Pastor Aaron joins Pastor Victoria for a bold conversation about the true, unadulterated Holy Spirit—not the watered-down, pacified version much of the modern Church has become comfortable with.

The Holy Spirit is not merely an atmosphere, an emotion, a force, or an aspect of Jesus. He is the third Person of the Trinity—fully God, eternally present, and moving in divine power. He speaks, leads, convicts, teaches, comforts, sanctifies, empowers, and transforms.

In this episode, we confront the ways the Church has attempted to contain what cannot be controlled, quiet what cannot be silenced, and reduce the Holy Spirit to something safe and predictable. He was never given merely to make church more comfortable. He was sent to reveal Jesus, convict the world, empower believers, distribute spiritual gifts, and advance the Kingdom of God.

It is time to stop settling for a form of godliness that denies His power. The Holy Spirit has not changed. The question is: Have we made room for Him to move as He truly desires?

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In a culture that has increasingly reshaped Jesus into whatever we want Him to be, Pastor Victoria takes us backwards—to the Jesus the disciples walked with, the Jesus the Pharisees confronted, the Jesus the scribes questioned, and the Jesus the Jewish people were forced to reckon with.

Who did Jesus claim to be?

Not simply a teacher.
Not merely a prophet.
Not just a good man.
Not a revolutionary.
Not a spiritual example whose teachings we can selectively apply.

Jesus claimed an identity that demanded a response.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus speaks and acts with an authority that belongs to God alone. He forgives sins. He commands creation. He exercises authority over demons. He receives worship. He declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath. He speaks of glory He shared with the Father before the world existed. And He makes statements that His hearers understood as extraordinary claims about His divine identity.

The disciples weren't simply following a good teacher—they were coming to recognize the Messiah, the Son of God, the Word made flesh.

The Pharisees and scribes weren't merely offended by His personality. They recognized that Jesus was making claims about authority, righteousness, Scripture, the temple, forgiveness, and ultimately His relationship with God that could not be treated as ordinary.

And the question Jesus eventually puts before His disciples is the question every generation must answer:

“But who do you say that I am?”

That question is still standing.

In this episode, Pastor Victoria goes deeper into the biblical and historical context surrounding Jesus to strip away the modern caricatures and confront us with the Christ revealed in Scripture.

We will examine:

• Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God
• His divine authority and His relationship with the Father
• Why the Pharisees and scribes responded so strongly to Him
• What the disciples were actually coming to understand about Jesus
• Why His claims were so radical within first-century Judaism
• Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, judge, save, and give life
• The significance of Jesus receiving worship
• The “I AM” statements and their theological weight
• Why Jesus cannot be reduced to merely a prophet or moral teacher
• The humanity and divinity of Christ—fully God and fully man
• Why our understanding of Jesus determines our understanding of salvation

Because if we get Jesus wrong, we get the Gospel wrong.

If Jesus is merely a teacher, then Christianity becomes a philosophy.

If Jesus is merely a prophet, then His claims become something we can negotiate.

If Jesus is merely a moral example, then the cross becomes little more than an inspirational sacrifice.

But if Jesus is the Son of God—God the Son who took on flesh—then everything changes.

His commands matter.
His words carry eternal authority.
His death was more than martyrdom.
His resurrection was more than symbolism.
His blood was more than an example of love.

He is Lord.

This isn't about creating a Jesus who fits our politics, culture, preferences, emotions, or theology.

It's about surrendering our version of Jesus and asking Scripture to reveal who He actually is.

Because the Jesus of the Bible does not ask us to simply admire Him.

He calls us to believe in Him, follow Him, worship Him, obey Him, and confess Him as Lord.

Who is Jesus really?

Not who have we made Him?

Not who does culture say He is?

Not who would we prefer Him to be?

Who did He say He was?

And what will we do with that truth?

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Have you ever wondered who God really is? Before we can truly understand who we are in Christ, we must first know the One who created us. In this episode of Backwards But Redeemed, Pastor Victoria unpacks one of the most foundational questions of the Christian faith: Who is God?

So many believers struggle with identity because they're searching within themselves instead of looking to the character and nature of God. Scripture teaches that our identity is not self-created—it is discovered through relationship with our Creator. As we grow in the knowledge of God's holiness, love, faithfulness, justice, mercy, and truth, we begin to see ourselves the way He sees us.

Join Pastor Victoria as she explores what the Bible reveals about God's character, why knowing Him transforms every area of our lives, and how a true understanding of God leads to confidence, freedom, and a secure identity in Christ.

If you've ever wrestled with questions like, Who am I? Why do I matter? What is my purpose?—this conversation will point you back to the One who has the answers.

In this episode:

• Who God reveals Himself to be in Scripture
• Why your identity starts with God's identity
• Common misconceptions about God that affect our walk with Christ
• Living from your identity instead of striving for it
• Growing deeper in intimacy with the Father

Your identity isn't something you have to create—it's something you receive from the God who created you.

Listen now and discover that the more you know God, the more you'll understand who you were always created to be.

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