When we understand and embrace who Jesus is and what he has done, our self-opinion changes and our relationships follow. Paul teaches us that our conduct toward others ultimately relates to our self-opinion. People that live with superiority/inferiority complexes are not only out of touch with God

How do you replace a vice with a virtue? This is an age old question that has occupied mankind from the beginning. In short, how do we change? Christianity offers a unique answer to this question. However, even many Christians are unaware of it. In Galatians 5 Paul instructs us upon how vices are replaced with virtues.

In this day and nation freedom is discussed and debated on various levels: political, civil, personal. However, the discussion grows thin when we come to the topic of spiritual freedom. And, with this is a failure to understand how spiritual freedom relates to all other kinds of freedoms. Paul talks about the freedom that Jesus Christ brings

The Bible makes the case that there are really just two spiritual approaches and experiences. One approach seeks to achieve blessing and acceptance according some standard or law, and the experience is being enslaved to our fear and failure. The other approach relies upon God’s gracious promises and brings the experience of freedom, joy and hope, even midst of barrenness and sorrow. The gospel offer the latter.

From the Bible’s standpoint, idols are never merely wooden statues that pagans worshipped. Rather it is anything which is elevated to god-like status in our lives- so it may be a career or person; an inordinate desire to appear competent or creative. Paul argues that the gospel liberates us personally and relationally from these things.

A child who is secure in their status–accepted and loved–does much better in life than one who is not. The principle applies to our relationship with God as well. The Apostle Paul teaches that Jesus’ unique status as God’s Son is the doorway to ours. And, in the end, is the only basis upon which you and I can be assured of our place in God’s family as dearly loved children.

There is probably no question more relevant to us personally than

“Christianity is first a declaration of what God has done, before it is a direction of what we must do.” This statement is quite different than the spiritual/religious approaches of our world, which usually begins with ourselves as the starting point- doing rather than trusting. However, Paul argues that understanding the place of faith is not only critical to establishing our initial relationship with God, but also for growing in our relationship with God.

Christianity is an historical religion. In some faiths it’s not so important that the events happened or people existed