“For we are God’s workmanship…”
This is an amazing statement, but it is important to see what it means by looking at the context. Although it is true that through our creation we are God’s workmanship (“fearfully and wonderfully made,” Psalm 139:14), Ephesians 2 is speaking about new creation.
Notice it says, “…created in Christ Jesus…”_ For the Christian (the person who is “in Christ Jesus”), God has worked in an even more amazing way than your original creation. He has worked in you to save you, transform you and make you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This verse is telling us that it is all because of Him. We are not saved because we are clever, or spiritual, or open to religion. God has done everything.
We were dead (Ephesians 2:1), God has made us alive with Christ (v5-6). We followed the ways of the world (v1) and even the desires of the devil (v2), but God is rich in mercy (v4). We deserve God’s wrath (v3), but He has shown His grace and kindness to us (v5, 7-8). We were controlled by the flesh (v3), but God has given us the gift of faith (v9).
We could contribute no works, so God worked (v10); salvation is not of works so that no-one can boast (v9).
We are God’s workmanship because our salvation is all His work. That’s why we sing “to God be the glory” and not “to me be the glory.” That’s why we can sing “Christ our hope in life and death” and not “I’m my hope in life and death.”
If you are a Christian, you are so privileged that God has done this work. Lift your voice and praise Him.
The best is yet to come 