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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: Pastor Kent Hughes fishing story at Cabo San Lucas. “There I saw God through His
handiwork. But in all those wonders I did not see His chief work!” (Ephesians, p. 82-83)
If not the natural created world, what is God’s greatest work? Look at the marvel of
human life, the workings of our body, and the fact we are made in the very image of God. Yet
even human life is not God’s greatest work! What is God’s greatest work:
2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old
things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
God’s new creation, sinner saved by grace through faith is His greatest work.
Ephesians 2:8-10 puts it this way: READ TEXT.
Think of this, if God has saved you by His grace through faith He gave you, look at how much
God values you, look at what God has prepared for you...
1. We are God’s Work of Art. 2:10a
- God values you and I so much salvation makes us brand new, treasures us. Commentator
F.F. Bruce: “We are his work of art, his masterpiece.”
- Can you think of a more exalted description of a believer than that?
- Reason: Salvation is wholly a gift of God vs. 8-9; and the
gift keeps on giving in our daily life as God continues to work in us.
- The believer is transformed from a sinner to a saint; from lost to found, from no
purpose to a purpose driven life. From control by our flesh and the devil, to control
by the Triune God who now lives in us.
- If you belong to Jesus, you are God’s work of art, a masterpiece.
ILLUS: We have seen some great art masterpieces in museums. To us one of the best
is Terry Redlin, museum in Watertown, S.D. Someday! Another is Thomas Kinkade, we
have one small copy in our dining room. Great Beauty.
- In Christ, we too are great masterpieces, works of art, better than any man’s
work of art. Please realize we are still in the making, God is not finished yet.
Phil 2:5.
- What have eternal value, value paid for by the blood of Jesus.
- And as a great masterpiece, our purpose is not to hang around, to be a museum piece,
be a passive display, but to be functional and practical...
2. We are created for Good Works. 2:10
- First understand, good works don’t produce salvation, but many good works are
produced by salvation. Works come after not before salvation.
Adam Clark: “He has saved us that we may show forth the virtues of Him who
called us from darkness into his marvelous light. For though we are not saved for
our good works, yet we are saved that we may perform good works, to the glory of
God and the benefit of man.”
- “good works” Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men...
Titus 3:8
- Good works are activities we do in the name of Christ, for the cause of Christ, by the
power of Christ. Works where God is working through us. Anything good can be a good
work - the to do list is endless. We have plenty around the church, around our
community, around our world.
- “which God prepared beforehand” = these works God has created for
us to do, and God has created us to do them.
John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you
that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain...“
- “so that we would walk in them” = the course and pattern of our
life.
- Jerry Bridges The Practice of Godliness:
“walk suggests our common, everyday experiences (of life)...God has
created us to do our good works in the midst of the humdrum of daily
living.” (p. 234)
- Col. 1:10 “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to
please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in
the knowledge of God.”
- Not only is our salvation a work of God but so is our daily sanctification. God has
prepared a path of good works for believers which He will perform in and through us as
we walk by faith in Christ Jesus.
- Phil. 2:13 “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to
work for His good pleasure.”
- How does God practically accomplish these good works in us? God has gifted us, placed
us in the body of Christ to work together, provides daily opportunities (open doors,
puts people in our path).
- Gave us the Bible 2 Timothy 3:17 “that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
- Gives us the motivation Titus 2:14 “Christ Jesus, who gave Himself
for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a
people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”
- Good works are the activities of Godly living, coming from a heart that loves God. Do
you believe you are living a Godly life?
- This message series is Timely Truths that Transform us...
We believe in RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND GODLY WORKS: not as a means of salvation in any
sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit; and therefore as Christians we should
obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are above, walk as He walked,
accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and privileges of bearing the gospel
to a lost world; remembering that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is
possible only for those who in gratitude for the infinite and undeserved mercies
of God have presented themselves wholly to Christ. Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:1-2;
Philippians 2:16, Colossians 3:1-3; 1 Corinthians 10:31.
- Where there is faith, works result. Sign: Faith Works. Book of James.
ILLUS: Study church history, study history of this church - a record of faith at
work. Even now: souls saved - some in Awana and S.S. last few weeks. The giving to
the house. Awana. Visitors and attendance.
Coming up - Just Give me Jesus. Men’s and women’s Bible studies.
Getting the house - use of space. VBS. The wedding of the year - Shawna and
Jeriah. Kids to Spring Valley Bible Camp. S.S. Worship, etc.
- Faith works. Where there is faith in Christ, Christ works in/through us. We can
actually live a Godly life. We can actually do good works. We can actually make a
difference for time and for eternity.
CONCLUSION
So are you living a Godly life? Are you doing good works in Christ’s name?
Invitation today is to make a recommitment to live for Jesus.
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