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How do I know if I’m OK? What makes people feel good about themselves?
1. Self respect, a feeling of self-worth 2. Self acceptance – meet my standards 3. Respect of others 4. Acceptance of others – meeting their expectations, such as being: ….A. a good student, meeting requirements for good grades ….B. a good employee, meeting job requirements ….C. a good friend and/or spouse, meeting requirements for good companionship ….D. a good parent, meeting needs of children ….E. a good family member, contributing to family needsIn many cases a person is accepted by others if they think he or she is “doing their best”.How do I know if I’m not OK? What makes people have negative feelings about themselves? 1. Lack of self respect and acceptance 2. Lack of respect and acceptance from others 3. Efforts to meet own standards and expectations of others have failed How do I know if I’m OK in God’s sight? What are God’s standards? Who can meet God’s standards? What is God’ punishment for those who don’t meet His standards? Romans 6:23 What is the purpose of the Law? Romans 3:20 We have broken he law, we cannot pay the penalty, so we must accept the punishment -separation from God. BUT, because of God’s love, he sent his son Jesus into our world. Jesus obeyed the law perfectly, he met God’s standard (John 8:29), so God ended the first system of sacrifices so that he could set up the new system. He accepted the sacrifice of his son so that our sins could be forgiven. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved (HebrewslO:5-10,14) so that we can be OK in God’s sight. God offers this free gift of forgiveness and new life to those who believe in Him and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So you can see that the Bible teaches that JESUS is the key to a right relationship with God. But throughout history, many have rejected him, refused to receive him, just as the Jewish religious leaders did 2000 years ago. Those religious leaders, along with the majority of people today, felt that they were OK with God because they kept the religious laws and offered sacrifices. They accused Jesus of breaking the laws because he healed people on the Sabbath day, their day of rest. The Jews tried all the harder to kill Jesus; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus said to them, “These things I do (miracles, healing) are the things my Father gave me to do. They show that the Father sent me.. .You have never heard his voice. You have never seen what he looks like. His teaching does not live in you BECA– USE YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN THE ONE THAT THE FATHER SENT. You carefully study the Scriptures because you think that they give you eternal life. Those are the same Scriptures that tell about me! But you refuse to come to me to have that life. I don’t want praise from men. But I know you – 1 know that you don’t have God’s love in you. I have come from my Father -1 speak for him. But you don’t accept me… You like to have praise from each other. But you never try to get the praise that comes from only God. So how can you believe? Don’t think that I will stand before the Father and say that you are wrong. Moses is the one who says that you are wrong. And he is the one that you hoped would save you. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me because Moses wrote about me (Genesis 3:15). But you don’t believe what Moses wrote. So how can you believe what I say?” John 5:18,36-47 Gal.3:10-11 Perhaps you believe in Jesus, but feel that your faith is weak. Hebrews 12:1-2 AM I OK? © Sue Found 1995 Return to Life Issues menu
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