Question 1

Do I have to earn God’s approval?

Accepted Answer

Romans 8:39No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.Galatians 2:19When I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God.We cannot earn God’s approval because he already approves of us. God’s approval is not based on performance but on the fact that we are his creations. Our performance should be an expression of gratitude to God, not a means to gain his approval.Romans 3:23; 10:9Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard . . . [But] if you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.Romans 8:38Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.God loves us unconditionally, but he never approves of sinful behavior. Deliberately rejecting his Word defies him and hurts us and others. And it harms our relationship with him. When we understand that our sin is what separates us from God and that Jesus died and rose again to remove our sin and restore our relationship with God, we realize how much God values us. When we confess our sins to him, seek his forgiveness, and commit to following Jesus, we are approved for an eternal life in the presence of God. A great difference stands between God’s unconditional love for us (he doesn’t love us more or less because we trust in Christ for salvation) and his conditional salvation (he only saves those who admit they have sinned and need his forgiveness). Understanding that difference is a matter of life and death.Matthew 25:23“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’”Those who consistently do a good job can usually be trusted with more freedom and responsibility. Their work has received approval from someone higher up. In the same way, the more we serve God, the more he will reward our faithfulness and give us opportunities to serve him with more freedom and responsibility. God’s love for us (which never changes) is different from his approval of our work (which is based on how well we serve him).

Question 2

If God’s approval is not earned, how can I receive it?

Accepted Answer

John 3:16“This is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”Hebrews 11:5It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—he disappeared, because God took him. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.We receive God’s approval by simply believing that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son and that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins so that we can have eternal life with him. We need to do nothing else!

Question 3

What should I not approve?

Accepted Answer

Romans 13:13Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.We should not approve of anything that contradicts God’s Word.Romans 6:12Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.We should not approve of or try to justify our sinful behavior or allow sin to control the way we live.

Question 4

How should I show my approval of others?

Accepted Answer

Romans 12:9-10Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.Loving and serving others affirms their value and worth as creations of God and demonstrates that we see them and approve of them the way God does. This does not meant that we approve of everything they say and do.

Question 5

What actions or qualities lead to God’s approval?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 12:2The Lord approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness.Romans 2:13Merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.Romans 3:30There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.Faith in God and obedience to his revealed Word leads to receiving approval from him.

Question 6

How do I balance my need for approval by God and my desire for approval by others?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 3:3-4Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.Romans 14:17-18The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.1 Thessalonians 2:4Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.We should always live for God’s approval, even if that means losing the approval of others. Sometimes doing what pleases God also pleases others (especially godly people), but that will not always be the case. God has many enemies who love evil more than good, and their approval is not desirable.

Question 7

How should I respond when others disapprove of my faith?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?Our value is determined by God’s approval, not by the approval or disapproval of others. Our ultimate purpose should be to please God who made us and redeemed us, no matter what others may think of us. We should focus on him and feel his approval.John 5:41“Your approval means nothing to me.”Jesus’ strong words came from his unwavering confidence in God’s approval and his own freedom from being a slave to human opinion. We, too, can live free from the bondage of human opinion and criticism when we truly understand and celebrate God’s love and approval.

Question 8

Why is showing my approval of others important?

Accepted Answer

Job 29:24“When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.”Our smile and words of approval may be the greatest gift someone receives today.Proverbs 18:4Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.Our words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.

Question 9

How can I communicate approval to others?

Accepted Answer

Philippians 1:3-6Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.2 Thessalonians 1:3-4Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.Paul’s letters were filled with expressions of approval and encouragement. Instead of criticizing and finding fault, we make much more of an impact by seeing others as God sees them and speaking words of approval and encouragement to others, affirming their worth as God’s children.

Approval