Main Verses:
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
ICON Church! Good morning. My name is Antoine and and I will be coming from coming from Ephesians 2:8-10
As we continue this fast, it's important to understand that our faith is nothing short of a gift from God. There is nothing that we can do in our own power, and our own might, in our own work to establish our faith. Our faith is a gift from God, a gift that God gave. And that if we receive that gift, we now have a right relationship with God. We have salvation from God. We once again have community with God.
Faith is a gift from God.
There's nothing in our own power that can establish it. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. We must understand that works do not establish faith. But our faith should produce good works. Again, work do not establish our faith, but our faith in Jesus should establish good works. Our 'works' are not a work of God. They are not a work of Jesus because we because we were created in Jesus for good works. When we work through Jesus, His work in us and through us becomes a good work.
And so in verse 10, says, "which God prepared beforehand", and so God loves us so much that before we even create it before we can even even think to receive the free gift of God. God here are these here already established the gift for us. So that once we did receive it, we now can walk in good works, we now can walk into the works because we've received a free gift.
In another translation, we see that "workmanship" can also be understood as masterpiece.
"We are His masterpiece".
If you've ever seen a painting, if you've ever seen an amazing, amazing piece of art. Typically the artist leaves his or her signature somewhere on the drawing. So when people saw it, they can reflect it back back to the artist. When people see it, they know that this artist drew this picture. This is clearly their work. If we are God's masterpiece, when people see us, when they see our life, they see God. That's my call to action this morning. If we are God's masterpiece, are our works just ourw works, or are they good works empowered by Him. When people see us, when people interact with us, when people talk to us, will they see God in our life?
Our life, our walk, should be a walk of reflection of God. We were created in His image, because we are His workmanship. We are His workmanship. And so if we are God's masterpiece, are we reflecting the Master? Are you reflecting the master? Amen. Be Iconic Call To Action: Think about what this day has on the calendar. What can you do - today - to reflect God's reflection. What actions can you take that will make it clear that your are God's work, His masterpiece?
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