What of Ephesians

[Bon]

I am struggling with a few scripture verses in Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Yahshua Messiah for good works, which Yahweh prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Are the "good works which Yahweh prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them",.......His laws, His Torah?

I cant get a grip on the exact meaning of this verse.

Verses 8-9 just before tell us that: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this in not your own doing, it is the gift of Yahweh-not because of works, lest any man should boast.

Do these verses together tell us that fisrt we are saved only by Yahweh's grace through our faith, and THEN when we are His children we are required to perform these good works, to be obedient?

What does it mean "prepared beforehand"?

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And finally, verses 11-12 tell us that before we were Gentiles in the flesh, we were separated from Yahshua and alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel

Is this passage telling us that when we become His children we are infact becoming a part of the Commonwealth of Israel?


Can anyone here open my eyes to the truth of these scriptures as I am trying to piece it together.

With thanks from Bon

[visionary]

The first time God created us in His image, we were His workmanship, to have dominion and rule, this He prepared beforehand. I see the Commonwealth of Israel more like the Kingdom of God in its fulness. So, yes I see the Torah and His Laws an intrical part of the rule and running of the Kingdom.

[koilias]

I am struggling with a few scripture verses in Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Yahshua Messiah for good works, which Yahweh prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Are the "good works which Yahweh prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them",.......His laws, His Torah?



The plain meaning of the verse in Hebrew would suggest that interpretation, since "good works" is "mitzvot" aka "commands".
I cant get a grip on the exact meaning of this verse.
Verses 8-9 just before tell us that: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this in not your own doing, it is the gift of Yahweh-not because of works, lest any man should boast.

Do these verses together tell us that fisrt we are saved only by Yahweh's grace through our faith, and THEN when we are His children we are required to perform these good works, to be obedient?

Actually I think Rav Shaul believes that we are saved by HaShem's Hesed (grace) period. HaShem plants the seed, and we simply grow to faith, and our faith sprouts works. So we can't even boast of "faith".

What does it mean "prepared beforehand"? Jewish tradition teaches that the Torah was one of the things created before G-d created the creation. Indeed, HaShem consulted the Torah to create the world as a "master-workman" (builder-architect) consults his plans before building.
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And finally, verses 11-12 tell us that before we were Gentiles in the flesh, we were separated from Yahshua and alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel

Is this passage telling us that when we become His children we are infact becoming a part of the Commonwealth of Israel?

....I think so! Because the "seed" of Abraham's spirit has been implanted in us! Zayit can tell you more about this. ;) We've turned from b'nei Noach to B'nei Abraham. Yohannan 8 and Romans 9 says lots about this...

[By Grace]

Jewish tradition teaches that the Torah was one of the things created before G-d created the creation. Indeed, HaShem consulted the Torah to create the world as a "master-workman" (builder-architect) consults his plans before building.
So what exactly was written before creation? Was it Gen-Deut word-for-word, or was it the commands given on Mt. Sinai, or was it all the commands given throughout the 1st five books, or all the commands given anywhere in Scripture (incl NT)?

[koilias]

So what exactly was written before creation? Was it Gen-Deut word-for-word, or was it the commands given on Mt. Sinai, or was it all the commands given throughout the 1st five books, or all the commands given anywhere in Scripture (incl NT)?
Well...all of Gen-Deut is Torah. Even the parts that do not specifically deal with commandments, actually do deal with commandments. The historical portion is commentary to the legal portion. That's were Yeshua gets his doctrine of "Hesed v'emet"...by reading between the lines of text, to get at the immitation of HaShem's character. Thus, the Brit haHadasha commands are also included in Torah...you just have to read carefully!;)