Power of As IF

Key Scripture: "Being justified freely by His grace.." Romans 3:24

Power Point:

     In years past, one of my Bible teachers taught me that you could interpret the word "justified", as "just-as-if-I've never sinned." That's a pretty profound thought isn't it? When you look at the promises of God for us, they really are based on justification. God really looks at His children just as if they've never sinned.  Just like Jesus.
    I hear people use the phrase, "as if" frequently.   It usually is meant to imply that what we are saying is too silly to believe-too impossible for words. Mothers are particularly familiar with this term. "Right Mom! As if!"
    That leads me to the thought that if Jesus makes a difference in our lives, it may look strange to other people, but that's not supposed to stop us is it?

Are we not supposed to live as if heaven was available on earth? Is that silly?

Is the Bible true? Then aren't we supposed to live our lives as if it means what it says?

If Jesus said He came to set us free, then why do we live as if we are still bound up?

Is there anyone beyond His reach as if He can only reach so far?

Is there anything too difficult for Him to transform into a good thing as if His power was not greater than whatever is in the world around us?

As if.  You hear people say that as though they're really denying something.  "Yeah. Right.  AS IF!"  They look at you when you try to tell them that God loves them as though you had two heads and they are thinking "As if that could really be true!"

People will believe the Jesus in us when we live as if He is alive and well.

They will want more of a Savior who treats them as if they had never sinned.  They will be more accepting of a God who doesn't condemn them but acts as if the best is yet to come.

You will find your own life more powerful and peaceful when you begin to believe that what Jesus said is what He meant.  As if abundance in our lives was a goal for Him and a promise to us.  As if  safety, and comfort and love were meant to be a daily occurrence for us.

When we live life as if Jesus is relevant to every part of it , and as if His promises are true for every one of us, you won't be able to keep people away from Him.

Power Thought:

When we live as if Jesus matters.  He will. To us and to everyone we know.