TITLE: You Are A Living Work of Art TEXT: Ephesians 2:8-10, Psalm 139, THEME: The believer is God’s handiwork created to do good works.

Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

How do our good works demonstrate the handiwork of God?

I. God saves us by grace. (8-9).

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

I. God saves us by grace. (8-9) A. Even the faith to believe is a gift

II Corinthians 11:4-15 “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily

II Corinthians 11:4-15 “And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

I. God saves us by grace. (8-9) A. Even the faith to believe is a gift B. Our works cannot save us.

Romans 4: It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,

I. God saves us by grace. (8-9) A. Even the faith to believe is a gift. B. Our works cannot save us. C. We have no basis for boasting

How do our good works demonstrate the handiwork of God?

II. God created us for good works. (10)

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

II. God created us for good works. (10) A. We are God’s handiwork.

II. God created us for good works. (10) A. We are God’s handiwork. 1. His Omniscience means He knows us in depth (Psalm 138:1-6)

Psalm 139:1-6 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Psalm 139:1-6 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

II. God created us for good works. (10) A. We are God’s handiwork. 1. His Omniscience means He knows us in depth (Psalm 138: His Omnipresence means He is with us everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12)

Psalm 138: Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

Psalm 138: even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

II. God created us for good works. (10) A. We are God’s handiwork. 1. His Omniscience means He knows us in depth (Psalm 138: His Omnipresence means He is with us everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12) 3. His omnipotence means He can make us magnificent. (Psalm 139:13-16)

Psalm 139: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Psalm 139: Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[ God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

II. God created us for good works. (10) A. We are God’s handiwork. B. We are created in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

PBPWMGINFWMY “Please be patient with me God is not finished with me yet.”

How do our good works demonstrate the handiwork of God?

III.God prepared our works in advance. (10)

Ephesians 2:10 “which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

III.God prepared our works in advance. (10) A. Before the creation of the world.

Ephesians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight,”

III.God prepared our works in advance. (10) A. Before the creation of the world. B. Prepared for us to do

Bear Bryant “In this game, there are going to be four or five plays that will determine the outcome of this contest. Four or five plays that will swing the momentum toward us, or away from us. I don't know which plays these will be. You don't know which plays these will be. All you can do is go out there and give all that you have on each and every play

Bear Bryant “If you are doing that on one of those crucial plays, and you catch your opponent giving less, that play will swing things in our direction. And if we rise to the occasion like that, on those four or five plays, we are gonna leave here today a winner.”

APPLICATION: 1. Everyone enjoys looking back and enjoying a job well done. God is no different. You are part of that work and God is not done yet. Let us participate with Him in what He wants to do through us.

APPLICATION: 2. God has a plan for your life. You are not an accident and your life has value. Ask God to help you understand and act on His plan for our lives.

APPLICATION: 3. Come to God in humility. There is no place for boasting in efforts to serve God. Let us remain humble before Him with the assurance that He will exalt you.