gracespring Bible Church
When Intimacy Feels Elusive
Pastor Bryan continues our summer series, "Identity Crisis: A Study through Colossians." Today's passage is Colossians 2:16-23.
Locations & Times
gracespring Bible Church
8643 Gull Rd, Richland, MI 49083, United States
Sunday 10:00 AM
QUESTION:
Do you keep God at arms length because you doubt His love for you?
Do you keep God at arms length because you doubt His love for you?
GRACE ROBBER #1: LEGALISM
The RELIGION of human achievement.
"You must DO/NOT DO ____ to be saved.”
Legalistic Lie: For God to do His part, I must do mine.
Grace: God has done what was necessary for my salvation.
The RELIGION of human achievement.
"You must DO/NOT DO ____ to be saved.”
Legalistic Lie: For God to do His part, I must do mine.
Grace: God has done what was necessary for my salvation.
The Fruit of LEGALISM: The fruit of GRACE:
Performance-based acceptance Acceptance-based performance
Judgmental and Critical Humble and Embracing
Maintain Appearance Honesty and Transparency
Inter-personal Distance Interpersonal Closeness
Underlying Depression Underlying Liberty and Joy
Performance-based acceptance Acceptance-based performance
Judgmental and Critical Humble and Embracing
Maintain Appearance Honesty and Transparency
Inter-personal Distance Interpersonal Closeness
Underlying Depression Underlying Liberty and Joy
GRACE ROBBER #2 - MYSTICISM (18-19)
Pursuit of spiritual experiences relying more heavily on emotion and intuitions than on objective truth.
“You should have the same feelings and share the same experiences as me."
Mystic Lie: Everyone’s spiritual experience must be identical to mine.
Grace: God delights in creativity, variety and surprise.
Pursuit of spiritual experiences relying more heavily on emotion and intuitions than on objective truth.
“You should have the same feelings and share the same experiences as me."
Mystic Lie: Everyone’s spiritual experience must be identical to mine.
Grace: God delights in creativity, variety and surprise.
GRACE ROBBER #3: ASCETICISM
One who prescribes rigorous self-denial.
“The more rules you keep, the more you prove your love for Him.”
Ascetic Lie: If I obey God even more, I’ll earn more of His love.
Grace: I want to obey God because I am loved.
One who prescribes rigorous self-denial.
“The more rules you keep, the more you prove your love for Him.”
Ascetic Lie: If I obey God even more, I’ll earn more of His love.
Grace: I want to obey God because I am loved.
Message of GRACE:
We are NOT made right before God by our works, but we ARE recognized as children of God by our works.
We begin as a ‘BE CHURCH’ before a DO CHURCH, but MUST BE BOTH.
We are NOT made right before God by our works, but we ARE recognized as children of God by our works.
We begin as a ‘BE CHURCH’ before a DO CHURCH, but MUST BE BOTH.
Love is ALWAYS more transformational than RULES.
Statements to God: God’s Response:
“It’s impossible for me to change.” Luke 18:27
“I’m too tired.” Matthew 11:28
“This is too hard.” Philippians 4:13
“My life is a mess and don’t know where to turn.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“I fail time and time again.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“I can’t forgive myself.” Romans 8:1
“I don’t have what it takes.” Philippians 4:19
“I’m scared.” 1 Peter 5:7
“I’m worried.” Isaiah 41:10
“My faith is weak.” 2 Timothy 2:13
“I don’t know what to do.” James 1:5
“I don’t know what it is to be loved by my father.” Psalm 146:9
“I don’t want to do this alone.” Hebrews 13:5
“If you really knew me, you wouldn’t love me either Zephaniah 3:15-17
“It’s impossible for me to change.” Luke 18:27
“I’m too tired.” Matthew 11:28
“This is too hard.” Philippians 4:13
“My life is a mess and don’t know where to turn.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“I fail time and time again.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“I can’t forgive myself.” Romans 8:1
“I don’t have what it takes.” Philippians 4:19
“I’m scared.” 1 Peter 5:7
“I’m worried.” Isaiah 41:10
“My faith is weak.” 2 Timothy 2:13
“I don’t know what to do.” James 1:5
“I don’t know what it is to be loved by my father.” Psalm 146:9
“I don’t want to do this alone.” Hebrews 13:5
“If you really knew me, you wouldn’t love me either Zephaniah 3:15-17