The glorious gates of righteousness
All hail the power of Jesus name
I heard the voice of Jesus say
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart
I am thine oh Lord
Lead on oh King eternal
Unto God almighty
Scripture Colossians 2:16-23
[20] If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—[21] “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” [22] (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? [23] These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
(Colossians 2:16-23 ESV)
How do you grow to be the person God calls you to be in the Bible?
Where does growth in the Lord truly come From?
What the Colossians tried:
Two main areas
1. Rules about physical things - observing rites, passages, days etc. These rules help you mature. They help you mature and to judge the maturity of others by these things. We often judge ourselves more harshly because we don't want to go to certain services at church.
2. Seeking for personal spiritual experiences : seeking for humility, seeking for pencil visions to show a connection to God.
They forget the rules are meant to point forward to Christ.
Keeping the rules is like kissing a picture of your spouse instead of the real thing.
What is real humility.... Those who are not puffed up by special things that happen to you.
Rules don't stop the desires of the flesh.
Mystical experiences don't keep us on the straight and narrow.
All we can truly do is cling to Christ and see the fullness of God in him.
Don't let anyone disqualify you how you hold to Christ.
Our growth comes from holding onto Christ.
Seeing his truths in Scripture, loving others as he loves us, living within the community it that God has given us,
Hold on to Christ. Keeping yourself fast to him.