God’s Workmanship 神的工作 以弗所 Eph 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10 以弗所 2:1-10

I. God’s salvation has completely transformed disciples’ lives I. God’s salvation has completely transformed disciples’ lives. 神的救恩完全改变了我们的生命. (弗 Eph 2:10a; 罗 Rom 12:2; 多 Titus 3:5; 約 John 3:3, 7; 彼前 1 Pet 1:23) Born again/Rebirth (重生) (約 John 3:3, 7; 彼前 1 Pet 1:23) Transformation (Metamorphosis) (蛻变) (罗 Rom 12:2) Re-creation (重新創造) (弗 Eph 2:10a; 林後 2 Cor 5:17; 加 Gal 6:15)

I. God’s salvation has completely transformed disciples’ lives I. God’s salvation has completely transformed disciples’ lives. 神的救恩完全改变了我们的生命. (弗 Eph 2:10a; 罗 Rom 12:2; 多 Titus 3:5; 約 John 3:3, 7; 彼前 1 Pet 1:23) From Death to Life (出死入生) (弗Eph 2:1-6; 約John 5:24; 罗Rom 6:13; 約壹1 John 3:14) From darkness to light (出黒暗入光明) (彼前1 Pet 2:9; 弗Eph 5:8; 約壹1 John 1:5) From earthly to heavenly realm (從属地到属天) (弗Eph 1:3; 2:6-7) From children of wrath to children of love (從可怒到被愛之子) (弗Eph 2:3-5)

II. We were dead in transgressions and sins. 我們死在過犯罪惡之中. (弗 Eph 2:1-3) Following the way of the world. 隨從今世的風俗. Following the ruler of the kingdom of the air. 順服空中掌權者的首領. Gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature. 放縱肉體的私慾. Following its desires and thoughts. 隨著肉體和心中所喜好的去行. We were objects of His wrath. 本為可怒之子，和別人一樣.

III. God made us alive with Jesus. 神叫我们與基督一同活過來. (弗 Eph 2:4-5) His great love (因祂的大愛) He is rich in mercy (祂豐盛的憐悯) By grace we were saved (我们得救是本乎恩) At Christ’s expense (基督付上極高的代价)

IV. God made us objects of His abundant blessings. 神使我們成為祂豐盛恩典的对象 IV. God made us objects of His abundant blessings. 神使我們成為祂豐盛恩典的对象. (弗 Eph 2:6-7; 彼前 1 Pet 1:3-7) God raised us up with Christ. 他又叫我們與基督耶穌一同復活. He seated us with Him in heavenly realms. 神叫我们與衪一同坐在天上. He will show us the incomparable riches of His grace in the coming ages. 要將他極豐富的恩典在未來的世代顯示給我们.

彼前 1 Peter 1:3–5 (NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 3願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神，他曾照自己的大憐憫，藉耶穌基督從死裡復活重生了我們，叫我們有活潑的盼望，4可以得著不能朽壞，不能玷污，不能衰殘，為你們存留在天上的基業‧5你們這因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得著所預備，到末世要顯現的救恩‧

V. We are God’s masterpieces. 我们是神的工作(傑作). (弗 Eph 2:8-10) God’s work for us. (v.8-9) 神替我们所做的工作. God’s work in us. (v.10a) 神在我们裡面所做的工作. God’s work through us. (v.10c) 神藉著我们所做的工作.

A. God’s work for us 神替我们所做的工作 8你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信，這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的‧9也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇‧ 8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (弗 Eph 2:8-9)

林後 2 Cor 5:17 若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人‧舊事已過，都變成新的了‧ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (NASB)

Proper Response: 适当的回應: Accept God’s free gift by faith. 用信心接受神救恩的礼物. (Justification-因信稱義)

B. God’s work in us 神在我们裡面所做的工作 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus. (2:10a, NLT) 我們原是他的工作(傑作)，在基督耶穌裡造成的.

ποίημα Masterpiece, Workmanship; 傑作, 工作 Poem (詩) Work of art (藝術創作) Literary work (文學作品) Uncut diamond (未磨好的鑽石) Work in progress until perfection. (罗 Rom 8:29; 腓 Phil 1:6) (神持續的傑作, 直到完美像基督為止)

詩 Psalm 23 1 耶和華是我的牧者‧我必不至缺乏‧ 2 他使我躺臥在青草地上，領我在可安歇的水邊‧ 1 耶和華是我的牧者‧我必不至缺乏‧ 2 他使我躺臥在青草地上，領我在可安歇的水邊‧ 3 他使我的靈魂甦醒，為自己的名引導我走義路‧ 4 我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害‧因為你與我同在‧你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我‧ 5 在我敵人面前，你為我擺設筵席‧你用油膏了我的頭，使我的福杯滿溢‧ 6 我一生一世必有恩惠慈愛隨著我‧我且要住在耶和華的殿中，直到永遠‧

Psalm 23 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. (NKJV)

Claude Monet Water Lilies

Rambrandt 1661 Self-Portrait as Apostle Paul 使徒保羅

Mount Rushmore Oct 1927 to Oct 1941 Gutzon Borglum & 400 Washington, Jefferson, T. Roosevelt, and Lincoln

神傑作的特性 Characteristics of God’s masterpieces 神重新創造的 (非妨造; 獨特的) Created anew (Unique, not imitation or copy) 在基督裡 In Christ Jesus 為了神的特別目的 For God’s own special purpose 神正在持續進行中的杰作 Work in progress (腓 Phil 1:6)

腓立比 Phil 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 我深信那在你們心裡動了善工的，必成全這工，直到耶穌基督的日子.

林後 2 Cor 4:16 所以我們不喪膽‧外體雖然毀壞，內心卻一天新似一天‧ Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 所以我們不喪膽‧外體雖然毀壞，內心卻一天新似一天‧

Our proper response to God’s work in us 我們对神在我们身上工作的合适回應 Teachable (可教/可学) Changeable (可改变) Moldable (可塑造) Continual growth (繼續不断地成長) Progressively more Christ-like (越來越像基督) Never a dirty old man/woman (不是個老不修) 林後 2Co 5:17; 4:16; 弗 Eph 2:10a ; 加 Gal 5:22-23

Progressively more Christ-like 越來越像基督 (加 Gal 5:22-23) 加 Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV84) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 22聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛，喜樂，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善，信實，23溫柔，節制‧這樣的事，沒有律法禁止‧

“Metamorphosis” Transformation “蛻變” 羅馬 Romans 12:2 林前 2 Cor 3:18, 弗 Eph 2:10 From Earthly Life to Heavenly Life

Monarch Egg (Process of Metamorphosis)

Monarch Caterpillar

Monarch Pupa

C. God’s work through us 神藉著我们所做的工作 (弗Eph 2:10b; 5:1; 彼前1Pet 2:9; 雅James 1:27; 彌迦Micah 6:8; 太Matt 5:16; 28:18-20; 約壹1John 3:18; 約John 15:8; 林前1Cor 3:10-15) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (弗 Eph 2:10b, NRSV) 為要叫我們行善，就是神所預備叫我們行的‧

太 Matthew 5:16 (NIV) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 你們的光也當這樣照在人前，叫他們看見你們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給你們在天上的父‧

彌迦 Micah 6:8 (NASB) He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? 世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善‧他向你所要的是什麼呢‧只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行‧

Proclaim the excellencies of Christ. 宣揚(彰顯)基督的卓越與美善. 彼前 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 惟有你們是被揀選的族類，是有君尊的祭司，是聖潔的國度，是屬神的子民，要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德‧

Proper Response: 我们合適的回應: We must display (proclaim) the excellencies of Jesus by our way of life, both in words and in deeds. 我们必須透過我们的日常生活型式, 包括我们的言與行, 來彰顯耶穌基督的特質.(西 Col 3:23-24; 罗 Rom 12:1)

VI. Personal Response 個人回应