The Notes

This coming Wednesday night, September 9, 2026, we look at Ephesians 2:10 - the verse that says we are God's workmanship, or as some translations say, God's masterpiece.  What does that mean?  Join us as we break down the 5 parts of this verse and answer the age old question: why was I born Join us at 6:00 p.m. for some mid-week encouragement for the soul. 

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This week, September 9, 2026, we studied the scripture that tells us we are God's "masterpiece" - Ephesians 2:10.

So what is a masterpiece?  It's defined an exceptional artistic creation that combines flawless technical skill, deep emotional resonance, and a lasting cultural impact that transcends its original time.  Technical excellence alone isn’t enough. Masterpieces engage our minds & hearts; they make us feel something: wonder, sorrow, awe, joy.  Only time will tell if that work is a "masterpiece." 

For an artist, a masterpiece is said to be the greatest work of his/her career.  I believe that when we look at God as the artist and creator, this verse tells us we are His greatest work.  Humanity was created last, the final and best of creation.

To truly appreciate all that Ephesians 2:10 means, you ought to read the first 9 verses that lead up to it.  (Ephesians 2).

They highlight how and   

how we are alive, how we are examples of God’s grace and love.  Then verse 10 says: "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."  That's the New Living Translation version, and it's one of the versions of the Bible that uses the word "masterpiece."  Other versions, like the Berean Standard Bible put it this way– “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”  

There are 5 parts to that verse.  Let's break them down to fully understand how and why we are said to be God's masterpiece, His greatest handiwork.

1 - For we are God’s workmanship (“masterpiece”}.

We are the deliberate work of God’s hands, formed according to His wise purpose.  God’s creation is personal, purposeful, and perfectly wonderful!  Psalm 139:13-14 – “For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.”   That says we are knitted with everything we need . . . every stitch placed for reason because nothing that happens in our lives is a surprise to God.     He knew ahead of time about that accident, that loss, that illness, that painful disaster.  He knew, and created you for the moment, and the recovery.  As God’s masterpiece, we’re crafted with care and purpose.  We each have value and a unique identity rooted in God's creative work.  All things do!  Even a litter of cats or dogs are uniquely created, each with own personality.  So do we!  We were deliberately and purposefully made.

2 – Created Anew in Christ Jesus

First, God created us in His image; we alone were given the breath of life.  Genesis 2:7 says: "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."  That gives us our human life.  But God wants us to be more than just alive, He wants us to live with meaning and purpose.  As Christians - believers in God and His son, Jesus Christ – we have the gift of 3 kinds of life: 

first is the gift of human life; then we have a spiritual life (the second kind of life), to be followed by eternal life.

We’ve been raised from the dead in the spiritual life.  (That's what the beginning of Ephesians 2 tells us).  Born again.  A new creation made alive again by God’s grace & love.  

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”  The NLT translation says: “The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”  The spiritual life begins with a life-changing insight: God is real.  God created me . . . us . . . all of us!  God created us with His breath, then through faith, we are joined in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:16 – “For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him."  So if you have ever asked, why was I born?   For Him.  For God.  For a purpose . . . His purpose!

That gift or talent in your life is not a coincidence; it is there for God’s purpose.  That ability you have is not an accident; put there by God for you to shine.

3 - to do good works

Everything placed in us is for a reason – every talent, gift, skill, and ability is there so that we can do good works . . . good things . . . good deeds.  What is "good"?  It's something positive.  Desirable.  Beneficial.  Satisfying.  When we do "good works" - we are doing something that benefits others in a way that satisfies ourselves.  It's not a coincidence that we enjoy certain things, dislike doing others.  The joy or passion for that ability matches our gifts.  The joy we have in fixing things, being creative, cooking, solving problems, organizing, writing, sewing, singing, playing music . . . enables us to do GOOD works.  And truly lasting joy comes in connecting our passion with other people.  In other words, the most joyful experiences of your life will be when you do the thing that makes you happy and it blesses someone else.   That is a good work.  Just remember - good deeds won’t earn salvation; that’s received by grace through faith.  But our good works are evidence of a life transformed by Christ. 

Our works are the “fruit of faith” – fruit produced by obedience, love for others, service, and a growing likeness to Jesus.

James 2:18 – “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.’”  In Matthew 7:16 – Jesus said we’ll be recognized by our fruit.  “Every good tree bears good fruit . . . A good tree cannot bear bad fruit.”  And on another occasion He said in Matthew 12:33 – “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good…”  God has made your tree good.  God looked at His creation and said, “It is good.”  You are God’s creation.  You are good. Then Jesus cleansed us, purified us, making us even better.  

Titus 2:14 – “He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.”  When we are connected to Jesus, our good deeds (doing what we love) bear fruit.  They make an impact on someone else, touching them spiritually and emotionally; it's beneficial.

John 15:5 – “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”   

4 – which God prepared in advance

Because God created us with a purpose, He ordained meaningful service for us.  Ordained . . . planned in advance.  God has opportunities for us to serve Him through our abilities … pre-ordained moments when we serve God by using our gifts for Him.  We glorify God when we bless others by being ourselves . . . doing what we do . . . just fully living the life we are given!

Jesus told disciples – “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit . . .” - John 15:16.  It’s the same with us.  We’ve been chosen.  Gifted.  Appointed.   1 Peter 2:9 - “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  Chosen.  Not an accident.  And chosen from the beginning of time, from the foundation of the world.  "But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth."  2 Thess. 2:13. 

You have been chosen on purpose;  you have been given life for a reason.  2 Timothy 1:9 says – “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”  God has a purpose for your life!

5 – as our way of life.

Good deeds should mark the course of a Christian’s life, not isolated moments of religious effort.  In a world opposed to God, faithfully using our gifts and abilities in obedience to God bears witness to the life-changing power of the gospel and directs attention to the Father.

Isaiah 64:8 – “O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”

God has masterfully shaped our clay, designed us for a purpose . . . designed not for our glory but to point others to Him.

Why was I born?  To know God.  To praise and glorify God in how I live.  Colossians 1:16 – “For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him."

We are each God’s masterpiece.  Designed to shine . . . a piece of God’s amazing plan.  A plan that includes moments where our good deeds make a difference.  Recall that a “masterpiece” is an exceptional artistic creation that has deep emotional resonance, and a lasting cultural impact …”  Our lives are intended by God to emotionally connect with others and make a lasting impact.

Know this - a masterpiece is incredible, but not perfect.  It has flaws.  We don’t have to be perfect . . . we just have to be ourselves.  You and I were designed with all we need to leave goodness in our wake.  Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.”   Let's encourage each other to get out there and live a little!  Life the masterpiece life - be yourself and do the things that you love to bless someone else.