100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:10,040Now before we get into my story, let’s get one thing straight.200:00:10,040 –> 00:00:14,440A lot of people have been blaming me for a lot of things.300:00:14,440 –> 00:00:19,120Like sin and death.400:00:19,120 –> 00:00:26,940So let’s be clear, I didn’t do anything that you haven’t done as well.500:00:27,200 –> 00:00:30,160Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.600:00:30,160 –> 00:00:31,639Glad you could be with us today.700:00:31,639 –> 00:00:35,299And Colin, today’s Christmas Story is from the point of view of Adam,800:00:35,299 –> 00:00:40,419well that was at least, what, a few thousand years before Jesus was born?900:00:40,419 –> 00:00:43,820Well he was the one who was given the very first promise of the Redeemer,1000:00:43,820 –> 00:00:45,980right back in Genesis you see.1100:00:45,980 –> 00:00:50,560The coming of Jesus Christ into the world isn’t some idea that God came up with1200:00:50,560 –> 00:00:53,320as it were, halfway through human history.1300:00:53,320 –> 00:00:55,759It was his plan from the very beginning.1400:00:55,860 –> 00:01:00,919And I love the way that the New Testament picks up the fact that there was the first Adam.1500:01:00,919 –> 00:01:04,800And that when Jesus Christ comes He’s called the last Adam.1600:01:04,800 –> 00:01:09,400And what the first Adam lost for us in his sin,1700:01:09,400 –> 00:01:13,940the last Adam restores for us through his righteousness.1800:01:13,940 –> 00:01:15,639That’s a marvelous theme in the Bible.1900:01:15,639 –> 00:01:19,120So it shines a whole floodlight into the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.2000:01:19,120 –> 00:01:25,059Well, let’s go back a bit, wouldn’t we have the perfect right to blame Adam for sin and death?2100:01:25,059 –> 00:01:28,260Well the Bible does say as in Adam, all die.2200:01:28,260 –> 00:01:29,919So it definitely has come from him.2300:01:29,919 –> 00:01:31,720But here’s the point.2400:01:31,720 –> 00:01:35,559If Adam was the only one who had sinned, we might have some cause for complaint.2500:01:35,559 –> 00:01:41,699The reality is that we mimic and repeat his sin in our own experience.2600:01:41,699 –> 00:01:43,320His sin is ours.2700:01:43,320 –> 00:01:48,580Not only in the sense that it is counted as ours because we’re in Him.2800:01:48,580 –> 00:01:50,919But because we got plenty of it of our own.2900:01:50,919 –> 00:01:52,739And that’s why we need a redeemer.3000:01:52,739 –> 00:01:54,019So, that’s what we find in.3100:01:54,019 –> 00:01:57,9001 Corinthians 15, as we begin Adam’s story.3200:01:57,900 –> 00:01:58,900Here’s Colin.3300:01:58,900 –> 00:02:02,940Well, I am delighted to be here with you today.3400:02:02,940 –> 00:02:08,580I’ve heard some great things about this congregation, from some of the friends who visited you in3500:02:08,580 –> 00:02:10,660past years before.3600:02:10,660 –> 00:02:16,100I tell you, you’ve had some remarkable guests over recent years as you’ve celebrated Christmas3700:02:16,100 –> 00:02:17,199here.3800:02:17,199 –> 00:02:20,380John the Apostle and Old Man Simeon.3900:02:20,740 –> 00:02:26,220And you had my pal Abraham last time, and he was telling me about it.4000:02:26,220 –> 00:02:33,399Of course, when he comes to speak he always goes on about how he lived 4,000 years before4100:02:33,399 –> 00:02:35,839you and 2,000 years before Christ.4200:02:35,839 –> 00:02:40,500Let me tell you, that’s nothing.4300:02:40,500 –> 00:02:47,559He likes to talk about how he lived to be 175 and you might be impressed by that.4400:02:47,559 –> 00:02:48,600I’m not.4500:02:49,080 –> 00:02:58,039I lived to the grand old age of 930, though I have to admit I did have the distinct advantage4600:02:58,039 –> 00:03:02,300of living before the flood.4700:03:02,300 –> 00:03:08,800Now before we get into my story, let’s get one thing straight.4800:03:08,800 –> 00:03:18,080A lot of people have been blaming me for a lot of things, like sin and death.4900:03:18,080 –> 00:03:20,500So let’s be clear.5000:03:20,500 –> 00:03:26,619I didn’t do anything that you haven’t done as well.5100:03:26,619 –> 00:03:34,699So I’ll take my share of the blame, but you need to do the same so don’t be picking5200:03:34,699 –> 00:03:37,300on me after the service.5300:03:37,300 –> 00:03:42,360By the way, as I came in, I saw your pastor had left a little note for me in his office.5400:03:42,360 –> 00:03:43,919I thought I’d read it to you.5500:03:43,919 –> 00:03:45,139Here’s what it says.5600:03:45,440 –> 00:03:49,259Dear Adam, welcome to The Orchard.5700:03:49,259 –> 00:03:52,720Our people are very kind and they won’t blame you for everything.5800:03:52,720 –> 00:03:56,059I like that.5900:03:56,059 –> 00:04:02,199We don’t like preachers who talk too much about themselves, so please talk about the6000:04:02,199 –> 00:04:05,220one who is greater than you.6100:04:05,220 –> 00:04:06,479P.S.6200:04:06,479 –> 00:04:09,259Don’t speak as long as I do.6300:04:09,259 –> 00:04:12,080Remember, it’s Christmas.6400:04:12,979 –> 00:04:17,959Well, let me tell you about the one who is greater than me by far.6500:04:17,959 –> 00:04:21,600I got three things to say about him today.6600:04:21,600 –> 00:04:27,559Number one, Christ was born into my line.6700:04:27,579 –> 00:04:35,980Now, you might remember, if you have a very good memory, that when Abraham was here, he6800:04:35,980 –> 00:04:38,980would have talked about Matthew’s Gospel.6900:04:39,019 –> 00:04:45,279Now, Abraham’s always going on about Matthew’s Gospel because Matthew traces the line of7000:04:45,279 –> 00:04:47,679Jesus Christ back to Abraham.7100:04:47,679 –> 00:04:52,720And Matthew does that, of course, because Matthew presents Jesus as the king of the7200:04:52,720 –> 00:04:53,720Jews.7300:04:53,720 –> 00:04:56,480So, Abraham’s always on about Matthew.7400:04:56,480 –> 00:05:03,040But, I like the Gospel of Luke, because Luke traces the line of Jesus all the way back7500:05:03,040 –> 00:05:04,140to me.7600:05:04,940 –> 00:05:12,279And, he does that because Luke presents Jesus not only as the Messiah for the Jews, but7700:05:12,279 –> 00:05:16,059as the savior for the world.7800:05:16,059 –> 00:05:22,160The angel said at his birth, that it is good news of great joy for all people.7900:05:22,160 –> 00:05:30,540Christ has come as the savior for all branches of the human family.8000:05:30,579 –> 00:05:39,779Now, I hope you’re listening carefully because I said that Christ was born into my line.8100:05:39,779 –> 00:05:45,059I did not say that he was born from my line.8200:05:45,059 –> 00:05:49,220You see, the savior came to us.8300:05:49,220 –> 00:05:53,980He did not come from us.8400:05:53,980 –> 00:05:58,239Everyone ever descended from me failed like I did.8500:05:58,239 –> 00:06:01,399He did not come from me.8600:06:01,399 –> 00:06:02,940He came to me.8700:06:02,940 –> 00:06:09,239See, here is the beauty and the significance of the virgin birth.8800:06:09,239 –> 00:06:15,339This is why God spoke about the offspring of the woman.8900:06:15,339 –> 00:06:23,940If he had come from my seed, he would have carried with him my sinful nature just like9000:06:23,940 –> 00:06:26,920all of you.9100:06:26,959 –> 00:06:38,000But he was born of a virgin, which means that he was fully man, and yet he was without sin.9200:06:38,000 –> 00:06:43,920Only God could accomplish something so glorious.9300:06:43,920 –> 00:06:48,000Christ was born into my line.9400:06:48,000 –> 00:06:55,519The Savior did not come from us, but he did come to us.9500:06:55,559 –> 00:07:00,559And then, here’s the second thing that strikes me as I think about him, that this Lord9600:07:00,559 –> 00:07:04,399Jesus Christ triumphed where I failed.9700:07:04,399 –> 00:07:13,040You see, the gospels tell us that Jesus was tempted just as I was, but the outcome was9800:07:13,040 –> 00:07:15,019totally different.9900:07:15,019 –> 00:07:20,760I faced the tempter in the garden, he faced the tempter in the desert.10000:07:20,760 –> 00:07:24,799When I faced the tempter, food was all around me, hanging off the trees.10100:07:24,799 –> 00:07:30,320When he faced the tempter, he was hungry after days of fasting.10200:07:30,320 –> 00:07:35,279In the garden, it was the tempter who came looking for even for me!10300:07:35,279 –> 00:07:40,820But in the desert, it was Jesus who stalked the tempter.10400:07:40,820 –> 00:07:48,959But here’s the thing to get ahold of, in the garden I failed, in the desert he triumphed.10500:07:48,959 –> 00:07:53,959For the first time, a man stuck it to the devil.10600:07:54,739 –> 00:07:59,260Someone has said it in these words that I rather like,10700:07:59,260 –> 00:08:05,399O loving wisdom of our God, when all was sin and shame,10800:08:05,399 –> 00:08:11,019a second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came.10900:08:11,019 –> 00:08:17,140O wisest love, that flesh and blood which did in Adam fail,11000:08:17,140 –> 00:08:22,959should strive again against the foe, should strive and should prevail.11100:08:22,980 –> 00:08:27,260Folks, here is good news today that Jesus Christ triumphed11200:08:27,260 –> 00:08:30,779where I failed, where all of us have failed.11300:08:30,779 –> 00:08:36,700Here now is a man over whom Satan has no hold and he went11400:08:36,719 –> 00:08:40,659on from there to live a perfect life.11500:08:40,659 –> 00:08:45,099And then he went to the cross and he laid down that life11600:08:45,099 –> 00:08:49,140as a sacrifice for all of our sins.11700:08:49,219 –> 00:08:52,900On the third day He rose again, and today He is exalted11800:08:52,900 –> 00:08:55,580at the right hand of the Father in heaven.11900:08:57,380 –> 00:09:00,840Now friends, most of you know that.12000:09:00,840 –> 00:09:04,080But some of you might have wondered,12100:09:04,080 –> 00:09:08,520how is it that the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ12200:09:08,520 –> 00:09:12,900can actually make a difference in my life today?12300:09:12,900 –> 00:09:14,479And if you have asked that question,12400:09:14,479 –> 00:09:18,380I think that I can help you with the answer.12500:09:19,979 –> 00:09:24,979See, we read a few moments ago this marvelous statement,12600:09:24,979 –> 00:09:29,979as in Adam all die, see because you carry my nature,12700:09:34,219 –> 00:09:39,219you carry with you the consequence of my and your actions.12800:09:40,400 –> 00:09:45,400As in Adam all die, we’re all lumped together in this,12900:09:49,219 –> 00:09:50,380but the scripture says,13000:09:50,380 –> 00:09:55,380even so in Christ all will be made alive.13100:09:57,599 –> 00:10:00,700Folks, you can’t get out of your connection with me.13200:10:00,700 –> 00:10:02,059It’s yours by birth.13300:10:03,320 –> 00:10:05,900The issue for you is whether you can have13400:10:05,900 –> 00:10:10,000a connection with Him, because the Bible is saying13500:10:10,000 –> 00:10:13,380that just as death flows to you because of me.13600:10:13,900 –> 00:10:18,900So life can flow to you because of Him.13700:10:19,619 –> 00:10:21,299You’re listening to Pastor Colin Smith13800:10:21,299 –> 00:10:24,419on Open the Bible and one of our Christmas Stories.13900:10:24,419 –> 00:10:27,380Today’s message is called Adam’s story,14000:10:27,380 –> 00:10:29,140and if you’ve missed any of the series14100:10:29,140 –> 00:10:30,859or you want to go back and listen again,14200:10:30,859 –> 00:10:33,619you can do that online at our website14300:10:33,619 –> 00:10:36,640openthebible.org.uk14400:10:36,640 –> 00:10:39,140Back to the message now, here’s Colin.14500:10:39,140 –> 00:10:41,440Now, I want you to see this in the Bible.14600:10:41,479 –> 00:10:43,080I don’t know if you knew this,14700:10:43,080 –> 00:10:46,359but some of the richest theology14800:10:46,359 –> 00:10:48,320in all of the New Testament14900:10:49,619 –> 00:10:53,719involves the wonderful comparison15000:10:53,719 –> 00:10:56,099of me and what I did15100:10:56,099 –> 00:10:58,239and Christ and what He did.15200:10:58,239 –> 00:10:59,140Did you know that?15300:11:00,780 –> 00:11:03,719Turn with me in your Bible just to one place today15400:11:03,719 –> 00:11:06,880and that is Romans chapter five15500:11:06,880 –> 00:11:10,400because I want you to see this clearly.15600:11:10,400 –> 00:11:12,559It’s wonderful.15700:11:12,559 –> 00:11:14,840Romans and chapter five.15800:11:17,280 –> 00:11:21,479And if you look there at the end of verse 14,15900:11:22,599 –> 00:11:27,000Romans chapter five and at the end of verse 1416000:11:27,000 –> 00:11:29,479you’ll see that Paul mentions me by a name16100:11:29,479 –> 00:11:32,599and he says something absolutely remarkable.16200:11:34,000 –> 00:11:36,140The end of verse 14, Romans five,16300:11:36,140 –> 00:11:38,159he speaks about Adam16400:11:39,159 –> 00:11:44,159who was a pattern of the one to come, that is Christ.16500:11:45,840 –> 00:11:50,840Paul says I was a pattern of Jesus, a pattern of Jesus.16600:11:55,880 –> 00:11:59,599In other words he’s saying there is a similarity16700:11:59,599 –> 00:12:03,280between what I did and the effects of it16800:12:03,280 –> 00:12:06,359and what Jesus did and the effects16900:12:06,440 –> 00:12:08,500of all that he has accomplished.17000:12:09,719 –> 00:12:11,559In other words he is saying the way17100:12:11,559 –> 00:12:14,539that I messed everything up17200:12:15,539 –> 00:12:19,280and the way that Jesus puts everything right17300:12:19,280 –> 00:12:22,179works on the same pattern.17400:12:23,340 –> 00:12:27,359In the same way as my actions as a single man17500:12:27,359 –> 00:12:30,719changed everything for everyone descended from me,17600:12:30,719 –> 00:12:34,039he is saying the action of Jesus Christ17700:12:34,039 –> 00:12:36,200as a single man, the god man,17800:12:36,380 –> 00:12:39,479can change everything for everyone who’s related to him.17900:12:39,479 –> 00:12:42,479It’s the same pattern, you see what he’s saying.18000:12:42,479 –> 00:12:44,460I can hardly believe that this is said about me.18100:12:44,460 –> 00:12:46,799That I was in that sense, a pattern18200:12:47,799 –> 00:12:50,380of Jesus who was to come.18300:12:51,780 –> 00:12:52,919Now look at verse 1818400:12:52,919 –> 00:12:55,640because he explains it even more clearly there.18500:12:55,640 –> 00:12:57,099Look at what he says,18600:12:57,099 –> 00:13:01,619just as the result of the one trespass,18700:13:01,619 –> 00:13:03,440that’s what I did.18800:13:03,479 –> 00:13:05,200Just as the result of what I did18900:13:05,200 –> 00:13:07,960was condemnation for all men19000:13:08,880 –> 00:13:13,520so the result of one act of righteousness, verse 18,19100:13:13,520 –> 00:13:15,320that’s what Christ did in His life19200:13:15,320 –> 00:13:17,440and His death and His resurrection.19300:13:17,440 –> 00:13:19,520The result of that one act of righteousness19400:13:19,520 –> 00:13:24,299was justification that brings life for all men.19500:13:25,140 –> 00:13:26,479You see what he’s saying.19600:13:26,479 –> 00:13:29,659My sin brought condemnation for everybody.19700:13:30,500 –> 00:13:35,099Jesus’ righteousness brings life.19800:13:36,580 –> 00:13:40,039My sin brings death for all who are in me.19900:13:41,859 –> 00:13:46,859Jesus’ righteousness brings life for all who are in Him.20000:13:49,059 –> 00:13:50,979Condemnation is yours friends20100:13:50,979 –> 00:13:55,099because you are in me and I am in you.20200:13:55,099 –> 00:13:58,780Justification can be yours if you are in Christ20300:13:59,580 –> 00:14:01,539and Christ is in you.20400:14:03,539 –> 00:14:04,960And just in case we haven’t got it,20500:14:04,960 –> 00:14:07,580do you see, he says exactly the same thing again20600:14:07,580 –> 00:14:08,780in verse 19.20700:14:08,780 –> 00:14:10,960He just says it in a different way.20800:14:10,960 –> 00:14:15,960Verse 19, just as through the disobedience of the one man,20900:14:17,539 –> 00:14:20,359that’s me, so through my disobedience,21000:14:20,359 –> 00:14:23,619notice what he says, many were made sinners.21100:14:24,880 –> 00:14:27,619I’ve got to just make the point again here.21200:14:28,820 –> 00:14:31,260Don’t run away with the idea that you can blame me21300:14:31,260 –> 00:14:32,619for everything that’s wrong.21400:14:33,820 –> 00:14:35,020You’re a sinner too.21500:14:36,359 –> 00:14:37,599You may say you’re a sinner21600:14:37,599 –> 00:14:39,799because you’ve got what was me in you,21700:14:39,799 –> 00:14:43,479but you’ve done plenty to merit the title21800:14:43,479 –> 00:14:44,539on your own account.21900:14:46,739 –> 00:14:48,780Through the disobedience of one man,22000:14:48,780 –> 00:14:50,979many were made sinners.22100:14:52,020 –> 00:14:56,219So also through the obedience of the one man,22200:14:56,340 –> 00:14:57,859that’s Jesus Christ,22300:14:58,820 –> 00:15:02,140the many will be made righteous.22400:15:03,619 –> 00:15:05,460You see what he’s saying?22500:15:05,460 –> 00:15:07,119It’s the same pattern.22600:15:08,059 –> 00:15:11,460You’ve got me in you and that makes you a sinner.22700:15:11,460 –> 00:15:15,140You need Christ in you and he will make you righteous.22800:15:16,880 –> 00:15:21,419So hope hangs for everyone of us22900:15:22,380 –> 00:15:27,000on having a connection made between you and Christ.23000:15:27,979 –> 00:15:29,400And the obvious question is then,23100:15:29,400 –> 00:15:32,059well, I see how I’m bonded to Adam.23200:15:32,059 –> 00:15:35,739We’re all of the same stuff in human nature here,23300:15:35,739 –> 00:15:38,059but how do I get bonded to Christ?23400:15:38,059 –> 00:15:41,380Listen, you have me in you by nature.23500:15:42,700 –> 00:15:46,580You can have Christ in you by faith.23600:15:47,780 –> 00:15:50,020The flesh binds you to me.23700:15:50,940 –> 00:15:54,520Faith will bind you to Jesus Christ.23800:15:54,520 –> 00:15:57,979Faith is the bond of a living union with Christ23900:15:57,979 –> 00:15:59,940by which all that he is24000:15:59,940 –> 00:16:04,020and all that he has accomplished becomes yours.24100:16:04,020 –> 00:16:07,880So that even as death is at work within you,24200:16:07,880 –> 00:16:12,880so life is yours through Jesus Christ for all eternity.24300:16:15,700 –> 00:16:16,700You see the pattern,24400:16:17,340 –> 00:16:21,400the sin that is in me became yours by nature,24500:16:22,320 –> 00:16:25,960the righteousness that is in Jesus24600:16:25,960 –> 00:16:29,520can become yours by faith.24700:16:31,500 –> 00:16:35,460It’s not in you, you receive it from him.24800:16:37,359 –> 00:16:39,500And if you look with me at just one more verse24900:16:39,500 –> 00:16:41,460in this wonderful passage, verse 17,25000:16:41,460 –> 00:16:45,659he talks about how you have to receive this gift.25100:16:45,760 –> 00:16:49,280Look at verse 17, if by the trespass of one man,25200:16:49,280 –> 00:16:52,460that’s me again death reigns through that one man,25300:16:54,159 –> 00:16:56,799how much more will those who receive25400:16:56,799 –> 00:17:01,719God’s abundant provision of grace25500:17:01,719 –> 00:17:03,640and the gift of righteousness,25600:17:03,640 –> 00:17:05,859how much more will they reign in life25700:17:05,859 –> 00:17:08,880through this man, Christ Jesus.25800:17:08,880 –> 00:17:10,140You see what he’s saying?25900:17:11,140 –> 00:17:13,500Those who receive,26000:17:15,040 –> 00:17:17,959oh death comes to you through me by nature,26100:17:19,239 –> 00:17:24,239but life can come to you by grace through faith.26200:17:26,400 –> 00:17:29,619You have to receive God’s abundant provision of grace.26300:17:29,619 –> 00:17:32,900He says it right there, you have to receive it.26400:17:32,900 –> 00:17:35,199It’s offered to you as a gift,26500:17:35,199 –> 00:17:37,780this abundant provision of grace26600:17:37,800 –> 00:17:42,300and this gift of righteousness, but you have to receive it.26700:17:43,420 –> 00:17:46,800And nothing matters more than this friends.26800:17:46,800 –> 00:17:49,859You have me in you by nature,26900:17:49,859 –> 00:17:54,579you need to be one with him and have him in you by faith.27000:17:55,739 –> 00:17:58,939You must receive the gift of God’s abundant provision.27100:17:58,939 –> 00:18:03,660You must receive this gift of righteousness,27200:18:04,579 –> 00:18:06,939and this gift becomes yours by faith27300:18:06,939 –> 00:18:09,439in his son, Jesus Christ.27400:18:09,439 –> 00:18:13,579That is why Paul says at its simplest,27500:18:13,579 –> 00:18:17,000believe on the Lord Jesus Christ27600:18:17,000 –> 00:18:19,420and you will be saved, why?27700:18:20,459 –> 00:18:24,180Because believing unites you to Jesus Christ27800:18:24,180 –> 00:18:26,380that’s what faith does.27900:18:26,380 –> 00:18:28,819And when you have that union with him,28000:18:29,699 –> 00:18:32,140all his righteousness becomes yours.28100:18:32,140 –> 00:18:35,520It is counted as yours in him.28200:18:36,619 –> 00:18:39,540And that’s why when you’re in Christ, friends28300:18:39,540 –> 00:18:43,739you have the most marvelous, marvelous future.28400:18:43,739 –> 00:18:47,300I can’t begin to tell you about the joys of life28500:18:47,300 –> 00:18:51,420in the paradise of God but I can tell you this,28600:18:51,420 –> 00:18:56,020that if you are in Christ they will all be yours.28700:18:57,099 –> 00:18:59,959As in Adam all die.28800:19:00,959 –> 00:19:05,959Even so in Christ, all those in Christ will be made alive.28900:19:09,280 –> 00:19:12,420So I am so grateful that I am a man in Christ,29000:19:14,040 –> 00:19:16,479that I was able to hold on to that promise29100:19:16,479 –> 00:19:18,699that was given right back at the beginning of time29200:19:18,699 –> 00:19:21,619and look forward to the savior who came from me29300:19:21,619 –> 00:19:23,800and all before him who believed29400:19:23,800 –> 00:19:26,000and looked for the mercy of God through him.29500:19:26,880 –> 00:19:30,040Now here you are 2,000 years after his coming.29600:19:30,040 –> 00:19:33,260I hope that you too will embrace the savior29700:19:33,260 –> 00:19:35,400and receive his righteousness29800:19:35,400 –> 00:19:37,239because you don’t get it from me.29900:19:39,359 –> 00:19:41,300You can only get it from him.30000:19:44,040 –> 00:19:48,540You know, there’s one last thing that I want to say30100:19:49,479 –> 00:19:50,380before I go.30200:19:51,319 –> 00:19:53,859People sometimes ask me,30300:19:53,859 –> 00:19:58,859Adam, how do you deal with the regret?30400:20:04,260 –> 00:20:05,140It’s a good question.30500:20:08,260 –> 00:20:13,380Of course, I have experienced throughout my life,30600:20:13,380 –> 00:20:15,660930 years it was,30700:20:17,099 –> 00:20:19,699I experienced repentance.30800:20:19,699 –> 00:20:20,540Repentance.30900:20:22,359 –> 00:20:23,939You never have faith without repentance,31000:20:23,939 –> 00:20:26,140you never have repentance without faith.31100:20:28,459 –> 00:20:30,040The longer the years went on,31200:20:30,040 –> 00:20:31,479now, more clearly, actually,31300:20:31,479 –> 00:20:34,160I saw the devastating effects of what I had done,31400:20:34,160 –> 00:20:36,619not only on myself, but on other people,31500:20:37,800 –> 00:20:39,380especially people I loved.31600:20:41,979 –> 00:20:43,819If you experience regret31700:20:43,819 –> 00:20:45,739because of a great failure in your life,31800:20:45,739 –> 00:20:49,520let me tell you, I know about that.31900:20:49,520 –> 00:20:51,020I know about that.32000:20:53,900 –> 00:20:55,579But I’ve come to see something else32100:20:55,579 –> 00:20:57,579that I want you to hold on to today.32200:20:59,579 –> 00:21:01,000Jesus said,32300:21:02,199 –> 00:21:05,339the one who has been forgiven much32400:21:06,640 –> 00:21:08,079loves much.32500:21:09,760 –> 00:21:12,420And I’ll tell you, that has gone very, very deep in me.32600:21:12,420 –> 00:21:16,239I’ve come to see this from the perspective of heaven now.32700:21:17,180 –> 00:21:21,280That I love Jesus Christ32800:21:22,199 –> 00:21:24,239in a way that I never could32900:21:24,239 –> 00:21:27,479if I had remained innocent all of my life.33000:21:29,219 –> 00:21:31,839I have experienced mercy.33100:21:33,500 –> 00:21:35,920I have discovered grace.33200:21:37,380 –> 00:21:40,199And friends, just looking at the big picture,33300:21:40,199 –> 00:21:41,859I’ve begun to see this,33400:21:41,859 –> 00:21:45,020and it’s a thought that staggers my mind.33500:21:46,859 –> 00:21:51,859A redeemed creation will glorify God forever33600:21:53,020 –> 00:21:56,920more than an innocent one ever could.33700:21:58,339 –> 00:22:00,719I think that’s why the Bible says33800:22:00,719 –> 00:22:05,199that the angels long to look into33900:22:05,199 –> 00:22:08,300the mystery of our salvation,34000:22:10,319 –> 00:22:13,400that God would have taken our flesh.34100:22:14,239 –> 00:22:18,339That mercy and grace and justice should have34200:22:18,339 –> 00:22:22,079been revealed in an incomparable way34300:22:22,079 –> 00:22:24,819on the cross and through his resurrection.34400:22:27,040 –> 00:22:29,280So that forever and forever,34500:22:29,280 –> 00:22:32,800as God wipes all tears from our eyes,34600:22:34,719 –> 00:22:38,040the redeemed creation will sing and wonder.34700:22:38,959 –> 00:22:42,119Worthy is the lamb who was slain!34800:22:45,219 –> 00:22:47,900For you and for me.34900:22:49,060 –> 00:22:51,260Let the greatest failures of your life35000:22:51,260 –> 00:22:53,839lead you to love him more35100:22:55,520 –> 00:22:59,439and to savor mercy and to savor grace.35200:23:02,079 –> 00:23:04,459And may God bless you.35300:23:04,459 –> 00:23:05,920You’ve been listening to Open the Bible35400:23:06,140 –> 00:23:07,819We’ve been on the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith35500:23:07,819 –> 00:23:11,640and Adam Story, part of our series Christmas Stories.35600:23:11,640 –> 00:23:13,439And if you’ve missed any of the series,35700:23:13,439 –> 00:23:17,619come online to our website openthebible.org.uk35800:23:17,619 –> 00:23:19,459and there you’ll find all of the messages35900:23:19,459 –> 00:23:21,160that have already gone out on air.36000:23:22,199 –> 00:23:24,760Open the Bible is able to stay on this station36100:23:24,760 –> 00:23:27,719and the internet and available as a podcast36200:23:27,719 –> 00:23:30,800because of the generous financial support of our listeners36300:23:30,800 –> 00:23:32,640That’s people like you.36400:23:32,640 –> 00:23:35,119And if you’re already give to support the work,36500:23:35,119 –> 00:23:36,959thank you so much.36600:23:36,959 –> 00:23:38,280If supporting Open The Bible36700:23:38,280 –> 00:23:40,380is something you’d like to start doing,36800:23:40,380 –> 00:23:43,520this month we’re delighted to offer a free gift.36900:23:43,520 –> 00:23:45,719Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham37000:23:45,719 –> 00:23:46,900to tell us about it.37100:23:46,900 –> 00:23:47,959Thanks David.37200:23:47,959 –> 00:23:50,520Yes, this month we are really excited37300:23:50,520 –> 00:23:53,040to give away Colin’s newest book37400:23:53,040 –> 00:23:56,699and the final book in the Fly and Drive series,37500:23:56,699 –> 00:23:58,560HIKE THROUGH THE BIBLE.37600:23:58,560 –> 00:24:00,199It’s a 50-session journey37700:24:00,199 –> 00:24:02,520through the whole story of scripture,37800:24:02,520 –> 00:24:05,199like taking a guided hike with a pastor37900:24:05,199 –> 00:24:08,260who helps you see the Bible’s big picture.38000:24:08,260 –> 00:24:10,640Each chapter is short, clear,38100:24:10,640 –> 00:24:13,520and includes simple reflection questions.38200:24:13,520 –> 00:24:16,040We’d love to send you a copy for free38300:24:16,040 –> 00:24:19,660when you set up a new direct debit of five pounds38400:24:19,660 –> 00:24:22,920or give a one-off gift of at least 50 pounds38500:24:22,920 –> 00:24:25,199to Open The Bible UK.38600:24:25,199 –> 00:24:27,020And as we head towards Christmas,38700:24:27,020 –> 00:24:29,619I think it would make a great treat38800:24:29,619 –> 00:24:32,020and would be a really encouraging way38900:24:32,020 –> 00:24:35,500to start the new year rooted in God’s word.39000:24:35,500 –> 00:24:37,959But please don’t forget to leave your address39100:24:37,959 –> 00:24:39,000when you donate39200:24:39,000 –> 00:24:42,520so that we can make sure we’re able to post your gift.39300:24:42,520 –> 00:24:45,359Well we’d love to send you Colin’s new book39400:24:45,359 –> 00:24:47,599when you set up a new direct debit39500:24:47,599 –> 00:24:50,119of five pounds per month or more39600:24:50,119 –> 00:24:53,839or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.39700:24:53,839 –> 00:24:56,859Full terms and conditions online at our website,39800:24:56,859 –> 00:24:59,540openthebible.org.uk.39900:24:59,540 –> 00:25:01,719And you can give online.40000:25:02,680 –> 00:25:05,739So please don’t forget to leave your name and address40100:25:05,739 –> 00:25:08,219so we can send you your gift.40200:25:08,219 –> 00:25:10,939For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,40300:25:10,939 –> 00:25:12,040I’m David Pick40400:25:12,040 –> 00:25:14,560and I look forward to being with you again next time.40500:25:21,859 –> 00:25:24,060Whatever you may achieve in your life,40600:25:24,060 –> 00:25:25,900the most important thing about you40700:25:25,900 –> 00:25:28,579is your relationship with Jesus.