We are God's Workmanship
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The Texan and the NC farmer. Sometimes our view of a problem, causes us to miss how much we have in common
We all began with a common problem; even though, we may have looked at it, from different view points.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians tells us that we have more in common that we like to admit, but because we are God’s workmanship He will show the how his grace unites us with each other in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
We being spiritually dead were, by nature, Children of God’s wrath.
We being spiritually dead were, by nature, Children of God’s wrath.
Spiritually Dead is a result of be separated and alienated form God. The reason of our spiritual death is our trespasses and sins.
The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
Psalm
Dropping butter on the floor. You do not have anything against the butter, but you hate hair and shaving in you stew, so you have to throw away the Parkay. It is not a contradiction to say God loves the world and that he hates sinners. God cannot let you in his presence if you are covered in sin. But Christ died so his blood would wash your sins. God didn’t want to throw away a perfectly good cowboy but He has to clean them up first.
I know you are thinking I wasn’t that bad. Pastor Wes we all weren’t bad as you. Here’s the bad news.
We all formerly walked according to the course of the world. We lived according to a non-Christian value system. We lived by a system common among unbelievers. we managed our lives under a system fueled and influenced by Satan. We may not have known that Satan was pulling the strings, but satan is always deceiving us with sinful ideas and practices we find attractive.
The satanic spirit now working in sons of disobedience is more of an atmosphere that motivates us to participate in actions and attitudes. We tend to get caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm much like being at a sporting event. We scream jump up and down and say things at a ball game we never would think we would do. The same is true within the influence of satan’s kingdom.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
1 Corinthians
Anyone living under this world system, which is managed and influence by Satan, are children of disobedience.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Ephesians 2:3
We were all once children of disobedience, waiting on God’s wrath. Sometimes we experience God’s wrath in this life.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
The consequences of our sin often catches up with us. Give examples: Liver problems, heart problems, sexual transmitted diseases, anger may get us arrested.
Sometimes people appear to live anyway they desire and nothing happens to them. God has put a time limit on his wrath. everyone reaps what they sow.
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
hebrews
We all once lived in a hopeless situation. You may be living in that world of wrath tonight. That is the bad news that unites us all. I don’t care where you were born, where you work, what you drive, or what horse you ride, we all began spiritually dead children of God’s wrath.
That’s the Bad news. The next verse is why I love God’s word. There is always a “But” after bad news. Bad news because of who we were, But good news because of who God is.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Ephesians 2:4
God desires good for us even when we don’t desire God good. God’s mercy flows freely from His great love for us.
We are gathered here tonight, because we are God’s Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.
We are gathered here tonight, because we are God’s Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.
As a result of God’s mercy flowing from His love foe us, we receive 3 privileges, when He unites us with Christ.
God Made us alive with Christ.
God Made us alive with Christ.
Our sins and trespasses made us dead—separated from God. God resurrected Christ from the power of death and lets us share in Christ’s resurrected life. WE deserved death, but because of God’s grace we can share in Jesus’ life.
God raised us up with Christ.
God raised us up with Christ.
The world has not changed, but we have been raised up above the corrupt and given a new worldview. We still live on earth, but we see our live from above the corruption and deception of satan’s influence.
God seated us with Christ
God seated us with Christ
God declares us worthy to be seated with Christ when we arrive. Our eternal home is secure.
Revelation 3:20
‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians B. Our Spiritual Life (vv. 4–10)
We are no longer dead in trespasses and sin. We are alive in Christ, sharing his power and authority, representing him in the battle with Satan where victory is assured through the resurrection.
Why would God share these 3 privileges of his grace with us?
Why would God share these 3 privileges of his grace with us?
Verse 7 tells us the God’s desired result of His mercy toward us.
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesian
Joe has worked with halter horses, spent time, money, hours of patience and practice just to lead that horse into the arena for a few minutes to win a championship, for his horsemanship skills.
A reining horse trainer works for a year and half to enter the arena and runs a 4.5 minute pattern, he can show off his horsemanship skills.
Like Joe desire to display his horseman skills. God desires to show off the workmanship of his grace.
You were dead and waiting on God’s wrath, but He made you alive, raised you above the stitch of death so you can see the life he wants you to live, and you are promised you will spend eternity as a trophy of God’s grace in the heavenly hall of fame with the saints of Christ.
We Are God’s Workmanship: God positioned us with Christ for the purpose of showing all of creation the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us.
We Are God’s Workmanship: God positioned us with Christ for the purpose of showing all of creation the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Ephesians 2:
We are God’s Workmanship, for the display of His grace, because we are saved by grace, though faith.
Grace is the cause of our salvation, faith is the means, by which we are saved. Illustration: Syringe and antibiotic. The antibiotic is the cause of our healing. The syringe is the means by which the cure is applied.
God grace grants we have faith in Christ, believing God will position in the arena with Christ.
We did not fix ourselves. just like Joe’s horses did not train themselves. The pride and attention a show horse receives is a result of the time, talent, and effort the trainer gives a horse. The life of the horse is the gift of the trainer.
Likewise, the Life with receive with salvation is a gift from God.
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Tonight we began a new Life together with christ and with each other. As a result of God’s grace, He is going to show Chatham and Lee Counties what He can make out of us here at CoolWater Cowboy Church.
The question is are your ready to train for the Championship of a lifetime.