 |  |
(1)
To redeem us from all iniquity.
(2)
To purify us unto good works.
This new creation has a characteristic walk. Exactly what the walk involves is outside
the province of doctrine to explain, all it does is to state the fact and leave it to the
practical section to develop, and this it does very thoroughly. In the doctrinal view there
are but two walks known to God, the walk related to the old creation (Eph. 2: 2, 3), "in
times past ye walked", and the walk of the new creation (Eph. 2: 10), "unto good works
that we should walk in them". Between these two walks, what miracles are to be found;
dead, quickened, raised, seated. No attempt is made to alter the walk, but God makes a
new creature. Life is not altered by the walk; the walk but expresses the life.
"For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in
the which ye also WALKED some time, when ye LIVED in them" (Col. 3: 6, 7).
"As ye have therefore RECEIVED Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK ye in Him"
(Col. 2: 6).
What is the meaning of the expression "before ordained" in this section? Does it teach
that, after salvation, every word and action is fixed by predestination? That in the sphere
of the new creation the believer has no responsibility? If so, why reward for service?
Why suffer loss? Why exhort a believer to "walk worthy" if all is ordained beforehand?
Evidently the Apostle did not entertain such an idea, for he says:
"Walk in love . . . . . let no man deceived you with vain words; for because of these
things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience" (Eph. 5: 2-6).
The words "before ordained" translate the Greek word proetoimazo. "I go to prepare
a place for you" (John 14: 3); "The preparation of the gospel of peace" (Eph. 6: 15);
"They that were ready went in" (Matt. 15: 10); "The third time I am ready"
(II Cor. 12: 14): these are examples of etoimazo and hetoimos. The word hina,
translated "that", may be rendered "in order that", and the passage stands as follows:
"For good works, which God prepared beforehand, in order that we should walk in them."
Titus 3: 1 says "Be ready to every good work"; the readiness or preparedness being
on the part of the believer. II Tim. 2: 21 speaks of the believer being prepared unto
every good work. The Emphatic Diaglott translates Eph. 2: 10:
"Good works, for which God prepared us, that we might walk in them."
This is but an expansion of the great passage in Eph. 1: 4:
"Chosen in Him before the overthrow of the world, that we might be holy and without
blemish."
Here then is a new creation, and there is accordingly a new walk suitable to the new
creation. This walk is expressed in good works, and for these good works each member
of the Body has been before prepared.