God's Mastery: Our Transformation Through Grace
Summary
In Ephesians 2:10, we are reminded that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This profound truth emphasizes that our salvation and Christian life are entirely the result of God's grace and activity, not our own efforts. We are not self-made Christians; rather, we are crafted by God, much like a potter shapes clay. This understanding should transform how we view ourselves and our role in the church. Often, we mistakenly perceive Christianity as a human endeavor, focusing on our actions and decisions. However, the biblical narrative consistently highlights God's active role in creation, salvation, and sanctification.
As Christians, we are part of a divine process where God, through the Holy Spirit, molds us into the likeness of Christ. This process involves conviction of sin, enlightenment of the mind, and a transformation of desires and outlooks. The Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the preaching of the gospel are the means through which God works in us. Our trials and challenges, too, are part of God's refining process, designed to perfect us and conform us to the image of Christ.
The ultimate goal of this divine workmanship is our sanctification and eventual perfection in Christ. God has a specific design for each of us, and He is committed to completing the work He has begun. This assurance should fill us with hope and motivate us to pursue holiness and good works, as these are integral to God's plan for us. Our desire for holiness and our pursuit of good works are evidence of God's active work in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- God's Workmanship: As Christians, we are God's workmanship, crafted by His hands, not by our own efforts. This understanding should shift our focus from self-reliance to reliance on God's grace and activity in our lives. [02:40]
- Divine Process: The process of becoming like Christ involves the Holy Spirit's work in us, using the Word of God and the preaching of the gospel. This divine process is not instantaneous but a lifelong journey of transformation. [22:08]
- Trials as Refinement: Our trials and challenges are part of God's refining process, designed to perfect us and conform us to the image of Christ. These experiences are not merely random but are used by God to shape us. [29:00]
- Pursuit of Holiness: A genuine desire for holiness and good works is evidence of God's work in us. Our faith is demonstrated through our actions, and a lack of desire for holiness calls into question the authenticity of our faith. [46:07]
- Assurance of Completion: God, who began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion. This assurance should fill us with hope and motivate us to cooperate with God's work in our lives, knowing that He is faithful to finish what He started. [42:25]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:10
- [01:28] - Salvation by Grace
- [02:40] - God's Workmanship
- [04:16] - Misconceptions of Christianity
- [06:32] - Human vs. Divine Perspective
- [08:10] - Positive View of God's Work
- [10:41] - God's Active Role
- [13:37] - God as the Potter
- [15:34] - New Creation in Christ
- [18:16] - Means of God's Work
- [22:08] - Role of the Holy Spirit
- [23:17] - Importance of the Word
- [27:42] - Trials and Chastening
- [32:02] - Conviction and Transformation
- [38:11] - God's Design for Us
- [42:05] - Assurance of Completion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:10
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 2:10, what is the purpose of being created in Christ Jesus? How does this relate to the concept of being God's workmanship? [00:09]
2. In the sermon, what analogy is used to describe God's role in shaping Christians, and how does this analogy help us understand our relationship with God? [13:37]
3. What are some of the means mentioned in the sermon through which God works in us to transform us into the likeness of Christ? [22:08]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of trials and challenges in the life of a Christian? What purpose do they serve according to the sermon? [29:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. The sermon emphasizes that we are not self-made Christians but are crafted by God. How does this understanding affect our view of personal achievements and failures in our spiritual journey? [08:10]
2. The pastor mentioned that our trials are part of God's refining process. How might this perspective change the way we approach difficulties in our lives? [29:00]
3. The sermon states that a genuine desire for holiness is evidence of God's work in us. How can one discern whether their desire for holiness is genuine or superficial? [46:07]
4. The assurance that God will complete the work He began in us is a key takeaway from the sermon. How does this assurance impact our motivation to pursue holiness and good works? [42:25]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge or trial you faced. How can you view this experience as part of God's refining process in your life? What did you learn from it? [29:00]
2. In what ways can you shift your focus from self-reliance to reliance on God's grace in your daily life? Identify one area where you tend to rely on your own strength and consider how you can invite God into that area. [02:40]
3. The sermon highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in our transformation. How can you incorporate more time for prayer and Bible study into your routine to allow God to work in you? [22:08]
4. Consider your current desires and pursuits. Do they align with God's design for you to pursue holiness and good works? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with God's plan? [46:07]
5. Think about a time when you felt God's presence actively working in your life. How did that experience shape your faith, and how can you remain open to God's ongoing work in you? [35:39]
6. The sermon suggests that our faith is demonstrated through our actions. Identify one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate your faith in a tangible way. [46:07]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to recognize and embrace their identity as God's workmanship? What role can you play in supporting their spiritual growth? [08:10]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Craftsmanship, Not Our Own Efforts
We are reminded in Ephesians 2:10 that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This profound truth emphasizes that our salvation and Christian life are entirely the result of God's grace and activity, not our own efforts. We are not self-made Christians; rather, we are crafted by God, much like a potter shapes clay. This understanding should transform how we view ourselves and our role in the church. Often, we mistakenly perceive Christianity as a human endeavor, focusing on our actions and decisions. However, the biblical narrative consistently highlights God's active role in creation, salvation, and sanctification. [02:40]
Isaiah 64:8 (ESV): "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand."
Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on your own efforts rather than God's grace in your spiritual journey? How can you shift your focus to trust more in His craftsmanship in your life today?
Day 2: The Lifelong Journey of Transformation
The process of becoming like Christ involves the Holy Spirit's work in us, using the Word of God and the preaching of the gospel. This divine process is not instantaneous but a lifelong journey of transformation. As Christians, we are part of a divine process where God, through the Holy Spirit, molds us into the likeness of Christ. This process involves conviction of sin, enlightenment of the mind, and a transformation of desires and outlooks. The Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the preaching of the gospel are the means through which God works in us. [22:08]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: What specific area of your life is God currently transforming? How can you cooperate with the Holy Spirit in this process today?
Day 3: Trials as Tools for Refinement
Our trials and challenges are part of God's refining process, designed to perfect us and conform us to the image of Christ. These experiences are not merely random but are used by God to shape us. The ultimate goal of this divine workmanship is our sanctification and eventual perfection in Christ. God has a specific design for each of us, and He is committed to completing the work He has begun. This assurance should fill us with hope and motivate us to pursue holiness and good works, as these are integral to God's plan for us. [29:00]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a recent trial you have faced. How might God be using this experience to refine and shape you into the image of Christ?
Day 4: Evidence of God's Work in Our Pursuit of Holiness
A genuine desire for holiness and good works is evidence of God's work in us. Our faith is demonstrated through our actions, and a lack of desire for holiness calls into question the authenticity of our faith. As Christians, we are called to pursue holiness and good works, which are integral to God's plan for us. Our desire for holiness and our pursuit of good works are evidence of God's active work in our lives. [46:07]
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: What is one specific way you can pursue holiness in your daily life? How can your actions today reflect the evidence of God's work in you?
Day 5: Assurance of God's Faithful Completion
God, who began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion. This assurance should fill us with hope and motivate us to cooperate with God's work in our lives, knowing that He is faithful to finish what He started. The ultimate goal of this divine workmanship is our sanctification and eventual perfection in Christ. God has a specific design for each of us, and He is committed to completing the work He has begun. [42:25]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV): "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust God's promise to complete His work? How can this assurance of His faithfulness bring you hope and motivation today?
Quotes
The argument you remember was this that our Salvation is entirely of Grace it comes from the grace of God there is no boasting that's excluded allog together we mustn't even boast of our faith we mustn't turn even faith into works we are saved by grace through faith faith is the instrument and the channel it is not the determining cause. [00:01:34]
We are his workmanship or as indeed it should be put according to the original his workmanship are we his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God ha before ordained that we should walk in them even the very works that we do as Christians are prepared beforehand for for God by God that we might walk in them. [00:02:35]
We are given one of these extraordinary definitions by the Apostle of what it means to be a Christian and there is I suppose no more exalted statement of it than just this that we are God's workmanship now that is the truth about us all as Christians and that is the truth about the Christian church and it is our business to learn to think of ourselves in that way. [00:03:48]
We are something that is is being made and fashioned by God now you can think of this individually we can think of it of ourselves as Christians and we must think of it as being true of the whole church now again I think the best way perhaps of putting this is to put it in the form of a question are we habitually thinking of ourselves in that way. [00:09:00]
The Bible is nothing but a record of the activity of God how is it possible that anyone can read an Open Bible starting with the word in the beginning God and then go on to think of the whole thing as the activity of men it's God who acts right through he made men he made the world man sinned God went after him. [00:11:16]
The Apostle uses another term that is still more explicit we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus and that takes us right back of course to the original idea of creation in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth what's creation well the very idea of creation is this that something is made out of nothing that is the essential idea in creation. [00:14:46]
God makes us Christians by applying to us by mediating to us that which he has done for us in Christ it's all in Christ therefore it's in him in his person it is of his fullness that we receive and Grace for Grace we receive the benefits of his death we receive the benit benefits of his life we receive his very life itself. [00:19:02]
God works in us and God makes Christians of us and God Fashions us according to the image of Christ or forms Christ in us use any of the terms you like primarily by the work of the holy spirit so that you see you think of the Holy Spirit In You know ye not that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost. [00:22:04]
The word is preached and the word word becomes life to us there is a seed of life in it and God puts the life into us through putting the word into us now you get that same idea here in the fifth chapter of this very epistle where we are told about the washing the sanctify the cleansing the washing of Water by the word. [00:23:57]
The argument that is put before them is just this that that is happening to them because they are children whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth he uses his illustration take our Earthly parents he says they correct us why do they correct us they correct us because they're concerned about our well-being because they're concerned about our development. [00:27:44]
The first thing a man becomes conscious of when God begins to work in him is this that he is Disturbed and he is convicted look back into your own experience and I'm certain you'll see it you were living life in a certain way and going along in a certain direction there were thousands doing the same thing suddenly or gradually it doesn't matter which you were conscious of a sense of disturbance. [00:32:07]
The final test of whether God is working in US is that we desire to be more and more like Christ holy and pure separate from the world and from sin hungering and thirsty after righteousness that we may please the God who have thus begun to work in US. [00:48:00]
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