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ÒHis WorkmanshipÓ

Ephesians 2:10

 

ÒWe are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.Ó — Here is the singular origin of all believers. All Christians are the workmanship of God, whether Jews or Gentiles. We owe our being to the work of God alone. All who are saved by the grace of God and brought into union of life with Christ Jesus, every member of the family of God are the workmanship of God.

The origin of our being, not only as men, but even as Christians is God alone. No man ever became a Christian by chance. Spiritual life is not the reforming and moral development of our old nature.

 

Utter Impossibility

There are many who denounce as infidels those who preach natural evolution, who are themselves guilty of preaching a spiritual evolution. What absurdity! When our nature matures to its fullest years, it only becomes more vile. Even after we are born-again that old man within us is as evil as ever.

It is an utter impossibility for spiritual life to arise from our dead nature. Nothing produces nothing. Flesh produces flesh. Death may produce corruption; but it will never produce life. Hell is a horrible place; but I am sure that the worst thing in hell is man, who grows worse and worse in his spiritual and eternal death. Developed manhood is but developed sin. The Bible knows nothing more of an imaginary spiritual evolution than it does of imaginary natural evolution; but it does speak of degeneration, decay, and depravity. — ÒWhen lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth deathÓ (James 1:15).

 

GodÕs Workmanship

Darkness never produces light, filth never produces purity, hell never brings forth heaven, and depravity never produces grace. If we are believers, if we are saved, if we are Christians, we are GodÕs workmanship.

We are his workmanship from the very beginning. It is God who marks the stone that he will have while it is yet in the quarry. God cuts the stone from its mountain. God hews it, squares it, polishes it, refines it, and makes it his own jewel. We might use DavidÕs language: — ÒThine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of themÓ (Psalm 139:16). God chose us. The Lord God first taught us our need. Jehovah first gave us holy fears and holy desires. He gave us spiritual life. He called us to himself. It is God himself who spoke the peace of pardon and forgiveness to my heart.

We are his workmanship now. — There is much within us that is not yet perfect. The fact is that there is nothing in us that is perfect, except Christ, that new man created in us in righteousness and true holiness. But we are his workmanship. He has not yet finished this masterpiece; but he is working on it even now. He chips off the rough places, and sands down the coarse edges, and refines the work according to his own will, like the potter does the clay. It is God who strengthens our faith by trials. He increases our patience by afflictions. He draws forth our love by his providence. He teaches us to pray by showing us our needs. He subdues our sin by chastisement.

And we will be GodÕs workmanship to the very last. — ÒBeing confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus ChristÓ (Philippians 1:6). Rest assured, child of God, that God will complete his work in you. He will not allow any other hand to put even one finishing touch to his masterpiece, not even your own.

All of this is very comforting to remember, and it should stir up our hearts to magnify the Lord. Remember his skill and wisdom and magnify his name. Remember his power and magnify his name. Remember his loving patience and magnify his name.

 

GodÕs Masterpieces

ÒWe are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.Ó — The word ÒworkmanshipÓ is Òmasterpieces.Ó GodÕs elect are GodÕs masterpieces, his best work, his highest work, his signature work, the work by which he most glorifies himself. Our new life is the creation of God in Christ Jesus. Just as God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing, so in the spiritual creation, God created us out of nothing. We were without form and void, but the Spirit of God moved upon us. We were darkness, but God gave us light. We were dead, but he gave us life.

In the first creation God made all things by his Word. — ÒThe heavens were framed by the Word of God.Ó Even so, our spiritual creation was effected by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23, 25; James 1:18; John 5:24; Romans 10:17). GodÕs Son came and spoke life into our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). God sent his servant to preach the gospel, and thereby begat faith in his Son. — In the work of creation the Lord is all alone and unaided.

This new creation is in Christ Jesus. We were first created in Adam; and our father Adam plunged us into spiritual death. We are created anew in Christ Jesus, the last Adam; and he gives us eternal life.

Here is hope for poor sinners. — Salvation is not a matter of works. It is a divine creation. And no one is beyond the creative power of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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