Note 25 at Eph. 2:10: The Greek word for "workmanship" used here is POIEMA, which means "to make." The word signifies that which is manufactured, a product, a design produced by an artisan (Word Wealth, Spirit Filled Life Bible (SFLB), p. 1789). It is the word from which we get our English word "poem." We are God's poem: His work of art. It is just as foolish for us to boast of our part in salvation as it would be for a masterpiece painting to boast of painting itself.

Note 26 at Eph. 2:10: There is a vast difference between being saved BY good works and being saved UNTO good works as stated here. Good works do not gain us salvation but they do affirm that salvation has been received into one's life. Good works cannot produce a new nature but a new nature should produce good works.

Note 27 at Eph. 2:10: Today's English Version Bible translates this verse as, "God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do." God has ordained a perfect plan for each of our lives (Jer. 29:11), but He does not force that plan to come to pass (see notes 1 and 2 at Rom. 8:29, p. 801). We have the choice (Dt. 30:19).