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. (Ephesians 2:10)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
God the Father sees those in Christ as righteousness and pure, not because of our own righteousness but because of the finished work of Jesus on our behalf. If you’re at all like me, this is something that is not only hard to understand when faced with the sins I commit daily, but also when viewing others who commit evil in this world and their opportunity for redemption. In these two verses in Ephesians and Philippians, it simultaneously says that we ARE, as in presently, God’s masterpiece and that the work WILL BE brought to completion. So how are we both a finished masterpiece yet a work in progress at the same time?
A Finished Masterpiece in Progress
How can God see a saved sinner like me as righteous? How can God see a saved sinner who’s committed murder or rape as righteous?
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He is outside of time and space so He can see past, present, and future all at once. When Jesus came into the world as a man, He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it. So, He isn’t judging our salvation on an instant-by-instant basis, He is looking at the whole picture.
For His children, those who have surrendered themselves to God and accepted His salvation, we are His masterpiece even though we are still being sanctified presently, and will be brought to completion in Christ in our future.
It’s ALL Been Paid For
When God looks at His children, He sees us in our current situation – with intense emotion throughout the situations in our lives – yet views us currently in the spotless white robe of Christ’s righteousness that will be given to us when we’re glorified with Jesus in heaven.
When you sin, Jesus has already taken that wrath on the cross.
When you’re sinned against, Jesus has already taken that wrath on the cross and God has compassion for you and His heart aches for you.
My precious sibling in Christ, God loves you and He sees you presently as the masterpiece He will bring unto completion in you, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
Called to Freedom
The grace that we’re viewed as a completed masterpiece while being made into that masterpiece brings freedom. We are not bound in the identity of the sins we were saved from, our identity is in Christ alone with His righteousness alone. Yet in this freedom, the battle still rages on between our flesh and our spirit. So how do we do these good works God planned for us?
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:13,16)
We have to purpose to serve one another in love over the desire to serve ourselves in our flesh, and the only way to successfully do that and be able to do the good things God planned, is to walk by the Spirit.
Today, I encourage you, to be refreshed in the knowledge of this freeing grace that you are His masterpiece, and be stirred to walk in the Spirt, using your freedom to serve one another through love.