Who am I? God's Workmanship

Who am I?

Good evening, my name is Noah and this is my wife Tarin. I work with Michael at the Seminary and we had the chance to go with this youth group on its road trip last summer. We had a great time!

I am so glad that Tarin and I got to spend some time with you guys tonight! You guys are our favorite youth group — just don’t tell the youth at our church!

This evening I will be filling in for Michael as we continue in your series — Who am I?

The reality is that God says so much about you and me in this His Word!

Can you guys think of something that you have made that you are super proud of?

Allow them to share personal story.

In High School I was in a club called FFA (Future Farmers of America), and my senior year I participated in a competition where I submitted a Student Agricultural Project (SAE). The goal was for you to build something out in nature and present it to a panel . WELL I AM SUPER PROUD TO TELL YOU I WON THE SAE COMPETITION WITH THIS AMAZING TREE HOUSE

Still to this day I am super proud of my tree house, that is still at the house we used to live in.

As we look to answer the question - Who am I? We have to look at the book of Ephesians — it tells us so much about who we are.

Just like I

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God says that we are his “Workmanship.”

Meaning something made or produced. Literally, we are what God has made.

In order to understand verse 10, we must look at the verses before it!

Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and he wants them to understand who Jesus is and what he has done for them!

He is speaking to believers - so they know who Jesus is… BUT Paul wants them to ponder again who he is and what he has done.

He wants them to remember what spiritual transformation has taken place in their lives.

This is the best news we could ever hear, so lets

Before Christ (v. 1-3):

“Dead in the trespasses and sins.”

“Following the course of this world.

“Following the prince of the power of the air.”

“Passions of the flesh.”

“Carrying out the desires of the body and mind.”

“By nature Children of wrath.”

BUT GOD

He knew that we were dead in our sin… that we were objects of wrath (deserved the wrath of God).

(ESV)

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

English Standard Version Chapter 2

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ

English Standard Version Chapter 2

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved

Because of Christ (v. 5-10:

“By grace you have been saved.”

“Raised us up with him and seated is with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

“so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

“For by grace you have been saved through faith.”

“This is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works.”

Those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus and repented of our sins have been saved from our sin.

God has worked to make us new ().

Therefore we are God’s work of art - we are God’s masterpiece.

Our transformation through grace is God’s masterpiece!

Just like I am super proud of my tree house, God is excited to show off his workmanship (us) to the world around us.

Let’s look back at

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

There are several Characteristics we need to know about God’s workmanship:

We are God’s masterpiece because of what God has done, not what we have done.

"This is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works” (2:8).

Your identity as God’s masterpiece reflects God’s grace, not your works.

Rest in the truth that God worked, sending his Son, and you do not have to work to earn salvation.

We were made by God for good works — to glorify him!

We were redeemed from our sin SO THAT we can glorify him.

“The gospel came to you so that it could get to someone else” Robby Gallaty

Works have been prepared before hand — Scripture informs us how we are to live!

We do not need to live the Christian life wondering what God wants us to do.

He has told us how we can live and give him glory — achieve our purpose.

We have the option to be obedient or not.

The God who sent his son to die for our sin, who atoned for our sin, and give us a purpose in life — deserves our obedience!

What does this mean?

God worked to make you a new creation — save you from your sin.

You are his workmanship. You belong to him.

We represent our creator.

Just as my treehouse represent my ability to build things, you and I represent God’s nature as a loving God who has saved us from sin.

Why Does this matter?

It is contrary to what anybody else says. You are who you are by the grace of God. You do not have to try to make yourself someone that has the approval of God or others. Your identity is set in stone by your creator.

You do not have to wonder if God loves you — you are his masterpiece.

The transforming work of God’s grace is God’s nature on display!

You are loved by God.

People need to know that God has the power to transform them.

There are plenty of people that have no idea God wants to make them his masterpieces — they think they are too broken.

What will you do?

First, make sure you have trusted in the power of Christ for salvation. Have you recognized that you are a sinner and Christ has died for you? Have you made him Lord of your life — making you into one of God’s masterpieces?

[Reflect] your identity those around you so that they can see a loving God who is not done with them.