Righteousness by Chaplain Steven Walle

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2: 10.
Let us break down this verse in to digestable pieces.
1."For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus" In this verse the word (we) refers to God's Children, the saved ones. Our salvation is brought forth by believing in Christ Jesus, that He is the Son of God and has died for our sins so that we may be made free.
2."unto good works which God hath before ordained that we may walk in them."
Here, we see that righteousness is not of ourselves but of God. Man falls short of the Glory of God, so we must be created in Christ Jesus to attain His Righteousness.
Before we are saved all of our deeds, whether bad or good, are likened to filthy rags in Isiah. Filthy rags translated from the Hebrew is used menstral rags to be thrown on the fire to be burned.
Once we are saved, our good deeds which have already been planned for us to do, are as clean white linen. When we are saved we are compelled by Christ Jesus living in us, to do good works. We do not do the good deeds to be saved, but rather, we do the good deeds because we are saved.