We Are His Workmanship

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Notice how Paul begins with the word “For.” This word connects this verse to what came before it in verses 8-9. Vs. 8 also begins with For, which connects it to all the other verses in chapter two. For means we’re going to be told the why or the how to what came before it. “For” indicates that the means of our salvation in vs. 8-9 has produced this result for a specific purpose. So the For is an indicator that we’re being given the WHY to it all.

He says For we are, talking about all of us believers, those who have been saved by grace through faith. The fact that he says we are indicates our present spiritual state right now. Our transformation happened in the past. We’re are right now God’s workmanship. We aren’t just great workmanship. We are HIS workmanship. Our spiritual state now is the result of God’s handiwork that was done inside of you. One book said, “The Church, the Body of Christ is His masterpiece that will be exhibited in glory for all to see throughout eternity.” That is a true statement, but I have to that Paul is NOT talking HERE about the Body of Christ corporately. He’s talking about every individual IN the Body of Christ. We are, we – every single one of us – we, each individual, we are each one, His workmanship. Everything in this chapter is about the transformation of the individual and now the result is that every single regenerated saint is His workmanship.

Of course, my favorite point about workmanship has always been that this is translated from the Greek word poiēma, from which we get the English word “poem.” You are God’s poem. You are God’s great work of art. And by work of art, you are a product of God’s skilled craftsmanship. The implication is that you have been made into this exquisite, undeniable masterpiece. And because you are His masterpiece, there is nothing that can be done to improve upon what He has made.

Webster describes masterpiece as, “A capital performance; any thing done or made with superior or extraordinary skill.” Masterpiece here speaks of a finished, perfect act of creation by God. God doesn’t create anything imperfectly. Our new spiritual identity and standing “in Christ” is a complete, flawless masterpiece made by His hands. You cannot add to God’s perfect work, just as you cannot “improve” a perfectly crafted Stradivarius by adding an extra string or a different piece of wood. The masterpiece is perfect in conception and in how it was made by its Creator.

One of the reasons why your spiritual state is a perfect masterpiece is because Christ’s payment for sins was a perfect work, which is why it was such genius on God’s part to identify us with His Son because we cannot become more spiritually perfect than to be made one with His spiritually perfect, holy, righteous Son.

I’d also suggest that because Paul used “poiēma” implying “masterpiece” that this also inherently speaks to great beauty, excellence, and phenomenal artistic merit. “Poiēma,” even though we get “poem” from it, really means that something that is “made” or “created.” While its literal meaning is simply “a work” or “workmanship,” the nature of God’s workmanship, especially when viewed as a poem or a crafted piece, carries the connotation also of intrinsic beauty, artistry, and intelligent design.

Just as a poem is designed to evoke emotion, convey truth beautifully, and be aesthetically pleasing, “masterpiece,” by definition is a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. It represents the pinnacle of a creator’s ability and is almost universally associated with great beauty, perfection in execution, and profound in artistic value. Even though Ephesians 2:10 refers to believers as God’s “workmanship” (poiēma) – often translated or understood as His “masterpiece” –  this strongly implies that God’s new creation in us is not merely functional, but possesses:

1. Inherent Beauty: Reflecting the beauty of the Creator Himself, particularly the beauty of His holiness. Israel used to sing songs about the beauty of holiness. Holiness bears the image of God’s original design for this world. Holiness is the beauty that existed before the fall. There is a moral and spiritual radiance to holiness. Sin destroys. Holiness gives life. And it’s an awe-inspiring quality.
2. Divine Excellence: Demonstrates God’s perfect skills and artistry.
3. Intended Purpose: Designed to reveal His glory and kindness through the “good works” we are “ordained” to walk in.

Our transformation is not just a pragmatic act of salvation, but a beautiful and excellent work of art by the ultimate Creator-Artist.

Arno Gaebelein, like many others, pointed out that the one other time in which poiēma is used in Scripture is in Rom. 1:20, “being understood by the things that are made.” Creation is also God’s great masterpiece. Both usages of poiēma showcase intentionality behind the act of creation. The fact that we are created to do good works is to reveal the nature of God to others in the world. Creation’s primary purpose, in that context, is to bear witness to the existence of its Creator and the triune Godhead and His eternal power, leaving humanity “without excuse” for denying God.

Both the Body of Christ and all of creation exists to showcase His glory. Believers and all of the universe were created by God with intentionality to fulfill a purpose and that purpose is the revelation of God to everyone I the world, as well as the illumination of who He is and all of His invisible attributes (like His power, wisdom, grace, kindness).

Gaebelein would also write in his Ephesians commentary that “God has produced two great masterworks in which He manifests His power. He called the universe into existence out of nothing. What He, as the omnipotent One can do, is seen in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the sustenance of His creation. His eternal power and Godhead are revealed in creation (Rom. 1:19-20). But the creation of the universe out of nothing is not the greatest masterpiece of God. God has done something greater. He has produced a work, which reveals Him in a far higher degree. That greater masterpiece is the redemption of sinners.”

Wow.

In all the sermons I’ve heard about Ephesians 2:10, my favorite illustration has always been about the Stradivarius violin. Imagine a world-renowned master artisan, famous for crafting exquisite, one-of-a-kind musical instruments. Think of a Stradivarius violin or a meticulously hand-built grand piano. When this master artisan creates such an instrument, it’s not made by the wood or the strings or the keys. No, it is entirely the artisan’s workmanship — the skill, the vision, and the dedication poured into every detail. The instrument itself does nothing to earn its creation.

Why did the master artisan painstakingly carve the wood, stretch the strings, and tune every note? He made it unto a purpose — to produce gorgeous music. The instrument’s very design, its workmanship, is intrinsically linked to its function, to its good work of making melody. The greatness of the workmanship speaks to the greatness of the music. The greatness of God’s workmanship in you speaks to the greatness of the quality of good works you’re capable of doing.

So the master artisan didn’t just hope his instrument would make gorgeous music. He ordained that his instrument should play, and the music should be extraordinary. He designed its acoustics, its resonance, its every curve and mechanism specifically for that purpose. When a virtuoso plays that instrument, the beautiful music that flows from it is a testament, not to the instrument’s self-effort, but to the genius of its creator. In the same way, Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s “workmanship” — His masterpiece, His unique creation, crafted anew in Christ Jesus.

We didn’t earn our new creation. But once we are His creation, He created us “unto good works.” These good works are the beautiful melodies of a life lived for Him, flowing naturally from who He has made us to be. This is the purpose woven into our very spiritual DNA, the path God “hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Our good works aren’t how we get saved; they are how our salvation is put on display, bringing glory to the Master Artisan who created us in His Son.