God's work—from beginning to end

The bedrock of the gospel is that the whole matter of reconciliation (laid out in Eph. 1:7—2:7) is God’s work from beginning to end; we receive God’s justifying grace passively, as pure gift. We are <>acted upon<> by God. But this is only half of the picture. Even as we receive God’s gracious action passively, we are in the same motion <>activated<> for a life of service. Verse 10 is an extraordinarily illuminating verse, splendid for teaching the relation of human activity to the divine activity. This exceptional passage should lay to rest all complaints that the emphasis on God’s agency leaves us with nothing to do.—Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion, 342 (emphasis original)