LIVING FROM A REDEEMED HEART
FAITH REFINEMENT
We seek inner refinement of our faith, since we still have parts of our hearts that have impure faith. We are purposefully embracing this design: “that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:7
The goal of faith refinement is that we would praise Jesus more wholeheartedly.
EXPOSING LIES
We have all knowingly and unknowingly believed lies told to us by ourselves, the culture, and Satan. Only when we have the lies that we are believing exposed can we replace them with truth.
“He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 8:44
INNER TRANSFORMATION
Transformation is a work of God, done by his Holy Spirit. We are unable to pull ourselves up by our own spiritual bootstraps, and so we come to God for deep, real, and powerful transformation.
God changes us from the inside out, not through us performing better or trying harder.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
CONNECTION TO GOD
In the beginning, Adam and Eve had unhindered and perfect connection with God. Satan’s lies, our sin, and the resulting Fall all severed that connection. In Christ, God has restored the access to connection with Him, so that we might enjoy God and be his people again.
“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
Ephesians 2:18-19