The Limitless Love of God Week 2: Love the Source of Life (Creation) Part 2
Colossians 1:16, For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Italics added) (NKJV)
Here we find the three roles of Jesus in Creation: Architect, Agent, and Heir. In week 1 we discussed Jesus as the Architect of Creation. This week we will focus on Jesus the Agent of Creation. Jesus was the Person of the Godhead through whom the creative act was performed.
Jesus is the Agent of Creation
Webster 1828 dictionary defines agent as: An active power or cause; that which has the power to produce an effect. 1 “An agent is an individual with reasons for its behavior. Agents have goals (things they desire) and produce behavior which they believe will achieve those goals.” 2
John 1:1-3, In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. (AMPC)
When speaking of John 1:3, The Believer’s Bible Commentary states, “All things were made through Him. He Himself was not a created being; rather He was the Creator of all things. This includes mankind, the animals, the heavenly planets, the angels—all things visible and invisible. Without Him nothing was made that was made. There can be no possible exception. If a thing was made, He made it. As Creator, He is, of course, superior to anything He has created. All three Persons of the Godhead were involved in the work of creation: “God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). “The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2). “All things were created through Him (Christ) and for Him” (Col. 1:16b).” 3
Proverbs 8:30a, Then I [Wisdom] was beside Him as a master and director of the work; (AMPC) Here we see that Jesus, who is Wisdom, was active in creation. He was the agent (master/director) of all that was created.
Romans 1:20a, For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). (AMPC)
Again, here we see that it was Jesus’ handiwork that brought creation into existence. Creation requires a Creator and Design requires a Designer. Jesus is both the Creator and Designer of all we see and all we do not see.
Revelation 4:11, Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created. (AMPC) It was the express will of Jesus to create all things.
Ephesians 2:10, For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (AMPC)
It is this passage from Ephesians that I want us to focus on in this lesson.
“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship) …” We have already laid the foundation that Christ was the agent of creation. He did the creative work in the beginning.
Workmanship in Greek is poiēma, which means a work of art or a masterpiece. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines masterpiece as, anything done or made with superior or extraordinary skill.
In Psalm 139:13-14, David says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
We also read in Isaiah 49:1 that the prophet says, “Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.”
We were intentionally designed and created by Jesus. “Imagine the significance of being made by God’s own hands. It means that our lives are imbued (filled) with inherent value and worth. We are not just products of chance; we are the intentional creations of a loving and purposeful God. This reality affirms our significance and calls us to embrace our unique design and calling.” 4 (added for clarity) We were not accidents. It does not matter if our parents planned for us, Jesus did! In his love, he created us to be born at this time in history for a specific purpose. To be God’s masterpiece means we are his purposeful work!
“recreated in Christ Jesus…” It is also Jesus who does the “re-creative” work now. In his love for mankind, He became the agent of re-creation!
By re-create I mean, to form anew. When we come to Christ for salvation, we are made new creations. 2 Corinthias 5:17, Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! (AMPC) We are re-created into new masterpieces. This re-creation does not mean that our old ways of thinking or behaving (our condition) changes instantly, although they certainly can, rather it means our position has been changed. We were once dead in our trespasses and sin, but we are now made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1).
We talked in the previous lesson about the limitless love of Jesus that took him all the way to the cross to solve the problem with creation (sin). We read in Luke 22:42, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Jesus, out of his love for mankind and his obedience to the Father, gave up his right to choose and went to the cross for us. He knew that there would be pain and suffering involved in the crucifixion, however, I believe it was the total separation from the Father that was the hardest thing he had to face. Even while he was here on earth for those 33 years, the Father was always with him. In John 10:30, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” However, when he took on our sins, he was hanging there alone. The sky went dark, and Jesus cried, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46b NLT). It was in that moment of total isolation that Jesus paid the highest price.
Jesus was our substitute so we could be re-created from death into life, bound to free, and slaves to sons! He was separated from the Father so we could be united with Him!!
“[born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time] …”
The Phillips Translation of this portion of 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, and he has made us agents of the reconciliation. God was in Christ personally reconciling the world to himself—not counting their sins against them—and has commissioned us with the message of reconciliation. We are now Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were appealing direct to you through us. As his personal representatives we say, “Make your peace with God.” (Underline added)
We also read in Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
The good work God prepare for us is to be agents of reconciliation in the earth. We are to reconcile man to God through our love and testimony of His love for us. “These good works are not burdensome tasks but fulfilling and life-giving opportunities to reflect God’s character and love in the world.”
As new creations, we now have a purpose; to serve our Savior out of the love he has given us. Think of that, we serve out of love, but not our love, it is his gift of love that we get to use/spend. We serve out of the overflow of love we receive from God!!! Wow! We get to partner with God to minister to the lost, hurting, broken, weak, and defeated. He provides the love; we provide the hands and feet to take that love to the world. 5
“that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”
In conclusion, this is the good life!!! Through Jesus, the Agent of Creation, we are God’s workmanship! We are re-created in Christ; we have left the old and have been made new! Therefore, we get to partner with God to reconcile the lost, hurting, broken, weak, and defeated to our Savior by spending the overflow of his love for us to minister to the world!!
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