Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

(v10, NIV)

We were dead in our trespasses, but God saved us. We were going along a path that was leading towards death and destruction. Apart from God's saving grace, there was nothing we could do or anyone could do to derail us from that path. So God saved us by grace through faith in Jesus. This was nothing on our part, but only God's gift. None of us worked or amassed any sort of wealth or action to be saved. Therefore, we have nothing to boast about.

Let us not forget that we were created by God. We often forget that we are his creation and his workmanship. He carefully crafted us and knit us in our mother's womb. Because the word "workmanship" is used, it means more than just that God made us. Skill and effort and detail went into making us. It gives me the idea that God is proud of making us and his skill is shown when others look at us. This is similar to when you make a very beautiful painting. The beauty of the painting will be seen and recognized by those who see the painting. Their praise of this painting goes directly to the creator of the painting. Paintings don't boast in themselves because they themselves didn't do anything to make themselves look good. It is simply the painter or the creator of the painting who made the painting and made it what it is. We give praise and glory to our creator. We mere paintings do not boast that we are saved because it is God who saves us, not us who save ourselves.

Our purpose is for good works. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. This is why God made us. This was even prepared beforehand. Long time ago even before we were created God prepared beforehand that we'd walk in good works. So, we should walk in them. It does not say that our walking in good works saves us. However, whether it saves us or not, it is the purpose for which we were created. If good works was the saving, then it is a contradiction. Because he just said not by works, so that no one can boast.

We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. We are each members of the body which is Christ. If we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, we must remain in Christ Jesus to walk in good works. There are people who try to walk in good works without being in Christ Jesus, but walking apart from Jesus results in death and destruction in the end. Without God's saving grace we will be dead in our trespasses. Therefore, if we seek to do what we were created to do, we must do it in the way that the creator predetermined us to.