His Masterpiece
(Ephesians 2:8-10; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Genesis 2:6, 7; Isaiah 45:9, 64:8; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 11:1)
Text: Ephesians 2:8-10
“By grace you are saved through the faith and this {is} not of yourselves {it is) God’s gift not of
gar xariti este sesoswmenoi dia tas pisteos kai touto ouk ex umon theou to doron ouk ex
works that not anyone might boast. His for we are masterpiece being created in Christ of Jesus
ergon hina ma tis kauxasatai Autou gar esmen poiema ktisthentes en Xpristo Iasou
for works good which beforehand prepared God that in them we should walk.”
epi ergois agathois ois proatoimasen theos hina en autois peripatasomen.
Introduction
This is a very familiar passage to most of you. I have translated (Don’s translation) it for you today to add some color to our Bible’s pages. This topic has been the center of discussions for hundreds of years within the Christian Church. Are we saved by grace? Are we saved by faith? Are we saved by works? Are we saved by any combination of grace, faith or works? Therefore, I want to focus on verse 10 (the highlighted passage) to perhaps shed some light on this important doctrine.
Translation
Verses 8 & 9 are generally translated in our English Bibles very close to what I demonstrated above…the only difference I see is where I have included the definite article before the word faith in verse 8. Remember, I define faith as Action based on Belief sustained by Confidence (the ABCs of Faith). I do know the writer of the Book of Hebrews says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen” or “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV & NIV) and I believe my definition reflects the essence of this passage.
Let us now look at verse 10. “For we are HIS {workmanship} being created in Christ Jesus for good works…” I want to stop here and focus on the word, “poiema.” Poiema in most of our English Bibles is translated as workmanship, but the LXX (Septuagint: O.T. Greek) uses forms of this word in Jeremiah and Isaiah referring to the work of a ceramic artisan, i.e., potter.
Jeremiah 18:2-3, “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I shall announce My words to you. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.”
God tells Jeremiah to head over to the pottery maker’s house because He wants to share something with him. When Jeremiah arrives he sees the potter hard at work making something (poiema). Has anyone ever worked with ceramics before? I took ceramics in high school and know exactly what Jeremiah saw.
Illustration
At the beginning of class one day, Mr. Addotta, our art teacher gave each student three blocks of clay. He gathered us around him as he demonstrated how to work the clay on a potter’s wheel. He placed the clay in the center of the work surface, added some water and began to pump the foot activated device to make the work surface spin. He gently placed his hands on the clay and began to transform the block of clay into a beautiful bowl.
Now it was our chance to use the wheel. I sat down on the stool and began to pump the turning device faster and fast until whoosh…my clay flew across the room and hit the student next to me. There went one block of clay…now I understood why he gave us three blocks. It wasn’t as easy as it looked. One’s hands need to be sure and gentle. Just the correct amount of water is needed to lubricate and mold the clay. Once the piece was completed it was placed in a kiln to dry over night.
There are five elements needed to make a beautiful piece of pottery:
1. Potter
2. Clay
3. Wheel
4. Water
5. Kiln
I. The Potter
The potter on our journey this morning represents God. He is the Master Potter. He is the author of creativity. Look at the world around us…only God could have imagined and created such beauty. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, never changing; He loves you and has called you by name. By His word all things were created, “Let there be!” Your steps are order by the Lord (Proverbs 20:24). It is God’s desire to have a relationship with His creation…with you…and He longs for you to surrender to His touch. God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). He is the author and finisher of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2). Paul writes to the Philippian church, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Let Him have His way!
II. The Clay
The clay on our journey this morning represents us. When I think of this I remember Charles Shultz’s Peanuts character Pig-Pen. Did you know we are the clay? Turn with me to Genesis 2:7 and then we’ll read verse 6.
Genesis 2:7, “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Now look at verse 6, “But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.”
What does dirt and water make? Mud…what is clay? Clay is a type of mud. You are the clay!
Jeremiah 18:4-6, “But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.’”
I realize this is a word for Israel during a time of great testing, but I believe there is a word in it for us today. Can God do to you as He pleases in order to form you for His eternal purposes? God is the potter and we are the clay.
“Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing’?”(Isaiah 45:9b). What can you offer? You can offer no thing but your heart. Who do we think we are? The world tells us that we are our own gods. If it feels good do it. You decide what is right and what is wrong. Let us all repent and confidently proclaim Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work (poiema: masterpiece) of Your hand.”
III. The Wheel
The wheel on our journey this morning represents the challenges of life. Imagine if you will, you are the block of clay on the potter’s wheel. As the Master’s hands begin to form you, how do you respond? Do you fight, scream and punch back? Do you not realize by resisting the Master’s touch, He will start over and begin again…kind of a “going around the mountain” thing, if you remember that sermon? Life can be more exciting than a roller coast. Will you rest in Him? Sometimes it feels like we are going to be thrown from the wheel and sometimes the constant poking and bending makes us uncomfortable; however, James tells us this is pure joy and that these times of trials and tribulations produce endurance. He says, “And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). Enjoy the journey my friends. All will be well!
IV. The Water
The water on our journey this morning represents the Word of God. In order for the clay to be pliable, it needs water. In order for us to be pliable, we need to fill our minds and hearts with God’s Word. The Word of God will renew your mind, heal your wounds, give you life and empower you will the confidence that you are a child of God. The spoken word is powerful…sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). In the beginning God said, “Let there be,” and there was and it was good. Moses spoke to a rock and water flowed freely. Jesus called out, “Lazarus…come forth!” and a dead man was raised to life. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil, Jesus responded with the Word. Do not forget the power of life and death is contained in your words; therefore, let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Let the Word of God wash over you this morning and soften your hearts. Let it speak life back into your stressed out and broken selves.
V. The Kiln
The kiln on our journey this morning represents the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often times referred to as fire. Fire has the power to purify and harden. In regards to clay, fire solidifies and hardens the work the Master created. After reading Foxes Book of Martyrs, I can truly say a persecuted church is a strong church. Fire tempers tools. Fire makes vessels usable and durable. Fire bonds things together.
Fire can be destructive. The writer of Hebrews writes, “For our God is a consuming fire” (12:29). If a piece of pottery has a flaw or imperfection, it will crack or break. Furthermore, fire may not be the most pleasant feeling…ask one of Nebuchadnezzar’s guards, but what happened to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
Paul writes to the church at Thessaloniki, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). In other words, what is the Holy Spirit trying to do in your life? Quite resisting and trust and obey…there is no other way!
VI. Conclusion
So…what have we learned? Just let God be God and surrender to Him. Let the Master takes pleasure in forming His masterpiece. Friends, by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not of yourselves it is God’s gift, not of works that anyone can boast. For we are His masterpiece being created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. What can we bring to the table? We can present no thing…all our righteousness is like filthy dirty rags, but we can offer hearts.
By a show of hands, how many here are struggling in some area of your life? How many here feel like Popeye…I took all I can stand, but I cannot stand no more? Will you let the Master begin to craft you into a masterpiece today? Come forward this morning and let the Potter have His way….
