If you had to choose one word to represent how your belief affects your life, would you choose RULES or FREEDOM?
Are your actions and words a source of pride? Do you judge yourself and others and award a score for how you acted each day? Are you proud when your score is higher than the score of those around you? But is being better than the next guy good enough to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Can you ever achieve perfection? What is your prayer in your heart–“I am thankful that I am not like those sinners?” Is this pride or faith?
God not only gave us an avenue to be cleansed of all of our sins (Jesus Christ), but he gives us a helper (Holy Spirit) to grow us and give us the strength to be live like him. And he looks at us through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and we are pure and forgiven. And we call on the Holy Spirit to change our hearts, to help us love as He loves, and to forgive us when we fail. That is freedom.
Colossians 2:20-23 (New Living Translation)
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. Colossians 2:20-23 (The Message)
So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
Colossians 2:20-23 (New Living Translation)You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. Colossians 2:20-23 (The Message)
So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
Kathleen S Evenhouse 