Ephesians 2:10 (DRB)

Passage

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them.

Nearby Context

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, that no man may glory.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:11 For which cause be mindful that you, being heretofore gentiles is the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands:

Ephesians 2:12 That you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the conversation of Israel and strangers to the testament, having no hope of the promise and without God in this world.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "created", "good works", "his workmanship", "christ", "jesus", "hath", and "prepared". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "created" and "good works", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 9's "Not of works that no man may..." into verse 11's "For which cause be mindful that you...", so "created" and "good works" belong inside that flow. In Saved by Grace for Good Works, the local focus is grace, faith, new creation, and good works.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "created" and "good works" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.