I have a daughter that’s trying to break into screen writing and a friend who’s working to become the actor she believes God is calling her to be. Another friend is working on her singing/song writing. Yet another is refining her writing craft to be able to do excellent writing. They all want to take the talents and desires God has given them to positively impact our culture. In the 19th and much of the 20th centuries these occupations were thought to be best left to “worldly” artists. It was thought that if Christians took up these artistic callings, they’d best be for the church and not the world. As a result, many Christian’s attempts ended up sounding preachy or out of touch with the real world. Another result was that our culture was left to deteriorate to the lowest forms of “art” that are humanly possible. I’m proud of these young women who are working hard to take back our culture.
I say take back because God has a lot to say in the Bible about quality artistic work. There are metaphors for sports enthusiasts, farmers, business managers, politicians, families and even fine and performing artists. Ephesians 2:10 is a prime example. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT) I want to look into this verse in the Greek in which it was originally written to gain nuances we don’t get by looking only to the English.
Webster’s defines “masterpiece” as “a work done with extraordinary skill; especially : a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement.” When I’ve asked groups what they know about masterpieces, I’ve gotten the following answers:
a one of a kind work
something created by a recognized master
something of great value
it keeps its value over time
people recognize its value when it’s displayed
takes time and skill to create
These are pretty remarkable characteristics when we consider that God thinks of us as the masterpieces He created.
The Greek word that masterpiece is translated from is poiema. The NIV translation of the Bible uses “workmanship.” It does indeed mean something that is made or produced. It is either a completed work or one in progress. What I thought was interesting is that the one who performs this kind of work is poietes, a performer or poet. So if God is the Divine Poet, we are the poetry that He has created. That would make Him a performing artist and all the performing art we try to produce are just our attempts to copy Him.
The Greek word translated “created” in Ephesians is kitzo. It means to produce from nothing, regenerate or renew. It also expresses to make or compose. I take it to mean that when God regenerates a person who has chosen to follow Christ, He is composing a new life to be part of His composition from the old life that existed without purpose. Second Corinthians 5:17 & 18a say, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.” (NLT) When we belong to Christ, we join in the new composition God is turning into His masterpiece.
The “good things” or “good works” as the NIV translates come from the Greek word ergon. This is a work or performance or even a miracle. Philippians 1:6 says that this good work that we get to perform, originated with God and He will continue it until it’s complete. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (NLT) What a privilege to be a co-creator with God as we find those good works that He created us anew to perform.
In verses 8 & 9 of Ephesians 2, we see that all the good works we do are only possible because of the grace God gave us when we became His. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Verse 10 completes the thought in our key verse, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” We get to do the good works, but it’s only by His gift and design in our lives.
A final word about these good things God created us to perform is that they are a mark of a true and living faith we have in Christ. James 2 makes it clear that the works we do are not the means to earn our salvation. What they are is a sign that we are indeed partnering with our Divine Composer to perform the work He has created for us to do. “14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?... So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” … 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete…(W)e are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone…26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” How gracious of God to allow us an avenue to express the living faith that lives within us. This faith initiates the good things we perform out of a heart desiring to express our faith.
The truly unique thing about partnering with God in the good deeds He has for each of us is that He planned for them long ago. The Greek word proetoimazo means to make ready beforehand. It also carries the meaning of things foreordained for good and to bring glory to God. It is difficult to fathom that there are things God has in mind for me to do that He planned long before I was born. Psalm 139 tells us:
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. (NLT)
When this knitting together was going on in our mother’s wombs, God was creating his masterpiece to take the stage and perform the role God Himself was creating for each life.
This is not a role I’m waiting on for someone to discover me. God already created me for it. I want to discover my part in this poetry He has designed for me. I’m paraphrasing Ephesians 2:10 as:
God, the Master Poet, has written His Epic Work. He designed me as a cast member with a role in His Work that only I could play. Since He took such great care to so carefully design me, He calls me His masterpiece. He created me anew when I accepted Christ Jesus as my Savior with the desire to express my love for Him in special good works He made ready before I was born that will bring Him glory with my life.
(Special thanks to Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. for the help with Greek from his The Complete Word Study Dictionary; 1992 by AMG International, Inc. I am not proficient in Greek and can only rely on others to help me understand it. I hope I’ve given a faithful rendering which helps enrich the meaning of the English translation of Scripture.)
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