100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:10,960Now before we get into my story, let’s get one thing straight. A lot of people200:00:10,960 –> 00:00:22,000have been blaming me for a lot of things, like sin and death, so let’s be clear. I300:00:22,000 –> 00:00:26,879didn’t do anything that you haven’t done as well.400:00:27,080 –> 00:00:29,379Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.500:00:29,379 –> 00:00:31,760I’m David Pick, glad you could be with us today.600:00:31,760 –> 00:00:33,779Colin, today’s Christmas story is from700:00:33,799 –> 00:00:38,639the point of view of Adam. Well, that was at least what, a few thousand years before800:00:38,639 –> 00:00:39,680Jesus was born?900:00:39,680 –> 00:00:44,200Well, He was the one who was given the very first promise of the Redeemer, right back1000:00:44,200 –> 00:00:50,119in Genesis, you see. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world isn’t some idea that God came1100:00:50,119 –> 00:00:55,759up with, as it were, halfway through human history. It was His plan from the very beginning.1200:00:55,759 –> 00:01:00,259And I love the way that the New Testament picks up the fact that there was the first1300:01:00,259 –> 00:01:06,660Adam and that when Jesus Christ comes, He’s called the last Adam. And what the first Adam1400:01:06,660 –> 00:01:14,000lost for us in His sin, the last Adam restores for us through His righteousness. That’s1500:01:14,000 –> 00:01:18,519a marvellous thing in the Bible. So it shines a whole floodlight into the glory of the Lord1600:01:18,519 –> 00:01:19,519Jesus Christ.1700:01:19,519 –> 00:01:24,680Well, let’s go back a bit. Wouldn’t we have the perfect right to blame Adam for sin and1800:01:24,680 –> 00:01:25,680death?1900:01:25,680 –> 00:01:30,199He does say, As in Adam, all die. So it definitely has come from Him.2000:01:30,199 –> 00:01:34,699But here’s the point. If Adam was the only one who had sinned, we might have some cause2100:01:34,699 –> 00:01:41,739for complaint. The reality is that we mimic and repeat His sin in our own experience.2200:01:41,739 –> 00:01:48,379His sin is ours. Not only in the sense that it is counted as ours, because we’re in Him,2300:01:48,379 –> 00:01:52,879but because we got plenty of it of our own. And that’s why we need a redeemer.2400:01:52,919 –> 00:01:59,199And so that’s what we find in 1 Corinthians 15, as we begin Adam’s Story. Here’s Colin.2500:01:59,199 –> 00:02:05,580Well I am delighted to be here with you today. I’ve heard some great things about this congregation2600:02:05,580 –> 00:02:11,320from some of the friends who visited you in past years before. I tell you, you’ve had2700:02:11,320 –> 00:02:18,080some remarkable guests over recent years as you’ve celebrated Christmas here. John the2800:02:18,080 –> 00:02:25,160Apostle and old man Simeon. And then you had my pal Abraham last time and he was telling2900:02:25,160 –> 00:02:32,919me about it. Of course when he comes to speak, he always goes on about how he lived 4,0003000:02:32,919 –> 00:02:40,860years before you and 2,000 years before Christ. Let me tell you that’s nothing. He likes3100:02:40,860 –> 00:02:49,000to talk about how he lived to be 175, and you might be impressed by that. I’m not.3200:02:49,000 –> 00:02:58,039I lived to the grand old age of 930, though I have to admit I did have the distinct advantage3300:02:58,039 –> 00:03:06,119of living before the flood. Now, before we get into my story, let’s get3400:03:06,240 –> 00:03:14,160one thing straight. A lot of people have been blaming me for a lot of things—like, sin3500:03:14,160 –> 00:03:26,619and death. So, let’s be clear, I didn’t do anything that you haven’t done as well,3600:03:26,619 –> 00:03:34,580so I’ll take my share of the blame, but you need to do the same, so don’t be pickin’3700:03:34,580 –> 00:03:40,440on me after the service. By the way, as I came in, I saw your pastor had left a little3800:03:40,440 –> 00:03:45,179note for me in his office. I thought I’d read it to you. Here’s what it says—3900:03:45,179 –> 00:03:51,839Dear Adam, welcome to the orchard. Our people are very kind, and they won’t blame you4000:03:51,839 –> 00:03:52,740for everything.4100:03:52,740 –> 00:03:56,039I like that!4200:03:56,039 –> 00:04:02,199We don’t like preachers who talk too much about themselves. So please talk about the4300:04:02,300 –> 00:04:09,240one who is greater than you. PS, don’t speak as long as I do—4400:04:09,240 –> 00:04:13,740remember it’s Christmas!4500:04:13,740 –> 00:04:19,339Well let me tell you about the one who is greater than me by far. I’ve got three things4600:04:19,339 –> 00:04:21,799to say about him today.4700:04:21,799 –> 00:04:28,500Number One. Christ was born into my line.4800:04:28,559 –> 00:04:36,000Now, you might remember if you have a very good memory, that when Abraham was here he4900:04:36,000 –> 00:04:38,619would have talked about Matthew’s Gospel.5000:04:38,619 –> 00:04:45,179Abraham’s always going on about Matthew’s Gospel because Matthew traces the line of5100:04:45,179 –> 00:04:51,679Jesus Christ back to Abraham and Matthew does that of course because Matthew presents Jesus5200:04:51,679 –> 00:04:53,519as the King of the Jews.5300:04:53,720 –> 00:05:01,459So Abraham’s always on about Matthew but I like the Gospel of Luke because Luke traces5400:05:01,459 –> 00:05:08,839the line of Jesus all the way back to me and he does that because Luke presents Jesus not5500:05:08,859 –> 00:05:16,059only as the Messiah for the Jews but as the Savior for the world.5600:05:16,059 –> 00:05:22,260The angel said at His birth, that it is good news of great joy for all people.5700:05:22,519 –> 00:05:31,420Christ has come as the Savior for all branches of the human family.5800:05:31,420 –> 00:05:39,739Now I hope you’re listening carefully because I said that Christ was born into my line.5900:05:39,739 –> 00:05:45,019I did not say that He was born from my line.6000:05:45,019 –> 00:05:49,179You see, the Savior came to us.6100:05:49,179 –> 00:05:54,040He did not come from us.6200:05:54,040 –> 00:05:58,239Everyone ever descended from me failed like I did.6300:05:58,239 –> 00:06:01,359He did not come from me.6400:06:01,359 –> 00:06:03,380He came to me.6500:06:03,380 –> 00:06:09,220See, here is the beauty and the significance of the virgin birth.6600:06:09,220 –> 00:06:15,339This is why God spoke about the offspring of the woman.6700:06:15,339 –> 00:06:23,940If He had come from my seed, he would have carried with him my sinful nature, just like6800:06:23,940 –> 00:06:26,899all of you.6900:06:26,899 –> 00:06:38,000But he was born of a virgin, which means that he was fully man, and yet he was without sin.7000:06:38,040 –> 00:06:43,959Only God could accomplish something so glorious.7100:06:43,959 –> 00:06:48,000Christ was born into my life.7200:06:48,000 –> 00:06:52,339The Savior did not come from us.7300:06:52,339 –> 00:06:55,519But he did come to us.7400:06:55,519 –> 00:07:01,000And then here’s the second thing that strikes me as I think about him, that this Lord Jesus7500:07:01,000 –> 00:07:05,600Christ triumphed where I failed.7600:07:05,600 –> 00:07:13,040You see, the gospels tell us that Jesus was tempted just as I was, but the outcome was7700:07:13,040 –> 00:07:15,079totally different.7800:07:15,079 –> 00:07:17,519I faced the tempter in the garden.7900:07:17,519 –> 00:07:20,760He faced the tempter in the desert.8000:07:20,760 –> 00:07:24,799When I faced the tempter, food was all around me hanging off the trees.8100:07:24,799 –> 00:07:31,019When he faced the tempter, he was hungry after days of fasting.8200:07:31,019 –> 00:07:35,239In the garden, it was the tempter who came looking for Eve and for me.8300:07:35,239 –> 00:07:40,779But in the desert, it was Jesus who stopped the tempter.8400:07:40,779 –> 00:07:44,359But here’s the thing to get hold of.8500:07:44,359 –> 00:07:48,859In the garden I failed, in the desert he triumphed.8600:07:48,859 –> 00:07:55,100For the first time, a man stuck it to the devil.8700:07:55,100 –> 00:07:58,779Someone has said it in these words that I rather like.8800:07:58,779 –> 00:08:09,040O loving wisdom of our God, when all was sin and shame, a second Adam to the fight and8900:08:09,040 –> 00:08:11,380to the rescue came.9000:08:11,380 –> 00:08:19,420O wisest love that flesh and blood, which did in Adam fail, should strive again against9100:08:19,420 –> 00:08:23,399the foe, should strive and should prevail.9200:08:23,959 –> 00:08:29,679Here is good news today that Jesus Christ triumphed where I failed, where all of us9300:08:29,679 –> 00:08:30,959have failed.9400:08:30,959 –> 00:08:39,000Here now is a man over whom Satan has no hold and he went on from there to live a perfect9500:08:39,000 –> 00:08:47,219life and then he went to the cross and he laid down that life as a sacrifice for all9600:08:47,219 –> 00:08:49,159of our sins.9700:08:49,159 –> 00:08:55,059On the third day he rose again and today he is exalted at the right hand of the father9800:08:55,059 –> 00:08:56,059in heaven.9900:08:56,059 –> 00:09:05,080Now friends, most of you know that, but some of you might have wondered, how is it that10000:09:05,080 –> 00:09:11,059the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ can actually make a difference in my life10100:09:11,059 –> 00:09:12,900today?10200:09:12,900 –> 00:09:18,880And if you have asked that question, I think that I can help you with the answer.10300:09:18,880 –> 00:09:30,460See, we read a few moments ago this marvelous statement, as in Adam all die, see because10400:09:30,460 –> 00:09:40,619yet you carry my nature, you carry with you the consequence of my and your actions.10500:09:40,619 –> 00:09:52,440As in Adam all die, we’re all lumped together in this but the scripture says, even so, in10600:09:52,440 –> 00:09:55,940Christ, all will be made alive.10700:09:56,760 –> 00:10:02,419Folks, you can’t get out of your connection with me, it’s yours by birth.10800:10:02,419 –> 00:10:08,979The issue for you is whether you can have a connection with him because the10900:10:08,979 –> 00:10:16,239Bible is saying that just as death flows to you because of me so life can flow to11000:10:16,239 –> 00:10:22,359you because of him. You’re listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible and11100:10:22,400 –> 00:10:27,640one of our Christmas stories. Today’s message is called Adam’s story and if11200:10:27,640 –> 00:10:31,140you’ve missed any of the series or you want to go back and listen again you can11300:10:31,140 –> 00:10:37,400do that online at our website openthebible.org.UK Back to the message11400:10:37,400 –> 00:10:42,340now here’s Colin. Now I want you to see this in the Bible. I don’t know if you11500:10:42,340 –> 00:10:48,559knew this but some of the richest theology in all of the New Testament11600:10:48,599 –> 00:10:57,840involves the wonderful comparison of me and what I did and Christ and what He11700:10:57,840 –> 00:11:03,760did. Did you know that? Turn with me in your Bible just to one place today and11800:11:03,760 –> 00:11:12,039that is Romans chapter 5 because I want you to see this clearly. It’s wonderful.11900:11:12,140 –> 00:11:22,979Romans in Chapter 5 and if you look there at the end of verse 14, Romans12000:11:22,979 –> 00:11:28,840chapter 5, and at the end of verse 14, you’ll see that Paul mentions me by name12100:11:28,840 –> 00:11:35,520and he says something absolutely remarkable. At the end of verse 14, Romans12200:11:35,859 –> 00:11:46,119he speaks about Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come, that is Christ. Paul12300:11:46,119 –> 00:11:57,039says, I was a pattern of Jesus, a pattern of Jesus. In other words, he’s saying12400:11:57,039 –> 00:12:05,260there’s a similarity between what I did and the effects of it, and what Jesus did12500:12:05,719 –> 00:12:10,559the effects of all that he has accomplished. In other words, he’s saying12600:12:10,559 –> 00:12:18,700the way that I messed everything up and the way that Jesus puts everything right12700:12:18,700 –> 00:12:26,940works on the same pattern, in the same way as my actions as a single man12800:12:26,940 –> 00:12:32,580changed everything for everyone descended from me. He’s saying the action12900:12:32,599 –> 00:12:38,299of Jesus Christ as a single man, the god man, can change everything for everyone13000:12:38,299 –> 00:12:42,380who’s related to him. It’s the same pattern. You see what he’s saying.13100:12:42,380 –> 00:12:46,539I can hardly believe that this is said about me, that I was in that sense a pattern13200:12:46,539 –> 00:12:54,000of Jesus who was to come. Now look at verse 18 because he explains13300:12:54,000 –> 00:12:57,099it even more clearly there. Look at what he says.13400:12:57,099 –> 00:13:03,059’… Just as the result of the one trespass,’ that’s what I did,13500:13:03,059 –> 00:13:08,140’… just as the result of what I did was condemnation for all men,13600:13:08,140 –> 00:13:15,200so the result of one act of righteousness,’ verse 18, that’s what Christ did in his life13700:13:15,200 –> 00:13:19,380and his death and his resurrection, ‘…the result of that one act of righteousness13800:13:19,380 –> 00:13:26,500was justification that brings life for all men. You see what he’s saying.13900:13:26,500 –> 00:13:36,659My sin brought condemnation for everybody. Jesus’ righteousness brings life.14000:13:36,659 –> 00:13:45,739My sin brings death for all who are in me. Jesus’ righteousness brings life for all14100:13:45,739 –> 00:13:51,919who are in him. Condemnation is yours friends, because you14200:13:51,960 –> 00:13:58,719are in me and I am in you. Justification can be yours if you are in Christ14300:13:58,719 –> 00:14:05,359and Christ is in you. Just in case we haven’t got it, do you see14400:14:05,359 –> 00:14:08,880he says exactly the same thing again in verse 19.14500:14:08,880 –> 00:14:15,500He just says it in a different way. Verse 19, just as through the disobedience14600:14:15,500 –> 00:14:20,820of the one man, that’s me. So through my disobedience, notice what he14700:14:20,820 –> 00:14:28,820says many were made sinners. I’ve got to make the point again here.14800:14:28,820 –> 00:14:33,820Don’t run away with the idea that you can blame me for everything that’s wrong.14900:14:33,820 –> 00:14:37,960You’re a sinner too. You may say you’re a sinner because you’ve15000:14:37,960 –> 00:14:43,419got what was in me in you, but you’ve done plenty to merit the title15100:14:43,419 –> 00:14:49,000on your own account. Through the disobedience of one man many15200:14:49,000 –> 00:14:55,640were made sinners. So also through the obedience of the one15300:14:55,640 –> 00:15:01,559man, that’s Jesus Christ, the many will be made righteous.15400:15:01,559 –> 00:15:08,239Do you see what he’s saying? It’s the same pattern.15500:15:08,239 –> 00:15:12,960You’ve got me in you and that makes you a sinner, you need Christ in you15600:15:13,380 –> 00:15:23,059and he will make you righteous. So hope hangs for everyone of us on having15700:15:23,059 –> 00:15:30,280a connection made between you and Christ. And the obvious question is then, well,15800:15:30,280 –> 00:15:35,940I see how I’m bonded to Adam, we’re all of the same stuff in human nature here,15900:15:35,940 –> 00:15:38,840but how do I get bonded to Christ? Listen.16000:15:38,840 –> 00:15:47,840You have me in you by nature. You can have Christ in you by faith.16100:15:47,840 –> 00:15:53,900The flesh binds you to me. Faith will bind you to Jesus Christ.16200:15:53,900 –> 00:16:01,280Faith is the bond of a living union with Christ by which all that he is and all that he has16300:16:01,280 –> 00:16:08,119accomplished becomes yours. So that even as death is at work within you,16400:16:08,119 –> 00:16:15,760so life is yours through Jesus Christ for all eternity.16500:16:15,760 –> 00:16:22,440You see the pattern? The sin that is in me became yours by nature.16600:16:22,440 –> 00:16:31,640The righteousness that is in Jesus can become yours by faith.16700:16:31,820 –> 00:16:37,619It’s not in you. You receive it from Him.16800:16:37,619 –> 00:16:41,580And if you look with me at just one more verse in this wonderful passage, verse 17,16900:16:41,580 –> 00:16:45,859He talks about how you have to receive this gift.17000:16:45,859 –> 00:16:46,859Look at verse 17,17100:16:46,859 –> 00:16:54,299If by the trespass of one man, that’s me again, death reign through that one man.17200:16:54,859 –> 00:17:02,479How much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of17300:17:02,479 –> 00:17:03,780righteousness.17400:17:03,780 –> 00:17:08,839How much more will they reign in life through this man Christ Jesus?17500:17:08,839 –> 00:17:10,880You see what he’s saying?17600:17:10,880 –> 00:17:13,579Those who receive?17700:17:13,579 –> 00:17:19,339Oh, death comes to you through me by nature.17800:17:19,439 –> 00:17:26,540But life can come to you by grace through faith.17900:17:26,540 –> 00:17:29,560You have to receive God’s abundant provision of grace.18000:17:29,560 –> 00:17:30,839He says it right there.18100:17:30,839 –> 00:17:33,079You have to receive it.18200:17:33,079 –> 00:17:40,459It’s offered to you as a gift, this abundant provision of grace and this gift of righteousness.18300:17:40,459 –> 00:17:42,819But you have to receive it.18400:17:43,400 –> 00:17:47,000And nothing matters more than this, friends.18500:17:47,000 –> 00:17:51,699You have Me in you by nature, You need to be one with Him.18600:17:51,699 –> 00:17:55,780And to have Him in you by faith.18700:17:55,780 –> 00:17:58,939You must receive the gift of God’s abundant provision.18800:17:58,939 –> 00:18:04,719You must receive this gift of righteousness.18900:18:04,719 –> 00:18:09,560And this gift becomes yours by faith in His son, Jesus Christ.19000:18:09,560 –> 00:18:13,079And that is why Paul says, at it’s simplest,19100:18:13,079 –> 00:18:19,300believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.19200:18:19,300 –> 00:18:20,800Why?19300:18:20,800 –> 00:18:23,939Because believing unites you to Jesus Christ.19400:18:23,939 –> 00:18:26,540That’s what faith does.19500:18:26,540 –> 00:18:32,199And when you have that union with Him, all His righteousness becomes yours.19600:18:32,199 –> 00:18:36,479It is counted as yours in Him.19700:18:36,619 –> 00:18:39,319And that’s why when you are in Christ, friends,19800:18:39,319 –> 00:18:43,699you have the most marvelous, marvelous future.19900:18:43,699 –> 00:18:49,280I can’t begin to tell you about the joys of life in the paradise of God,20000:18:49,280 –> 00:18:53,760but I can tell you this, that if you are in Christ,20100:18:53,760 –> 00:19:00,979they will all be yours, as in Adam all die,20200:19:01,160 –> 00:19:03,420even so in Christ,20300:19:03,420 –> 00:19:09,300all those in Christ, will be made alive.20400:19:09,300 –> 00:19:13,119So, I am so grateful that I am a man in Christ,20500:19:13,119 –> 00:19:16,599that I was able to hold on to that promise20600:19:16,599 –> 00:19:19,060that was given right back at the beginning of time20700:19:19,060 –> 00:19:21,819and look forward to the savior who came for me20800:19:21,819 –> 00:19:24,099and all before him who believed20900:19:24,099 –> 00:19:27,020and looked for the mercy of God through him.21000:19:27,020 –> 00:19:30,180Now, here you are 2,000 years after his coming,21100:19:30,180 –> 00:19:33,260I hope that you too will embrace the savior21200:19:33,260 –> 00:19:35,380and receive his righteousness21300:19:35,380 –> 00:19:39,439because you don’t get it from me,21400:19:39,439 –> 00:19:44,119you can only get it from him.21500:19:44,119 –> 00:19:45,459You know, there is one last thing21600:19:45,459 –> 00:19:53,239that I want to say before I go.21700:19:53,239 –> 00:19:56,000People sometimes ask me,21800:19:56,599 –> 00:20:02,380how do you deal with the regret?21900:20:02,380 –> 00:20:05,760Hmm.22000:20:05,760 –> 00:20:07,760It’s a good question.22100:20:07,760 –> 00:20:12,439Of course I have experienced,22200:20:12,439 –> 00:20:14,439throughout my life,22300:20:14,439 –> 00:20:18,739930 years it was,22400:20:18,739 –> 00:20:21,020I experienced repentance.22500:20:21,020 –> 00:20:23,979You never have faith without repentance,22600:20:23,979 –> 00:20:28,520you never have repentance without faith.22700:20:28,520 –> 00:20:29,880The longer the years went on,22800:20:29,880 –> 00:20:31,119the more clearly, actually,22900:20:31,119 –> 00:20:34,300I saw the devastating effects of what I had done,23000:20:34,300 –> 00:20:37,819not only on myself but on other people,23100:20:37,819 –> 00:20:42,140especially people I love.23200:20:42,140 –> 00:20:43,660If you experience regret23300:20:43,660 –> 00:20:45,800because of a great failure in your life,23400:20:45,800 –> 00:20:47,939let me tell you,23500:20:47,939 –> 00:20:49,459I know about that.23600:20:49,479 –> 00:20:53,880I know about that.23700:20:53,880 –> 00:20:55,540But I’ve come to see something else23800:20:55,540 –> 00:20:59,560that I want you to hold on to today.23900:20:59,560 –> 00:21:02,219Jesus said,24000:21:02,219 –> 00:21:05,560THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN FORGIVEN MUCH24100:21:06,439 –> 00:21:09,660LOVES MUCH24200:21:09,760 –> 00:21:10,339and I’ll tell you,24300:21:10,339 –> 00:21:12,420that has gone very, very deep in me.24400:21:12,420 –> 00:21:13,979I’ve come to see this24500:21:13,979 –> 00:21:17,660from the perspective of Heaven now,24600:21:18,180 –> 00:21:22,099that I love Jesus Christ24700:21:22,099 –> 00:21:24,180in a way that I never could24800:21:24,180 –> 00:21:27,140if I had remained innocent all of my life.24900:21:29,140 –> 00:21:31,660I have experienced mercy.25000:21:33,380 –> 00:21:35,660I have discovered grace.25100:21:37,859 –> 00:21:38,420And friends,25200:21:38,420 –> 00:21:40,140just looking at the big picture,25300:21:40,140 –> 00:21:42,099I’ve begun to see this,25400:21:42,099 –> 00:21:43,160and it’s a thought25500:21:43,160 –> 00:21:45,439that staggers my mind.25600:21:46,780 –> 00:21:50,000A redeemed creation25700:21:50,000 –> 00:21:52,959will glorify God forever25800:21:52,959 –> 00:21:56,959more than an innocent one ever could.25900:21:58,339 –> 00:22:00,699I think that’s why the Bible says26000:22:00,699 –> 00:22:03,599that the angels longed26100:22:03,599 –> 00:22:06,439to look into the mystery26200:22:06,439 –> 00:22:09,160of our salvation,26300:22:09,900 –> 00:22:13,239that God would have taken our flesh,26400:22:14,500 –> 00:22:17,280that mercy and grace and justice26500:22:17,280 –> 00:22:20,160should have been revealed26600:22:20,160 –> 00:22:22,579in an incomparable way26700:22:22,579 –> 00:22:25,660on the cross and through His resurrection,26800:22:27,380 –> 00:22:29,680so that forever and forever26900:22:29,680 –> 00:22:33,459as God wipes all tears from our eyes27000:22:35,140 –> 00:22:38,680the redeemed creation will sing in wonder27100:22:39,540 –> 00:22:43,900worthy is the lamb who was slain27200:22:45,719 –> 00:22:48,479for you and for me.27300:22:49,579 –> 00:22:51,800Let the greatest failures of your life27400:22:51,800 –> 00:22:54,540lead you to love Him more27500:22:55,859 –> 00:22:57,540and to savour mercy27600:22:58,859 –> 00:23:00,560and to savour grace27700:23:02,540 –> 00:23:04,040and may God bless you.27800:23:39,300 –> 00:23:41,739or are one off gift to Open the Bible27900:23:41,739 –> 00:23:43,359of 50 pounds or more,28000:23:43,359 –> 00:23:44,660we’d love to say thank you28100:23:44,660 –> 00:23:48,699by sending you three copies of John’s Gospel.28200:23:48,699 –> 00:23:50,900I recently caught up with Amanda Cunningham28300:23:50,900 –> 00:23:53,020who is Open the Bible UK’s28400:23:53,020 –> 00:23:56,099Operations and Communications Manager28500:23:56,099 –> 00:23:59,000and I asked her to tell me more about this free gift.28600:23:59,000 –> 00:24:00,540Thank you, David.28700:24:00,540 –> 00:24:03,400Yes, we are really excited to be giving away28800:24:03,400 –> 00:24:04,500not just one,28900:24:04,500 –> 00:24:09,099but three of these ESV journaling copies of John’s Gospel.29000:24:09,119 –> 00:24:11,680Each page of text is a blank page opposite29100:24:11,680 –> 00:24:14,400on a lovely, thick, cream paper29200:24:14,400 –> 00:24:17,119which means they’re perfect for writing notes,29300:24:17,119 –> 00:24:19,160reflections or prayers29400:24:19,160 –> 00:24:22,239or if you’re giving it to an inquiring friend29500:24:22,239 –> 00:24:23,420perhaps you could suggest29600:24:23,420 –> 00:24:24,920that they write down any questions29700:24:24,920 –> 00:24:26,160that they want to ask you29800:24:26,160 –> 00:24:28,280or anything that they’re struck by.29900:24:28,280 –> 00:24:30,420So, I definitely wouldn’t feel embarrassed30000:24:30,420 –> 00:24:33,060about giving this gospel as a Christmas gift,30100:24:33,060 –> 00:24:36,140after all, what could be a more precious gift30200:24:36,140 –> 00:24:39,180this Christmas than the living word of God30300:24:39,180 –> 00:24:42,199and these beautiful, illustrated gospels of John30400:24:42,199 –> 00:24:45,260would be a perfect way to give that gift30500:24:45,260 –> 00:24:46,800Thank you, Amanda30600:24:46,800 –> 00:24:49,000So those three copies of John’s gospel30700:24:49,000 –> 00:24:50,079are our gift to you30800:24:50,079 –> 00:24:52,459if you’re able to begin a new, direct debit30900:24:52,459 –> 00:24:54,839to the work of Open the Bible this month31000:24:54,839 –> 00:24:57,640in the amount of £5 per month or more31100:24:57,640 –> 00:25:00,699or a one-off gift of £5031200:25:00,699 –> 00:25:02,640Full details, terms and conditions31300:25:02,640 –> 00:25:03,859are on our website31400:25:03,880 –> 00:25:07,380that’s at openthebible.org.uk31500:25:07,380 –> 00:25:09,979For Pastor Colin Smith and Open the Bible31600:25:09,979 –> 00:25:11,359I’m David Pick31700:25:11,359 –> 00:25:12,859and I hope you’ll join us again next time31800:25:12,859 –> 00:25:14,319on Open the Bible31900:25:19,780 –> 00:25:21,839Whatever you may achieve in your life32000:25:21,839 –> 00:25:24,119the most important thing about you32100:25:24,119 –> 00:25:26,400is your relationship with Jesus32200:25:26,400 –> 00:25:28,560Find out why next time on32300:25:28,560 –> 00:25:29,560Open the Bible