World's psychology
World's view of man is that man is central, that man's personal needs are foundational to man's problems.

• Man's personal problems stem from his needs.

God's view
Man is not to view or consider himself worthwhile, because his basic need is for God to regard man as worthwhile.

l Cor. 4:3-4 -

1. Not a matter of self-evaluation, this results in:
   Pride, boasting, self-satisfaction on one side, and on the other side, low self-esteem, depression, envy, etc.
2. Not a matter of other's evaluation of us either, the desire for approval and acceptance.
3. It is a matter of God's evaluation, this is the key:
   -doesn't matter what I think or what others think, but it matters WHAT God thinks.

Man is bound to God, accountable to God, has his very being in God, sustained by God, given gifts by God, made alive by God, man saved, redeemed and judged by God. Therefore, we must not start with man; but man with God. Man's loss of value was due to sin. Thus, sin must be dealt with above all other factors.

• Creation: Gen 1:26-28 - God created man in His own image, therefore, man is of great value and significance to God. Man given all power and wisdom necessary to run this earth, and all that man needed to do was to obey.
• Sin: Sin made man useless and vain. Man was created without any lack whatsoever, created significant and secure. God created man to have an ethical and moral relationship and to be accountable to God.
• Problem: Man's problem derived from sinful wants and desires, not from unmet need. Man wants immortality, salvation, freedom from guilt, wants meaning and fulfillment, happiness, riches, sense of perfection, self-worth, wants to be God without God.
  Matt. 6:33 : Jn. 14:21 , 27 -God gives us all we need as a by-product, all I need to do is to obey: to live by love, to live by faith, and put His Word first in my life.
• Insecurity and Insignificance:This is due to sin because it is sin that makes me feel unworthy. The fruit of sin are all the negatives of life:poor self-image, unstable, depression, envy, anger, frustration, etc. What a person needs is the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is what makes one feel worthy before God. Man needs a new obedience, a renewed mind. God is always there, ready always to meet our needs. He never leaves a vacuum.
• GOSPEL: Gospel is not given to us to meet some unmet need. Gospel met man's need in respect to his sin problem. Thus, the biblical view of man is that man starts off with God, being bound to God, accountable to Him, and God will take care of his needs.

Therefore, at the bottom of man's heart is a sin problem , not some unmet need. As he holds himself accountable to God through the blood of the cross, God will take care of all his needs.

1. Eph. 1:4 - Knowledge that I have inherent worth, God chose me before the foundation of the earth. I don't have to perform to get this value or sense of worth.
2. Romans 8:13-17 - Knowledge that I am secure, that I belong. I am a citizen of heaven, and adopted into God's family.
3. Col. 2:9-10 - Knowledge that I am in Christ, that I am complete in Him. I don't have to complete my self or work towards it. I move from this source of wisdom within me, and work out and fulfill what God has already planned for my life on this earth.
4. 2 Cor. 5:17-21 - Knowledge of a sense of purpose , reason for living because God sends me as He did His Son to be an ambassador for Christ on earth, to reconcile others to Himself.
5. Romans 5:17 - Knowledge of personal confidence that as I walk in the Spirit, controlled by the Spirit, I reign in life thru righteousness over all evil. As I stand firm, the devil must leave.
6. Phil. 4:13 - Knowledge of the sense of empowerment, realize I can never fail in anything I undertake, and all I need to do is obey God, and His strength carries me through to a successful conclusion.
7. Rom. 8:37-39 - Knowledge of competence that as I clothe myself with Christ, I proclaim the victory of the cross in all endeavors.

World Focus: Positive thinking, think your way through it by will-power but there is an absence of power.

God's View: Think God's truth, and the Holy Spirit is the power that accomplishes, not wishful thinking.

Thus, see self in God's eyes, His concepts , His ideas. He created me in His image, filled me with the Holy Spirit, endowed me with gifts and talents, and gives to me the power to do what He has already worked and willed in me to do. ( Romans 12:12-13 , Phil. 2:12-13 )

My job now is to maximize what God put into me, and that by simple obedience to His word. All my needs will be provided for as a by-product.

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