How God Sees Us - Part 2

Episode #12: How God Sees Us – Part 2 1. Justified by Faith – Our Standing with God Romans 5:1 – We are justified by faith. Justification comes through our confidence in Jesus—not our works. Because of Jesus' blood, we now have peace with God. Romans 5:2 – Because of our confidence, we are justified. Justification gives us access to God's grace. Grace = Divine influence upon the heart and its results. God's grace transforms us from the inside out. 2. Seeing the Bible Through the Eyes of the Garden Genesis 1-2 – The Garden of Eden represents God's original plan. Adam and Eve were created for God and with God. Before the fall, there was no separation between God and man. After the fall, Satan became the ruler of the earth. Adam forfeited his dominion, and sin entered the world (Luke 4:6). We were made in the image of God. Just as a son reflects his father, we were made to reflect God's character. God desires to walk through life with us, just as He did with Adam (Genesis 3:8). 3. God's Love is Not Conditional Romans 9:13 – Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. "Hated" means "to love less"—not literal hatred. God's love is for all His creation, but some choose not to follow Him. Romans 5:6 – While we were on Satan's plantation, God made a way for us to leave and join Him. Even before we knew Him, God was working to redeem us. Why would God send His wrath on those He has already saved? 4. Who We Serve Determines Our Master Romans 6:16 – You are the servant of whom you obey—Obey God. Choosing sin = serving sin. Choosing obedience to God = serving righteousness. Romans 8:1 – There is now no condemnation for those in Christ who walk after the Spirit. If you are led by the Spirit, there is no condemnation. Walking in the Spirit means living in the freedom of Christ. Romans 8:2 – The law of the Spirit of Jesus is life and has set us free from the law of sin and death. Before Jesus, there was only sin and death. The law could not bring life because it relied on weak human flesh. Jesus fulfilled the law so we could walk in righteousness. 5. Flesh vs. Spirit – The Battle for Our Minds Romans 8:5 – Those who walk after the flesh think about fleshly things. The natural mind is focused on temporary and worldly desires. The Spirit-led mind is focused on eternal things. Romans 8:6 – To dwell on the flesh leads to death; to dwell on the Spirit leads to peace. A fleshly mindset leads to spiritual decay. A Spirit-led mindset leads to life and peace. Romans 8:7 – The carnal mind is at war with God. The natural man resists submission to God. The flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8). Romans 8:10 – If Jesus is in you, the body is dead, but your spirit is alive. Though our bodies will perish, our spirits have eternal life in Christ. 6. Our Authority as God's Children Romans 8:19 – All creation is waiting for us to take our rightful place in authority. The earth itself is longing for God's people to walk in their identity. Romans 8:21 – When we take our place in authority, the whole earth shall be set free. The victory of believers affects creation itself. 7. The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray Romans 8:26 – The Holy Spirit helps us when we do not know what to pray. The Spirit intercedes for us in alignment with God's will. Romans 8:27 – The Holy Spirit searches our hearts and knows the mind of God. When we don't know what to say, He prays through us. 8. Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love Romans 8:33-39 – Who shall bring an accusation against God's people? God is the one who justifies. Jesus died, rose, and intercedes for us. Nothing can separate us from God's love—not tribulation, persecution, famine, distress, or danger. In all these things, we are more than conquerors! 9. Judgment and the Danger of Condemning Others Luke 6:37 – Judge not, so you won't be judged. Many people assume that someone's hardships are due to sin. Judging others opens the door to the enemy in our own lives. When you bring an accusation against someone, you are working with the enemy. Satan is the accuser (Revelation 12:10). When we condemn others, we align ourselves with his agenda instead of God's grace. Final Thoughts We are justified by faith, not by works. We were created for relationship with God, and He desires to walk through life with us. Fleshly thinking leads to destruction, but Spirit-led thinking leads to life and peace. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and helps us pray. Nothing can separate us from God's love. Judging others aligns us with the enemy—grace and love align us with God.