Vertical Relationship

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE

Our foundation as we unpack this idea of is found throughout the Bible. It is a principle God gave his people back in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 4:5 CSB

Look, I have taught you statutes and ordinances as the Lord my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to possess.

Chapter 6 and Jesus reiterated to his disciples. Infact he said it was so important that all the Jewish law and the teacheings of the the ancient prophets hang upon it. It is a statement called the Great Commandment. We have simplified it for this series. Love God, Love People.

Matthew 22:36–40 CSB

“Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

One sententnce that can radically change the world. Five words that form a hinge (what good is a door without a hinge?) for your life. I think they can relate to at at least 3 categories of relationships. Our Vertical Relationship, Our Internal Relationship, and our Horizontal relationship. Tonite we will unpack the Vertical Relationship. So, lets pray as we get started tonite.

<Pray>

Our entire lives are defined by our vertical relationship with God. He has demonstrated His love for us by sending his son and in response we welcome His love into our hearts and allow that love to redefine who we are.

Read with me a passage from Romans 5

Romans 5:2–5 CSB

We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

God Loved us first. He made it possible for a fallen sinful person to approach a pure, holy God. He redefines our heat and gives us access to a reality of grace through faith. God Loved us.

How many of you know God loves you?

How many of you knew God loved you first?

In another part of the Bible it says while we were stinking dead in our sin Christ died for us. Christ broke the paywall. He paid the price of our sin to give us the free gift of everlasting life. That is called redemption.

Christ Redeemed us

God loved us

Great reasons to have a positive outlook on life, Right? but, the book of Romans says we can boast for these reasons AND in afflictions. Even when we are boxed in, pinned down by our troubles ve can still boast because we have hope because

God Loves Us

Christ Redeems Us

and The Holy Spirit fills Us With Love

God Loves Us, Christ Redeems Us, and The Holy Spirit Fills Us With Love

We are able to love because God Loves us and gives us the ability to do so.

Some of you may have God calling you into a relationship with him. Some of you may need to talk to you me, or your parents privately. Some of us may need to embrace the fact that we have hope. So right now in this moment. Lets let it soak in God Loves US