100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:11,920The reason we are reconciled to god, the reason that in Christ we have peace with him, is200:00:11,920 –> 00:00:22,000not that as Christians we have come to be without sin. It is that in Christ God does300:00:22,000 –> 00:00:27,000not count our sins against us.400:00:27,000 –> 00:00:31,299Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. I’m glad you could500:00:31,299 –> 00:00:36,639be with us today and Colin it sounds like we’ll hear a message of hope today because600:00:36,639 –> 00:00:42,400all of us if we are honest continue to battle with sin long after we’ve become believers.700:00:42,400 –> 00:00:48,820We really are and we get to the very heart of the gospel today. 2nd Corinthians 5 and800:00:49,380 –> 00:00:53,45917, God was reconciling the world to himself. How?900:00:53,459 –> 00:00:59,740Not counting men’s sins against them. It’s not that I’ve got beyond the point where there’s1000:00:59,740 –> 00:01:03,540anything in my life that needs to be changed, there are many things in every Christian’s1100:01:03,540 –> 00:01:08,580life that continue to need to be addressed and changed. The wonderful thing is God does1200:01:08,580 –> 00:01:13,760not count sins against His people. You say, how in the world can He do that and still1300:01:13,760 –> 00:01:21,260be just? And the answer is that God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that1400:01:21,260 –> 00:01:26,260in Him we might become the righteousness of God. This is the heart of the heart of the1500:01:26,260 –> 00:01:32,040heart of the gospel. It is death-centered. And to get this clear is really the fountain1600:01:32,040 –> 00:01:35,320of a Christian’s joy and the fountain of a Christian’s hope.1700:01:35,320 –> 00:01:42,139So, a great message of encouragement and hope in 2 Corinthians 5. So join us in your Bible1800:01:42,160 –> 00:01:47,699if you can as we hear the second part of the message, the heart of the gospel. Here is Colin.1900:01:47,699 –> 00:01:54,279Now to those who reconcile with God through Jesus Christ three wonderful things are true.2000:01:54,279 –> 00:02:03,620Here’s how God deals with us in Jesus Christ. First thing is that God does not count your2100:02:03,620 –> 00:02:10,940sins against you. And that’s in verse 19. In Christ, God was reconciling the world to2200:02:10,940 –> 00:02:22,059himself, not counting their trespasses against them. Now, please understand this because2300:02:22,059 –> 00:02:28,660it’s very important to having peace when the enemy accuses you and your own heart condemns2400:02:28,660 –> 00:02:36,520you. The reason we are reconciled to God. The reason that in Christ we have peace with2500:02:36,520 –> 00:02:47,979him is not that as Christians we have come to be without sin. It is that in Christ, verse2600:02:47,979 –> 00:02:56,88019, God does not count our sins against us. Now that raises the question, if God doesn’t2700:02:56,880 –> 00:03:03,320count your sins against you, where do these sins go? Where are these sins counted on the2800:03:03,320 –> 00:03:11,820ledger of divine justice? The answer to that question is in our verse, verse 21, that God2900:03:11,820 –> 00:03:18,960counts your sin dealt within Christ. And these two truths wonderfully stand together. That’s3000:03:18,960 –> 00:03:32,520why it says here, for our sake, He made him to be sin. Jesus was made sin on the cross.3100:03:32,720 –> 00:03:40,520And this is surely one of the most amazing statements in the whole Bible. That the sinless,3200:03:40,520 –> 00:03:54,619spotless Lamb of God, God the son, God in the flesh, was made sin for us, as our sins3300:03:55,559 –> 00:04:02,320were laid on him. That’s exactly second Corinthians chapter five verses 19 and3400:04:02,320 –> 00:04:11,27921. Why would it be that our sins are no longer counted against us? Answer, because3500:04:11,279 –> 00:04:19,200they’re no longer on us. Where are they now? You’re in Christ, and they have been3600:04:19,200 –> 00:04:27,500laid on him who was made sin for us? Which is at the very heart of all that he was suffering3700:04:27,500 –> 00:04:34,739and all that he was enduring on the cross. Isaiah puts it like this. Our sins were laid3800:04:34,739 –> 00:04:43,519on him. The Lord laid on him the inequities of us all. Horatious Boner says it like this.3900:04:43,760 –> 00:04:51,059God dealt with him, Jesus, as if he were really a sinner, such as we are. Treated him as if4000:04:51,059 –> 00:04:57,859all iniquity was centered in him. The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was4100:04:57,859 –> 00:05:04,579clothed with our guilt. He bore the burden of our iniquities. In all respect, the Father4200:05:04,579 –> 00:05:10,640dealt with him as guilty of our transgressions.4300:05:10,760 –> 00:05:20,160When Satan brings your sins to mind, when your own heart condemns you, when you become4400:05:20,160 –> 00:05:26,559aware as a Christian believer of just how far you have yet to go as a follower of Jesus4500:05:26,559 –> 00:05:33,239Christ. Remember this so that you will have peace. It’s so important that you do not4600:05:33,239 –> 00:05:44,019lose heart. Your sins were laid on him. And I love that verse in 1 John 1, in verse 9.4700:05:44,019 –> 00:05:50,880You know, the one that says if we confess our sins, he is faithful. What does it say4800:05:50,880 –> 00:05:57,200next? And just. Wouldn’t you think that it would say he’s faithful and kind or faithful4900:05:57,260 –> 00:06:03,519and generous to forgive us our sins? That’s not what it says. It says he’s faithful and5000:06:03,519 –> 00:06:10,519just to forgive us our sins. Why does it say the word just? Because our peace with God5100:06:12,420 –> 00:06:19,420is founded on this free gift of grace that rests on the foundation of God’s justice.5200:06:20,059 –> 00:06:27,059God has not dealt with us by sweeping our sins under the carpet, so to speak. So that5300:06:29,940 –> 00:06:35,459if one day the carpet was lifted up they might all get stirred up and come into view again.5400:06:35,459 –> 00:06:41,859That’s not how he’s done it. No. God has dealt with our sins in Jesus Christ. They5500:06:41,859 –> 00:06:48,859were laid on him. The Spotless Lamb of God was made sinned for us. He died in our place,5600:06:49,739 –> 00:06:56,739and he became the sacrifice for us. God made him who had no sin to be sin, and he did it5700:06:59,899 –> 00:07:06,899for us. My friends, I’ve said that this is the epicenter5800:07:08,380 –> 00:07:15,380of what God accomplished in Jesus Christ at the cross. Please understand this, because5900:07:16,380 –> 00:07:23,380some of you read widely and you think deeply, please understand this, that precisely because6000:07:23,380 –> 00:07:30,339it is the epicenter of what God has done for us in Christ, because it is so important,6100:07:30,339 –> 00:07:35,440it will always, always, always be disputed, always.6200:07:35,440 –> 00:07:40,480James Dennie says this about the great truth that’s at the heart of the gospel that we’re6300:07:40,500 –> 00:07:41,519looking at today.6400:07:41,519 –> 00:07:47,359He says it’s at the heart of the gospel and just because it is so, it has always been6500:07:47,359 –> 00:07:56,320felt to be critical, alike by those who welcome and by those who reject it.6600:07:56,320 –> 00:08:00,500And you will know that there are folks out there who will write and who will think and6700:08:00,500 –> 00:08:07,720will say, how is it possible for guilt to be transferred from one to another?6800:08:07,720 –> 00:08:14,000These are categories that no longer seem relevant to the modern world and so forth and so on.6900:08:14,000 –> 00:08:19,660So let me read to you from Spurgeon because this really made me smile because he’s writing7000:08:19,660 –> 00:08:29,019in the 19th century, 19th century and so I just want you to know nothing ever changes.7100:08:29,019 –> 00:08:34,400In the 19th century, Spurgeon says this, in the church and out of the church there is7200:08:34,400 –> 00:08:37,280a deadly animosity to this truth.7300:08:37,719 –> 00:08:41,400Isn’t that interesting in the 19th century?7400:08:41,400 –> 00:08:46,340Modern thought, he says, that’s modern 19th century thought, modern thought labors to7500:08:46,340 –> 00:08:51,340get away from what is obviously the meaning of the Holy Spirit, that sin was lifted from7600:08:51,340 –> 00:08:54,119the guilty and laid on the innocent.7700:08:54,119 –> 00:09:00,340It is written the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all that’s Isaiah 53.7800:09:00,340 –> 00:09:04,260This is as plain language as can be.7900:09:04,320 –> 00:09:11,200And if any planar language was required, here it is, he has made him who knew no sin to8000:09:11,200 –> 00:09:14,320be sin for us.8100:09:14,320 –> 00:09:20,099And then later in classic Spurgeon style, he adds this, I do not care whether it is8200:09:20,099 –> 00:09:24,400impossible or not with learned unbelievers.8300:09:24,400 –> 00:09:28,780It is evidently possible with God for he has done it.8400:09:28,780 –> 00:09:29,780I love that.8500:09:29,780 –> 00:09:30,900I love that.8600:09:30,900 –> 00:09:32,099That’s what the scripture is saying.8700:09:33,099 –> 00:09:34,679This is what he’s done.8800:09:34,679 –> 00:09:41,559Let folks crab away as they wish with regards to what cannot be done.8900:09:41,559 –> 00:09:45,479Spurgeon says the Bible tells me this is what God has done.9000:09:45,479 –> 00:09:51,880And friends, here’s why this is so important and so critical for all of us.9100:09:51,880 –> 00:09:56,739If your sins are not on Jesus, where in the world are they?9200:09:56,739 –> 00:10:01,539There’s only one other place that they can be if your sins are not on Jesus and that9300:10:01,539 –> 00:10:04,380is on you because you’re the person who’s done them.9400:10:04,380 –> 00:10:08,260You’re the person who’s responsible for them.9500:10:08,260 –> 00:10:16,580So if the transference of guilt was to be impossible, redemption itself would be impossible.9600:10:16,580 –> 00:10:20,580And here’s the great good news of the gospel.9700:10:20,580 –> 00:10:28,020That our sins when we are in Jesus Christ are not on us and can never be on us because9800:10:28,020 –> 00:10:35,859they are on Jesus Christ, and they were dealt with at the cross in full completely paid.9900:10:35,859 –> 00:10:37,820It is finished, it is done.10000:10:37,820 –> 00:10:42,580Now when you feel that you’re so discouraged about your lack of progress, here’s where10100:10:42,580 –> 00:10:46,099you’re going to find the ability not to lose heart.10200:10:46,099 –> 00:10:50,900Looking up into the face of God who loves you father and son.10300:10:50,900 –> 00:10:57,159Accomplishing your redemption in the cross, through what is beautifully described here10400:10:57,299 –> 00:11:00,400in 2nd Corinthians 5 and verse 21.10500:11:00,400 –> 00:11:04,539So I love that verse of the hymn, It is well with my soul.10600:11:04,539 –> 00:11:09,080My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought.10700:11:09,080 –> 00:11:15,960That my sin, not in part but the whole, what happened to it?10800:11:15,960 –> 00:11:22,799It’s nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, not on me.10900:11:23,440 –> 00:11:27,400Nailed to the cross, therefore praise the Lord.11000:11:27,400 –> 00:11:29,919It is well with my soul.’11100:11:29,919 –> 00:11:35,260So here’s the heart of how God saves a person in Jesus Christ.11200:11:35,260 –> 00:11:43,299He lays your sin on Jesus and He deals with your sin in Jesus.11300:11:43,299 –> 00:11:48,239So that on the cross the righteous judgment that would have been yours fell on Him.11400:11:48,239 –> 00:11:55,619He absorbed it, he exhausted it and the flaming sword was broken on him as far as you are11500:11:55,619 –> 00:12:03,059concerned, so that you should be reconciled completely to God.11600:12:03,059 –> 00:12:09,820How could any sin ever be charged to you, or ever counted against you when in the justice11700:12:10,219 –> 00:12:15,400mighty it has already been charged against Jesus and he died for it.11800:12:15,400 –> 00:12:18,840You are listenign to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.11900:12:18,840 –> 00:12:23,359And we have got to pause the message just briefly here, but we will be back very shortly.12000:12:23,359 –> 00:12:28,859The message is called The Heart of the Gospel, and it’s the final message in a series called12100:12:28,859 –> 00:12:32,979Don’t Lose Heart, based on 2 Corinthians Chapter 5.12200:12:32,979 –> 00:12:37,260And if you have missed any of the messages so far, it is very easy to catch up, or Go12300:12:37,260 –> 00:12:45,619back and Listen by coming online at our website, Or, by going to your favourite podcast site,12400:12:45,619 –> 00:12:50,020search for Open the Bible UK if you don’t already subscribe there, and there you’ll12500:12:50,020 –> 00:12:54,260find all of the messages.12600:12:54,260 –> 00:12:58,340Open the Bible is supported by our listeners, and we’re very grateful for the support we12700:12:58,340 –> 00:13:00,359receive from you.12800:13:00,359 –> 00:13:05,179If that is something you have been considering doing, this month we have a great offer for12900:13:05,179 –> 00:13:05,659you.13000:13:05,799 –> 00:13:09,799In a moment I will be talking to Colin later about his book Christmas Stories, which is13100:13:09,799 –> 00:13:11,900our offer to you this month.13200:13:11,900 –> 00:13:12,979Back to the message now.13300:13:12,979 –> 00:13:14,340Here again is Colin.13400:13:14,340 –> 00:13:24,919God not counting our sins against us, and God counting your sin dealt with, in Christ.13500:13:24,919 –> 00:13:30,599Here’s the third thing, third wonderful reality for every person who is in Christ,13600:13:30,599 –> 00:13:35,960that God counts Christ’s righteousness as yours.13700:13:35,960 –> 00:13:48,979He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness13800:13:48,979 –> 00:13:51,440of God.13900:13:51,440 –> 00:14:00,119In Himself Jesus is the Sinless Son of God, but our sins were laid on Him and God dealt14000:14:00,159 –> 00:14:05,479with Him as if He were sin itself.14100:14:05,479 –> 00:14:06,599And here we are.14200:14:06,599 –> 00:14:16,380We are in ourselves sinners but God’s righteousness has been draped on us because we are in Christ14300:14:16,380 –> 00:14:26,539and so God deals with us as if we were righteousness itself.14400:14:26,539 –> 00:14:33,219God dealt with Christ as He deals with sin even though Christ is holy.14500:14:33,219 –> 00:14:43,140And God deals with us in Christ as He deals with righteousness even though we are sinners.14600:14:43,140 –> 00:14:46,940And in Jesus we become the righteousness of God.14700:14:46,940 –> 00:14:49,940I love that phrase.14800:14:49,940 –> 00:14:52,460The righteousness of God.14900:14:52,500 –> 00:14:55,539Paul uses it in Philippians in that wonderful passage where he says,15000:14:55,539 –> 00:15:02,599I want to be found in Christ, same thing, not having a righteousness of my own that15100:15:02,599 –> 00:15:08,539comes by works of the law but that which is through faith in Christ.15200:15:08,539 –> 00:15:13,219The righteousness from God that depends on faith.15300:15:13,219 –> 00:15:14,919Why faith?15400:15:14,919 –> 00:15:19,780Because faith is the way in which we are bonded to Christ, faith, believing, is the way in15500:15:19,780 –> 00:15:21,940which we come to be in Christ.15600:15:21,940 –> 00:15:26,900And all these wonderful things are true of us in Christ, when we believe, when we have15700:15:26,900 –> 00:15:30,359faith in Christ, when we’re in Christ.15800:15:30,359 –> 00:15:36,419God not counting your sins against you, God having dealt with your sins in Christ at the15900:15:36,419 –> 00:15:41,099cross and God counting Christ’s righteousness as yours.16000:15:41,099 –> 00:15:48,059So here’s the question, are you believing in Jesus?16100:15:48,059 –> 00:15:52,580The question is not how much progress have you made in your life as you kind of examine16200:15:52,580 –> 00:15:59,020yourself internally, which is an important thing to do from time to time.16300:15:59,020 –> 00:16:02,820When you examine yourself and sometimes you’re discouraged and you lose heart and the Holy16400:16:02,820 –> 00:16:11,039Spirit lifts your mind up to Christ, the question is, are you believing in Jesus?16500:16:11,039 –> 00:16:15,619Sometimes a Christian person may say something like this, well you know, I would feel more16600:16:15,760 –> 00:16:25,239sure about having peace with God if I prayed more or if I was more holy or if I had made16700:16:25,239 –> 00:16:27,919more progress.16800:16:27,919 –> 00:16:31,919But you say at that point where you say, well, I would have peace with God if I was further16900:16:31,919 –> 00:16:34,619advanced in the Christian life, you see what you’re saying?17000:16:34,619 –> 00:16:39,460You’re not at that point looking to be found in Him with the righteousness from God.17100:16:39,460 –> 00:16:44,880What you’re trying to do is to do exactly what Paul says he did not want to do, which17200:16:44,880 –> 00:16:50,299is to have a righteousness of your own according to the law that’s based on praying a lot17300:16:50,299 –> 00:16:53,239and being more holy and making lots of progress.17400:16:53,239 –> 00:16:59,840Paul says that’s exactly what I do not want to do, I want to be found in Christ not having17500:16:59,840 –> 00:17:04,439a righteousness of my own but that which comes through faith in Jesus Christ.17600:17:04,439 –> 00:17:11,060Because if I attempt to establish my own standing before God on my progress in the Christian17700:17:11,060 –> 00:17:13,900life, I’ll always lose heart, always lose heart.17800:17:14,319 –> 00:17:18,540That would be true even for the Apostle Paul, let alone folks like us.17900:17:19,880 –> 00:17:24,680That’s why it’s in Christ that I know that I have peace with God.18000:17:24,680 –> 00:17:27,540Because it’s in Christ that my sins are not counted against me.18100:17:27,540 –> 00:17:31,880It’s in Christ that my sins are dealt with, and it’s in Christ that I am draped with18200:17:31,880 –> 00:17:33,959a very righteousness of God.18300:17:35,760 –> 00:17:39,400Thank God that he deals with us in Christ.18400:17:39,900 –> 00:17:41,839Last couple of minutes, just this.18500:17:43,099 –> 00:17:46,560What difference will it make in your life?18600:17:48,199 –> 00:17:55,979This week, if you really believe these truths that we’ve been looking at today?18700:17:57,839 –> 00:18:00,619If you really believe what we’ve been looking at today,18800:18:00,619 –> 00:18:05,219what difference will it actually, practically make in your life?18900:18:05,560 –> 00:18:06,900Let me tell you this.19000:18:07,859 –> 00:18:10,420If you really believe what we’ve been looking at today,19100:18:10,420 –> 00:18:15,420you will love Jesus Christ, you really will.19200:18:16,599 –> 00:18:24,459God looks on us in Him, blesses us in him, loves us in him,19300:18:24,459 –> 00:18:27,979will glorify us in him, we are complete in him,19400:18:27,979 –> 00:18:34,079we are sunk without him, and we have all things in him.19500:18:36,219 –> 00:18:41,000And if you really believe that, you will love Jesus Christ,19600:18:41,000 –> 00:18:43,719and the more you believe it, the more you will love Him.19700:18:45,199 –> 00:18:48,780And you’ll no longer be in a position of seeing worship19800:18:48,780 –> 00:18:51,859as a sort of formal kind of a thing.19900:18:51,859 –> 00:18:56,239There’ll be a love for Christ that’s like a glowing fire20000:18:56,239 –> 00:18:58,280that’s increasing in your hearts20100:18:58,280 –> 00:19:03,280because you really believe who He is and what He’s done20200:19:03,640 –> 00:19:06,020and that all your good is in Him20300:19:06,020 –> 00:19:08,260and apart from Him, you have no good thing.20400:19:10,400 –> 00:19:13,439And if you really believe this,20500:19:13,439 –> 00:19:16,640you will take sin more seriously.20600:19:16,640 –> 00:19:18,540Believing this will actually lead20700:19:18,540 –> 00:19:20,819to more good change in your life.20800:19:20,819 –> 00:19:21,660Why?20900:19:21,660 –> 00:19:23,260Because you’ll take sin seriously.21000:19:23,260 –> 00:19:26,359You’ll say, look what this did to Jesus.21100:19:27,420 –> 00:19:30,540Look how much God hates this.21200:19:31,420 –> 00:19:34,920And because I now believe what we’ve been learning21300:19:34,920 –> 00:19:37,479from 2 Corinthians, chapter five and verse 21.21400:19:37,479 –> 00:19:39,680I believe it.21500:19:39,680 –> 00:19:42,939I can no longer drift along in a compromised life21600:19:42,939 –> 00:19:45,079that sort of accommodates certain sins21700:19:45,079 –> 00:19:46,599that I’ve said, well, they’re just habitual21800:19:46,599 –> 00:19:47,619and they’re just mine.21900:19:47,619 –> 00:19:51,280I can’t do that because I’ve come to love this Christ22000:19:51,280 –> 00:19:53,859and I’ve come to see what sin is22100:19:53,859 –> 00:19:57,000and there’s a new energy that will come into your life22200:19:57,000 –> 00:19:58,719in the pursuit of holiness.22300:19:58,719 –> 00:20:00,839This is the extraordinary thing22400:20:00,839 –> 00:20:05,400that when people try to make their pursuit of holiness22500:20:05,400 –> 00:20:07,939the great thing that they’ll offer to God,22600:20:07,939 –> 00:20:10,239it actually cuts the thing at the root,22700:20:10,239 –> 00:20:13,140but when you see that all your good is in Jesus Christ,22800:20:13,140 –> 00:20:17,319you’re actually energized in the pursuit of holiness.22900:20:17,319 –> 00:20:18,160It’s amazing.23000:20:19,439 –> 00:20:20,739And there’s the third thing.23100:20:20,739 –> 00:20:23,560If you really believe this you will be reconciled to God,23200:20:23,560 –> 00:20:26,359because if you believe this,23300:20:26,719 –> 00:20:28,520how could you possibly go out and say23400:20:28,520 –> 00:20:31,239I am not going to walk with God,23500:20:31,239 –> 00:20:34,439I am going to walk my own independent way,23600:20:34,439 –> 00:20:38,180how could you possibly do that if you were to believe this?23700:20:39,199 –> 00:20:40,719To believe that in Christ,23800:20:40,719 –> 00:20:43,180God was reconciling the world to himself23900:20:43,180 –> 00:20:47,000not counting men’s sins against them,24000:20:47,000 –> 00:20:50,160entrusting to us the message of reconciliation24100:20:50,160 –> 00:20:52,319so that we are ambassadors for Christ24200:20:52,319 –> 00:20:54,640and God’s making his appeal through us24300:20:54,640 –> 00:20:58,640imploring you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God.24400:20:59,680 –> 00:21:01,939God did all this on his side24500:21:03,400 –> 00:21:05,540in order to be in this position today24600:21:05,540 –> 00:21:07,300of reaching out to you in love24700:21:07,300 –> 00:21:09,219and saying be reconciled to me,24800:21:09,219 –> 00:21:11,219there’s no reason why your sins,24900:21:11,219 –> 00:21:13,780some or all of them, should be counted against you.25000:21:15,420 –> 00:21:19,219When Jesus Christ is provided as a Savior for you,25100:21:19,219 –> 00:21:21,180a unique and a glorious Savior,25200:21:21,180 –> 00:21:24,339and he came and he did all this to reconcile you to God,25300:21:24,380 –> 00:21:26,079why would you be walking away,25400:21:26,079 –> 00:21:30,219not committed to Jesus Christ as his disciple25500:21:30,219 –> 00:21:31,699and as a believer today?25600:21:31,699 –> 00:21:33,180Why would you do that?25700:21:33,180 –> 00:21:35,699Be reconciled to God, why?25800:21:37,540 –> 00:21:39,119Because for our sake,25900:21:40,079 –> 00:21:42,459he made him who had no sin26000:21:43,380 –> 00:21:46,739to be sin so that in him26100:21:47,819 –> 00:21:50,359we might become26200:21:51,500 –> 00:21:52,859the righteousness26300:21:53,199 –> 00:21:55,359of God.26400:21:55,359 –> 00:21:57,180You’ve been listening to Open the Bible26500:21:57,180 –> 00:21:58,579with pastor Colin Smith26600:21:58,579 –> 00:22:00,439and the final part of the message,26700:22:00,439 –> 00:22:02,260The Heart of the Gospel.26800:22:02,260 –> 00:22:04,699Also the final message in our series,26900:22:04,699 –> 00:22:06,140Don’t Lose Heart.27000:22:06,140 –> 00:22:07,739Don’t forget if you want to go back27100:22:07,739 –> 00:22:09,699and listen to any of the series again,27200:22:09,699 –> 00:22:11,359you can do that by coming online27300:22:11,359 –> 00:22:15,180to our website, openthebible.org.uk27400:22:15,180 –> 00:22:17,540or by going to your favorite podcast site27500:22:17,540 –> 00:22:20,540and searching for Open the Bible UK.27600:22:20,540 –> 00:22:23,500You can also follow the link to the podcast27700:22:23,500 –> 00:22:28,459from our website, openthebible.org.uk.27800:22:28,459 –> 00:22:30,900Open the Bible is supported by our listeners,27900:22:30,900 –> 00:22:33,020financially and if that’s something28000:22:33,020 –> 00:22:34,979you’ve been considering doing,28100:22:34,979 –> 00:22:37,020this month we have an offer for you.28200:22:37,020 –> 00:22:40,000If you were able to set up a new direct debit28300:22:40,000 –> 00:22:42,739in the amount of five pounds per month or more28400:22:42,739 –> 00:22:45,660or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,28500:22:45,660 –> 00:22:48,339this month we all send you two copies28600:22:48,619 –> 00:22:51,420of the book, Christmas Stories, by Colin Smith28700:22:51,420 –> 00:22:54,339and also five beautiful Christmas cards28800:22:54,339 –> 00:22:57,300with illustrations from the book.28900:22:57,300 –> 00:23:00,619Christmas Stories is a retelling of the Christmas story29000:23:00,619 –> 00:23:04,099from the point of view of several Biblical characters,29100:23:04,099 –> 00:23:07,300characters like Adam, Joseph, Herod,29200:23:07,300 –> 00:23:10,939Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, and even the angel Gabriel.29300:23:11,859 –> 00:23:15,859You know, I have really enjoyed telling the Christmas story29400:23:15,859 –> 00:23:18,000from the perspective of different characters29500:23:18,060 –> 00:23:21,359who were involved, and the one exception to that is Herod.29600:23:21,359 –> 00:23:23,680I can’t say I enjoyed that because, of course,29700:23:23,680 –> 00:23:26,560he was on the wrong side of the Christmas story,29800:23:26,560 –> 00:23:28,760absolutely opposed the coming29900:23:28,760 –> 00:23:31,319of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world,30000:23:31,319 –> 00:23:33,239and whereas telling the story30100:23:33,239 –> 00:23:37,640from Mary and Joseph’s perspective or Simeon’s perspective,30200:23:37,640 –> 00:23:39,219you know, you’re able to think about,30300:23:39,219 –> 00:23:42,699well, here’s a person who’s in heaven looking back30400:23:42,699 –> 00:23:44,719on this most marvelous good news30500:23:44,719 –> 00:23:47,079of the birth of Jesus into the world.30600:23:47,099 –> 00:23:49,160Well, Herod’s certainly not there.30700:23:49,160 –> 00:23:52,839And the message that comes from his rejection of Jesus30800:23:52,839 –> 00:23:55,839is it’s too late now for him to change direction30900:23:55,839 –> 00:23:57,920but it’s not too late for you.31000:23:57,920 –> 00:23:59,819And what a marvelous thing it is31100:23:59,819 –> 00:24:03,520that we are in the day of God’s grace31200:24:03,520 –> 00:24:05,900where mercy and love are extended31300:24:05,900 –> 00:24:08,560towards every person in Jesus Christ.31400:24:08,560 –> 00:24:11,280And what a marvelous thing to be able to invite our friends31500:24:11,280 –> 00:24:14,800and our loved ones to receive that mercy and that grace.31600:24:14,800 –> 00:24:17,920I hope that this book will be a real help31700:24:17,920 –> 00:24:20,959to many folks in sharing the gospel.31800:24:20,959 –> 00:24:22,640It would be a lovely gift just to give to someone.31900:24:22,640 –> 00:24:25,420It’s 24 pages beautifully produced32000:24:25,420 –> 00:24:26,839and it tells the Christmas story32100:24:26,839 –> 00:24:30,219from these different angles in the first person32200:24:30,219 –> 00:24:32,680through the eyes of people who were actually involved.32300:24:32,680 –> 00:24:35,479Well, we’d love to send you two copies of this book32400:24:35,479 –> 00:24:38,119and the five beautiful Christmas cards32500:24:38,119 –> 00:24:40,719if you’re able to set up a new direct debit32600:24:40,719 –> 00:24:43,119of five pounds per month or more32700:24:43,719 –> 00:24:46,959or a one-off gift of £50 or more this month.32800:24:46,959 –> 00:24:48,400Full terms and conditions are32900:24:48,400 –> 00:24:52,339on our website openthebible.org.uk33000:24:52,339 –> 00:24:53,619and please remember,33100:24:53,619 –> 00:24:56,000if you want to take advantage of this offer,33200:24:56,000 –> 00:24:58,099don’t give anonymously33300:24:58,099 –> 00:25:01,219and remember to leave your full name and address33400:25:01,219 –> 00:25:03,819so we can send you your free gift.33500:25:03,819 –> 00:25:06,520For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,33600:25:06,520 –> 00:25:07,599I’m David Pick.33700:25:07,599 –> 00:25:10,699and I hope you’ll join us again next time on Open the Bible.