“The Value of God’s Masterpiece”
Sermon Title: The Value of God’s Workmanship
Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
Introduction
In our journey of spiritual growth, it’s essential to cultivate a right and healthy understanding of our own value as it is revealed in the Word of God. Today’s reading from Ephesians 2:8-10 reminds us that by grace, through faith, we have been saved. This gift is not by our works but through God’s grace. Verse 10 calls us “His workmanship,” or as translated in some versions, “His masterpiece,” crafted by God Himself with excellence and purpose. We must remember and declare: “I am God’s masterpiece.”
A Misunderstanding
Many of us have encountered teachings or passages that seem to suggest a low view of humanity, emphasizing our flaws and unworthiness, as seen in passages like Romans 12:3, Philippians 2:3, Galatians 6:3, and Isaiah 64:6. Isaiah 41:14 even refers to us as “worms,” not to demean us, but to symbolize our helplessness due to sin. Romans 3:23 clarifies that all have sinned, falling short of God’s glory; our lowliness results from sin, not our inherent value.
However, God’s message through Jesus is transformative. While we were once dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), God’s mercy and love brought us life through Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5). Salvation and our value come entirely from God’s grace and love, not from anything we’ve earned. Being His masterpiece means we are created for good works He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10), and in this role, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6-7). This seating symbolizes honor, power, and the transformative work of Christ within us.
When we encounter passages with low views of humanity, it’s due to the nature of sin. Yet, as Genesis 1:27 teaches, we are created as God’s image-bearers. We are not worthless; we carry God’s likeness and purpose.
God’s People as a Paradox
As God’s people, we live in a unique and somewhat mysterious tension: we are both of this world and yet not of this world, both earthly beings and citizens of the kingdom of heaven. This is the paradox of our existence as Christians. When we come to faith in Christ, we receive a new identity and a new nature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 explains this by saying, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” However, even as this transformation has taken place spiritually, we continue to live in a physical, earthly world, and we still contend with the limitations, struggles, and inclinations of our fallen human nature.
Galatians 2:20 captures the essence of this paradox: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Though we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live for ourselves, we still experience earthly existence. Paul acknowledges that his life is now sustained by faith in Christ, but he also lives it out “in the flesh.” The paradox is that both these states – being alive in Christ yet living in a fallen world – coexist within us.
This paradox goes even further when we consider that, as believers, we are simultaneously “dead to sin” and yet continue to struggle with sin. When Jesus stood before Pilate, He declared, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). As His followers, we too are called to recognize that our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), yet we live in a fallen world where temptation, pain, and the reality of sin still affect us daily. This dual identity means we live in two overlapping realities: the broken, imperfect state of this world and the perfect, redeemed state of God’s kingdom.
Our lives as believers are thus marked by this divine paradox: we live with hope, purpose, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live in Christ. Yet, we face human frailty and the constraints of earthly life. Through this paradox, we are constantly reminded of our dependence on God. Living as both earthly and heavenly beings is not a sign of inconsistency but a reminder of our calling to live by faith and the truth that we will one day fully realize our heavenly citizenship. Until that day, we exist in the “already but not yet” tension – we are redeemed but not yet perfected, citizens of heaven while still on earth, and in Christ, even as we still wrestle with our human limitations.
When it comes to understanding ourselves and our worth, we can think of two different “operating systems” at play: the system of the world and the system of God. Each system comes with a distinct set of values, definitions, and standards for determining a person’s value, identity, and self-worth.
The Operating System of the World
The world’s system evaluates worth by measuring superficial factors and achievements that are highly visible and often temporary. This system assesses our identity based on categories like physical appearance, age, gender, financial success, academic achievements, social status, and other outward metrics. In the world’s system, self-worth is often tied to our appearance, popularity, accomplishments, and possessions. Social media, career accomplishments, and social circles become central markers of our value, pushing people to constantly compare themselves and seek validation based on ever-changing and ultimately unsatisfying standards.
This system places a heavy burden on individuals because it is performance-based and conditional. For example, a person’s value in this system is as stable as their latest success, appearance, or achievement. When people operate within this system, they are constantly in pursuit of self-worth but can feel empty or insufficient despite their efforts. It’s a system designed to focus on externals while ignoring deeper, intrinsic value.
The Operating System of God
In contrast, God’s system operates on entirely different principles, with values that are eternal, unchanging, and rooted in love and grace. According to Colossians 3:1-3, our identity in God’s system is based on our relationship with Christ: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” In this system, our value is not determined by outward achievements but by our identity as children of God, chosen, loved, and redeemed by Him.
Through this lens, worth and identity are not contingent on anything external; instead, they are defined by God’s love and purpose for us. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” In God’s system, our value is unearned, permanent, and rooted in His love and creative purpose for us, which was established before we were even born. God sees us as His masterpieces, His beloved children, and as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), which confers upon us an inherent dignity and value that no achievement or failure in this world can alter.
Between Two Operating Systems
While we are called to live by God’s system, it can be difficult because the values of the world are so pervasive and compelling. We often find ourselves switching between these “systems” – feeling our worth in God and then falling back into seeking validation from the world. This internal clash can create tension and confusion as we strive to embrace our worth in Christ while resisting the world’s pressure to define ourselves by its standards.
As believers, we must learn to “set our minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2) and view ourselves through the lens of God’s system. It’s a process of aligning our hearts and minds with God’s truth about who we are in Christ, refusing to let the world’s measurements define us. If we operate primarily within God’s system, we experience greater freedom, peace, and purpose, as our identity is secure in Christ. But if we’re still attached to the world’s system, we can easily fall into cycles of comparison, insecurity, and striving, feeling unfulfilled despite our achievements.
The clash of these systems reveals why we might struggle to see ourselves as God sees us. It’s challenging to break free from the mindset and values of the world, but God calls us to rest in the assurance that our worth is found in Him alone. As 1 Peter 2:9 declares, we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” God has already determined our worth, and as His people, our true value lies not in what the world says but in our identity as His beloved.
Conclusion
Believing in God’s truth frees us from seeking validation through worldly systems, and though we’re still a work in progress (1 John 3:2), God’s masterpiece is being formed in us. This process allows us to experience the resurrection and healing power of Jesus, live as new creations, and understand our true worth in Christ. God, as the ultimate Creator, takes what is broken in sin and gives it new life and purpose.
In our journey, we’re called to hold fast to the truth of our value in God’s eyes. We are His masterpiece, His children, co-heirs with Christ, ambassadors of the King, and His image-bearers. While we are still “in progress,” we’re assured that we belong to God, redeemed, and called to do good works. Our ultimate worth is not something we earn but is affirmed by our relationship with Him.
God is not a liar, He does not indulge in empty flattery, therefore, we must believe Him when He says that we are His masterpiece. There are times when doubts arise, but when that happens I look no further than the cross where my Saviour, My God, died for me. The cross is all the evidence I need to know that God’s word is true. I am loved by God. You are loved by God. We are God’s masterpiece!