Distorted Images – Distorted Images – part 1part 1

Distorted Images – Distorted Images – part 1part 1

Distorted Images Distorted Images

Through God’s eyesThrough God’s eyes God’s purposesGod’s purposes Aspects of Jesus’ life Aspects of Jesus’ life Kingdom economic Kingdom economic

principlesprinciples What faith is all aboutWhat faith is all about

Distorted Images Distorted Images

DistortedDistorted•Twisted or contorted

•Out of alignment or natural relations

•Misshapen; altered misleadingly;

•Imperfect•Misrepresented or perverted

ImagesImages• Reproduction or

representation: optical, photographic (either visible or undeveloped), digital, pictorial or sculpted

• Opinion, concept or mental picture often of symbolic value

Distorted ImagesDistorted Images

Ephesians 2: 1-2 & Ephesians 2: 1-2 & 4-10 4-10 (TNIV)(TNIV)

As for you, you were dead in your As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. at work in those who are disobedient.

But because of his great love for us, But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. been saved.

Ephesians 2: 1-2 & Ephesians 2: 1-2 & 4-10 4-10 (TNIV)(TNIV)

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

2 Corinthians 5: 17-2 Corinthians 5: 17-21 21 (TNIV)(TNIV)

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

2 Corinthians 5: 17-2 Corinthians 5: 17-21 21 (TNIV)(TNIV)

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

Who are we?Who are we?Ephesians 2: 1-2 & 4-10Ephesians 2: 1-2 & 4-10

We’re alive: We’re alive: • We were dead – but no longer

We’re in a privileged positionWe’re in a privileged position• Raised and seated with Christ – a place

of honour We’re examplesWe’re examples

• God wants to show us off We’re called to serveWe’re called to serve

• God has a specifically created purpose for us

In God’s eyesIn God’s eyes

I I waswas a sinner but I have been a sinner but I have been saved by grace: saved by grace: past tensepast tense

I I amam a child of God – a new a child of God – a new creation: creation: present tensepresent tense – “the new – “the new isis here” here”The Spirit himself testifies with our The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ with Christ Romans 8: 16-17 (TNIV)Romans 8: 16-17 (TNIV)

An heir of God and co-heir with An heir of God and co-heir with JesusJesus

Points to PonderPoints to Ponder

Where are you on this Where are you on this continuum? continuum?

Sinner Sinner saved saved by graceby grace

Co-heir Co-heir with with

JesusJesus

SpiritualSpiritualimmaturityimmaturity

SpiritualSpiritualmaturitymaturity

1Corinthians 3: 1-31Corinthians 3: 1-3 Hebrews 5: 12-14Hebrews 5: 12-14

Promise to ClaimPromise to Claim

John 5:24 (NCV)John 5:24 (NCV)

““I tell you the truth, whoever I tell you the truth, whoever hears what I say and believes in hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but has already be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life.”left death and entered life.”

Promise to ClaimPromise to Claim

John 5:24 (NCV)John 5:24 (NCV)

““I tell you the truth, whoever I tell you the truth, whoever hears what I say and believes in hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me the One who sent me hashas eternal life. That person will not eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but be judged guilty but hashas alreadyalready left death and entered life.”left death and entered life.”