エフェソの信徒への手紙2:8-10 Ephesians 2:8-10,

なぜなら、わたしたちは神に造られたものであり、しかも、神が前もって準備してくださった善い業のために、キリスト・イエスにおいて造られたからです。わたしたちは、その善い業を行って歩むのです。　　　（エフェソ2:10）

「わたしたちは神に造られたものであり」というのは、単に生き物として命を与えられたという意味ではありません。その後に「神が前もって準備してくださった善い業のために、キリスト・イエスにおいて造られた」とありますように、キリストを信じて善い業をするように前もって準備して造られた存在であるということです。2018年に日本聖書協会から出版された聖書協会共同訳の聖書では、この箇所は「私たちは神の作品であって、神が前もって準備してくださった善い行いのために、キリスト・イエスにあって造られたからです。それは、私たちが善い行いをして歩むためです」と翻訳されています。この翻訳の方が、意味がよく伝わります。キリストを信じる人は善い行いをするように前もって準備して造られた「神の作品」なのです。英語の聖書でも、この箇所は「神の作品」（ESV: his workmanship）と翻訳されたり、「神の手作り品」（REB, NIV 2011: God’s handiwork）と翻訳されたりしています。

手作りで手芸品などを作る方は、作る前に前もってどのような作品にするかを考えて準備してから制作することでしょう。それと同じように、神様はキリストを信じる人がどのような善い行いをする人になるかを前もって考えて準備してから、その人を「神の作品」としてお造りになるのです。その準備はいつからなされているのでしょうか？この手紙の1章4節には「天地創造の前に、神はわたしたちを愛して、御自分の前で聖なる者、汚れのない者にしようと、キリストにおいてお選びになりました」とあります。神様が「天地創造の前に」キリストを信じる人を「聖なる者、汚れのない者にしようと」して選んでおられるのですから、神様がキリストを信じる人を「神の作品」としてお造りになる準備も「天地創造の前」からなされていたということになります。このように考えますと、神様は「天地創造の前」からキリストを信じる人を選んで、「神の作品」とする準備をし、私たちに人生のある時点でキリストを信じる信仰を与えて、行いによらず信仰によって救ってくださり、さらに救われた人が善い行いをするように「神の作品」として造り上げてくださるということです。（2月23日の説教より）

We live in an age of diverse values. Nevertheless, many people still believe that doing good works brings good rewards. The original thought behind this idea is, for the people of Japan, largely influenced by Buddhist thought. Dr. TAKAGI Yutaka, Professor Emeritus of Rissho University, describes the Buddhist teaching of “Inga Ōhō” (Causality and Retribution) in Kaitei Shinban Sekai Daihyakkajiten (Revised New Edition of the World Encyclopaedia) published by Heibonsha, as follows.

It is Buddhist terminology, and also called “Inga Hōō.” It refers to the fact that for every good or bad cause, there is always a corresponding consequence of ease and suffering. The term is found in the Daitō Jionji Sanzō Hōshi Den. Based on the basic Buddhist concept of cause, effect, fruit and reward, it was a teaching for religious attainment, but ultimately played the role of rewarding good and punishing evil. This was taught to the Japanese by Buddhism from early on, and it is overflowing in the Nihonkoku Genpō Zen Aku Ryōiki from the early Heian period. The great popularity of this teaching is also known from the many tales of causality and retribution. (The rest is omitted. Translated by MIYOSHI Akira)

However, the term “Inga Ōhō” is often used today in the sense of “bad cause and effect,” meaning that if you do bad works, you will receive bad rewards. Therefore, the word “Kudoku” might be a better Buddhist term to express the idea that “doing good works brings good rewards.” Dr. ITŌ Yuishin, Professor Emeritus of Bukkyo University, describes “Kudoku” in Kaitei Shinban Sekai Daihyakkajiten (Revised New Edition of the World Encyclopaedia) published by Heibonsha, as follows.

Buddhist terminology. Translation of Sanskrit “Guṇa.” The term refers to the power of good works to bring about excellent results. It also refers to the rewards of good works, or the results of training, and also to the blessings of the gods and Buddha, as well as the ability to bring about excellent results. Good works such as building a temple, making a Buddhist statue, making a handwritten copy of a sutra and praying are seen as having the ability to bring happiness and benefits in the present or future. Good works, such as building a temple, making a Buddhist statue and so on, which are the causes of good rewards are referred to as “Zengon Kudoku” (good roots for good results) or “Kudoku Zengon.” “Zengon” means good roots that are the source of welfare. Good works are seen as having a valuable quality that brings good fortune and benefit, and as having excellent moral qualities. (The rest is omitted. Translated by MIYOSHI Akira)

According to this explanation, in Buddhist teaching, good works such as building a temple, making a Buddhist statue, making a handwritten copy of a sutra and visiting a temple for prayer have the power in themselves to bring about good rewards.

What about Christianity, then? Does Christianity teach that human works itself have the power to bring about good rewards? If the question means whether human works cause salvation or not, the answer is “No.” The Heidelberg Catechism, published in Germany in 1563, which is 462 years ago, in Question 8 and its Answer, states starkly that human works are utterly evil when viewed by God’s standards, as follows.

Q But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil?

A Yes, unless we are born again by the Spirit of God.

 

This question and answer teach two important things. The first is that human beings are by nature “totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil.” This means that they are incapable of doing good works that meet God’s standards. The second is that such human beings will be able to do good if they “are born again by the Spirit of God.”

Furthermore, the Heidelberg Catechism clearly states in Question 62 and its Answer that human beings are incapable of doing good works that meet God’s standards, as follows.

Q Why can’t our good works be our righteousness before God, or at least a part of our righteousness?

A Because the righteousness which can pass God’s judgment must be entirely perfect and must in every way measure up to the divine law. But even our best works in this life are imperfect and stained with sin.

 

The Christian view of human conduct is that “even our best works in this life are imperfect and stained with sin.” However, if such human beings are “are born again by the Spirit of God,” they will begin to do good works in accordance with God’s commandments. The Heidelberg Catechism further teaches about this in Question 114 and its Answer as follows.

Q But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly?

A No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience. Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God’s commandments.

 

This means that those who have believed in Christ, have been forgiven of their sins, and have been regenerated and cleansed by the Holy Spirit, can begin to do good, albeit only a small beginning. Thus, Christian teaching is extremely humble about man’s potential for good works.

Today’s Bible passage is important because it teaches that human beings are not saved by their works, but that they will nevertheless be able to do good works. First, in verses 8 and 9 of today’s passage we read as follows.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

That a person is not saved by works, but through faith, is the point Paul emphasises in his other letters, too. For example, in chapter 4 of his letter to the Romans, Paul makes this point with the Old Testament examples of Abraham and David. That is, with regard to Abraham, Genesis 15:6 says: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and with regard to David, Psalm 32:1-2, which is said to be a psalm of David, says “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Thus, citing the examples of Abraham and David, Paul says in Romans 4:4-5: “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” In other words, the relationship between God and human beings is not a relationship in which God gives wages to human beings for their good works, but a relationship in which God counts human beings’ faith as righteous and saves them by grace, even if they have no good works.

This relationship between God and man is taught in Question 60 and its Answer of the Heidelberg Catechism as follows.

Q How are you righteous before God?

A Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, of never having kept any of them, and of still being inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without any merit of my own, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me. All I need to do is accept this gift with a believing heart.

 

This question and answer are words to keep in mind along with today’s words from the Bible. We may have heartache about our lives’ journey, saying “I should have done that, but I didn’t!” or “I shouldn’t have done that, but I did!” We may also sometimes feel bad about ourselves, not only about the past, but also about what we are now, wondering, “Why am I like this?” Or we may think about other people, “Why is that person like that? That person is completely irredeemable!” This pain, sadness and resentment comes from a lack of trust in the God who created us.

But as verses 8 and 9 of today’s Bible passage show, our relationship with God is restored when we know that God saves people by grace and not by works, and through faith. And through the restoration of the relationship with God, the human personality is gradually regenerated into the original form created by God. The Christian church is a place where this work of grace takes place over a long period of time. The Christian church has been given the great task of offering God’s gift of regeneration to those who seek the way and to those who have believed in Christ through every Sunday worship.

Does the Christian church then teach that we don’t have to do good works because God saves us by grace even if we don’t do good works? This is never the case! In verse 10 of today’s Bible passage, Paul says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” There are some English Bibles, in which this word is also translated as “God’s handiwork” (REB, NIV 2011).

Those who make handicrafts and other items by hand will probably think about and prepare what kind of work they are going to make in advance before they make it. In the same way, God prepares the person who believes in Christ by thinking in advance what good works that person will do, before creating that person as “God’s handiwork.” When does this preparation take place? In 1:4 of this letter, Paul says, “He (God) chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Since God chose those who believe in Christ “before the foundation of the world” to be “holy and blameless before him,” it follows that God’s preparation to create those who believe in Christ as “God’s workmanship” was also made “before the foundation of the world.” In this way, it means that God chose those who believe in Christ from “before the foundation of the world,” prepared them to be “God’s workmanship,” gave us faith in Christ at a certain point in our lives, saved us not by works but through faith and then created us as “God’s workmanship,” so that those who are saved can do good works.

If the Bible teaches us that we are such prepared “God’s workmanship,” can we boast in ourselves, saying that we are doers of good works? We cannot! That is why at the end of verse 9 we read, “so that no one may boast.” In this light, we can see that Christianity is a much deeper teaching than the teachings of “Inga Ōhō” (Causality and Retribution) or “Kudoku” (the power to bring about excellent results) of good works. It completely denies that human beings by nature have the ability to do good works that meet God’s standards by saying that “we are totally unable to do any good.” It is a teaching that God then gives faith in Christ as a gift to those who cannot do good works, gives salvation through faith, and then builds up the saved person to do good works as “God’s workmanship.” Today, I have quoted a number of questions and answers of Heidelberg Catechism on the subject of good works, and I would like to quote one more at the end: Question 86 and the beginning of Answer.

Q Since we have been delivered from our misery by grace through Christ without any merit of our own, why then should we do good works?

A Because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, is also restoring us by his Spirit into his image. (The rest is omitted.)

 

The Christian church is the place where the Holy Spirit works to restore us into the image of Christ. Therefore, we can say that Sunday worship service is the place where God is at work shaping us into “God’s workmanship.”