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A | Eph. 2: 10. Created in Christ Jesus. |
b1 | Eph. 2: 15. New man. doctrinal
c1 | Eph. 3: 9. All things. ref. to Mystery
b1 | Eph. 4: 24. New man. practical
b2 | Col. 1: 15, 16. Image. Creator
c2 | Col. 1: 16. "All things." ref. to Body the Church
b2 | Col. 3: 10. Image. created
It is evident that in the Prison Epistles, creation is mainly concerned with the Mystery
and things relating to the Mystery, and the attempt to make Col. 1: 16 bear the burden of
universal reconciliation is seen to be ruled out by the limitation of the context and the
evidence of the concordance.
There are some teachers, who because they have recognized the utter impossibility of
"good works" ever being admitted as a procuring or a qualifying cause of our acceptance,
seem to have developed an antipathy to good works altogether, as though Paul had not
continued "not of works . . . . . unto good works". Works are the visible fruit on the tree,
making it evident that the invisible root is alive and active. "By their fruits ye shall know
them" is a principle true for all time. Just as balance is exhibited in the epistle as a
whole, so is it in its parts. To emphasize the complete exclusion of works as a cause of
salvation is right; to omit reference to the need to produce good works after salvation is
wrong. The only thing that is true is proportionate emphasis upon both doctrines. This
quality of balance may be seen in other of the Apostle's writings. What can be clearer
than the following?
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He
saved us" (Titus 3: 5).
Yet in the next verse or so comes the balance:
"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou insist strenuously that they
which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3: 8),
which is a complete parallel with Eph. 2: 9, 10:
"Not by works . . . . . unto good works . . . . . ordained that we should walk in them."
Both in our words and our works we may deny the Lord.
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable,
and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1: 16).
"Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine . . . . . in all things showing
thyself a pattern of good works" (Titus 2: 1, 7).
"The grace of God that bringeth salvation . . . . . teaching us that . . . . . we should live
. . . . . looking . . . . . zealous of good works" (Titus 2: 11-14).
The last reference is another parallel with Eph. 2: 9, 10. The grace that saves us
teaches us to "live . . . . . looking". The redemption that saves us has a twofold object,
viz.: