His Work!

Creation was God’s masterful work. ( Genesis 1) It is He Who has the ability to make something from nothing and bring order out of chaos. Though there are those who have claimed to create life, what they have actually done is merely replicate it from that which God had already set into motion through His creation. As the creation in the beginning was God’s work, it appears to remain His work.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he urged them. . .
“(22) to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, (23) and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, (24) and to put on THE NEW SELF, CREATED AFTER THE LIKENESS OF GOD in true righteousness and holiness.” ( Ephesians 4:22-24)

The Greek word used by Paul that is translated “created” is the verb “ktisthenta” and is from “ktizo”. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, “ktizo” was a word used by the Greeks in reference to founding a place, city, or colony. However, in Scripture the word is always used for the act of God whether it is in reference to the physical creation or spiritual creation (as in our text above). What we become Paul called “the NEW SELF” is still a work of God. We cannot become like Him -- have the original image He designed us to possess ( Genesis 1:27) -- “in true righteousness and holiness” without it being His work. Therefore we must be submissive to Him and His Will for that marvelous masterful work to continue. This work begins after we have been united with Christ, for it is in Him that we become a “NEW CREATION.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:17) As Strong’s Greek Lexicon refers to one of the meanings of this word as being “to make habitable”, it is God Who creates us to become a suitable habitation for “true righteousness and holiness”; His likeness. May we allow God’s wondrous creative work to continue in our life. Remember, He does not make junk!

Have a great day PRAISING THE GOD WHO CAN STILL BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS!
Carl

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