Before Sharing with Your ONE, Are You Offering/Living by Rules or a Relationship? Colossians 2:20-23
- In Alabama it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.
- In Florida you cannot chain your alligator to a fire hydrant.
- In Minnesota it is illegal to tease a skunk.
- In Louisiana biting someone with your natural teeth is “simple assault,” while biting someone with your false teeth is “aggravated assault.”
- In Tennessee dogs must have a permit signed by the mayor in order to congregate in groups of three or more on private property.
- In Oklahoma whale hunting is strictly forbidden.
- In Texas, if two trains going in opposite directions on the same track meet each other, one can’t move until the other does.
- In Texas it is legal for a blind person to go hunting unless long as they have someone with them who isn’t blind.
- An old Texas law states you can be legally married by publicly introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times. (Be careful guys!)
- In Houston, beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
Colossians 2:14. “God forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:20-23: “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!?’ These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
- THE MISERABLE FRUSTRATION OF LEGALISM
- Legalism gives a sense of accomplishment, but you can never do enough
- Legalism enslaves you to performance-based religion
- Legalism displeases the Lord
Matthew 23 Jesus said to legalists: “You hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces.” (vs. 13) “You make him [a convert] twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (vs. 15) “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (vs. 24) “You are like whitewashed tombs” (vs. 27) “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (vs. 33)
- THE WONDERFUL LIBERATION OF GRACE
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!… It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 2:21; 5:1)
- Grace removes the pressure to perform
“At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)
- Grace frees you to enjoy your relationship with God
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) A legalist often says, “The Christian life is HARD!” I disagree. The Bible says, “The way of the transgressor is hard!” (Proverbs 13:15)