YOU are God's Masterpiece

notofworks · #1 10-31-2010, 07:02 PM

Ephesians 2:4
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much,

Ephesians 2:5
that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)

Ephesians 2:6
For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms--all because we are one with Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:7
And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8
God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:9
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

At what does God point to prove His greatness?

God put the Sun in the sky that is perfectly located 93 million miles away to sustain life on earth...and if it were a degree closer we would burn up or a degree further away, we would freeze over?

Does God point to the oceans He caused to flow with water? Does He point to the 46 billion+ earth-sized planets that have recently been discovered that surround the stars...which He calls by name?

No.

Verse 7 says he points to US. YOU are the proof of the greatness of God's love.

And in verse 10, Paul says that.....

YOU ARE GOD'S MASTERPIECE.

We're doing a series called, "Man In The Mirror" and we're asking, "When you look in the mirror, who do you see?" When you look, see who God sees.

And it all happens because God saves you (verse 8) when you simply believe.

RevDWW · #2 10-31-2010, 07:15 PM

Good stuff.

Psa 139:14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully andwonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

1Pe 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1Pe 2:10

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

He has picked me out and purchased me.

Adam · #3 10-31-2010, 07:28 PM

Yet, why do I beat myself over the head over and over and over and over and over again feeling so unworthy of his salvation. It drives me bonkers!! It always just makes me tear up, I say, "Ah, forget it!", and then I just move on with my sinful pathetic existence, hoping, yes, hoping and praying I won't be lost. That is my prayer EVERY NIGHT. Don't let me be lost, remember me when you come into your kingdom, Lord. Just like the guy next to him on the cross. Perhaps Judas prayed that prayer right before he went swinging on the rope into Eternity.

rgcraig · #4 10-31-2010, 07:43 PM

Adam,

After you ask God to forgive you, then you have to forgive yourself.

notofworks · #5 10-31-2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

Yet, why do I beat myself over the head over and over and over and over and over again feeling so unworthy of his salvation. It drives me bonkers!! It always just makes me tear up, I say, "Ah, forget it!", and then I just move on with my sinful pathetic existence, hoping, yes, hoping and praying I won't be lost. That is my prayer EVERY NIGHT. Don't let me be lost, remember me when you come into your kingdom, Lord. Just like the guy next to him on the cross. Perhaps Judas prayed that prayer right before he went swinging on the rope into Eternity.

Adam, do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God has raised Him from the dead? According to Romans 10, you will not be lost. You are saved, redeemed by HIS sacrifice, and covered by the grace of God!!

It really is that simple!

notofworks · #6 10-31-2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Adam,

After you ask God to forgive you, then you have to forgive yourself.

And often that is the most difficult part.

acerrak · #7 10-31-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

Yet, why do I beat myself over the head over and over and over and over and over again feeling so unworthy of his salvation. It drives me bonkers!! It always just makes me tear up, I say, "Ah, forget it!", and then I just move on with my sinful pathetic existence, hoping, yes, hoping and praying I won't be lost. That is my prayer EVERY NIGHT. Don't let me be lost, remember me when you come into your kingdom, Lord. Just like the guy next to him on the cross. Perhaps Judas prayed that prayer right before he went swinging on the rope into Eternity.

the devil and his brood will always wisper that at you, but you must understand, nothing, and i mean nothing we can do will ever save us, infact if God gave us the power to save ourselves, we would still fail.

brother that is the beauty of Grace, it saves sinners, its saves wretched evil horrible people, it saves you!

and i will tell you this, if your praying like that at night, your all right, but your so scared that God is going to dump u in hell that your frightened.

Gos Loves and wants you more than you want Him. Infact if there is any way to keep you out of hell he will find it, and He did, that is why Christ came for you.

when you mess up, encourage yourself in the Lord,
Just like he did for Peter.
Jesus ..adam do you love me more than these?
Adam.. yes Lord i do
Jesus... feed my sheep!

Jesus.. adam do you love me more than these?
Adam... yes Lord i truely do!
Jesus... take care of my lambs

Jesus ... Adam do you love me more than these?
Adam... Lord you know all things, you know i love you
Jesus ... Take care of my sheep,

Jesus... for i know my sheep, and they hear my Voice, and none will take them from me

Adam God lifts us up, the devil beats us down, there are times i feel the same way, like today, i over slept didnt go to church this morning, stayed at home and was lazy tonight, but i cant take that into tommorrow, its another day, and another walk with God.

God Bless

Sam · #8 10-31-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

Yet, why do I beat myself over the head over and over and over and over and over again feeling so unworthy of his salvation. It drives me bonkers!! It always just makes me tear up, I say, "Ah, forget it!", and then I just move on with my sinful pathetic existence, hoping, yes, hoping and praying I won't be lost. That is my prayer EVERY NIGHT. Don't let me be lost, remember me when you come into your kingdom, Lord. Just like the guy next to him on the cross. Perhaps Judas prayed that prayer right before he went swinging on the rope into Eternity.

1 If you believe that Jesus is the Christ --that he is God's Son and your Savior--then you are a child of God....
9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.
11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

What does the above passage say about your status?
Does it sound like you have to pray and plead every night not to be lost?

Sam · #9 10-31-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

Yet, why do I beat myself over the head over and over and over and over and over again feeling so unworthy of his salvation. It drives me bonkers!! It always just makes me tear up, I say, "Ah, forget it!", and then I just move on with my sinful pathetic existence, hoping, yes, hoping and praying I won't be lost. That is my prayer EVERY NIGHT. Don't let me be lost, remember me when you come into your kingdom, Lord. Just like the guy next to him on the cross. Perhaps Judas prayed that prayer right before he went swinging on the rope into Eternity.

Read 1 John 1:9.
What does it say?
It says that if we confess (another word would be "admit") our sin, then what happens?
God is faithful and just or can be relied upon or trusted to do two things:
(1) forgive our sin and (2) cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If you have ever confessed a sin to God, unless He is unreliable and untrustworthy, that sin has been forgiven and you've been cleansed from it. There is no need to ever think about it again or worry about it again. If you commit it again, just confess again and it is forgiven. But anything that has been forgiven will not be held against you. It's gone. And if God has forgiven it, then forgive yourself.

Sam · #10 10-31-2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notofworks

Adam, do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God has raised Him from the dead? According to Romans 10, you will not be lost. You are saved, redeemed by HIS sacrifice, and covered by the grace of God!!

It really is that simple!

YES!!!!
That is the simplicity that is in Christ!!!!!
That's why we talk about "Amazing Grace"