Today we're looking at Ephesians chapter 2. In verses 1-3, wesee how sin works against us and brings us death and destruction and despair.Then we see in verses 4-9 how God works for us. Both these are past tense inthe sense that what God does for us has already been accomplished in ChristJesus. We're seated in the heavenly places. We are now to the praise of Hisglory. We've been redeemed by His blood. By His grace, we have been saved.That's all been accomplished because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Now,in verse 10, we're talking about what God is present tense doing in us. We are Hisworkmanship. God is working in us. The Greek word translated workmanship ispoiema, from which we derive our English word poem. It means that which ismade, a manufactured product. We are God's—someone said it thisway—masterpiece. Just as all of creation is God's poem singing His glory andHis praise, we are His creation as new creatures in Christ Jesus. We are to theglory and the praise of God the Father. We're His masterpiece. We are His poem.How wonderful is that?
God’splan and His purpose for us is to be conformed to the image of His son JesusChrist (Romans 8:29). We know that wonderful verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17. “Forif any man be in Christ, he's a new creation…”. Oh my friend, that's theposition we have in Christ. “God is working in us even now to do His willand His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
Goddoes this great and wonderful work through the ministry and power of His HolySpirit. Christ finished the work of redemption on the cross. But He rose fromthe dead, and He returned to heaven. There in heaven He carries on Hisunfinished work of perfecting His church. You can read about this in Ephesians4:7-16 and also in Hebrews 13:20-21. “Nowmay the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that greatshepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make youcomplete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is wellpleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever.Amen.” You can't say it better than that.
Christis equipping us for our walk and for our work here on earth. To do this, He hasthree special tools. First, we have the Word of God. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13,we read these great verses. Paul said, "For this reason, we also thankGod without ceasing, because when you receive the word of God, which you heardfrom us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, theword of God which also effectively works in you who believe." Now, howawesome is that? God uses His Word. When we read it and understand it andmeditate on it and feed on it, the Word goes to work in our lives to cleanseus, to nourish us, to lead us, and to guide us in so many ways.
Secondly,as we pray, God uses prayer to connect us to Himself and His great power. Ephesians3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all thatwe ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory inthe church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Aswe pray, God's Spirit works in us to release His mighty power and grace.
Finally,God uses suffering. 1 Peter 4:12-14 says it this way: “Beloved, do not thinkit strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though somestrange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake ofChrist's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad withexceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you,for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He isblasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” God says this suffering isfor the purpose of us being made more like Jesus. It draws us back to the LordGod Himself. Suffering makes us look up to Jesus and makes us depend totallyand absolutely upon Him.
