Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Just prior to this verse the apostle Paul was reminding the recipients of this epistle, the church in Ephesus, that we are saved by God’s grace through faith, and that gift of faith was not by works of righteousness lest anyone should boast. In this verse, the apostle Paul does tell us that while we are not saved by good works, the fruit of and result of our faith was doing good works, which God prepared in advance that we would walk in them.
I will use the life of John Newton as an example of walking in good works as a result of his faith in Christ. You can find much more on the life of John Newton on Wikipedia.
In 1788, 34 years after retiring from the slave trade, Newton broke a long silence on the subject of slavery with the publication of a forceful pamphlet, Thoughts Upon the Slave Trade, in which he described the horrific conditions of the slave ships during the Middle Passage. Newton apologized for “a confession, which … comes too late … It will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me, that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders.” He had copies sent to every Member of Parliament, and the pamphlet sold so well that it swiftly required reprinting. [1] [3]
Newton became an ally of William Wilberforce, leader of the Parliamentary campaign to abolish the African slave trade. He lived to see the British passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807, which enacted this event. [1]
Newton is memorialized with his own epitaph on the side of his tomb at Olney: JOHN NEWTON. Clerk. Once an infidel and libertine a servant of slaves in Africa was by the rich mercy of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST preserved, restored, pardoned and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy. Near 16 years as Curate of this parish and 28 years as Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth. [2]
John Newton’s life is a godly example of repentance and a witness to God’s mercy and grace. John Newton is the author of the hymn, Amazing Grace. In addition to good works that all Christians are called to walk in like kindness, serving others, helping others, God also calls us to walk in unique callings. As John Newton was a voice to speak out against the slave trade, perhaps we will be called to good works related to the circumstances and moments in the life of our community and our time in history. Our good works are to be connected to the teaching of the Gospel to love God above all and to love your neighbor as yourself. There are particular matters in which the church body must be faithful and address like community and global issues regarding homelessness, poverty, food scarcity, and the sanctity of life from conception to the grave as part of our good works. The church in history created hospitals, schools, orphanages and more in communities, and there is still much in the way of good works the church can do as a unified group.
May God strengthen us to trust in God and His wonderful gift of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then may God give us grace to walk in good works, to put off sin, and put on righteousness.
[1] Wikipedia contributors. “John Newton.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 Sep. 2026. Web. 21 Sep. 2026.[2] Historic England. “Tomb of John and Mary Newton (1392852)”. National Heritage List for England. [3] Hochschild, Adam (2005), Bury the Chains, The British Struggle to Abolish Slavery, Basingstoke: Pan Macmillan
