(Part 6 of a series)

This series explores two essential topics: God and people. When children know who God really is and what He says about who they really are, they can confidently navigate faith and life. Kids must know both the Lord and themselves intimately—not superficially.

God matters most. Learning about the Lord is more important (and more rewarding) than anything else we can do!

People matter to God. People who truly grasp what God says about their identity finally understand who they are and how to live.

The question, “How Do You Relate to God?” follows naturally from the previous topic, “How Does God Relate to You?” Read that article of this series here.

“How Do You Relate to God?”

Short Answer
“You are God’s blameless believer.” You express personal faith in God’s Son who died to forgive your sins. At that moment, God erases your every mistake, declares you to be “righteous,” then He gives you salvation and eternal life. You are “blameless” before Him!

Biblical Answer

As a direct result of faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross, God transforms your world and renews your identity.

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, ²²yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:21-22)

Instead of being “in Adam,” you are now “in Christ.”

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Expanded Answer

Let’s examine “salvation” from the human perspective.

YOU MAKE A DO-OR-DIE DECISION. Believers welcome the Lord as Savior; you embrace salvation.

The pivotal decision begins with understanding the “bad news”—we must face our personal sin. God is holy and just; we do wrong and are separated from Him (Romans 3:23). God judges every sin; we must pay for all our wrongs (Romans 6:23a). Thankfully, God provides a solution to this desperate situation. God’s Son lived on earth but never sinned; He died on the cross in our place (Romans 5:8). Then Jesus Christ rose from the grave; He triumphed over our sin and death (Romans 10:9). As a result, God offers forgiveness and new life; we can trust Him to pardon our sins (John 5:24).

And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, ³⁰and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:29-31).

YOU BEGIN A TOTAL MAKEOVER. Believers undergo conversion; you exchange old ways for new.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

From this point forward, everything changes for the believer! We have a new identity; united with God’s Son, we die on the cross and rise together “in Christ” (Galatians 2:20). We escape sin’s enslavement and become free to follow God (Romans 6:5-7). Disciples renounce wrong allegiances and treasure friendship with God (John 1:11-13). We face forces of evil, but God helps us resist Satan’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11-12). Disciples abandon the darkness to live in the light; we prevail by faith (1 John 5:4).

YOU GAIN A SPIRITUAL NATURE. Believers walk in the Spirit; you deny self and obey the Lord.

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:6-7).

When we place our faith in Christ, God infuses us with a new “spiritual” nature. The Holy Spirit indwells us. Though we still wrestle with our old “sinful” nature, we now have God’s power to resist sin and follow Him. Our spiritual nature affects every part of our lives:

Intellect. Disciples value truth and wisdom; you retrain your brain (Romans 12:2).
Emotions. Disciples reveal passion for God and for good; you express righteous feelings (Philippians 2:1-2).
Conscience. Disciples maintain moral integrity; you guard a virtuous life (1 Timothy 1:5).
Will. Disciples surrender to God’s desires; you choose what pleases Him (Philippians 2:12-13).
Body. Disciples are temples of the Holy Spirit; you present your anatomy to God (Romans 12:1).

So, how do you now relate to God? —“You are God’s blameless believer.”

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, (2 Peter 3:14)

Application Ideas:

If you are not certain that God has forgiven your sins, make a “do-or-die” decision right now!
Thank God for solving your “sin problem” and for giving you a “spiritual” nature.
Pledge allegiance to please God by doing what is right!

Read the next article in this series: What Is God Doing?