John Lloyd - Humanity: How God Sees Us
/Strengthen Your Core Series
Humanity: Seeing People as God Does
December 1, 2019
Pastor John Lloyd
Our physical bodies are made up of several core muscles. If kept in shape through exercise, they will function properly. God’s goal for followers is to make us more like Jesus. This happens when we think like Jesus, CORE beliefs, act like Jesus, CORE practices and be like Jesus, CORE virtues. We need to exercise our CORE in order to glorify God. We are now at the halfway point in our study of the key beliefs, practices and virtues. God created everything, but the pinnacle of creation was the mankind of human beings—creatures crated in the image of God. Humanity is special, and the Bibles is the record of the love story between Creator and created, between God and humans. Form the very beginning of time to the era of the modern-day church, God has loved and pursued his people in order to restore his image within and among them. Today, we will focus on the origins, the devastating human condition, God’s love to all and whoever, and seeing people as God sees them. God, please help us to see others as you do.
Key Question: How does God see us?
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again” (John 3:16 – 18 MSG).
Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Key Idea: I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior.
We value all human life.
We see and treat all people the way God sees and treats them.
We are compelled to tell all people about Jesus.
I. Examine how God has made us __________________.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
“From womb to tomb, we place a high value on human life.” Randy Frazee
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
II. Develop a clear definition of __________.
Romans 3:10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;”
Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.”
“The essence of sin, in other words, is that we do not live entirely to the glory of God. Of course by committing particular sins we aggravate our guilt before God, but you can be innocent of all gross sins and yet be guilty of these terrible things, of being satisfied with your life, of having pride in your achievements and looking down on others and feeling that you are better than others.” D. Martyn Lloyd Jones
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Everyone needs Jesus. I am born blind of this truth.
I could never be good enough on my own to earn salvation from God.
III. Humbly receive Jesus Christ and the gift of right ______________________ with God.
Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
“To be loved by God is the highest relationship, the highest achievement, and the highest position in life.” Henry Blackaby
I John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. II Peter 3:9
Everyone I see is on God’s heart to receive this gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. God grip me with the great truth of your gospel!
IV. Express God’s immense ______________ to those He brings into our lives.
Romans 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again” (John 3:16 – 18 MSG).
“Authentic behavior flows from a heart of genuine belief in human value.” Frazee
Luke 14:12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Romans 10:14-15
“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” C.S Lewis Mere Christianity
I Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
I Timothy 1:15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Reflective Questions: How would life change if we started to see people as God sees them? How would the world change if we truly believed the only way for people to enter heaven is through Christ?
Do you believe God loves all people? Do you see all people the way God sees them? Do you believe God has made salvation through Christ available for all people? If you do, you will be compelled to show respect to all people and love them enough to tell them about Jesus. If we refuse to show respect and love, we must face the hard fact that we don’t see people the way God sees them. For me, I know I have more pondering to do about the depth of my belief. How about you? Randy Frazee. Think, Act and Be Like Jesus
I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Spiritual Growth Questions for December 1, 2019
(Take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)
Humanity, use a scale of 1-6 to rate how strongly you believe the statements below (1 = no belief at all, 6 = complete confidence)
___ I believe that each person possesses a sinful nature and is in need of
God’s forgiveness.
___ I believe we are created in the image of God and therefore have equal
value, regardless of race, religion, or gender.
___ I believe all people are loved by God; therefore, I too should love them.
___ I believe the Holy Spirit is God and dwells in Christians to empower them
to live the Christian life.
1. Read Hosea 1:1-3, 3:1-3, Hosea 11:1-11. How does the book of Hosea show God’s discipline and punishment as well as his compassion and redemption? How do you see God’s discipline and punishment fitting in with your concept of God as a God of love?
2. Read Romans 1:18-32 and Romans 3:10-23. What do these passages reveal about humanity and the human condition? What stands out to you as you read them? What does falling short of the glory of God look like for you?
3. Luke 6:27-36. How does loving your enemies show the world that we are children of God?
4. Read I Timothy 1:15-16 two times. Using these verses, how does Paul respond to someone who doesn’t think they are good enough to be a Christian. What stands out to you from this passage?
5. Read I John 1:9-2:2, I John 3:20. Using this passage, how would you help someone who is struggling with forgiving themselves from some past sin or failure?
6. Read Acts 10:15. Discuss this quote: “You and I must never look at any sin in our past life in any way except that which leads us to praise God and to magnify His grace in Christ Jesus. It is a sin to allow the past, which God has dealt with, to rob us of our joy and usefulness in the present and in the future.”
7. What, if anything, hinders you from fully loving people the way God loves them?
8. What is something you can do this week to demonstrate this belief?
Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.