Don't be fooled by the title.
Contents
Colossians 2:16-23 / Do not be deceived.
* In yesterday's message / Do not fall into vain philosophies and vain deceit - Paul warned
- In today's talk... // We give concrete examples of such things.
- Legalism that emphasizes the law while believing in Jesus
- It criticizes mysticism such as angel worship, / and asceticism according to the rules of the law.
** These are not - right faith.
* Through today's text / What kind of God is... What are the lessons he gives me...
& Let's think about a few things.
1. Verse 16
* [Let no one judge you!] / It was.
* With what / criticize us, / do not press - Are you talking?
- Eat and drink! = food
- Feasts, New Year's Day, and Sabbath = Various ceremonies.
** In short, / refers to [the various ordinances of the law].
- Do not let them criticize you / or pressure you - with such a law!!
** why?
- The law is a shadow... / not a substance.
- The reality is Christ.
- Because Christ, the substance, has come / The law, which is a shadow, is nothing and must disappear.
<Apply> Dear friends!
* Where does the driving force for your life of faith come from today?
- Is the power within me from the power of godliness / or from the form of godliness?
** Today we keep (to our children and other religiously young saints)
& Emphasizing only the behavioral part / If you press...
& because that doesn't do anything to your faith
- Even if it takes a little while / / even if it is a little difficult - to check the inner side / to emphasize the fundamentals...
& I hope / be like you and me.
2. Verse 18
* Paul also said [let them not condemn you].
** Don't let anything condemn us!! / Did you?
- Don't let him condemn you for false humility and worship of angels... //!! - Yes.
** What is condemnation?
- "Can't you guys do that?" / “Are you saying that you are living your life of faith without having this amazing spiritual experience?”
& In this way - to denigrate / condemn our religious life - speaks.
** Here, [fabricated humility] - refers to various acts of religious asceticism.
- Well, such as fasting and praying for 40 days... / Pilgrimage on foot... /
& When I prayed, I got on my knees and prayed for 10 hours... // Something like this.
- And... you mean? - For example,
<When that happens, is it like “Oh, I’m dying”?>
** Also, the worship of angels - there is also that they simply worshiped angels...
& rather - seeking / talking about something mysterious.
- It is important that we long for our gifts / and work according to our gifts, but...
& if you fall into [mysticism] - you can't.
* When I see some friends / without reading the Bible
& "Ah~ I'll listen to God's voice directly," and I'm sitting there.
- This is dangerous. //
- In a sense // (although we must also hear God's voice)
& the already given Word of God - We need to yearn for the Bible more.
** Surely these kinds of people / condemn and ignore others.
- “No, you still can’t speak in a dialect? - If you longing and praying, everything is given to you, but why can't you receive it?"
& condemns in this way. - Treat it as third-rate.
** By the way, what does the Bible say today / what such people say?
- “There is a lot of exaggeration in vain / a lot of bluff!”
* Dear friends!
- Action-centered asceticism that lacks the heart, or the mystical attitude that pursues only the mysterious
& to our beliefs - oh no help/nothing.
- Even if those people / may disparage or condemn us...
& Don't be discouraged. <There is no reason to die>
** Even if you don't fast for 40 days / Even if you can't hear God's voice directly...
& daily morning prayer consistently - live a life of prayer
& Also, by longing for the word of the Lord, always keep it close to me, reading, meditating...
& Always living a life of personal fellowship with God!!
- This is the goal / direction of our religious life.
& At that time, / our faith will grow stronger and stronger / healthy.
** Today / Looking gorgeous and mysterious - don't pursue it
& the basics of faith - I want you to be those // who know how to pursue.
3. Verse 20
* The elementary sciences of the world // died with Christ...
& Why do you still follow the elementary studies of the world? - I say.
** What is the world's elementary school?
- It refers to the philosophical things of the law and the world.
- To put it simply... / Something that moves according to [a set frame] or [manual] - refers to it.
** In our religious life / the higher level is -
& I love Jesus so much / I love God /
& So, out of a desire to obey the word of the Lord
& is higher-order.
- If you worship because you have to do Sunday worship - It's a childish, elementary level.
- But, I love the Lord / I want to meet the Lord...
& If a thirsty deer comes to worship as it seeks a stream - that is a higher level of faith.
- When I was young in faith / the pastor told me to read the Bible - I read it. = Elementary level, right?
- But / if my faith has grown a bit... / What I do is because I am told to - - I read it with longing for the Word.
& This is a higher level of faith.
<Apply> Dear friends!
- How is your life of faith these days?
- Are you doing it on a higher level? / Or, is it a childish elementary level?
- Are you acting out of love / longing?
& Or, just~ Everything is automatic?
** A higher level - people of such faith!! / I hope you are all right.