Before Ordained

April 23

Before Ordained
proetoimazō

Let us take one more look at Eph_2:10, for it contains perhaps the most thrilling thought about living the Christian life: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

That is a verse we should write down on a piece of paper and post in a prominent place (such as on the door of our refrigerator). It declares: The good works that the sovereign God is doing in me today have already been prepared. If we can remember that, be reminded of it daily, it will transform our living.

Why are these works “good”? Because God has dictated them; we don’t produce them. God has already marked out what works are good. The reason the works of Eph_2:9 are not called “good” is because they are man-made instead of God-ordained. Moreover, any works that man produces are “works of darkness” (Eph_5:11; Rom_13:12).

All that is in the words before ordained. The Greek proetoimazō (G4282) is comprised of pro (G4253), “before,” and hetoimazō (G2090), “to make ready,” and so means “to prepare before, to make ready beforehand.”

As one Greek authority puts it, “The terms [in this word group] are used for the divine creation and preservation.” Another well sums up the point of our text: “God prearranged a sphere of moral action for us to walk in. Not only are works the necessary outcome of faith, but the character and direction of the works are made ready by God.”

Some of us walk around like “Christian boy scouts,” looking for good deeds to do so we can get our “merit badge” when we get to heaven.

The obvious problem with such an attitude is that it leaves man to decide which works are good. So which works are good? The answer is summed up in Eph_4:24: “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” A “good work” is whatever is right and holy according to the Word of God.

Do you see the principle? God has defined good works. Just as we have nothing to boast about in our salvation, we likewise have nothing to boast of in our good works. God has ordained them, and they are now the rule of life.

Scriptures for Study: Read the following verses, noting how good works are now the rule of life for the believer: Mat_5:16; Eph_4:1; 2Ti_2:20-21; Tit_2:7.

 
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