Approved by God

In this powerful message with Pastor Josh Ramirez, we learn about how God's approval can change our lives. By looking at Galatians 2:19-21, we see how we can stop trying to get people to like us and start accepting that God loves us no matter what. The main idea is about seeing ourselves as part of Jesus – in both His death and coming back to life. This isn't just a symbol; it's a big change where we leave our old ways behind and let Jesus live through us. We are encouraged to trust in Jesus's faith, not just our own, which helps us live bravely and with purpose. This message tells us to stop trying to get people to approve of us and instead rest in knowing that Jesus has already made us worthy.

Here are the scripture references mentioned or alluded to in the sermon, along with some relevant verses for the main themes discussed:

Galatians 2:19-21 (The main text for the sermon)

2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Luke 3:22 (alluded to) - "and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'"

Luke 9:23 (alluded to) - "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"

John 12:24 (alluded to) - "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Romans 8:11 (alluded to) - "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."

John 17:14-16 (alluded to) - "I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."

2 Peter 2:22 (alluded to) - "Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.'"

Ephesians 2:8-9 (alluded to) - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

Romans 8:15 (alluded to) - "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"

Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Isaiah 53:1 (alluded to) - "Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"