A New Perspective, Part 2

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

In today’s message, titled “A New Perspective,” we delve into 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Pastor Colin explores the transformative power of seeing Jesus as the unique Lord and Saviour. By changing our perspective on Jesus, we can change how we view ourselves and others. Get ready for an insightful journey that highlights how new life in Christ can radically alter our relationships.

100:00:00,880 –> 00:00:02,880I200:00:03,140 –> 00:00:05,840Want to put this case before you300:00:06,760 –> 00:00:10,640That’s a change in how you see Jesus400:00:11,580 –> 00:00:18,940Will lead to a change in how you see others and a change in how you see yourself500:00:20,160 –> 00:00:25,500Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith. I’m David pic. Glad you could be with us today600:00:25,520 –> 00:00:31,620And Colin if you ask them many people will admit that they don’t like themselves very much700:00:31,900 –> 00:00:39,180So, how can seeing Jesus differently change how we see ourselves while we’re looking at 2nd Corinthians chapter 5800:00:39,180 –> 00:00:42,360Where we we read that we no longer regard Jesus900:00:42,700 –> 00:00:48,560According to the flesh and then the next thing that the Apostle Paul says is we now regard no one1000:00:49,180 –> 00:00:50,299According to the flesh1100:00:50,299 –> 00:00:54,619So what he’s saying is that there is a way of viewing1200:00:54,939 –> 00:01:02,320Ourselves and of viewing other people that can change radically and when it changes is when we come to a whole new view of1300:01:02,599 –> 00:01:08,639Christ not just as another person in history, but as the unique Lord and Savior and Master you come to that knowledge1400:01:08,720 –> 00:01:14,220It’s going to change how you view yourself and it’s going to change how we view other people1500:01:14,220 –> 00:01:21,739so join us if you can in 2 corinthians and chapter 5 as we continue the message a new perspective is1600:01:22,239 –> 00:01:25,980Colin I want to put this case before you1700:01:26,879 –> 00:01:30,339that a change in how you see Jesus1800:01:31,699 –> 00:01:39,000Will lead to a change in how you see others and a change in how you see yourself1900:01:39,739 –> 00:01:47,239that is the thrust of these verses that are before us as we follow, what the Apostle Paul is saying a2000:01:48,059 –> 00:01:56,440change in how you see Jesus will lead to a change in how you see others and a change in how you see2100:01:57,360 –> 00:01:59,120yourself and this is2200:01:59,120 –> 00:02:01,320Wonderfully liberating for all2300:02:02,099 –> 00:02:06,400who are in Christ let me build that case then in these three steps and start here a2400:02:06,839 –> 00:02:10,080Change in how you see Jesus, this is where it begins2500:02:10,899 –> 00:02:12,899look at verse 162600:02:13,800 –> 00:02:15,759even though2700:02:15,759 –> 00:02:19,220We once regarded Christ according to the flesh2800:02:20,839 –> 00:02:22,839We regard him thus2900:02:23,600 –> 00:02:25,600no longer3000:02:25,919 –> 00:02:31,940you see what Paul is saying he’s talking about the way in which he viewed Jesus the opinion he formed about Jesus and3100:02:32,580 –> 00:02:38,839He’s saying the opinion that I heard of Jesus was formed entirely by what he was according to the flesh a3200:02:40,100 –> 00:02:45,600Jewish man born into a poor family raised in an obscure village a carpenter by trade of3300:02:45,779 –> 00:02:49,100unusual ability in leading others who hung out with3400:02:49,979 –> 00:02:53,220sometimes embarrassing friends and died early in life3500:02:53,500 –> 00:02:59,919Without owning more than the robe for which the soldiers gambled while he hung on the cross3600:02:59,960 –> 00:03:01,919that3700:03:02,559 –> 00:03:05,339Was my opinion of Jesus and3800:03:06,059 –> 00:03:11,539all of these people worshipping him therefore was the most offensive thing imaginable to me as3900:03:12,460 –> 00:03:14,460What Paul is saying?4000:03:15,240 –> 00:03:17,240Now as you read the Gospels4100:03:17,639 –> 00:03:19,639There are actually multiple4200:03:19,839 –> 00:03:22,979examples of people who dismissed Jesus4300:03:23,759 –> 00:03:28,419Because they regarded him according to the flesh and because people still do this today4400:03:28,419 –> 00:03:31,919I want just to take a moment to show you this. Let me give you some examples4500:03:33,259 –> 00:03:38,479In John chapter 6 and verse 42, Jesus says I am the bread of life4600:03:39,160 –> 00:03:42,259He’s been saying I’m the bread of life that came down from heaven4700:03:42,679 –> 00:03:46,839The crowd don’t like what he is saying they begin to grumble and here’s what they said4800:03:47,419 –> 00:03:49,419Is this not Jesus?4900:03:50,479 –> 00:03:52,479the son of Mary and Joseph5000:03:53,860 –> 00:03:56,860Whose father and mother we know5100:03:56,940 –> 00:04:01,339So you go down your ten factors of what shapes us according to the flesh5200:04:01,339 –> 00:04:07,020And they’re dismissing jesus why on the basis of his family of origin. They’re saying we know his parents5300:04:07,600 –> 00:04:12,800So how can he possibly be the bread of life so they completely dismiss him on the basis of family5400:04:14,419 –> 00:04:16,420Matthew chapter 135500:04:17,019 –> 00:04:22,799When Jesus comes into his hometown of Nazareth and they listen to him speak5600:04:23,459 –> 00:04:26,239the scripture says Matthew 13 in verse 555700:04:26,440 –> 00:04:28,880Is this not?5800:04:29,720 –> 00:04:30,859the5900:04:30,859 –> 00:04:32,859Carpenters son6000:04:32,899 –> 00:04:35,660Now you go down your list of ten. What are they doing there?6100:04:35,660 –> 00:04:42,059They’re dismissing Jesus because they view him according to the flesh and they’ve got him tagged why by his job6200:04:42,100 –> 00:04:47,720He’s a carpenter’s son. He follows in the line of the carpenter. That’s what he does6300:04:47,720 –> 00:04:51,619how how can these things that he’s been saying be true when he’s simply a6400:04:52,339 –> 00:04:53,980carpenter6500:04:53,980 –> 00:05:01,859Mark chapter 2 and verse 16 here are all these people rejecting Jesus dismissing and why because they only view him according to the flesh6600:05:01,980 –> 00:05:09,019The Pharisees see the company that he’s keeping and they ask this question of the disciples. Why does he eat?6700:05:09,880 –> 00:05:12,540with tax collectors and sinners6800:05:13,380 –> 00:05:19,859The Pharisees are dismissing Jesus why because they are judging him according to the flesh and in particular6900:05:20,500 –> 00:05:22,500They have come to this conclusion7000:05:22,660 –> 00:05:27,799Because they’ve looked at the friends. He is keeping he’s in that circle of people there7100:05:27,799 –> 00:05:30,859So we cannot possibly be the Messiah7200:05:31,679 –> 00:05:36,299Let me add this one because there are so so many John chapter 7 and verse7300:05:36,820 –> 00:05:43,55941 when the Pharisees are debating the claims of Jesus and one of them says can the Christ come from7400:05:43,839 –> 00:05:46,519Galilee why you see that’s the location of the home and7500:05:47,200 –> 00:05:48,480they’re7600:05:48,480 –> 00:05:52,339Dismissing Jesus on the basis of judging him according to the flesh7700:05:53,200 –> 00:05:55,440and then you remember pilot and7800:05:56,600 –> 00:06:00,600he puts up this sign above Jesus on the cross and7900:06:01,239 –> 00:06:05,980Pilot has dismissed Jesus because he regards him according to the flesh8000:06:05,980 –> 00:06:10,940She does not see him as the Son of God and so he puts up the sign and what is it this?8100:06:11,239 –> 00:06:13,880Jesus of Nazareth the King of the8200:06:13,880 –> 00:06:15,880Jews and8300:06:16,320 –> 00:06:19,179There’s a racial slur there without doubt8400:06:19,179 –> 00:06:23,399Which is why the Jews the Bible says came back and said, can you change what you’ve written?8500:06:24,559 –> 00:06:31,279Pilots says what I have written I have written. Here’s there’s a racial slur. Here’s the best of them The King of8600:06:33,600 –> 00:06:35,600The Jews8700:06:36,079 –> 00:06:38,079So all through the8800:06:38,559 –> 00:06:41,279Gospels you have clear examples of8900:06:42,040 –> 00:06:44,739People who dismissed Jesus9000:06:45,359 –> 00:06:46,859because9100:06:46,859 –> 00:06:52,920they regarded him according to the flesh they formed an opinion of him based on9200:06:53,480 –> 00:06:59,640Family based on work based on home location based on race9300:07:00,239 –> 00:07:01,880and9400:07:01,880 –> 00:07:05,959The Apostle Paul says in the verse that’s before us today. That’s what I was9500:07:06,000 –> 00:07:10,579Regarding Jesus according to the flesh9600:07:13,119 –> 00:07:15,119Now how did that change9700:07:16,059 –> 00:07:18,179The answer of course is the resurrection9800:07:18,959 –> 00:07:26,660And it changed for the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus when the risen Lord Jesus appeared to him9900:07:28,519 –> 00:07:34,359So a little I am Jesus who you persecute he sees the risen Lord and10000:07:34,679 –> 00:07:41,519And from that moment he cannot possibly write off Jesus as a misguided Jew who died on the cross10100:07:43,940 –> 00:07:50,279Friends for those of you who are struggling with whether you should really come to a commitment of faith in Jesus Christ10200:07:50,399 –> 00:07:53,000Let me try and make this very simple for you today10300:07:54,420 –> 00:07:56,720either Jesus Christ is10400:07:57,679 –> 00:08:00,260the sovereign risen Lord10500:08:01,119 –> 00:08:05,959Who by virtue of who he is and what he did in his birth life death and resurrection10600:08:07,040 –> 00:08:11,720Either he’s the sovereign Lord who by virtue of who he is and what he has done10700:08:12,459 –> 00:08:17,019lays claim to your life and to every life or10800:08:19,920 –> 00:08:21,920Christianity should be thrown out completely10900:08:23,459 –> 00:08:27,100If Jesus Christ truly is raised from the dead11000:08:27,700 –> 00:08:30,279He is in a category of one as11100:08:31,320 –> 00:08:39,760the unique sovereign Lord if Jesus rose from the dead for you to push him away is the height of madness then11200:08:41,020 –> 00:08:46,419If he is not the reigning Lord. Why are you even tinkering with Christianity? What would be the point?11300:08:48,539 –> 00:08:50,780Now you see this is the great transformation11400:08:51,679 –> 00:08:55,919That has come in the mind of the Apostle Paul11500:08:56,539 –> 00:09:03,580He had come to the conclusion that christianity should be rejected completely because he judged Jesus according to the flesh11600:09:04,340 –> 00:09:08,700That’s why he persecuted the church. That’s why he set out to destroy it11700:09:08,700 –> 00:09:14,140Why because he regarded Jesus according to the flesh and as long as he did that11800:09:15,260 –> 00:09:17,460the idea of one man11900:09:18,440 –> 00:09:23,700Laying claim to the lives and the loyalty of h of all others12000:09:24,140 –> 00:09:28,539seemed to him to be completely and utterly preposterous and12100:09:29,280 –> 00:09:32,140Of course there are many who have come to that conclusion today12200:09:32,140 –> 00:09:33,659How can you say that?12300:09:33,659 –> 00:09:36,479Jesus is the only person by whom we can come to god12400:09:37,059 –> 00:09:38,419How can you say that?12500:09:38,419 –> 00:09:44,419Jesus can claim to be first in your life and first in every person’s life. Isn’t that preposterous?12600:09:44,419 –> 00:09:46,940Well, it would be if you regarded Jesus according to the flesh12700:09:48,219 –> 00:09:52,299But you see, when Paul is confronted by the raised lord12800:09:52,679 –> 00:09:59,960He finds himself offering his own life into the hands of the one he had previously despised12900:10:01,460 –> 00:10:09,260And that’s why he says even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh we regard him thus no longer13000:10:09,580 –> 00:10:10,859and13100:10:10,859 –> 00:10:15,520I want you to notice the significance of the word we hear it’s not I it’s we13200:10:16,179 –> 00:10:21,960He includes himself because this great transformation in his view about Jesus has happened in his own life13300:10:22,000 –> 00:10:25,119But it’s not limited to him as a person who directly13400:10:25,640 –> 00:10:28,000saw the risen, Lord, Jesus Christ13500:10:29,039 –> 00:10:35,260Now what he’s saying is that this is the core truth about every person who really is a Christian13600:10:35,799 –> 00:10:42,859That a Christian is a person who has come to a new opinion about Jesus on the basis of the resurrection13700:10:43,219 –> 00:10:45,619We no longer regard him as a figure of history13800:10:46,080 –> 00:10:47,320according to the flesh13900:10:47,320 –> 00:10:51,119we see much more than that we’ve come to worship him as the14000:10:51,780 –> 00:10:58,700risen, Lord as the Sovereign King as the gracious Redeemer as God with us and God14100:10:59,460 –> 00:11:01,460for us14200:11:02,460 –> 00:11:04,460Now that’s at the core14300:11:04,700 –> 00:11:09,359To put it in the New Testament question, what do you think of Jesus Christ?14400:11:10,359 –> 00:11:15,679Because what he claims and how he is presented in the Bible to you is this that he is the14500:11:16,039 –> 00:11:21,280sovereign Lord who lays claim to your life and to every life and14600:11:22,260 –> 00:11:27,020That to fight against him is a battle you can never never never14700:11:28,440 –> 00:11:33,020You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called a new perspective14800:11:33,679 –> 00:11:35,260It’s part of our series14900:11:35,559 –> 00:11:38,260don’t lose heart and if you’ve missed any of the series15000:11:38,260 –> 00:11:43,020So far, you can easily catch up or go back and listen again online at our website15100:11:45,159 –> 00:11:52,599Or by going to your favorite podcast site and searching for open the Bible UK back to the message now15200:11:52,619 –> 00:11:56,280We’re in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 here again is Colin15300:11:56,280 –> 00:12:01,479Here’s the application that Paul is making a change in how you see Jesus will lead15400:12:02,359 –> 00:12:04,619To a change in how you see others15500:12:06,119 –> 00:12:09,340we no longer regard Jesus according to the flesh and15600:12:10,400 –> 00:12:14,280From now on verse 16. Therefore, we regard no one15700:12:15,340 –> 00:12:17,340according15800:12:17,359 –> 00:12:19,359to the flesh15900:12:20,219 –> 00:12:23,539Friends here’s something that is beautiful and unique16000:12:24,940 –> 00:12:26,940To the body of Christ16100:12:26,979 –> 00:12:28,979The16200:12:30,080 –> 00:12:33,799Things that make us different according to the flesh are16300:12:35,679 –> 00:12:41,960Overwhelmed by the new life that is enjoyed by those who are in Jesus Christ in16400:12:43,000 –> 00:12:46,479The flesh our life was living for ourselves. And so it’s all about16500:12:47,599 –> 00:12:49,599Which group is?16600:12:49,599 –> 00:12:51,119going to gain16700:12:51,119 –> 00:12:52,500precedence in16800:12:52,539 –> 00:12:57,520The endless struggle that revolves around the ten factors that differentiate us16900:12:58,500 –> 00:13:00,500Make us different17000:13:01,460 –> 00:13:06,619But in the body of Christ where new life has come, through Jesus Christ17100:13:07,599 –> 00:13:11,479These things that make us different are simply overwhelmed17200:13:11,859 –> 00:13:19,320By what now binds us together in our new life that is received from him and shared in him17300:13:20,320 –> 00:13:27,479That is why very wonderfully in Galatians in chapter 3 the Apostle says this of those who are in Christ17400:13:28,359 –> 00:13:32,359He says in Christ. That is neither. Jew nor Greek in17500:13:32,880 –> 00:13:35,900Christ there is neither slave nor free in17600:13:36,859 –> 00:13:39,599Christ there is neither male nor female17700:13:40,599 –> 00:13:42,960For you are all one in17800:13:43,979 –> 00:13:45,400Christ17900:13:45,400 –> 00:13:49,080Jesus that’s something that’s not possible in the world because18000:13:49,640 –> 00:13:51,640world18100:13:51,640 –> 00:13:53,719It’s all about what we are in the flesh18200:13:55,479 –> 00:14:00,539But in the body there is a new life that is about who we are in Jesus Christ18300:14:01,460 –> 00:14:02,440and18400:14:02,440 –> 00:14:07,580That is why the church offers for all who are in Jesus Christ II18500:14:08,640 –> 00:14:14,479Wonderful possibility of pursuing a new community in which that which makes us different is overcome18600:14:14,840 –> 00:14:17,500by that which makes us one a18700:14:17,539 –> 00:14:18,739a18800:14:18,739 –> 00:14:22,820community in in which men and women of every race18900:14:23,559 –> 00:14:28,400people of every appearance and age people of every background and19000:14:28,880 –> 00:14:32,280experience people from every trade and profession every19100:14:32,940 –> 00:14:37,239Level of ability are brought together in one body19200:14:37,979 –> 00:14:39,979in19300:14:40,099 –> 00:14:41,820the Lord19400:14:41,919 –> 00:14:47,719why because we’ve all been brought to peace with the same God through the blood of the same Savior and19500:14:47,919 –> 00:14:54,799We have submitted our very very different lives to the authority off the same Lord. That’s beautiful and19600:14:55,539 –> 00:14:59,919it’s only possible when Christ is at the center and19700:15:00,520 –> 00:15:02,520Where Christ is?19800:15:03,039 –> 00:15:04,140Exalted19900:15:04,140 –> 00:15:11,099It’s why we want to be a church. That is Christ exalting because that’s what’s going to pull people together around him20000:15:11,359 –> 00:15:15,020exalt anything else and what makes us different will be all that will be20100:15:16,039 –> 00:15:18,039apparent20200:15:18,219 –> 00:15:21,219So change in how you see Jesus20300:15:22,460 –> 00:15:25,960No longer according to the flesh, but as exalted in the risen Lord20400:15:26,500 –> 00:15:32,619leading directly to a change in how we regard and relate to one another and20500:15:34,020 –> 00:15:35,520lastly20600:15:35,580 –> 00:15:41,739The change in how you see Jesus will lead to a change in how you see others and a change in how you see yourself20700:15:41,880 –> 00:15:47,340why because verse 17 if anyone is in Christ he or she is a20800:15:48,159 –> 00:15:49,799new creation20900:15:49,799 –> 00:15:51,799That’s true of every21000:15:51,799 –> 00:15:53,539Christian21100:15:53,539 –> 00:15:57,500Being a new creation means very simply that there is more to you21200:15:58,979 –> 00:16:02,119Than what is in you according to the flesh?21300:16:03,440 –> 00:16:05,440There is more to you21400:16:05,520 –> 00:16:11,739Than what is in you according to the flesh you have been reconciled to God21500:16:12,599 –> 00:16:15,000You have been adopted into his family21600:16:16,179 –> 00:16:18,039you have an21700:16:18,039 –> 00:16:23,000Inheritance in heaven that can never spoil or fade the Holy Spirit lives within you21800:16:23,359 –> 00:16:27,280Your little life my little life has been caught up into the eternal21900:16:27,799 –> 00:16:29,359sweep of22000:16:29,359 –> 00:16:30,719the great22100:16:30,719 –> 00:16:32,940redeeming purpose of God22200:16:33,500 –> 00:16:38,900And so when you are tempted to lose heart because of what you are according to the flesh22300:16:39,359 –> 00:16:44,239take heart from who you are Christian brother or sister in22400:16:44,840 –> 00:16:46,840Jesus Christ and22500:16:47,700 –> 00:16:51,679Remember this when you become discouraged about issues relating to the flesh22600:16:51,859 –> 00:16:56,900There are natural gifts that may impress people who judge according to the flesh22700:16:57,239 –> 00:17:04,000But there are spiritual gifts that Christ may gives that will make you really useful in life for him22800:17:04,719 –> 00:17:09,500There is a natural beauty that may get a face on the cover of a magazine22900:17:09,979 –> 00:17:15,599But there is a spiritual beauty that brings pleasure to the heart of God23000:17:16,239 –> 00:17:17,900There is a natural strength23100:17:17,900 –> 00:17:20,560That can come from developing your muscles23200:17:20,599 –> 00:17:27,400but there is a spiritual strength that God can give to bring you through the hardest of Trials there is a23300:17:27,780 –> 00:17:31,380Material wealth that will last only for a time23400:17:31,780 –> 00:17:38,420but there is a spiritual wealth that will last for an eternity and if you have had23500:17:39,300 –> 00:17:42,479Experiences in the flesh that have broken your heart23600:17:44,400 –> 00:17:45,939Remember this23700:17:45,939 –> 00:17:47,359That there are23800:17:47,359 –> 00:17:50,119experiences of the love of Christ in the spirit23900:17:50,900 –> 00:17:52,900that are able to24000:17:52,979 –> 00:17:54,979rebuild your soul24100:17:55,540 –> 00:18:02,400So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh why because if anyone is in Christ24200:18:03,439 –> 00:18:06,000he or she is a new creation24300:18:07,739 –> 00:18:11,339So a change in how you see Jesus24400:18:12,680 –> 00:18:15,280Going to lead to a change in how you see others24500:18:16,280 –> 00:18:23,339And as he’s the sovereign Lord of your life, it’s going to lead to a change in how you see24600:18:24,800 –> 00:18:26,680yourself24700:18:26,680 –> 00:18:28,920So wrapping this up in these last moments24800:18:29,760 –> 00:18:31,760if you24900:18:32,300 –> 00:18:34,760judge yourself according to the flesh25000:18:36,739 –> 00:18:42,800You’ll either spend your life looking down on other people because you see yourself as superior more gifted and all this kind of thing25100:18:43,079 –> 00:18:45,079more successful25200:18:45,319 –> 00:18:48,079Or you will always be losing heart25300:18:49,719 –> 00:18:55,920Because you see that others have more gifts, more talents, more advantages in life and more opportunities than you do25400:18:57,479 –> 00:18:59,479And here is the wonderfully good news25500:19:00,160 –> 00:19:06,439That Jesus Christ does not regard us according to the flesh. Aren’t you thankful for that?25600:19:09,099 –> 00:19:13,699Jesus Christ does not regard us accordingly to the flesh25700:19:15,560 –> 00:19:17,680If Jesus Christ25800:19:17,680 –> 00:19:24,060regarded us according to the flesh who would be in heaven. All the ones who were in class X and25900:19:24,319 –> 00:19:31,939Possibly class G and the rest of us in TH and K would not have a chance if Christ regarded us according to the flesh26000:19:33,300 –> 00:19:39,020Who would be in heaven if Christ regarded us according to the flesh. The super talented26100:19:39,020 –> 00:19:44,699God would take an interest in them. The super successful, the super rich perhaps, the super healthy26200:19:46,239 –> 00:19:48,239Thank God26300:19:49,239 –> 00:19:57,439Jesus Christ does not regard us according to the flesh. In fact he says this, you he says to the Pharisees26400:19:57,699 –> 00:19:59,239Judge26500:19:59,239 –> 00:20:05,160According to the flesh I judge no one. Of course he doesn’t mean that he’s not the judge the Bible tells us26600:20:05,160 –> 00:20:10,619He is the judge, what he’s saying here is I don’t judge as you do. You judge according to the flesh. I don’t26700:20:10,660 –> 00:20:12,180I don’t26800:20:12,180 –> 00:20:18,780I don’t form an opinion about people and decide whether I’m going to take an interest in them on the basis of their appearance their26900:20:18,780 –> 00:20:24,020Ability their age their friends their race their gender their work their home their family or their experience27000:20:25,900 –> 00:20:33,780What you are according to the flesh friend will not make Jesus more interested in you and it cannot make Jesus less interested in27100:20:35,459 –> 00:20:39,180He’s not drawn to you because of these things because of what you are in the flesh27200:20:39,260 –> 00:20:41,599And he certainly will not be kept from you27300:20:42,699 –> 00:20:44,699Because of what you are in the flesh27400:20:46,180 –> 00:20:51,619so our Jesus offers himself to every person of every race of27500:20:52,459 –> 00:20:58,640Every ability of every background at every economic level every kind of work, and he does it without27600:20:59,140 –> 00:21:01,060partiality and27700:21:01,060 –> 00:21:07,500He offers himself as the living Savior and as the reigning Lord and whatever you are27800:21:07,780 –> 00:21:09,780according to the flesh27900:21:10,900 –> 00:21:16,579He is able to make of you a new creation if anyone is in Christ28000:21:18,619 –> 00:21:20,619He she is a new creation28100:21:22,540 –> 00:21:29,040So what matters most about you is not what you are in the flesh in any one or even all of these ten areas28200:21:31,719 –> 00:21:34,219But are you in Christ and28300:21:34,479 –> 00:21:38,000And when you are in Christ and he is your28400:21:39,660 –> 00:21:42,280Risen Savior and your reigning Lord28500:21:44,459 –> 00:21:48,900Then what he thinks of you what he thinks of you is28600:21:49,459 –> 00:21:54,219the one thing and ultimately the only thing that really matters28700:21:56,500 –> 00:22:03,199Which is why a change in the way you see Jesus is going to lead to a change in the way you see others and28800:22:03,680 –> 00:22:09,000a change in the way that you see yourself so that you will not28900:22:09,680 –> 00:22:11,680lose a29000:22:12,400 –> 00:22:16,239Challenge there from Colin that we need to look at Jesus correctly29100:22:16,239 –> 00:22:22,339And as we do that it leads to a change in how we see others and how we see ourselves29200:22:23,760 –> 00:22:27,560There was a message called a New Perspective part of our series29300:22:27,760 –> 00:22:31,319Don’t Lose Heart based on 2 Corinthians chapter 529400:22:31,739 –> 00:22:33,699If you’ve missed any of the series29500:22:33,699 –> 00:22:38,040It’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again by coming online to our website29600:22:38,520 –> 00:22:44,479Open the bible.org.uk and there you’ll find all the messages which have already been broadcast29700:22:45,479 –> 00:22:50,439Open the Bible is able to stay on the air and on the internet because of the very generous29800:22:50,839 –> 00:22:53,599Financial support that we receive from our listeners29900:22:53,599 –> 00:22:57,079So if you already give to support open the Bible in that way30000:22:57,280 –> 00:22:58,959Thank you so much.30100:22:58,959 –> 00:23:01,880If that’s something you’d like to begin to do, this month30200:23:01,880 –> 00:23:06,959We have an offer, if you’re able to begin a new direct debit to the work of open the Bible30300:23:07,280 –> 00:23:12,540For five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more30400:23:12,760 –> 00:23:17,380We’d love to say thank you by sending you two copies of Pastor Colin’s book30500:23:17,739 –> 00:23:24,040Christmas stories and also five beautiful Christmas cards based on the illustrations from the book30600:23:24,459 –> 00:23:29,219Christmas Stories is a retelling of the Christmas story from the point of view of various30700:23:29,640 –> 00:23:32,880Biblical characters including Adam Joseph30800:23:33,520 –> 00:23:36,219Even King Herod and the Angel Gabriel30900:23:37,060 –> 00:23:39,719Colin this book will make a great Christmas gift31000:23:39,719 –> 00:23:45,719Don’t you think you know it’s beautifully produced and it’s just designed to be read31100:23:46,140 –> 00:23:49,359With some friends with family at Christmas time31200:23:49,380 –> 00:23:54,300so picture yourself in your home or wherever you’re gathering with some friends and31300:23:55,040 –> 00:23:56,800someone says31400:23:56,800 –> 00:23:59,400Let’s read one of the Christmas stories31500:23:59,400 –> 00:24:03,339And here you’ve got the Christmas story through the eyes of the Angel Gabriel31600:24:03,739 –> 00:24:09,900Through the eyes of Mary, Joseph, Simeon and even King Herod and each of them could be read quite easily31700:24:10,119 –> 00:24:11,420And maybe just 10 minutes31800:24:11,420 –> 00:24:14,140But the heart of the gospel is in all of them31900:24:14,160 –> 00:24:16,680And that’s what we wanted to encourage that32000:24:17,319 –> 00:24:25,180Families and friends would have a new Christmas tradition take a few minutes to read part of the Christmas story and32100:24:25,920 –> 00:24:31,219Here’s a beautiful gift book that would enable you to do this with your family or with your friends32200:24:31,319 –> 00:24:38,900Well, we’d love to send you two copies of this book Christmas stories by Pastor Colin Smith and five lovely Christmas cards32300:24:39,140 –> 00:24:45,699If you are able to set up a new direct debit to the work of open the Bible for 5 pounds per month or more32400:24:45,699 –> 00:24:48,280or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more32500:24:48,819 –> 00:24:56,520Full terms and conditions on our website. And please don’t give anonymously and include your full name and address32600:24:57,420 –> 00:25:00,300Our website address is open thebible.org.uk32700:25:01,680 –> 00:25:08,819For open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David pick. Thanks for joining us today, and I hope we’ll see you again soon32800:25:09,900 –> 00:25:11,900You32900:25:13,300 –> 00:25:15,300When the Bible talks about33000:25:15,739 –> 00:25:23,280Reconciliation with God is the problem on our side on God’s side or both find out 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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Sermons on 2 Corinthians 5 It’s easy to lose heart with all the difficulties of life in the body, the feeling that what you do may not have any lasting significance or value, the harsh judgments that other people may make about you, the disappointments that come in the plan you had for your life,

Colin Smith

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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