5. Four Eternal Truths
The stories we believe shape how we live.
Our circumstances reveal what’s really in our hearts, so, good or bad, our actions reveal what we believe.
Scripture shows that we often exchange the truth of God’s story for a lie (Romans 1:25)
Sinful acts have their root in this unbelief in God’s story — when we don’t believe what’s true about God, we live wrong as a result (Rom 14:23)
Changing our lives might start in challenging our belief — could the key to change lie in these 4 eternal truths?
The 4G’s are what we need:
The 4G’s summarize four eternal truths about God that can change how we live, set us free from sin, and even change our stress, fears, and relationship patterns. Here are the 4G’s:
God is great, so I don’t have to be in control | We may know (and say we believe) God is sovereign and in control of all things, but then we are filled with worry and anxiety about the many details of life. Therefore, we work to control certain people or situations. Can we repent of stressing out over people, circumstances, or our future? Can we replace control with trust?
God is glorious, so I don’t have to fear others | We may know (and say we believe) God outweighs the influence of all others but then we crave others’ approval or fear their rejection. Therefore, we are controlled by them and their opinion of us. Can we repent of fearing people and “needing” their approval? Can God’s opinion weigh more in our minds?
God is good, so I don’t have to look elsewhere for my satisfaction | We may know (and say we believe) God is the source of everything we need and even the best place to find satisfaction, but then we are filled with bitterness and disappointment when other things don’t make us happy or fulfilled. Therefore, we search continually for new ways to be satisfied or fulfilled. Can we repent of continually looking for fulfillment in appetites, purchases, or others? Can we replace thirst with being satisfied by what He provides?
God is gracious, so I don’t have to prove myself | We may know (and say we believe) God is gracious and shows kindness without merit, but then we are busy trying to prove we are worthy, valuable, or right. Therefore, we strive to impress, validate, or prove something. Can we repent of needing to look favorable or stand on our own feet? Can we replace self-worth with God’s unmerited favor?
This simple set of truths can form a powerful diagnostic tool for addressing many of the sins and negative emotions that cause us to struggle in everyday life.
Change from the center.
In the Bible, our hearts do more than pump blood. Over 850 times, the Bible uses “heart” to describe how we make decisions, feel emotions, are deceived, are impassioned for something, have a will toward things, think, or even reason. Heart is the center of our lives, shaping how we think, feel, and direct our actions.
We know with our head but believe with our heart
What our heart believes directs the course of our lives
Gaps appear between what we know with our head but believe with our hearts
We see the gaps most clearly by the way we live and what we choose in our struggles
The Bible knows this is the case and suggests we change from the center; this is what Jesus spent so much of His time on earth teaching us how to do. (It’s part of why people have followed Him for so many centuries and from so many areas of the world!) We have a word for the process of “closing” this gap between what we know in our head, believe in our heart, and so live in our lives. That word is “sanctification" — the process by which we become more like Jesus.
Scripture to discover
Look up the list of Scripture texts below and discover the common thread in each one. How can we best see what is true of God?
John 14:9
Colossians 1:15
Hebrews 1:3
If you are searching for ways to refute the mistruths and incorrect beliefs you have about God, what dependable places can you look?
Questions to discuss
Grab a blank sheet of paper and write a few thoughts in response to these questions. When you gather as a GC, you can draw on these responses in your discussion.
When you think of “sin,” do you usually think of actions (do’s and don’ts), attitudes, or beliefs? Why? What has shaped your thought most?
What would change if we started to look for the “unbelief behind the action”? How would this change our approach to sin, non-believers we know, or each other here in GC?
Which of the 4G’s grabs your attention most? Which resonates the most?
Where in your life are you saying, “I know God is ___ but…” What do you need to believe? How can our GC help?
How can you adopt the 4G thinking into your weekly conversations as a GC? Could you come up with ways to identify idols in conversation and remind each other of the truths of God and Scripture?
Thoughts to engage
Grab a blank sheet of paper and write a few thoughts in response to these questions. These get more into your experience of the Gospel and may be something you can discuss with others in your GC.
What seems to trigger sin most in your life? When do you most struggle with sin?
What failed “sin management” techniques have you employed in the past? How can the 4G’s change your approach? How can your GC change your approach?
Where are the gaps between your head and heart? Where in your experience have you believed one thing in your head but acted out of a different heart motive/perception? Struggling to find a few? Use these prompts to get started:
Areas of life that cause me to be stressed:
Areas of life that cause me to crave approval:
Areas of life that cause I complain most about:
Areas of life that I am overly sensitive about:
Chart out the 4G’s for yourself: ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of unbelief and help you repent and change. Write down your:
Areas of sin, frustration, and fear
The lies you believe about God in each area
The truths about God you want to start believing (and living!)
When done with this last exercise, pray over each daily, and ask a close friend or others in your GC to go through them with you. Ask if they confirm what you are learning, if they have any insight to support you, or if they have any additions to add to your list.