Distorted Images – part 1

Distorted Images  Through God’s eyes  God’s purposes  Aspects of Jesus’ life  Kingdom economic principles  What faith is all about

Distorted Images  Distorted Twisted or contorted Out of alignment or natural relations Misshapen; altered misleadingly; Imperfect Misrepresented or perverted  Images Reproduction or representation: optical, photographic (either visible or undeveloped), digital, pictorial or sculpted Opinion, concept or mental picture often of symbolic value

Distorted Images

Ephesians 2: 1-2 & (TNIV) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2: 1-2 & (TNIV) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

2 Corinthians 5: (TNIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.

2 Corinthians 5: (TNIV) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Who are we? Ephesians 2: 1-2 & 4-10  We’re alive: We were dead – but no longer  We’re in a privileged position Raised and seated with Christ – a place of honour  We’re examples God wants to show us off  We’re called to serve God has a specifically created purpose for us

In God’s eyes  I was a sinner but I have been saved by grace: past tense  I am a child of God – a new creation: present tense – “the new is here” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ Romans 8: (TNIV)  An heir of God and co-heir with Jesus

Points to Ponder Where are you on this continuum? Sinner saved by grace Co-heir with Jesus Spiritual immaturity Spiritual maturity 1Corinthians 3: 1-3 Hebrews 5: 12-14

Promise to Claim John 5:24 (NCV) “I tell you the truth, whoever hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life.”

Promise to Claim John 5:24 (NCV) “I tell you the truth, whoever hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life.”