GOD’S WORK OF ART
Eph. 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
I love the book of Ephesians. We are shown the past, the present, and future of God’s glorious plan of redemption for us in Christ. We see that we are chosen, redeemed, and glorified in Christ all for the purpose of displaying the exceeding riches of His grace in Christ. I love Paul’s descriptive use of words. In today’s verse he uses the word exceeding (huperballo) which describes the overflowing nature of God’s grace given to us by His death on the cross. Here is Thayer’s definition of this beautiful word.
1) to surpass in throwing, to throw over or beyond any thing
2) to transcend, surpass, exceed, excel
3) excelling, exceeding
Paul is trying to find words to describe God’s ultimate purpose in redemption. He says that we have been chosen and redeemed to display the glory of His grace in the ages to come. Here is what A.B. Simpson says about this verse.
“The ultimate purpose is this: “That in the ages to come He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus”. God’s object is to make us patterns to the future generations of the universe even as now He has made Jesus Christ the Pattern to us. God is preparing a mighty rehearsal for the inhabitants of this great universe, and some day each of us will have a little part in that mighty chorus and that glorious scene, as innumerable angels and created beings from many a distant star, perhaps, will gather to learn the history of redemption. That you and I will tell them of the exceeding riches of His grace in the story of our life, and His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Let us begin to tell it now, and let us talk so much that we will have no more to tell.”
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Paul goes on to say in verse 10 that we are God’s workmanship or His work of art. Here is what Dick Mills says about this word.
workmanship – poiema
“The word signifies that which is manufactured, a product, a design produced by an artisan. Poiema emphasizes God as the Master Designer, the universe as His creation, and the redeemed believer as His new creation. Before creation our lives had no rhyme or reason. Conversion brought us balance, symmetry, and order. We are God’s poem. His work of Art.”
So actually, He has already put us on display. Our lives are to be a picture of the beautiful work of grace seen in redemption. We have a purpose, the highest purpose imaginable. Our lives radiate the glory of God as His work of grace deepens in us.
3 thoughts on “GOD’S WORK OF ART”
Awesome, thanks Pastor! It is sometimes especially hard to see ourselves as He does. Perhaps it is easier to see it in others. Yet, it is what we are in heaven’s eyes that really matters: If we ask for revelation in this, we can walk it out by faith depending on Him for all the results- then we will began to see the manifestation of this in our lives.
Yes LORD, we are the work of Your hands, Hallelujah, times a trillion and more.
We are His everything,worth more than, well no price, Ha.
Let us stand high and stand tall full of brightness, courageous and Bold for His glory. Full of of Grace and Mercy that He gives, for our MAKER, the wonderful, amazing, UNIQUE CREATOR IN THE WHOLE WORLD, I wonder who made that, ha, WHEW, HALLELUJAH WHAT A KING, ALL FOR HIM.
wow, Good Morning Pastor Frank, awesome blog, with love. You have me dancing.:)
Thank you jesus!! Thank you for conversion, have your way in us! Your kingdom come your will be done!! Amen! Praise jesus!!