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CREATION
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. — Genesis 1:1
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. — Genesis 1:31
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. — John 1:1
Living in light of Creation means:
- Acknowledging you are a created being, living within the universe God created and owns.
- Realizing God determines the laws (physical, moral, and otherwise) of His universe.
- Acknowledging humans are not the ultimate life form and are all under the same reign of the same God.
FALL
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” — Genesis 2:16-17
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” — Genesis 3:4-5
Living in light of the Fall means:
- Realizing your sin breaks the unchangeable moral laws God set for His creation.
- Confessing you are a sinner who would have disobeyed God just as Adam and Eve did.
- Confessing you cannot erase or fix your own sin, and therefore require God’s help for your sin to be forgiven.
GOSPEL
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die–but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. — Romans 5:6-9
Living in light of the Gospel means:
- Realizing God’s solution for forgiving your sin does not require your works.
- Believing God’s good news (His gospel), that through Jesus’ sacrifice, He is able to forgive sins.
- Taking God at His Word, believing in faith that He is faithful to forgive your sins if you trust in Jesus.
RESTORATION
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins … But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, — Ephesians 2:1, 4-6
Living in light of Restoration means:
- Celebrating God’s kindness, demonstrated in Jesus’ loving sacrifice of His own life for you.
- Living a life of worship, taking constant joy in the realization God loves you and is now living through you.
- Joining God on His mission to teach the gospel to others that they may believe also.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. — Hebrews 4:12
Pursuing the Bible means:
- reading it (Nehemiah 8:8)
- singing it (Colossians 3:16)
- meditating on it (Psalm 119:15)
- memorizing it (Proverbs 7:1-3)
- speaking it (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
- applying it (Ezra 7:10)
We pursue the Bible because:
- God reveals His will to us through His Word.
- The Bible is the highest authority for what we believe and practice.
- Our faith is clarified and nourished by meditating on Scripture.
- The Bible is not just true, but truth itself.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. — John 16:13-14
Pursuing the Spirit means:
- Reading the Word of God with your heart open to the Holy Spirit.
- Trusting the Holy Spirit as your ultimate teacher, counselor, and guide.
- Continually surrendering to Him, longing to be so filled by Him that your life reflects that fruit produced by Him.
We pursue the Spirit because:
- The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus.
- The Holy Spirit helps us understand the bible.
- The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and replaces sin with holiness.
- The Holy Spirit equips us to do God’s will.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. — John 13:34-35
Pursuing the church means:
- Fulfilling the “one another” commands of Scripture becomes the regular practice of our lives.
- Confessing your sins to other believers, bearing the burdens of others, praying for others, encourage others, and more.
We pursue the Church because:
- We were not designed to live the Christian life alone. We need other believers. We are only one part of the body of Christ.
- Pursuing God’s people is inseparable from pursuing God.
- We all need encouragement from others to persevere onward in our walk with God.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:19-20
Pursuing the Great Commission means:
- Sharing your faith with others.
- Telling the testimony of what God has done in your life.
- Joining your local church in its efforts to reach your local community.
- Giving financially to your church’s efforts to fulfill the mission.
We pursue the Great Commission because:
- Our personal mission is an extension of God’s mission, which is all about Jesus.
- We all have gifts that are meant to serve God’s mission and strengthen Christ’s church. Therefore, your church needs you.
Worship
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. — Romans 12:1
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. — Psalm 29:2
Worship looks like:
- Living a lifestyle which itself is a sacrificial offering to Jesus.
- Making worship and all its forms a routine in your life and within your home.
- Gathering with your local church weekly for musical, Word-lead, Spirit-lead worship, committing yourself to prioritize worship in all you do.
We worship because:
- Such a great price was paid for us (Jesus’ life and blood) and therefore He deserves our worship in response.
- We were ransomed by Jesus and therefore those who believe in Him belong wholly to him.
- God directs His people to offer themselves as a living sacrifice and to worship Him, loving him with all we are and all we have.
Life Group
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. — Hebrews 10:24-25
Pursuing community with other believers looks like:
- Joining a life group that meets regularly to pray, study the bible, and fellowship.
- Seeking someone to personally disciple you (teach you how to follow Jesus).
- Seeking someone whom you can personally disciple.
We seek community with other believers because:
- We all need to be discipled (taught how to follow Jesus).
- All Christians are responsible for discipling others (the Great Commission).
- Fulfilling the “one another” commands of Scripture without being around other believers is impossible.
- The “one another” commands are perpetual, meaning they should become the on-going lifestyle of all believers.
Serve
[Jesus will say to his people] “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” — Matthew 25:35-40
Serving looks like:
- Living generously, finding ways to love others by all holy means necessary.
- Serving at your local church.
- Serving at other kingdom-building Christian organizations.
- Sacrificial financial giving to your local church and other kingdom-building efforts.
We serve others because:
- Jesus first served us.
- Serving others is one way by which people will come to hear and believe the gospel.
The Goal of the 4 Pursuits and the Reason to Live the Profile
“A love relationship with God through Jesus Christ…”
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. … If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. — John 14:21, 23
Participating in a love relationship with God means:
- Realizing that at its core, Christianity is about the restoration of your relationship with God, which has been secured through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Seeing yourself as an object of God’s love and making God the first and foremost object of your love.
Your love relationship with God happening “through Jesus” means:
- Apart from Jesus atoning for the sin that separates you from God, you cannot have a relationship with him.
- God gave Jesus to fill the gap between sinners and Himself. He filled the gap and we cannot.
“…characterized by a growing obedience that flows from faith…”
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith–to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. — Romans 16:25-27
A love relationship with God being “characterized by obedience” to Him means:
- Loving God and obeying God go hand-in-hand.
- Continually opening your life to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, that by the removal of sin you would be empowered by the Spirit to live a life of obedience.
Obedience to God “flowing from faith” means:
- Our own obedience itself is not something we empower, but rather it comes through faith in God.
- Faith and obedience go hand-in-hand.
“…by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. — John 14:25-26
Your relationship with God, your obedience, and even your faith itself being “empowered by the Holy Spirit” means:
- The Holy Spirit truly is the “helper” promised to us by Jesus Himself—the helper who speaks to the unbeliever that he or she may understand the bible and believe it, regenerates and seals the individual, and walks with that person over his or her entire life.
- The Holy Spirit is at work in the heart of an individual at the moment his or her relationship with God is restored through faith.
- The Holy Spirit is at work in all believers, conforming them into the likeness of Jesus Christ by gradually curing them of the disease of sin.
We are here to help you along your spiritual journey. If we can answer questions or further assist you, email us at info@gracepointestcloud.com.