Assurance Grows as You Lean on the Word of the Father, Part 2

1 John 3:19-24

Pastor Colin explores a topic crucial to every Christian’s journey: the condemning heart. As we delve into the first letter of John, particularly chapter 3, verses 19-24, Pastor Colin sheds light on the universal struggle of self-condemnation and regret, providing biblical insights on how to navigate through these challenging emotions.

Through personal anecdotes and powerful scriptural references, this episode offers a comforting reminder that when our hearts feel heavy with condemnation, we have the ultimate reassurance in God, whose authority and knowledge surpass our own. Inspired by the teachings of C.H. Spurgeon and moments from Peter’s journey with Jesus, Pastor Colin highlights the importance of turning to God’s greater understanding and compassionate judgment.

You’ll discover practical, faith-strengthening advice on leaning into the unwavering assurance found in God’s promises and Jesus’ redemptive love. Whether you’re questioning how to handle your regrets or seeking peace in God’s forgiveness, this episode provides profound encouragement, reaffirming that God’s love and justice override the judgments of our own hearts.

100:00:00,220 –> 00:00:14,600Here, Jon addresses a very real problem that all Christians deal with sometimes and some200:00:14,600 –> 00:00:22,200Christians deal with often. And that is the problem of the condemning heart.300:00:22,200 –> 00:00:26,540Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I am David Pick. Glad you could be400:00:26,840 –> 00:00:31,620with us today. And Colin we don’t necessarily recognize what it is that’s going on inside500:00:31,620 –> 00:00:36,660of sometimes because we get used to feeling in a certain way. And how would someone know600:00:36,660 –> 00:00:39,020if they have a condemning heart?700:00:39,020 –> 00:00:46,360Oh, well, for example, where you have a regret, you said something that you wished you hadn’t800:00:46,360 –> 00:00:51,799said. And you see why did I open my mouth and say that? You can’t take your words back.900:00:51,860 –> 00:00:57,799You can say sorry, I didn’t mean it. But you can’t unsay what has been said or you hurt1000:00:57,799 –> 00:01:06,300someone in some way and you cannot undo the hurt that was caused. And so you have a sense1100:01:06,300 –> 00:01:11,760within your own heart that you have really messed up here. You have failed. And and it’s1200:01:11,760 –> 00:01:16,959like a cloud that is hanging over you. And though you’re truly sorry and though you may1300:01:16,959 –> 00:01:23,120have apologised, there’s a sense of remaining regret and remaining sadness, and what are1400:01:23,120 –> 00:01:27,139you to do with that? That’s what it looks like, I think, when our hearts condemn us.1500:01:27,139 –> 00:01:31,120And the point that John is making in this wonderful first letter that we’re looking1600:01:31,120 –> 00:01:36,760at is that the normal experience of the Christian life is that we rejoice in peace with God1700:01:36,760 –> 00:01:43,559and forgiveness, and we know that things are right. But then he says whenever our hearts1800:01:43,559 –> 00:01:49,059condemn us. He doesn’t say if ever. It’s quite clear that every Christian at some point1900:01:49,059 –> 00:01:55,239is going to regret something that we said or we did, and we need to know how to deal2000:01:55,239 –> 00:01:59,800with that when our own hearts condemn us. Well John’s going to tell us in the verses2100:01:59,800 –> 00:02:04,959that we’re looking at how we’re to deal with that when that arises in our lives.2200:02:04,959 –> 00:02:10,820Well let’s get into that today. In the First Letter of John chapter three, verses 19-24,2300:02:10,820 –> 00:02:17,100as we continue the message, assurance grows as we lean on the word of the Father. Here’s Colin.2400:02:17,100 –> 00:02:25,779Most Christians know what it is at some time or other in our lives to look into our own2500:02:25,779 –> 00:02:35,979hearts and to say how could a person who has thought what I have thought2600:02:36,259 –> 00:02:45,619and said what I have said and done what I have done really be a Christian? Could it2700:02:45,619 –> 00:02:56,020be that I am in fact deceiving myself and that the truth is not in me?2800:02:56,020 –> 00:03:01,419And if you recognize that kind of thought or something of a similar sort, you’re recognizing2900:03:01,679 –> 00:03:10,800the reality of the condemning heart, and John says whenever that happens, he’s addressing3000:03:10,800 –> 00:03:17,479that problem that all of us at some time are likely to face.3100:03:17,479 –> 00:03:25,259And it may be that you faced it already even while the word of God’s been preached this3200:03:25,339 –> 00:03:36,940Because, you know, as we looked at these three marks, believing God, loving God, obeying3300:03:36,940 –> 00:03:41,979God’s commands, there’s probably some of us here who even within the last 10 minutes3400:03:41,979 –> 00:03:51,679your heart has been saying, as you heard that, yeah, but my faith should be stronger, and3500:03:51,699 –> 00:03:59,440my love should be deeper, and my obedience should be fuller.3600:03:59,440 –> 00:04:04,779And even as you hear what is intended to encourage and strengthen you, your own heart’s been3700:04:04,779 –> 00:04:07,740condemning you, right here and now.3800:04:07,740 –> 00:04:19,799Now, God’s purpose is not that you should live under the sentence of a condemning heart.3900:04:20,160 –> 00:04:27,540So what should you do when your own heart condemns you?4000:04:27,540 –> 00:04:32,540Now John gives us the answer, and it is wonderfully clear.4100:04:32,540 –> 00:04:36,700Look at what he says about the reassured heart.4200:04:36,720 –> 00:04:46,179By this, he says, we shall know that we are of the truth, and by this we shall reassure4300:04:46,299 –> 00:04:48,760heart before him.4400:04:48,760 –> 00:04:54,000This is how we are to settle the condemning heart, and this is how we are to deal with4500:04:54,000 –> 00:04:56,000the condemning heart.4600:04:56,000 –> 00:05:06,399For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and he knows everything.4700:05:06,399 –> 00:05:14,679C.H. Spurgeon, a preacher from an earlier century, has a brilliant analogy that gets4800:05:14,679 –> 00:05:17,220to the part of what John is saying here.4900:05:17,220 –> 00:05:23,720So, let me adapt it to our situation here in the United States and give that then to5000:05:23,720 –> 00:05:25,480you.5100:05:25,480 –> 00:05:31,859In our federal justice system, there are three kinds of court.5200:05:31,859 –> 00:05:41,619There are currently ninety-four district courts, there are thirteen courts of appeals, and5300:05:41,619 –> 00:05:45,619of course there is one supreme court.5400:05:45,619 –> 00:05:51,019And the principle at the heart of our justice system is very simple that if a verdict is5500:05:51,019 –> 00:05:59,119given against you in one of the lower courts you have a right of appeal to one of the higher5600:05:59,119 –> 00:06:00,820courts.5700:06:00,820 –> 00:06:05,859Now John is speaking about times when our heart condemns us.5800:06:06,859 –> 00:06:12,279And there will be times in your life and in your experience when your heart is like a5900:06:12,279 –> 00:06:19,040judge in the District Court giving a verdict against you, condemning you.6000:06:19,040 –> 00:06:24,420But you see the point that Spurgeon is making in this analogy is that when your heart condemns6100:06:24,420 –> 00:06:28,480you, you can appeal to a higher court.6200:06:28,480 –> 00:06:30,880And he quoted what he says.6300:06:30,880 –> 00:06:39,119There is another court far higher than the court of the human heart, for God is greater6400:06:39,119 –> 00:06:42,179than our heart, and he knows all things.6500:06:42,179 –> 00:06:50,619Then he says there are some good Christian people who are always distressed because they6600:06:50,619 –> 00:06:54,839never take their case to the Supreme Court.6700:06:55,220 –> 00:06:58,799Now you see what he’s saying.6800:06:58,799 –> 00:07:03,019The normal experience of the Christian life is that your heart does not condemn you, but6900:07:03,019 –> 00:07:08,239there will be times when your heart does condemn you, and when your heart condemns you, here’s7000:07:08,239 –> 00:07:10,440where some Christians make the mistake.7100:07:10,440 –> 00:07:14,660We just sit under the condemnation of our own hearts.7200:07:14,660 –> 00:07:18,239Why would you do that when actually you have the right to take your case to the higher7300:07:18,239 –> 00:07:21,640court to bring it directly before Almighty God?7400:07:22,440 –> 00:07:26,279Now you see this is what John is commending to us.7500:07:26,279 –> 00:07:31,119When your heart condemns you, and sometimes it will, here’s what you have to do.7600:07:31,119 –> 00:07:34,579You bring your case before God.7700:07:34,579 –> 00:07:40,859You bring it from the lower court of the human heart to the highest court, the Supreme Court.7800:07:40,859 –> 00:07:43,839The Court of God Almighty Himself.7900:07:43,839 –> 00:07:49,799This is how your reassure your heart in his presence.8000:07:49,799 –> 00:07:59,160Now notice that John gives us two distinct reasons for taking our case to the higher court.8100:07:59,160 –> 00:08:01,500Bring your case to God.8200:08:01,500 –> 00:08:02,500Why?8300:08:02,500 –> 00:08:08,920First, because God is greater than your heart.8400:08:08,920 –> 00:08:10,019Look at what he says again.8500:08:10,019 –> 00:08:13,420By this we shall know that we are of the truth.8600:08:13,420 –> 00:08:16,559This is how we’re going to reassure our hearts before Him.8700:08:16,559 –> 00:08:24,260For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart.8800:08:24,260 –> 00:08:37,419Now these six words, God is greater than our heart, they are God’s medicine for the condemning8900:08:37,419 –> 00:08:38,640heart.9000:08:38,640 –> 00:08:53,479When your heart condemns you, tell your heart, God is greater than my heart.9100:08:53,479 –> 00:08:56,359And you see this is supremely good news.9200:08:56,359 –> 00:09:01,559Your heart does not have ultimate authority.9300:09:01,559 –> 00:09:07,960Your heart may condemn you, but your heart does not have the final word about you.9400:09:08,239 –> 00:09:13,679God can overrule your condemning heart.9500:09:13,679 –> 00:09:21,760Your heart’s just like the lower court, but God’s word is like the supreme court.9600:09:21,760 –> 00:09:31,440So when your heart condemns you, bring your case to God, because in Christ, God can and9700:09:31,440 –> 00:09:37,880will overrule any condemnation that your heart may bring against you in the lower courts.9800:09:37,880 –> 00:09:40,280So bring your case to God.9900:09:40,280 –> 00:09:44,679Go to God and tell him that your heart condemns you.10000:09:44,679 –> 00:09:48,200Go to God and tell him why your heart condemns you.10100:09:48,200 –> 00:09:49,659Tell him all that you have done.10200:09:49,659 –> 00:09:53,679Tell him all that you have failed to do.10300:09:53,679 –> 00:09:55,580Think about it with this analogy.10400:09:55,580 –> 00:10:01,960The first order of business in a higher court is always to review the work of the lower10500:10:01,960 –> 00:10:02,960court.10600:10:02,960 –> 00:10:03,960What was the charge?10700:10:03,960 –> 00:10:04,960What was the evidence?10800:10:04,960 –> 00:10:06,679How was the verdict reached?10900:10:06,679 –> 00:10:09,719Lay this all out before God.11000:10:09,719 –> 00:10:16,640God is greater than your heart and he is able to overrule the judgment of the condemning11100:10:16,640 –> 00:10:19,599heart.11200:10:19,599 –> 00:10:24,119Now someone may ask at this point, why would God do that?11300:10:24,119 –> 00:10:31,919The answer is because God sees what our condemning hearts sometimes forget — that we are in11400:10:31,919 –> 00:10:32,919Christ.11500:10:33,919 –> 00:10:46,780Brother, sister, believer, you are in Christ and God sees you in Christ.11600:10:46,780 –> 00:10:52,599And God justifies those who have faith in Jesus.11700:10:52,599 –> 00:11:00,359That’s Romans chapter 3 and verse 26, wonderful promise, God justifies those who have faith11800:11:00,359 –> 00:11:01,479in Jesus.11900:11:01,679 –> 00:11:07,539That word justify means to declare not guilty.12000:11:07,539 –> 00:11:15,559And you see, when God declares us not guilty in his Supreme Court, all the verdicts of12100:11:15,559 –> 00:11:21,039their condemning hearts in the lower courts are overturned and overruled.12200:11:22,559 –> 00:11:28,919And that’s why the Apostle says in Romans chapter 5 and verse 1, since we have been12300:11:29,479 –> 00:11:37,760justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.12400:11:37,760 –> 00:11:47,359That’s why he says in Romans chapter 8 and verse 1, there is therefore now no condemnation12500:11:47,359 –> 00:11:50,840for those who are in Christ Jesus.12600:11:51,780 –> 00:12:00,219You see, the good news of the Gospel is that God is for us in and through Jesus Christ.12700:12:00,219 –> 00:12:05,780Remember that Jesus Christ did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the12800:12:05,780 –> 00:12:07,880world through Him might be saved.12900:12:07,880 –> 00:12:13,640That is why Jesus Christ, when he went to the cross, took all the condemnation that13000:12:13,640 –> 00:12:22,500is due for our sins upon himself so that there would be no condemnation left for us!13100:12:22,500 –> 00:12:33,359The good news of the gospel is that it is God who justifies and his verdict overrules13200:12:33,359 –> 00:12:35,619any other judgment.13300:12:35,619 –> 00:12:42,880No power on earth, in heaven, or even in hell itself can ever overrule the supreme13400:12:43,039 –> 00:12:45,140judgment of almighty God.13500:12:45,140 –> 00:12:48,859And that is why the Apostle in Romans Chapter 8 says,13600:12:48,859 –> 00:12:53,900If God be for us, who can be against us?13700:12:53,900 –> 00:12:58,359He who did not spare his own Son but freely gave him up for us all,13800:12:58,359 –> 00:13:02,820how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?13900:13:02,820 –> 00:13:06,000And, who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?14000:13:06,000 –> 00:13:10,679It is God who justifies, who is to condemn?14100:13:10,719 –> 00:13:16,679You see, there isn’t a higher authority above the supreme word of almighty God himself,14200:13:16,679 –> 00:13:20,200God justifies you, who in the world can condemn you?14300:13:20,200 –> 00:13:27,359So you see, the verdict that matters most is not the verdict that your condemning heart14400:13:27,359 –> 00:13:29,739may pass upon you.14500:13:29,739 –> 00:13:34,719It’s certainly not the condemning verdict that other people may try to impose on you.14600:13:34,719 –> 00:13:44,359It is the verdict of almighty God, and God justifies those who have faith in Jesus.14700:13:44,359 –> 00:13:46,119Isn’t that good news?14800:13:46,119 –> 00:13:47,880It certainly is good news.14900:13:47,880 –> 00:13:52,719You’re listening to Open The Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith, and a message called Assurance15000:13:52,719 –> 00:13:55,880Grows as you lean on the word of the father.15100:13:55,880 –> 00:14:01,960It’s based on the first letter of John, chapter 3 and verses 19 to 24 today, and if you’ve15200:14:02,099 –> 00:14:06,659missed any of the series so far, don’t forget you can alwise catch up, or go back and listen15300:14:06,659 –> 00:14:14,239again online, at our website, openthebible.org.uk, or find us as a podcast, and those are on15400:14:14,239 –> 00:14:16,179all the main podcast sites.15500:14:16,179 –> 00:14:20,840You can find them while searching for Open The Bible UK, or by following a link from15600:14:20,840 –> 00:14:22,320our website.15700:14:22,320 –> 00:14:23,760Back to the message now.15800:14:23,760 –> 00:14:25,179Here again is Colin.15900:14:25,179 –> 00:14:30,280Then John gives us a second reason for bringing your case to God, and at first sight it might16000:14:30,280 –> 00:14:34,239look a little surprising, but it’s here, look at it.16100:14:34,239 –> 00:14:38,539Bring your case to God, first because God is greater than your heart.16200:14:38,539 –> 00:14:43,799He’s able to overrule the condemning judgment that your heart may make against you.16300:14:43,799 –> 00:14:51,479But second, bring your case to God because God knows everything.16400:14:51,479 –> 00:14:54,580By this we shall know that we are of the truth.16500:14:54,580 –> 00:14:56,099This is how we’re going to get there.16600:14:56,140 –> 00:15:02,039This is how we’re going to settle or reassure our hearts before Him.16700:15:02,039 –> 00:15:12,340Whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and He knows everything.16800:15:12,340 –> 00:15:20,119Now, someone might think, God knowing everything sounds to me like a reason for not coming to Him.16900:15:20,119 –> 00:15:24,539You know, other people see me at my best but they don’t see the half.17000:15:24,599 –> 00:15:34,880And, God knows all things, but remember that John is writing to Christian believers.17100:15:34,880 –> 00:15:43,359And he gives to us as Christian believers God’s perfect knowledge as a reason for coming to Him.17200:15:43,359 –> 00:15:48,140God’s knowledge here is not presented as a reason for fear or for dread.17300:15:48,140 –> 00:15:53,440No, the fact that God knows all things is clearly being given to us by John the apostle17400:15:53,539 –> 00:15:56,520as a reason for hope and for confidence.17500:15:56,520 –> 00:16:03,039God knows everything that’s why you should come to him.17600:16:03,039 –> 00:16:09,080Robert Law, who has written a marvelous book on 1st John that I’ve referred to before,17700:16:09,080 –> 00:16:11,760I find it very, very helpful.17800:16:11,760 –> 00:16:16,200He points here to a story that I think almost all of us will know and remember well.17900:16:16,280 –> 00:16:21,880It’s a story of Peter who at one point18000:16:21,880 –> 00:16:26,919denied that he had ever known Jesus.18100:16:26,919 –> 00:16:33,979Peter sinned big time, I mean really big time.18200:16:33,979 –> 00:16:40,619And his sin caused him to weep bitter tears of repentance.18300:16:41,479 –> 00:16:44,479He must have wondered how he could ever get over what he had done.18400:16:44,799 –> 00:16:49,119Why would I have done such a thing?18500:16:49,119 –> 00:16:53,599And you remember that when Jesus rose from the dead,18600:16:53,599 –> 00:16:58,739he appeared to Peter, and said to Peter,18700:16:59,260 –> 00:17:02,400do You love me?18800:17:02,400 –> 00:17:08,079And Peter replied, Yes, Lord, You know that I love you.18900:17:08,079 –> 00:17:13,439And then Jesus asked him again Peter do You love me?19000:17:13,520 –> 00:17:20,239And Peter said, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.19100:17:20,239 –> 00:17:27,780And Jesus then asked him a third time, Peter, do you love me?19200:17:27,780 –> 00:17:31,140And do you remember what Peter said the third time?19300:17:31,140 –> 00:17:39,520He said, Lord, you know everything.19400:17:39,520 –> 00:17:40,839You know everything!19500:17:40,839 –> 00:17:44,099He appealed to the perfect knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.19600:17:44,099 –> 00:17:46,380You know everything!19700:17:46,380 –> 00:17:50,640So you know that I love you!19800:17:50,640 –> 00:17:57,339You know my sin, but you also know my repentance.19900:17:57,339 –> 00:18:03,859You know my weakness, but you also know my desire.20000:18:03,859 –> 00:18:10,020Lord, you know everything!20100:18:10,020 –> 00:18:13,339You know that I love you!20200:18:13,339 –> 00:18:18,839God’s perfect knowledge is not a reason to stand at a distance from Him.20300:18:18,839 –> 00:18:23,680It is a reason for you, as a Christian believer, to come to Him.20400:18:23,680 –> 00:18:24,680He knows everything.20500:18:24,680 –> 00:18:32,599That means that He knows the work of His Son for you and He knows the work of His Spirit20600:18:32,599 –> 00:18:33,599in you.20700:18:33,599 –> 00:18:37,939He knows that you love Him.20800:18:38,000 –> 00:18:41,939So here is something very practical that is being laid before us today.20900:18:41,939 –> 00:18:46,400We’re all going to experience times when our own hearts condemn us.21000:18:46,400 –> 00:18:52,979And John has telling us as clearly as can be, this is what you do when your heart condemns21100:18:52,979 –> 00:18:53,979you.21200:18:53,979 –> 00:18:56,800You bring your case to God.21300:18:56,800 –> 00:19:02,439You draw near to God and you bring it all before Him because God is greater than your21400:19:02,439 –> 00:19:06,380heart and because God knows all things.21500:19:06,660 –> 00:19:08,660Let’s take this in today.21600:19:08,660 –> 00:19:12,000It’s medicine for the condemning heart.21700:19:12,000 –> 00:19:17,160God is greater than your heart.21800:19:17,160 –> 00:19:21,920God is greater than your heart, so why in the world would you carry on listening more21900:19:21,920 –> 00:19:25,459to the condemning voice of your own heart than you listen to the word of God?22000:19:25,459 –> 00:19:29,239Why would you do that?22100:19:29,380 –> 00:19:38,880What would you think of a person who had been vindicated by the Supreme Court, and then22200:19:38,920 –> 00:19:42,739spent the rest of their lives grieving over the fact that at one point a judgement had22300:19:42,739 –> 00:19:46,239once been made against them in one of the lower courts?22400:19:46,239 –> 00:19:49,660Well, you would say to that person, wouldn’t you?22500:19:49,660 –> 00:19:57,380You’d say, my dear friend, you don’t have to worry about that now.22600:19:57,380 –> 00:20:01,540Your case has been settled at the very highest level.22700:20:01,540 –> 00:20:06,479Your case has been settled in the Supreme Court and any other judgement that has ever22800:20:06,479 –> 00:20:11,939been made against you has thereby been vacated.22900:20:11,939 –> 00:20:24,579God is greater than your heart, so quit putting your heart above the very Word of God.23000:20:24,680 –> 00:20:26,880Bring your case to God.23100:20:26,880 –> 00:20:35,699And hear the Word of grace that He speaks to you in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.23200:20:35,699 –> 00:20:39,199And then tell your condemning heart.23300:20:39,199 –> 00:20:46,319Jesus died for my sins and rose again.23400:20:46,319 –> 00:20:54,339Tell your condemning heart that God justifies those who have faith in Jesus.23500:20:54,339 –> 00:21:03,140Tell your condemning heart that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who23600:21:03,140 –> 00:21:05,359are in Christ.23700:21:05,359 –> 00:21:10,439Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?23800:21:10,439 –> 00:21:12,619It is God who justifies.23900:21:12,619 –> 00:21:17,199Well, who is to condemn?24000:21:17,300 –> 00:21:28,479Assurance grows as we lean on the gracious word of God the Father.24100:21:28,500 –> 00:21:30,520It is indeed good news.24200:21:30,520 –> 00:21:34,959You’ve been listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Assurance24300:21:34,959 –> 00:21:38,420Grows as you lean on the word of the Father.24400:21:38,420 –> 00:21:41,780The message is part of our larger series How Can I Be Sure?24500:21:41,780 –> 00:21:44,300all about the assurance of salvation.24600:21:44,300 –> 00:21:48,219And if you’ve missed any of the messages so far in the series, or if you want to go back24700:21:48,219 –> 00:21:54,479and listen again you can come to our website openthebible.org.uk and there you’ll find24800:21:54,479 –> 00:21:57,239all the messages that have already been broadcast.24900:21:57,239 –> 00:22:01,280You can also find them as a podcast and those on all the main podcast sites.25000:22:01,280 –> 00:22:05,839Simply search for Open The Bible UK or follow the link from our website.25100:22:05,839 –> 00:22:09,699At open the bible we welcome contact with our listeners.25200:22:09,699 –> 00:22:18,420You can email us by using the contact form on our website openthebible.org.uk.25300:22:18,420 –> 00:22:28,160You can write to us at Open The Bible POWO Box 1420 Cheltenham GL 50 9PG.25400:22:28,160 –> 00:22:36,180Or you can phone us on 0330 335 8089.25500:23:06,239 –> 00:23:09,859Along with five beautiful Psalm 23 notecards.25600:23:09,859 –> 00:23:14,579Colin, what are you hoping that readers will take away from reading this book?25700:23:14,579 –> 00:23:20,660Well there are so many people who have only heard a message that is basically do this25800:23:20,660 –> 00:23:26,119and don’t do that and have become tired of it and may even have walked away from it.25900:23:26,119 –> 00:23:30,760Folks who are listening to us right now and that’s been your experience, do this, do this,26000:23:30,760 –> 00:23:34,739do this, don’t do that, don’t do that, and so forth and so on.26100:23:35,339 –> 00:23:40,099But the wonderful thing that’s at the very heart of the Gospel is that God gives what26200:23:40,099 –> 00:23:41,619He commands.26300:23:41,619 –> 00:23:47,579So when we look at the Ten Commandments, we’re looking at what God actually offers to give26400:23:47,579 –> 00:23:54,319to us by the power of His Holy Spirit when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.26500:23:54,319 –> 00:24:01,079He’s able to give us a new life in which it’s possible to pursue purity, in which it’s possible26600:24:01,079 –> 00:24:07,479to find contentment, in which it’s possible for us to make wise and good use of our time.26700:24:07,479 –> 00:24:10,560All of these issues are addressed in the Ten Commandments.26800:24:10,560 –> 00:24:14,760And therefore they point to a new life that is full of the most wonderful hope.26900:24:14,760 –> 00:24:21,099If you’ve only heard a bunch of do’s and don’ts, you haven’t yet discovered the good27000:24:21,099 –> 00:24:23,859news of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.27100:24:23,859 –> 00:24:27,339And so my hope and prayer for this book is that it will help many people to have their27200:24:27,479 –> 00:24:32,520eyes opened to the new life that’s possible through the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.27300:24:32,520 –> 00:24:35,500So that’s our gift to you this month of September.27400:24:35,500 –> 00:24:40,859If you were able to set up a new Direct Debit of £5 per month or more or a one-off gift27500:24:40,859 –> 00:24:44,619of £50 or more to the work of Open the Bible.27600:24:44,619 –> 00:24:50,579Full terms and conditions on our website, that’s at OpenTheBible.org.uk, and you can27700:24:50,579 –> 00:24:51,760give online.27800:24:51,760 –> 00:24:56,560If you’d like us to send you this gift, please don’t give anonymously and remember to include27900:24:56,599 –> 00:24:59,959your address so that we can send you your gift.28000:24:59,959 –> 00:25:04,180For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us28100:25:04,180 –> 00:25:07,099again next time on Open The Bible.28200:25:12,979 –> 00:25:18,219There is a special ministry of the Holy Spirit as he assures believers that they are the28300:25:18,219 –> 00:25:20,060children of God.28400:25:20,060 –> 00:25:22,459Find out more next time on Open The Bible.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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New! Graphic Novel

A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

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