Bible Studies

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CREATED UNTO GOOD WORKS - PART 1

God at the beginning of creation had a well-spelt out, predetermined plan and purpose He wanted man to fulfill. His creation plan was with a definite purpose. It was the purpose God had in His mind for man to accomplish that informed the way and manner in which He molded and fashioned man. Man is a creature of definite purpose. Just as a porter has a clear picture of what he wants to use a vessel for before setting out to mold it, so also was God at creation of man.

A. GOD LIKENED TO A PORTER: JEREMIAH 18:1-6; ISAIAH 64:8

The bible likens our God to a porter. To make us understand the mysteries of His purpose and plans for our lives, we need to establish the following facts:

I. The choice of what a particular vessel would be made for [that is, what it would be molded to do] lies with the porter and not the clay. Isaiah 45:9; This implies that we have no right to do differently from what purpose God intended for us when He made us.

II. From the same lump of clay, a porter can make various vessels of different sizes and shapes molding them to serve different purposes. Romans 9:20-21; This explains why each of us is unique and different, one from another. God molds us through our unique life experiences, tribulations and challenges for various purposes and use.

III. The shape of a vessel and the way it is molded can be a pointer to, or indication of the purpose or use for which it is made. A vessel molded into the shape of a cup, is likely to be for drinking and not for cooking like a pot.

MAN’S CREATION AND GOD’S PURPOSE

To make man fit for the purpose God intended for him to fulfill, it was necessary for God to mold man in a particular way and according to a specification. God’s purpose for man’s creation was clearly revealed in the way He created and fashioned man. From Genesis 1:26-28, we see the following specifications

I. Man was made in the image of God
II. Man was made in the likeness of God
III. Man was made to have dominion and authority
IV. Man was made to be fruitful and multiply
From the way and manner God made man, it can be established that man shared some similarities and features with his creator.
At creation, the following similarities were found between man and God. –This was before the fall man.

I. Man was made a spirit being – God is Spirit John 4:24
II. Man was sinless and pure – God is holy and perfect
III. Man had authority and dominion over the earth – God has absolute authority and dominion over all
IV. Man had great wisdom and extra-ordinary intelligence –This was revealed in Adam’s ability to give names to hundred’s of thousands species of animals on earth – God has immeasurable wisdom and knowledge

Remember we said that the way a vessel is made is a pointer to the purpose the vessel will serve. So if man was made to look like God, we can confidently say that man was made to perform roles similar to those performed by the Almighty God!
It is a pity however that man gave in to sin and therefore fell short of the grace and the purpose of God.

C. MAN’S FALL AND THE OUTCOMES

Before the fall, man was fit for God’s divine purpose but after man fell into sin, the followings happened to him:

I. The nature of God in man was replaced with sinful nature
II. Man became a slave of sin, he lost the authority and the mandate to rule
III. Man lost the glory bestowed upon him and as a result became naked and empty
IV. Man was cut off from God and became dead spiritually
V. Man lost everything!

In this sinful and deplorable state, it is not possible for man to fulfill the purpose for which he was originally made. This is because man, as a vessel, was totally defiled and is therefore no longer fit to fulfill the divine purpose. Man in the fallen state can never fulfill the purpose of God.

The only way God could deal with this problem and restore man to His original plan and purpose for him was to RE-CREATE [CREATE A NEW], RE-MOLD, RE-FASHION, man! Nothing else would do.

RE-CREATION IS THE ANSWER

I. Re-creation not Renovation! II Corinthians 5:17; Recreation work begins and ends in Christ. This re-creation work must bring a permanent end [death] to first Adam so as to mold man a new. The first Adam must die, not redressed
II. Re-creation is through Christ Ephesians 2:10;

Here is a vital question: Can anyone who is not born again find and fulfill the purpose of God?

THE RECREATED MAN AND GOD’S DIVINE PURPOSE

Man was the last and completion of God’s creation. Remember after God created man on the sixth [6th] day, He ceased from working and entered into rest. And since God ceased from working, we have not heard it in the scriptures that he resumed back to work! Why did God cease from working? The reason is clear – God ceased from working so that He may give room to man whom He made in His image and likeness to work out his will, plan and purpose on earth. God wanted to work through the man He made and that was why He Himself gave all things to man. Man was not in competition with his maker but was made to do God’s pleasure here on earth. The reason God made man in His own image and likeness is that man would be fit to do ALL that GOD would want to do here on earth.

The recreated man in Christ excels in glory and honour, even beyond the first man – Adam. Let’s see what the recreated man looks like.

I. The re-created man sits with Christ in heavenly places far above principalities and powers Ephesians 2:6;
II. The re-created man in Christ greater than angels and all celestial beings Hebrew 1:14;
III. The re-created man in Christ has unrestricted access to the throne of God
IV. The re-created man in Christ blessed with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places beyond this physical realm Ephesians 1:3-4;
V. The re-created man in Christ has escaped condemnation and curse that was placed on first Adam


The expectation of God on those who have been recreated through Christ Jesus is very high. This is because they are the only set of people He could work through to fulfill His plan and purpose here on earth. We need to get something right. Someone may ask that does it mean God cannot use a person who is not re-generated to do His will. The answer is simple. God may use an un regenerated fellow momentarily for certain things or purpose, but, when He does, the person is only a tool to be used and dumped not a vessel to be cherished and kept! After all the donkey of Balaam spoke with a man’s voice when God did not find an alternative!

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