Weekly Sermons

We are God’s Workmanship!

Ephesians 2:8-10

Pentecost 10

July 11, 2010

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

            We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. As I pondered this year of vicarage, I realized that this year, that I have done nothing good. Let me explain, first using St. Paul ’s words in

Romans 7:18 -

¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out …

            Pastor sat down with me this last week to go over the Final Report which he sends to the seminary telling them how I have done this year. And you all know your Pastor, how perceptive and gracious he is, and his comments about me to my seminary professors were amazing and kind and full of praise. And yet, as he reported that overall I had done well and had succeeded and had grown into a man ready for the ministry, and indeed many of you know me, all I could think about was how much I did not deserve such great praise. All I could think about were the times I had not done good. All I could think about was that I do not deserve such praise or thanks.

            Now, hopefully it’s the fact that I’m a good Lutheran who is overtly aware of my sin so that I thought that way. Actually, I think I am right in line with the thoughts of St. Paul who said that he loved to boast in his weaknesses. And not to make himself feel guilty, but so that when he boasted of his weakness, he was truly allowing God to show forth His power; he was allowing God to receive the praise and glory. For as the Lord says: “my power is made perfect through weakness.” And when I realize my weaknesses throughout this past year, I see in turn the strength which God has poured into me, and into you, and into this Body of Christ. I see that it has been God who as work, making me and you His precious workmanship.

            St. Paul knew that his life and all that he did was not of his own doing, but that he was the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus, just as you and I together are the workmanship of God.

            And there is nothing more important than that. I was originally going to begin my sermon with the sort of clique Christian question: “how is God working in your life?” I have asked that exact question from the pulpit many times. But truly, we as the Body of Christ, should remember to ask ourselves every day “how is GOD as work in my life?” I know well how to work on my own. I know well how to do things my own way. I know well how to serve myself. But do I know well the work of God in my life?

            This is what I want so much for especially my first, dear Confirmand, to know and realize in the years to come: that nothing in this world is worth your time more than Christ and being a part of His Body.

            We find our identities in so many things in this life. Our kids are part of this and that sports team. We worship and adore the sports teams of our areas, even if they are the Boston Celtics, or the Red Sox, or the Yankees, or the PatriotsJ  We find our identity at our school, at work, at home, amongst our friends. We have social engagements, we certain attire and attitude, we have PTA meetings, we have Veterans of foreign wars, we’ve got every kind of group a person could want to be a part of; and they are worth nothing. Your education, your job, your friends, they are worth nothing, that is, unless the first and foremost group that you find your ultimate identity in is the Body of Christ.

            St. Paul said we are created IN Christ Jesus. What does that mean to be IN Christ Jesus?         It is not an empty phrase without meaning (in fact St. Paul repeats this over and over again; 7 times in the first chapter of Ephesians); to say that we are IN CHRIST Jesus, it is the fullest way to express our ultimate identity as children of God, sons and daughters of God, members of the Body of Christ. St. Paul says:

Col. 2:18-19

He says “Let us hold fast to the Head, that is Christ, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.”

Eph. 2:10

“We are HIS workmanship created in Christ Jesus!”

            God has chosen to work through us, His Body, the Body of Christ on earth. What I have found this year is that it is right here, where we find our riches, our blessing, our joy and sustenance, as members / partakers of the Body of Christ. Our relationship with Christ is not merely “me and Jesus” who is somewhere floating up in heaven; it IS rooted in Christ Jesus but it grows and blossoms right here, on the earth, amongst the Body of Christ

            Through faith we are truly one with Christ and we are also One with each other, the Body of Christ here at St. Paul ’s, here on earth. That is why I am going to miss you all so much. I am going to miss seeing especially the Confirmand grow up, I will miss seeing God at work amongst you all, at St. Paul ’s.

            St. Paul has powerful word in

Eph. 3:8-10:

“⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

            Can you believe that? Oh the world tells us it is the most ridiculous claim to say that there is something different about our Christian Church than any other religion or group or what not! But there is! Jesus said:

John 14:6 –

“I am the way, the truth and the life.”

St. Paul says:

Col. 3:15 –

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.”

            How is God at work in your life? He is at work through the Body of Christ, making you an integral part of Christ’s Body. That is why one of my prayers for you it that you remember and treasure your identity as a member of the Body of Christ, as a member of St. Paul’s … Treasure the Body of Christ. Keep holy the Sabbath day. Because in our day and age, simply coming to Church is a challenge. In our day and age, serving others above our selfish schedules can be a challenge. But here is where we find our strength. And if you are not finding strength in this place, find out why. Ask the Pastor, ask your brothers and sisters. Be a part of the Body. Grow this body. Serve this body. Find a way to serve and grow. I do know that in days to come, the Stewardship Committee will be asking you to consider what are your gifts, small, large, simple, whatever. You are part of this Body. And I am also, forever a part of this Body, the Body of Christ!

            When I and my family first came here to Saint Paul ’s, we immediately felt like we were at home. I told our family and friends on the phone that the feeling was uncanny. I couldn’t believe how peaceful and blessed and welcomed we were made to feel. It could have been the 10 people that welcomed us and helped us unload, except for Sam, he didn’t help muchJ He just held EzekielJ  It could have been the beautiful home we walked into, which I pray is still beautiful for the next saints to come (I have personally prayed over all the stains my children have left, and when I clean tomorrow, they shall be whiter than snow). It could have been the horrible humidity that seemed to follow us from St. Louis , which I thought we were leaving behind. It could have a Pastor who welcomed me into his ministry with such joy and freedom and trust. Indeed, it was all of that. But we all know it was truly a lot more. It was the presence of Christ among us, the very Body of Christ. It was the work of God.  

            This year I have experienced what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ in a way I never really have before.

            St Paul tells us (Eph. 2:4-5, 10): ⁴  God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ … ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

            This fact that we are God’s workmanship; that we are in His hands; that even though we were dead in sin and our sinful natures still cause of to stumble … God has made US all alive together through Christ; even if life is painful and uneasy … remember that you are not alone and forever as the Body of Christ we will be together forever. This is our life. This is our treasure. Christ at work within us all. So Treasure your brothers and sisters. Consider them more significant than yourselves. Realize that without each other we are missing the glory of God on earth. Without you I would not become a Pastor. Without one another, we are nothing.

            Christ suffered death, and separation from His Father and from His People, He bore every sorrow and pain by himself, for our sake… so that no one should ever have to be alone, and lost, and dead. And we thank Him now that forevermore we are together; we are the workmanship of God. Remember that is it God who is at work in you, in St. Paul ’s, and in me.

            And as I ended my last sermon on Wednesday night, I thought it would be appropriate to conclude my sermon with the words of Scripture. The prayer of St. Paul in Ephesians is my prayer for you:

¹⁵ Because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

            I look forward to the Day when the Body of Christ will be together forever. Thanks be to God. Amen.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.