Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10, King James Version.
Made for More · Ephesians 2:10
Crewneck · 7 colors
Price range: $36.95 through $39.95
Made for More · Ephesians 2:10
Hoodie · 7 colors
Price range: $42.95 through $46.95
Made for More · Ephesians 2:10
T-Shirt · 7 colors
Price range: $24.95 through $28.95
What does Ephesians 2:10 mean?
The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians from prison to encourage believers in Asia Minor. In the second chapter, he reminds them that they were once spiritually dead in their sins, but God made them alive through Christ. Right before this verse, in Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul makes it clear that salvation is a free gift of grace received through faith, not something earned by human effort. Then, in verse 10, he explains the rightful place of good deeds in a Christian’s life.
What it means
Paul begins by saying, “For we are his workmanship.” A believer is not a self-made person. God himself is the maker and builder of our new spiritual lives. We are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” This points to a new birth (compare 2 Corinthians 5:17). Good works do not save us, as Paul just proved in the verses before, but they are the natural result of being saved. Finally, these works are ones “which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God prepared a path of obedience and service for his people ahead of time. To “walk in them” means that doing good is meant to be our normal, daily way of life, not just a rare event.
Living it out
This verse takes away both pride and aimlessness. Because you are God’s workmanship, your life has real value and design. You can go into your regular workday, care for your family, or help a neighbor knowing that God prepared these moments for you to serve him. Our Made for More design prints the exact King James text of Ephesians 2:10 on T-shirts, hoodies, and crewnecks to keep this purpose in view.
Frequently asked
Who wrote Ephesians 2:10? The Apostle Paul wrote this verse as part of his New Testament letter to the church at Ephesus.
How does Ephesians 2:10 connect to Ephesians 2:8-9? Verses 8 and 9 teach that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works, while verse 10 shows that once we are saved, God has prepared good works for us to do.