with doubt and confusion rather than joy. Despite many praying fervently, I saw little good fruit in their lives; instead, jealousy, complaints, and human greed were prevalent among ministers and believers.
Prayer, when not guided by God's Word, can easily become like the prayers of Gentiles—seeking our own will instead of God's, worldly values instead of His kingdom, and our own name instead of His. Therefore, Paul exhorts us to "approve what is pleasing to the Lord". He also advises, "Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is". Because the days are evil, it's easy to misinterpret God's will. Paul states, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will". (Romans 12:2-3)
If we conform to this world, we will be influenced by it and unable to discern God's will. Each era possesses unique ideas, concepts, and values that shape its culture. Under the influence of Satan, the ruler of this world, false values and cultural trends stimulate our fleshly desires, leading people deeply into sin and opposition to God. In our generation, "homosexuality" and same-sex marriage have become normalized, spreading globally. Some churches have even begun to legalize same-sex marriage. The church faces a crisis not when it influences the world, but when worldly values and customs inundate the church itself, causing it to become like the world. Beyond the issue of homosexuality, various worldly trends negatively impact the church.
Watching a South Korean drama series about the Fourth Republic, I observed President Park Chung-hee's authoritarian politics and felt as though I was watching a historical drama from the Joseon Dynasty. This authoritarianism, I must admit, also influences the Korean church. For instance, the hereditary system in megachurches seems to suggest that pastors rule like monarchs. Furthermore, hedonism, materialism, and other worldly influences are encroaching upon the church. The prevalence of the prosperity gospel within the church is another indication of worldly hedonism and materialism influencing it.
So, how can we overcome Satan's temptations and live the good life God desires? While Jesus emphasized constant prayer to avoid the devil's temptations, He Himself used God's Word when tempted by Satan. We can only overcome Satan's temptations through God's Word because Satan is the father of lies and the originator of deceit. Just as he cunningly deceived Eve, he continues to deceive believers today. Some even estimate Satan's IQ at 6000, signifying that our human wisdom cannot contend with him. The only way to discern and defeat Satan's lies is to trust and cling to God's Word, which is truth. It is the sole means to overcome plausible falsehoods. Only through God's Word can we learn and adopt the unchanging values of the heavenly kingdom, rather than worldly trends or the spirit of the age. Only through God's Word can we learn to seek God's kingdom and righteousness, not worldly values. The Word of God is the ultimate conclusion.
3. Practice Love for One Another: There is one more crucial aspect to consider. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, Paul commends the Corinthian church, stating, "In Christ you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and in all knowledge. The testimony about Christ has been established among you so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ". Being "enriched in all knowledge" implies a deep understanding of the Scriptures. Similarly, "the testimony about Christ" suggests knowledge of God's Word. The Corinthians were also abundantly gifted, with spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, indicating a church deeply devoted to prayer. Therefore, the Corinthian church seemingly lacked nothing in terms of God's Word and prayer. Yet, Paul rebuked them for their spiritual immaturity and worldliness due to divisions among them. He declared, "If I have the gift of prophecy, and if I understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing". This emphasizes that possessing all biblical knowledge is meaningless without love. To fulfill God's good work, prayer and God's Word alone are insufficient. We need each other, and we need love.
On the night before His crucifixion, after the Last Supper, Jesus commanded His disciples to "love one another as he loved them". He repeatedly prayed for their unity, saying, "Holy Father, keep in your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, just as we are one". Why did Jesus command and pray for His followers to love each other and be united? So that the world might believe that the Father sent Him and loved them as He loved Jesus.
In essence, only when Christians are united can they truly bear witness to God's abundant grace to the world. The world will not recognize God's grace by observing how much Christians pray, study the Bible, or even how much they claim to love God, but rather by witnessing their unity and mutual love. Our commitment to practicing love and our unity will determine whether we fulfill the mission of testifying to God's grace. This is why Jesus not only commanded and prayed but also sent us the Holy Spirit, who guides us toward unity and love.
We live in an increasingly individualistic society where self-love often takes precedence. In an era where genuine friendships are scarce, Christ's followers are called to live a radically different life. We are invited to practice the selfless love of Jesus, who laid down His life for His friends. When the church embodies this kind of love, we will be revealed as God's masterpiece, demonstrating His abundant grace and amazing craftsmanship. I believe this is the good work that God desires.
Conclusion
By staying awake in prayer, continually communing with and loving the Lord, and overcoming Satan's temptations, we can always understand God's will through His Word. We can learn the unchanging values of God's kingdom and live a life worthy of His citizens. By practicing love for one another, we can fulfill Christ's desire and live a good life that bears witness to God's abundant grace.
I bless and pray in the name of Jesus that you and I may live this kind of life.
