100:00:00,300 –> 00:00:02,580Ahhh200:00:03,620 –> 00:00:06,380There’s a sin in your life and you allow it to continue.300:00:06,420 –> 00:00:10,380You used to battle against it sometime ago but you had many defeats400:00:10,400 –> 00:00:11,980and so now you’ve kind of called a truce.500:00:12,020 –> 00:00:17,040Can you see how you could lose your freedom in Christ by indulging the flesh?600:00:17,080 –> 00:00:18,459Can you see how that would happen?700:00:18,500 –> 00:00:21,879Welcome to Open The Bible With Pastor Colin Smith.800:00:21,920 –> 00:00:23,340I’m David Pick, and Colin,900:00:23,379 –> 00:00:26,160I think many Christians will know what you’re saying here.1000:00:26,200 –> 00:00:29,620We’ve been battling this sin or weakness for a long time1100:00:29,740 –> 00:00:32,220and we never seem to really get over it.1200:00:32,259 –> 00:00:37,700But you’re also saying that if we give up on this we can lose the freedom we have in Christ.1300:00:37,740 –> 00:00:39,340What do you mean by that?1400:00:39,759 –> 00:00:41,759Well you know, you said two very important things.1500:00:41,799 –> 00:00:46,880One is battling against sin which is what every true Christian does.1600:00:46,900 –> 00:00:51,639And the other is giving up which is what Paul is warning us against,1700:00:51,720 –> 00:00:57,259if you give up the fight if you indulge the sinful nature1800:00:57,380 –> 00:01:01,380then what’s gonna happen here is losing your freedom in Christ.1900:01:01,380 –> 00:01:03,759That’s not a position that you want to be in.2000:01:03,919 –> 00:01:06,339So sometimes we get weary of the battles.2100:01:06,360 –> 00:01:09,599We feel the sense of our many, many defeats,2200:01:09,739 –> 00:01:11,739but the Christian is known by this,2300:01:11,839 –> 00:01:14,300however often he or she is defeated,2400:01:14,459 –> 00:01:18,139a Christian is a person who gets up and continues the battle against sin2500:01:18,180 –> 00:01:20,860because the Spirit of God lives within the soul.2600:01:20,980 –> 00:01:25,739I want to go back a little here, if I may and ask you to clarify what you just said there.2700:01:25,860 –> 00:01:28,300Your freedom in Christ. Some people will say,2800:01:28,400 –> 00:01:30,760I don’t really know what that is.2900:01:30,940 –> 00:01:36,959Well, the great freedom that we have in Christ is freedom from the mastery of sin.3000:01:37,300 –> 00:01:39,800Paul says in Romans in chapter six,3100:01:39,800 –> 00:01:43,419sin shall no longer be your master.3200:01:43,580 –> 00:01:46,419See by nature we’re slaves to sin.3300:01:46,419 –> 00:01:48,980That means we really haven’t got a way of getting out of it.3400:01:48,980 –> 00:01:50,980We can change our sins,3500:01:51,779 –> 00:01:55,699but we can’t actually get free from ultimately being in the place3600:01:56,019 –> 00:01:59,860where there is a power greater than us that’s controlling the way in which we’re thinking3700:01:59,860 –> 00:02:01,220and the way that we’re behaving.3800:02:01,220 –> 00:02:06,419The great freedom in Christ is that we’re able to put up a fight against that enemy.3900:02:06,660 –> 00:02:08,059We’re not free from attack,4000:02:08,179 –> 00:02:12,619but we’re no longer under the mastery of sin because we’re under the mastery of Jesus Christ.4100:02:12,619 –> 00:02:13,479That’s the freedom.4200:02:13,479 –> 00:02:15,860It’s so encouraging to hear you say that.4300:02:16,039 –> 00:02:18,279And as we get into the message today,4400:02:18,779 –> 00:02:20,839which is called the Gospel sets you free.4500:02:21,020 –> 00:02:24,899Based on Galatians, starting at chapter three and going through to chapter five.4600:02:24,899 –> 00:02:28,080So I hope you’ll open your Bible if you can and stay with us.4700:02:28,300 –> 00:02:29,000Here’s Colin.4800:02:29,860 –> 00:02:35,259Galatians, chapter four begins with the great transformation that has already happened4900:02:35,520 –> 00:02:38,179in the life of every Christian believer.5000:02:38,940 –> 00:02:42,339Now, this is important for us to grasp, because if you’re anything like me,5100:02:42,699 –> 00:02:45,100your mind will often be on the fact5200:02:45,580 –> 00:02:49,699that there is still so much that the Lord has to do in your life.5300:02:49,759 –> 00:02:50,699I think of this often.5400:02:50,699 –> 00:02:54,300I’m so far from being conformed to the image of Christ,5500:02:54,479 –> 00:02:56,300so much that God still has to do.5600:02:57,460 –> 00:02:59,559And because we are naturally, as Christian believers,5700:02:59,679 –> 00:03:02,839drawn to how much God still has to do in our lives,5800:03:03,179 –> 00:03:05,039how far we still have to go,5900:03:05,199 –> 00:03:11,059it is important for us to be reminded of what God has done already in our lives.6000:03:12,179 –> 00:03:15,800And this theme is the focus of the opening verses of chapter four.6100:03:16,000 –> 00:03:18,240And Paul lays it out in two simple statements.6200:03:18,399 –> 00:03:22,119You were a slave, you are a son.6300:03:23,199 –> 00:03:28,179Now, this remarkable change, Paul is saying, has already happened.6400:03:28,279 –> 00:03:31,820This is what has happened if you are a Christian believer,6500:03:32,899 –> 00:03:35,919you were a slave, you are a son.6600:03:36,539 –> 00:03:40,979And the reason for this great transformation is that God sent his son into the world6700:03:41,199 –> 00:03:44,360and God has sent it spirit into your heart.6800:03:45,320 –> 00:03:50,039Now, since we are born free as sons of God in Jesus Christ.6900:03:50,539 –> 00:03:55,979The question he’s raising is why in all the world would you want to exchange that marvelous7000:03:55,979 –> 00:03:59,139position for the position of a slave?7100:04:00,300 –> 00:04:01,440Chapter five in verse one.7200:04:01,440 –> 00:04:04,000It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.7300:04:04,539 –> 00:04:05,339So stand firm then.7400:04:05,339 –> 00:04:11,160And do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery7500:04:11,740 –> 00:04:19,019It would be a crazy thing for a son who is born free to live and to act as if he was a slave.7600:04:21,260 –> 00:04:27,540In fact that is so strange that it raises for me the question, why in all the world7700:04:27,540 –> 00:04:31,980would anyone want to go back under the law?7800:04:32,859 –> 00:04:35,420Now look at chapter four in verse 21.7900:04:35,459 –> 00:04:40,540He speaks about those who want to be under the law.8000:04:41,420 –> 00:04:48,760What would ever make a person want, want to be under the law?8100:04:50,260 –> 00:04:57,519Well, relationships of law have clearly defined limits.8200:04:59,059 –> 00:05:05,839That’s why we have contracts in business, to limit our liability.8300:05:06,820 –> 00:05:12,959Relationships of love are different. In their nature they have no limits.8400:05:12,959 –> 00:05:17,359Greater love has no one than this,8500:05:17,359 –> 00:05:22,859than that a man should lay down his life for his friend.8600:05:24,100 –> 00:05:29,720So a relationship of love could cost you your life.8700:05:30,299 –> 00:05:34,519See, there is a deep instinct within all of us8800:05:34,820 –> 00:05:39,459that wants to limit our liability in any sphere of life.8900:05:40,660 –> 00:05:45,920And that is why there is something within us9000:05:45,920 –> 00:05:50,359that is often more comfortable with law than we are with love.9100:05:51,980 –> 00:05:54,559So when it comes to a relationship with God,9200:05:54,559 –> 00:05:59,359you see, there is a strong instinct in our fallen nature9300:05:59,440 –> 00:06:02,500that would prefer a relationship of law,9400:06:03,500 –> 00:06:06,440and it sounds like this, just tell me what I have to do,9500:06:07,359 –> 00:06:10,640give me the list, tell me what I need to do9600:06:10,640 –> 00:06:12,140to be a good Christian.9700:06:13,320 –> 00:06:17,519Confession on Sundays, fish on Fridays,9800:06:17,519 –> 00:06:19,880a daily quiet time, join a Bible study,9900:06:19,880 –> 00:06:21,600get an accountability partner,10000:06:21,600 –> 00:06:23,279prayers at home with the family,10100:06:23,279 –> 00:06:25,260tell me what I have to do, what else is it?10200:06:25,260 –> 00:06:26,380Give me the list, give me the whole list,10300:06:26,600 –> 00:06:29,359fasting, well okay, how often and how long,10400:06:29,359 –> 00:06:31,399serving, at what and where,10500:06:31,399 –> 00:06:33,179giving, how much and how often.10600:06:34,480 –> 00:06:36,380Give me the checklist.10700:06:38,940 –> 00:06:41,920You’d be surprised at how much momentum there is10800:06:41,920 –> 00:06:45,279to try and reduce the Christian life these days10900:06:45,279 –> 00:06:49,019to a checklist, and you know what that is?11000:06:50,279 –> 00:06:52,440It’s returning to a relationship of law,11100:06:53,239 –> 00:06:54,179that’s what it is.11200:06:55,100 –> 00:06:58,559And it’s more comfortable because relationships of law11300:06:58,559 –> 00:06:59,859have clearly defined limits,11400:06:59,859 –> 00:07:01,899relationships of love have no limits.11500:07:03,700 –> 00:07:04,859Now think about this.11600:07:06,739 –> 00:07:10,899If Jesus Christ had related to us on the basis of law11700:07:11,940 –> 00:07:13,940he would never have come into the world.11800:07:15,799 –> 00:07:17,519There would have been no Christmas11900:07:18,779 –> 00:07:23,339because Jesus was under no obligation to come.12000:07:25,119 –> 00:07:27,440There was no requirement on him to do this.12100:07:28,320 –> 00:07:32,459Christmas is about God going beyond the law12200:07:33,359 –> 00:07:36,779in order to relate to you and me in love.12300:07:39,079 –> 00:07:42,019Greater love has no man than this,12400:07:43,119 –> 00:07:45,720than that a man lay down his life for his friends.12500:07:45,720 –> 00:07:47,260That is what Jesus did.12600:07:48,820 –> 00:07:49,920Now here’s a question.12700:07:50,619 –> 00:07:54,519Can you see how you could use your,12800:07:54,519 –> 00:07:58,679lose your freedom in Christ by returning to the law?12900:07:58,679 –> 00:08:03,260Can you begin to see how this subtle drawing13000:08:03,260 –> 00:08:06,880back from the relationship of love13100:08:06,880 –> 00:08:09,079to a relationship of law could happen13200:08:09,079 –> 00:08:11,720in your Christian life, that you could13300:08:11,720 –> 00:08:15,760legalize it with a bunch of disciplines and practices?13400:08:16,760 –> 00:08:20,519Bring it within safer limits.13500:08:22,320 –> 00:08:24,179We had a very useful discussion13600:08:24,179 –> 00:08:26,320among the pastors on this just a few weeks ago.13700:08:26,320 –> 00:08:27,859We were talking about, you know,13800:08:27,859 –> 00:08:30,619among evangelical Christians, what are some of the ways13900:08:30,619 –> 00:08:33,820in which we might reduce the Christian life14000:08:33,820 –> 00:08:36,679to a sort of formula of things that we do14100:08:36,679 –> 00:08:40,520and thereby lose our freedom?14200:08:40,520 –> 00:08:42,520And the pastors came up with a number of things.14300:08:42,659 –> 00:08:45,780Let me give you just three that came out fairly prominently.14400:08:45,780 –> 00:08:48,940The first was salvation by quiet time.14500:08:50,500 –> 00:08:52,299It’s very real danger, isn’t it?14600:08:52,299 –> 00:08:54,780That I feel more accepted by Jesus14700:08:54,780 –> 00:08:57,520because I have said my prayers this week.14800:08:57,520 –> 00:08:59,400And if I’ve missed, I’m not so sure14900:08:59,400 –> 00:09:01,179if he loves me anymore.15000:09:02,739 –> 00:09:04,440Or salvation by worship.15100:09:05,460 –> 00:09:07,260That I feel more accepted by God15200:09:07,260 –> 00:09:09,659if I feel moved in the service.15300:09:09,659 –> 00:09:11,440And if I didn’t feel moved,15400:09:11,460 –> 00:09:15,119I kinda wonder if I still gotta relationship with God.15500:09:15,119 –> 00:09:16,900And salvation by emotion really.15600:09:18,679 –> 00:09:20,080Or salvation by service.15700:09:20,080 –> 00:09:22,080I really do feel close to God15800:09:22,080 –> 00:09:23,940when I’m working more for him.15900:09:23,940 –> 00:09:25,539You know that missions trip or whatever it was16000:09:25,539 –> 00:09:26,919really made me feel near God.16100:09:26,919 –> 00:09:29,159So that’s the thing that is now becoming16200:09:29,159 –> 00:09:31,159the means by which we feel16300:09:31,159 –> 00:09:32,440that we are right with him.16400:09:32,440 –> 00:09:34,119Now you see where that takes you?16500:09:35,599 –> 00:09:37,039Each of these are examples16600:09:37,039 –> 00:09:39,140and subtle ways of sliding back to law16700:09:39,140 –> 00:09:40,919and they will cost you your freedom16800:09:40,919 –> 00:09:42,900by bringing you back into slavery.16900:09:44,159 –> 00:09:45,919The slavery of guilt,17000:09:45,919 –> 00:09:48,640if I didn’t have my quiet time.17100:09:50,559 –> 00:09:55,559Or the slavery of trying to get the feeling in worship.17200:09:56,159 –> 00:09:57,080You know that?17300:09:57,080 –> 00:10:01,239I call that Barry Manilow Christianity.17400:10:01,239 –> 00:10:02,119You know that?17500:10:02,119 –> 00:10:03,880I’ve been up, I’ve been down17600:10:03,880 –> 00:10:04,919trying to get the feeling,17700:10:04,919 –> 00:10:07,280all around trying to get the feeling again,17800:10:07,280 –> 00:10:08,440and the Christian life becomes17900:10:08,440 –> 00:10:09,679a kind of endless chase18000:10:09,840 –> 00:10:11,520to get the tingles in the spine18100:10:11,520 –> 00:10:13,520as if that would make you nearer God.18200:10:14,440 –> 00:10:17,679That’s slavery, emotional slavery, isn’t it?18300:10:19,559 –> 00:10:21,900Or the slavery of endless activity18400:10:21,900 –> 00:10:25,520in the hoping of pleasing God a bit more.18500:10:25,520 –> 00:10:26,880Now, look with me for just a moment18600:10:26,880 –> 00:10:29,299at Galatians chapter five in verse four.18700:10:30,280 –> 00:10:35,280You, who are trying to be justified by law18800:10:35,960 –> 00:10:39,539have been alienated from Christ.18900:10:40,619 –> 00:10:44,440See, if you start to reckon your standing before God19000:10:44,440 –> 00:10:46,159and your acceptance by God19100:10:47,179 –> 00:10:49,320from the discipline of your quiet time19200:10:49,320 –> 00:10:51,140or the emotion you feel in worship19300:10:51,140 –> 00:10:53,559or the dedication and faithfulness of your service19400:10:53,559 –> 00:10:55,239or anything else that you do as a Christian,19500:10:55,239 –> 00:10:56,239here’s what happens.19600:10:56,239 –> 00:10:58,520You’re going back to the law19700:10:58,520 –> 00:11:02,440and this will actually alienate you from Christ.19800:11:02,440 –> 00:11:03,520That’s why you can have people19900:11:03,520 –> 00:11:05,960who are incredibly disciplined20000:11:05,960 –> 00:11:08,599in their religious observance like the Pharisees were20100:11:08,640 –> 00:11:10,320and nowhere near to the experience20200:11:10,320 –> 00:11:12,780of the living Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit.20300:11:14,140 –> 00:11:15,739They’re going back into slavery.20400:11:17,320 –> 00:11:18,520This may seem extraordinary,20500:11:18,520 –> 00:11:20,739but what Paul is warning us about here20600:11:20,739 –> 00:11:23,539is that it is possible to have the Spirit20700:11:23,539 –> 00:11:25,919and live like a slave.20800:11:27,260 –> 00:11:28,559He says, don’t do that.20900:11:29,820 –> 00:11:32,080The only way out of it, chapter five and verse five,21000:11:32,080 –> 00:11:33,419is that we live by faith.21100:11:33,419 –> 00:11:35,900By faith, we eagerly await the righteousness21200:11:35,900 –> 00:11:37,700for which we hope.21300:11:37,700 –> 00:11:40,320My righteousness, my standing before God21400:11:40,320 –> 00:11:43,479does not depend on my prayers last week21500:11:43,479 –> 00:11:45,500or my feelings in worship this week21600:11:45,500 –> 00:11:47,900or my service in my ministry next week,21700:11:47,900 –> 00:11:51,559but on the righteousness of Jesus Christ crucified for me21800:11:51,559 –> 00:11:54,520and I find peace in the promise21900:11:54,520 –> 00:11:57,919that God will accept me on the last day22000:11:57,919 –> 00:12:00,859not because of the quality of my Christian life,22100:12:00,859 –> 00:12:02,559which has been very patchy,22200:12:03,700 –> 00:12:06,359but rather on the basis22300:12:06,359 –> 00:12:08,640of the Son of God who loved me22400:12:08,640 –> 00:12:10,520and gave himself for me.22500:12:10,520 –> 00:12:11,700That’s freedom,22600:12:12,799 –> 00:12:14,159but Paul says, live then.22700:12:15,159 –> 00:12:16,440You’re listening to Open the Bible22800:12:16,440 –> 00:12:17,739with Pastor Colin Smith22900:12:17,739 –> 00:12:20,179and a message called, The Gospel Sets You Free,23000:12:20,179 –> 00:12:22,080and we’re gonna pause the message briefly there,23100:12:22,080 –> 00:12:24,599but we’ll be back in just a moment.23200:12:24,599 –> 00:12:28,080The message is part of our series, Grasping the Gospel,23300:12:28,080 –> 00:12:30,539and it’s based on the book of Galatians,23400:12:30,539 –> 00:12:34,020today in chapters three through to five.23500:12:34,020 –> 00:12:35,559And if you ever miss one of the series,23600:12:35,640 –> 00:12:37,840don’t forget, you can always come online23700:12:37,840 –> 00:12:40,299and catch up or go back and listen again.23800:12:40,299 –> 00:12:42,419All the previously broadcast messages23900:12:42,419 –> 00:12:45,940are there on our website for you to listen completely free.24000:12:45,940 –> 00:12:47,619You can also find them as a podcast24100:12:47,619 –> 00:12:50,359and those podcasts are on all the major podcast sites,24200:12:50,359 –> 00:12:52,500so search for OpenTheBibleUK24300:12:52,500 –> 00:12:55,900and subscribe if you want to receive them regularly.24400:12:55,900 –> 00:12:57,080Back to the message now.24500:12:57,080 –> 00:13:00,200As I say, we’re in Galatians chapters three to five24600:13:00,200 –> 00:13:02,000and here’s Colin.24700:13:02,000 –> 00:13:02,940Now here’s the second way24800:13:02,979 –> 00:13:05,039in which we can lose our freedom.24900:13:05,039 –> 00:13:08,940Freedom abused by indulging the flesh.25000:13:08,940 –> 00:13:11,719Freedom abandoned by returning to the law was the first.25100:13:11,719 –> 00:13:12,559Here’s the second.25200:13:12,559 –> 00:13:16,280Freedom abused by indulging the flesh.25300:13:16,280 –> 00:13:17,739Chapter five and verse 13.25400:13:19,619 –> 00:13:22,159You, my brothers,25500:13:22,159 –> 00:13:24,619were called to be free.25600:13:25,940 –> 00:13:30,659Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature,25700:13:31,520 –> 00:13:35,440rather serve one another in love.25800:13:37,340 –> 00:13:40,159And then he comes, in verse 14,25900:13:40,159 –> 00:13:43,880to a statement which, if you’ve been grasping Galatians,26000:13:43,880 –> 00:13:46,679will come as a big surprise to you.26100:13:46,679 –> 00:13:47,919It really did to me.26200:13:49,460 –> 00:13:53,859The entire law, what?26300:13:53,859 –> 00:13:58,099Law is summed up in a single command.26400:13:58,099 –> 00:13:59,640Love your neighbor as yourself.26500:13:59,679 –> 00:14:03,059Now this, as I come to it in chapter five, verse 14,26600:14:03,059 –> 00:14:05,080seems to me to be very confusing.26700:14:06,840 –> 00:14:08,440Because the whole point of the letter26800:14:08,440 –> 00:14:12,039has been that we are no longer under the law.26900:14:12,039 –> 00:14:13,840That fulfilling the law is not the basis27000:14:13,840 –> 00:14:15,239of our standing before God,27100:14:15,239 –> 00:14:17,080that we’re released from that kind of slavery27200:14:17,080 –> 00:14:19,780and that we’re now stands by his grace through faith27300:14:19,780 –> 00:14:21,559and because of the spirit.27400:14:23,299 –> 00:14:26,520Now he tells us to live a life of love27500:14:26,520 –> 00:14:27,900that fulfills the law.27600:14:27,900 –> 00:14:29,479I mean, isn’t that the strangest thing27700:14:29,500 –> 00:14:31,299that after all this argument27800:14:31,299 –> 00:14:33,340that we are not taking our stand on the law,27900:14:33,340 –> 00:14:34,539he now brings in the law28000:14:34,539 –> 00:14:36,380in chapter five in verse 14.28100:14:36,380 –> 00:14:38,219How are we to make any sense of this?28200:14:39,299 –> 00:14:41,059It’s a very important question.28300:14:41,059 –> 00:14:42,859What is the relationship28400:14:42,859 –> 00:14:44,859between the Christian believer28500:14:44,859 –> 00:14:46,179and the law?28600:14:48,039 –> 00:14:49,500Our freedom in Christ28700:14:49,500 –> 00:14:51,979is the freedom of the spirit.28800:14:53,580 –> 00:14:55,859That is we are freed from the slavery28900:14:55,859 –> 00:14:59,059in which we were to live a life of love29000:14:59,099 –> 00:15:00,460that fulfills the law.29100:15:00,460 –> 00:15:02,739That is the life of Jesus29200:15:02,739 –> 00:15:04,219being worked out in us29300:15:04,219 –> 00:15:06,559by the presence of his spirit within us.29400:15:07,479 –> 00:15:11,820Not as a means of being accepted by God,29500:15:11,820 –> 00:15:16,020but rather as a fruit of our acceptance with God.29600:15:16,020 –> 00:15:17,979Not as a means to acceptance,29700:15:17,979 –> 00:15:20,119but rather a fruit of acceptance.29800:15:20,119 –> 00:15:22,539Now, I know whenever a distinction29900:15:22,539 –> 00:15:24,900is made by a speaker.30000:15:24,900 –> 00:15:25,940For many of us,30100:15:25,940 –> 00:15:28,619the natural instinct is to glaze our eyes over30200:15:28,619 –> 00:15:30,340and go, this is a fine distinction.30300:15:30,340 –> 00:15:31,400I’m never going to grasp it.30400:15:31,400 –> 00:15:34,219And who can grasp these things?30500:15:34,219 –> 00:15:35,059Let me tell you,30600:15:35,059 –> 00:15:38,539if you think that it is a fine distinction30700:15:38,539 –> 00:15:40,419between the use of the law30800:15:40,419 –> 00:15:41,859as a means to acceptance30900:15:41,859 –> 00:15:43,080and the use of the law31000:15:43,080 –> 00:15:45,260as the fruit of acceptance,31100:15:45,260 –> 00:15:46,099I have to tell you31200:15:46,099 –> 00:15:47,780there is all the difference31300:15:47,780 –> 00:15:49,479in the world.31400:15:49,479 –> 00:15:51,400And I want us to grasp it clearly.31500:15:52,340 –> 00:15:53,840So I’m going to use an illustration31600:15:53,840 –> 00:15:56,539that I think is a delicate one.31700:15:56,539 –> 00:15:59,479But I believe that you will find it helpful,31800:15:59,479 –> 00:16:00,979and it’s such an important point31900:16:00,979 –> 00:16:03,539for us to grasp and to remember.32000:16:03,539 –> 00:16:04,580I want to try and make it32100:16:04,580 –> 00:16:07,239as clear as I possibly can.32200:16:09,080 –> 00:16:11,020I want you to imagine a woman32300:16:12,179 –> 00:16:15,440who sets her eye on a man32400:16:15,440 –> 00:16:17,739and decides that she wants him32500:16:17,739 –> 00:16:19,260for her husband.32600:16:20,840 –> 00:16:22,760So she seduces him.32700:16:23,760 –> 00:16:27,080She gives herself to him32800:16:28,099 –> 00:16:32,000in the hope that this will lure him32900:16:32,000 –> 00:16:35,580into a lasting relationship.33000:16:35,580 –> 00:16:36,840That’s the first picture.33100:16:38,599 –> 00:16:39,679Now here’s the second picture,33200:16:39,679 –> 00:16:40,880and it’s very different.33300:16:41,820 –> 00:16:46,039Imagine a woman who meets a man33400:16:46,039 –> 00:16:48,659and is captivated by his love.33500:16:49,179 –> 00:16:52,460He loves her,33600:16:52,460 –> 00:16:55,500and over time she comes to love him33700:16:55,500 –> 00:16:57,840deeply and freely and truly.33800:16:59,340 –> 00:17:01,739After some time they are married.33900:17:01,739 –> 00:17:04,619And in that marriage,34000:17:04,619 –> 00:17:06,520she gives herself to him.34100:17:08,079 –> 00:17:11,040She does not do this as a matter of duty,34200:17:11,040 –> 00:17:15,599but she does this freely, joyfully.34300:17:16,199 –> 00:17:21,199An act of beauty that comes from her own desire.34400:17:23,479 –> 00:17:27,000Now, there is all the difference in the world34500:17:27,000 –> 00:17:28,699between these two pictures.34600:17:30,699 –> 00:17:32,839Giving herself to the man,34700:17:32,839 –> 00:17:35,219the first woman giving herself to the man34800:17:35,219 –> 00:17:38,439in order to make him her husband34900:17:38,439 –> 00:17:41,280is a shameful kind of manipulation, isn’t it?35000:17:41,699 –> 00:17:46,699But giving herself to the man freely and joyfully35100:17:47,400 –> 00:17:50,319and out of her own desire in the marriage35200:17:50,319 –> 00:17:53,900is the natural fruit of this relationship35300:17:53,900 –> 00:17:55,800and is a thing of great beauty.35400:17:58,420 –> 00:18:00,239Now by that analogy, think of this,35500:18:00,239 –> 00:18:03,640any attempt to use the Law35600:18:04,680 –> 00:18:08,560as a means to secure our relationship with God35700:18:08,560 –> 00:18:10,380is sheer manipulation35800:18:10,380 –> 00:18:14,479and will always fail because no one manipulates God.35900:18:16,280 –> 00:18:19,020But fulfilling the Law freely36000:18:19,020 –> 00:18:22,479by living and pursuing a life of love36100:18:22,479 –> 00:18:26,219because the Spirit of Jesus lives within you36200:18:27,500 –> 00:18:29,300is a thing of great beauty,36300:18:29,300 –> 00:18:34,300the natural fruit of an already existing relationship36400:18:35,000 –> 00:18:37,119that you have, by grace through faith,36500:18:37,119 –> 00:18:38,900with God in Jesus Christ.36600:18:38,900 –> 00:18:42,719It is in fact a beautiful expression36700:18:42,719 –> 00:18:45,560of your freedom in Christ36800:18:47,359 –> 00:18:49,560and isn’t this precisely at the very heart36900:18:49,560 –> 00:18:51,319of what God has always intended,37000:18:51,319 –> 00:18:52,719even back in the old Testament.37100:18:52,719 –> 00:18:54,439He said, I’m gonna take the law37200:18:54,439 –> 00:18:56,640which is written on tablets of stone37300:18:56,640 –> 00:18:58,319and I’m going to do something far better.37400:18:58,319 –> 00:19:01,560I’m going to write it on the hearts of my people.37500:19:01,560 –> 00:19:04,479I’m gonna put my spirit in the hearts of my people37600:19:04,479 –> 00:19:06,719so that there will not be some kinda slavish37700:19:06,719 –> 00:19:09,199and artificial attempt at duty and obedience,37800:19:09,199 –> 00:19:13,099but rather a free giving of self37900:19:13,099 –> 00:19:16,040that has joy within it38000:19:16,040 –> 00:19:17,640because the essence of freedom38100:19:17,640 –> 00:19:19,979is when you find that God has placed within you38200:19:19,979 –> 00:19:22,880a desire to do the very thing that He’s called you to do.38300:19:24,699 –> 00:19:26,339And sure, as we’ll see next time,38400:19:26,339 –> 00:19:28,420that desire that is within you38500:19:28,420 –> 00:19:31,239to live a life of love and to fulfill the law of God38600:19:31,239 –> 00:19:33,219and to honor and to please Him in any way,38700:19:33,219 –> 00:19:35,900that desire is in conflict with many other things38800:19:35,939 –> 00:19:36,979that we find within us,38900:19:36,979 –> 00:19:39,020and yet that desire is within you39000:19:39,020 –> 00:19:42,739because the Spirit of God lives in you.39100:19:42,739 –> 00:19:44,420That’s what makes you a Christian.39200:19:46,719 –> 00:19:48,180Now, don’t lose that freedom.39300:19:49,760 –> 00:19:52,260My brothers, you’re called to be free,39400:19:53,380 –> 00:19:57,540so don’t use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.39500:19:57,540 –> 00:19:59,180It is freedom of the Spirit.39600:20:01,140 –> 00:20:03,300Now, let me ask you this question then briefly,39700:20:03,359 –> 00:20:06,900can you see how you could lose your freedom in Christ39800:20:06,900 –> 00:20:08,180by indulging the flesh?39900:20:08,180 –> 00:20:09,900Can you see how that would happen?40000:20:11,780 –> 00:20:13,380You know, there’s a sin in your life40100:20:13,380 –> 00:20:15,719and you allow it to continue.40200:20:15,719 –> 00:20:18,000You used to battle against it some time ago,40300:20:18,000 –> 00:20:19,280but you had many defeats,40400:20:19,280 –> 00:20:21,520and so now you’ve kind of called a truce40500:20:21,520 –> 00:20:24,579and you’ve learned to live with it40600:20:24,579 –> 00:20:26,579and you kind of let it be,40700:20:26,579 –> 00:20:28,099and you justify this in your mind40800:20:28,099 –> 00:20:29,900because you say, well, my sins are forgiven40900:20:29,900 –> 00:20:33,260and my entrance to heaven doesn’t depend on my works,41000:20:33,260 –> 00:20:34,339but you know what?41100:20:34,339 –> 00:20:37,420By indulging this sin you’ve really,41200:20:37,420 –> 00:20:38,599you’ve really allowed yourself41300:20:38,599 –> 00:20:40,780to go back into a kind of slavery, haven’t you?41400:20:40,780 –> 00:20:43,920Whoever sins Jesus says is a slave to sin,41500:20:43,920 –> 00:20:45,380and by declaring a truce,41600:20:45,380 –> 00:20:47,959you have compromised your freedom in Christ.41700:20:49,459 –> 00:20:51,579I want you to hear God’s words to you today41800:20:51,579 –> 00:20:53,420with regards to this issue.41900:20:53,420 –> 00:20:56,660Do not use your freedom42000:20:56,660 –> 00:20:59,599to indulge the sinful nature.42100:21:00,500 –> 00:21:03,079You have to break the truce,42200:21:04,300 –> 00:21:07,099you have to say, now this is sin.42300:21:07,099 –> 00:21:09,000I kind of allowed it for a long time,42400:21:10,599 –> 00:21:14,319but it is offensive to God and it is destructive to me,42500:21:14,319 –> 00:21:17,380and I will not allow myself to be drawn back into slavery,42600:21:17,380 –> 00:21:18,939I will not indulge the flesh,42700:21:18,939 –> 00:21:22,300I will live by the Spirit.42800:21:23,579 –> 00:21:26,420And you know as soon as you say that in your heart,42900:21:26,420 –> 00:21:28,439Satan will say to you, you can’t,43000:21:29,719 –> 00:21:31,880because you’re a slave,43100:21:31,880 –> 00:21:33,839and you know you can’t get over this.43200:21:35,459 –> 00:21:39,880And you will say to him, by faith, grasping the Gospel,43300:21:39,880 –> 00:21:42,599no, I once was a slave,43400:21:44,439 –> 00:21:46,280but God has sent his son into the world43500:21:46,280 –> 00:21:49,400and his Spirit into my heart and I am a slave no longer,43600:21:50,680 –> 00:21:54,260I am a son and as a son,43700:21:55,540 –> 00:21:56,680I will choose to live,43800:21:57,640 –> 00:22:01,560it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.43900:22:02,599 –> 00:22:04,579Stand firm,44000:22:06,160 –> 00:22:09,560and don’t let anyone take your freedom from you.44100:22:11,420 –> 00:22:13,780So we have a response when we’re tempted44200:22:13,780 –> 00:22:17,479to think that we can’t defeat a particular sin in our life.44300:22:17,479 –> 00:22:19,439We feel we’re a slave to it,44400:22:19,439 –> 00:22:22,180but we can respond that I was once a slave,44500:22:22,180 –> 00:22:24,560but now I have freedom in Christ,44600:22:24,619 –> 00:22:27,439that’s a really big difference,44700:22:27,439 –> 00:22:29,880and I hope you can say that today.44800:22:30,900 –> 00:22:32,760You’ve been listening to Open the Bible44900:22:32,760 –> 00:22:34,219with pastor Colin Smith,45000:22:34,219 –> 00:22:36,839and the message called The Gospel Sets you Free.45100:22:36,839 –> 00:22:39,160It’s part of our series, Grasping the Gospel,45200:22:39,160 –> 00:22:41,500and it’s based on Galatians,45300:22:41,500 –> 00:22:43,119and if you’ve missed any of the series,45400:22:43,119 –> 00:22:44,719or if you want to listen again,45500:22:44,719 –> 00:22:47,119you can do that easily by coming online45600:22:47,119 –> 00:22:50,800to our website openthebible.org.uk45700:22:50,800 –> 00:22:52,500There, you’ll find all the messages45800:22:52,500 –> 00:22:54,579that have already gone out on air.45900:22:54,579 –> 00:22:56,579You can also find us as a podcast,46000:22:56,579 –> 00:22:58,920and many find that’s a better and an easier way46100:22:58,920 –> 00:23:01,180to keep up with pastor Colin’s teaching,46200:23:01,180 –> 00:23:04,219and those are on all the major podcast sites,46300:23:04,219 –> 00:23:06,140search for Open the Bible UK,46400:23:06,140 –> 00:23:08,319or follow the link from our website.46500:23:09,219 –> 00:23:12,000Another way to listen to pastor Colin’s teaching46600:23:12,000 –> 00:23:14,300is as a daily reflection,46700:23:14,300 –> 00:23:18,319and you can do that by listening to Open the Bible Daily,46800:23:18,359 –> 00:23:20,640and that’s a series of short,46900:23:20,640 –> 00:23:22,640two to three minute reflections,47000:23:22,640 –> 00:23:25,979new on every day based on pastor Colin’s teaching,47100:23:25,979 –> 00:23:27,959and available as a podcast47200:23:27,959 –> 00:23:30,280or on our website.47300:23:30,280 –> 00:23:33,540It’s read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.47400:23:33,540 –> 00:23:36,319Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners,47500:23:36,319 –> 00:23:37,900and if that’s something that you’re considering47600:23:37,900 –> 00:23:40,500doing this new year for the first time,47700:23:40,500 –> 00:23:42,719We have an offer that I hope you’ll like,47800:23:42,719 –> 00:23:45,479if you’re able to set up a new direct debit47900:23:45,479 –> 00:23:47,099to the work of Open the Bible48000:23:47,119 –> 00:23:49,699in the amount of £5 per month or more,48100:23:49,699 –> 00:23:52,339or a one off gift of £50 or more,48200:23:52,339 –> 00:23:55,339we’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy48300:23:55,339 –> 00:23:59,859of the classic book, Pilgrims’ Progress by John Bunyan.48400:23:59,859 –> 00:24:03,739Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham with details.48500:24:03,739 –> 00:24:05,819We’re thrilled to be able to give away48600:24:05,819 –> 00:24:09,099a free Open the Bible UK pen, bookmark,48700:24:09,099 –> 00:24:12,939and then, updated copy of the timeless classic,48800:24:12,939 –> 00:24:16,140The Pilgrims’ Progress by John Bunyan.48900:24:16,180 –> 00:24:19,300I honestly believe that this book will inspire you49000:24:19,300 –> 00:24:20,699and give you hope,49100:24:20,699 –> 00:24:24,260even if you’re currently going through a difficult time.49200:24:24,260 –> 00:24:27,339And amazingly, John Bunyan did not write this book49300:24:27,339 –> 00:24:28,939from an ivory tower,49400:24:28,939 –> 00:24:31,459but from a grim English prison.49500:24:31,459 –> 00:24:33,819He knew what suffering was.49600:24:33,819 –> 00:24:36,339So we would love to send you these free gifts,49700:24:36,339 –> 00:24:37,739both to encourage you49800:24:37,739 –> 00:24:40,680and to say thank you for your donation.49900:24:40,680 –> 00:24:43,540So this book, Pilgrims’ Progress, is our gift to you50000:24:43,540 –> 00:24:46,400if you’re able to set up a new direct debit50100:24:46,400 –> 00:24:48,000to the work of Open the Bible50200:24:48,000 –> 00:24:50,660in the amount of five pounds per month or more,50300:24:50,660 –> 00:24:54,439or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.50400:24:54,439 –> 00:24:56,680Full terms and conditions and details50500:24:56,680 –> 00:24:59,439are on our website, that’s at openthebible.org.uk.50600:25:01,459 –> 00:25:03,880For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,50700:25:03,880 –> 00:25:06,800I’m David Pick, and I hope you’ll join us again next time.50800:25:14,260 –> 00:25:17,920What does it mean when we talk about living by the spirit?50900:25:17,920 –> 00:25:21,099And how would you know if you are living by the spirit?51000:25:21,099 –> 00:25:23,699Find out next time on Open the Bible.