My dad often uses the four A’s to help people understand this concept. He will write the following four words on a piece of paper: Authority, Accountability, Affirmation, and Acceptance. Then he will ask: “Do you see God as an authority to whom you are accountable, from whom you seek affirmation and acceptance by your good behavior? Or is it the other way around? Does God accept you in Christ, affirm you as His child, and ask you to be accountable to His authority on that basis?” If the person identifies most strongly with the
