Displaying God’s Handiwork

 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

—Ephesians 2:10

Many times when I look at a nature photograph I feel such joy as I observe God’s handiwork. God has such creativity, “the lips can hardly describe what the eyes can see.”

Do you realize that we Christians are also God's handiwork? The Apostle Pail makes just such a declaration in Ephesians 2:1-10:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Many people sincerely believe their good works will “buy” their way into heaven. But Jesus is the only way. He paid the price for our redemption on the cross.

We receive God's gift of eternal life, through Jesus, by grace alone through faith alone. As a result, the Holy Spirit motivates us to do good works to honor God and celebrate this great gift He has given us because He loves us.

Good works are not a payment for our entrance into heaven. Rather, any good works we do are a result of the fact that we already have a place reserved for us in heaven through the precious blood of Jesus.

Let us rejoice this day that we who belong to God’s Son, Jesus, are God’s living handiwork. We are products of His grace through faith and recipients of His unfailing love.

 

_{Copyright © 2015 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}