Sunday Worship – June 8, 2025

God’s Masterpiece Life
Ephesians 2:8–10 

In today’s passage, Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork”(NIV). The Korean Revised Version translates it as “We are what God made us to be.”In the original Greek, the word for “handiwork” is poiēma, from which we get the English word poem. But it can also mean masterpiece—a work of art. This tells us that each one of us is God’s masterpiece, created by the Master Artist Himself.

The word masterpiececomes from “master” and “piece.” It implies that the existence of a masterpiece presupposes a master creator, and each of us is a unique and precious piece of His creative work.

Human beings are God’s greatest masterpiece. To make a car, about 13,000 parts are required. But the human body is made up of around 100 trillion cells, 25 trillion red blood cells, and 25 billion white blood cells. What’s even more amazing is that not a single human being is exactly alike. As of 2025, there are over 8.16 billion people in the world, and the chance of having the same fingerprint is 1 in 64 billion. This uniqueness is why fingerprints are used for identification. God made each of us uniquely and beautifully.

God expects us to live a life that reflects this masterpiece design. But the problem is, how can we live such a life when we often fall short and feel broken? Let’s explore the secret to living a masterpiece life: 

1. You must receive the gift of salvation.

Although we are God’s masterpieces, we often live lives full of confusion, despair, and brokenness. Why is that? It’s because of sin. Sin has distorted the beauty and dignity of humanity. What we need is salvation—restoring our relationship with God. Salvation is the first step toward reclaiming the life God intended for us.

But today’s passage tells us that salvation is not something we can earn through our good works. It is the gift of God.This gift is received through faith. Faith is not a personal achievement or merit, but simply our response to God's hand reaching out to save us. Imagine someone drowning, crying for help. When a rescuer reaches out a hand, grabbing it isn’t a boastful act—it’s a desperate response. That is what faith is.

Grace means receiving kindness we do not deserve. That’s why verse 8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”And verse 9 adds, “not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Believing in Jesus and receiving salvation is the beginning of being remade into God’s masterpiece. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.”Ephesians 2:10 continues, “We are God’s handiwork.”This is the beginning of a new life—the life God originally designed for us. So receiving the gift of salvation through faith is essential for a masterpiece life.

 

2. Live according to the Creator’s good purpose. 

The reason we’re given a new beginning as God’s masterpieces is that He has prepared good works for us to do. In verses 8 and 9, Paul clearly teaches that good works do not saveus. But that doesn’t mean they are unimportant. Good works are the fruitof salvation.

We can express this formula: Grace + Faith = Salvation + Good Works

Good works don’t earn salvation—but they naturally follow it. They make our lives truly beautiful and meaningful.

Yes, even after becoming Christians, we still sin. That sin can damage the beauty of our lives. But what has changed since we became believers?

St. Augustine answered this profoundly. Before knowing Christ, we were not able not to sin.But after receiving Christ, we are able not to sin.That is our hope. We now canchoose good and follow God’s will.

Ephesians 2:10 (in the New Living Translation) 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.”

God prepared a unique path and purpose for each of us. These “good works” include serving others, glorifying God through our talents and relationships, and living out the gospel in real ways. All of this is only possible in Christ.

 

3. Fulfill that purpose as part of the church community. 

Though verse 10 concludes the section, Paul continues in the rest of Ephesians 2 to explain that God places us into the communityof the church to live out this masterpiece life together.

Look at Ephesians 2:22: “In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”

Why do we need to be built together? Because even after salvation, we still struggle with sin and weakness. We can easily fall, lose heart, or give up. That’s why Galatians 6:9 encourages us:
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

God designed us not to live in isolation, but in fellowship. Do you know when God first said something was not goodin the Bible? In Genesis 2:18: “It is not good for the man to be alone.”
So God made a partner for Adam. Later, He gave us the church—a bigger spiritual family to journey with us.

Ephesians 2:19 says: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household.”

That’s why we need the church. In the church, we laugh and weep together, share burdens, and pursue God’s goodness as we grow into His masterpieces. Paul calls this process a building under construction—the temple of God. Construction is messy and risky, but it’s necessary. The church is the construction site where God builds us up. 

A Story of Hope

In Charlotte, North Carolina, there is the Billy Graham Library. At the entrance, near the right side, is a small grave of Ruth Graham, Billy Graham’s wife, who passed away in 2007. Her tombstone bears this unusual phrase: “End of construction. Thank you for your patience.” 

Why? One day, as she and Billy were driving past a construction site, they saw that sign. She loved it so much, she told her husband, “Put that on my grave when I die.” And he did.

Our construction is not yet finished. But if we can be patient on this holy construction site, trusting the Master Builder, we’ll learn to encourage each other instead of complaining. We’ll find joy in building one another up. Let’s give thanks for the church, this sacred construction zone of grace. Let us endure with hope and help each other grow into God’s masterpiece.

God called Abraham and, despite many trials and failures, shaped him into the man of promise. In the same way, God will shape you and me—within the church—into His masterpiece.

 

Closing Song: "Still (Hide Me Now Under Your Wings)"

A masterpiece is molded and protected by the hands of its Maker. This song expresses rest and trust in God’s hands. May it be our prayer today.