100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,680If we confess our sins, he God is faithful200:00:08,680 –> 00:00:19,680and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.300:00:19,680 –> 00:00:25,600None of us is completely free from sin this side of heaven, but by God’s grace400:00:25,900 –> 00:00:31,500we can all make progress and this verse tells us how.500:00:31,500 –> 00:00:33,619Welcome to Open The Bible600:00:33,619 –> 00:00:38,320with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick. I’m so pleased that you’re with us today700:00:38,320 –> 00:00:42,580and Colin that’s a verse we’re very familiar with and I think it’s also one that800:00:42,580 –> 00:00:46,380we can cling on to at times because I think many of us struggle with the900:00:46,380 –> 00:00:51,459feeling that surely God can’t continue to forgive our sins when we’ve been in1000:00:52,400 –> 00:00:56,380times before and that’s really what today’s programme is all about.1100:00:56,759 –> 00:00:59,959Yeah, absolutely and I think what you describe is1200:00:59,959 –> 00:01:05,739especially the case where we’ve fallen into the same kind of sin on too many1300:01:05,739 –> 00:01:12,120occasions and the sense is you know I need to do better than this and1400:01:12,120 –> 00:01:17,599why am I not doing so and the word progress I think is wonderfully1500:01:18,199 –> 00:01:23,580encouraging that no Christian this side of Heaven is ever going to come to a1600:01:23,800 –> 00:01:29,080kind of sinless perfection but the word progress is used in the Bible, Paul1700:01:29,080 –> 00:01:34,739speaks to Timothy about living in such a way that all will see your progress1800:01:34,739 –> 00:01:40,279that’s the thing to go after I’m not yet where I want to be but by the grace of1900:01:40,279 –> 00:01:44,660God and through the cleansing power of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ I’m2000:01:45,019 –> 00:01:49,639I’m not where I used to be either progress is possible and that’s the2100:01:49,839 –> 00:01:53,660encouragement that we’re going to look for from the scripture together today2200:01:53,660 –> 00:01:58,940So join us if you can in your Bible in the first letter of John and Chapter 1 as we2300:01:59,199 –> 00:02:04,220continue the message assurance grows as you confess your sins here is Colin2400:02:05,099 –> 00:02:07,959I want us to look at verse 9 one of the most2500:02:08,259 –> 00:02:12,779wonderful verses in all of the Bible and for us to try and just take it in and2600:02:12,979 –> 00:02:18,300For it to do us good today if we confess our sins2700:02:20,020 –> 00:02:27,220He God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us2800:02:28,399 –> 00:02:30,399from all2900:02:30,740 –> 00:02:32,300unrighteousness3000:02:32,300 –> 00:02:36,339none of us is completely free from sin the sight of heaven, but3100:02:37,500 –> 00:02:41,399by God’s grace we can all make progress and3200:02:42,059 –> 00:02:44,839And this verse tells us how?3300:02:46,220 –> 00:02:48,720if we confess our3400:02:49,500 –> 00:02:50,639sins3500:02:50,639 –> 00:02:53,759now notice that the word sins here is3600:02:54,139 –> 00:03:00,259Plural he does not say if we confess our sin. He says if we confess our sins3700:03:01,119 –> 00:03:07,360Plural so the confession that he’s talking about here is more than admitting that we are sinners3800:03:07,520 –> 00:03:13,119And that’s very easy to do. Oh, yes. We’re all sinners. It can actually be very comforting just to say that3900:03:13,119 –> 00:03:15,699Oh, yes, I signed up on that. We all have our stuff4000:03:15,699 –> 00:03:21,419You know, we’re all dealing with our stuff and then to do very little about it at all4100:03:23,160 –> 00:03:27,240John’s not talking about a general admitting that we are sinners4200:03:28,080 –> 00:03:30,039He’s talking about something4300:03:30,039 –> 00:03:33,080Much clearer and more definite than that4400:03:33,080 –> 00:03:35,679You don’t make progress in the Christian life4500:03:35,839 –> 00:03:43,580Simply by admitting that you’re a sinner you’ll make progress in the Christian life by identifying and confessing particular sins4600:03:44,440 –> 00:03:46,600That’s what he’s talking about here. I4700:03:48,320 –> 00:03:53,699Found the Council of CH Spurgeon to be really helpful here. Let me quote a paragraph4800:03:54,259 –> 00:03:59,380From him. He says this the first advice I give you is this4900:04:01,740 –> 00:04:03,740Particular eyes your sins5000:04:04,580 –> 00:04:09,179Do not say I am a sinner it means nothing everybody says that5100:04:10,100 –> 00:04:12,179But say this5200:04:12,179 –> 00:04:14,179Am I a liar?5300:04:14,559 –> 00:04:16,559Am I a thief?5400:04:16,899 –> 00:04:18,899Am I a drunkard?5500:04:19,100 –> 00:04:24,820Have I had unchaste thoughts have I committed unclean acts?5600:04:25,339 –> 00:04:32,920Have I in my soul often rebelled against God am I often angry without a cause?5700:04:34,059 –> 00:04:41,720Have I a bad temper am I covetous do I love this world better than the world to come5800:04:43,299 –> 00:04:45,299Have I neglected prayer5900:04:46,779 –> 00:04:48,739and then he concludes if you put these6000:04:49,640 –> 00:04:55,140Specific questions to yourself you will soon convince yourself that you really have sinned6100:04:55,140 –> 00:05:00,420And that there are things that you need to confess much more than if you just say in general. I’m a sinner6200:05:01,600 –> 00:05:03,640If we confess6300:05:04,079 –> 00:05:04,959our6400:05:04,959 –> 00:05:06,959sins6500:05:07,299 –> 00:05:09,299Now we’ve just seen6600:05:09,619 –> 00:05:13,700that sin hides in our hearts verse 8 and6700:05:14,239 –> 00:05:16,239It shows in our lives6800:05:16,480 –> 00:05:18,380verse 10 however6900:05:19,200 –> 00:05:22,880Disciplined however Godly however mature we may be7000:05:24,859 –> 00:05:26,859Now if that is the case7100:05:27,679 –> 00:05:29,459then surely7200:05:29,559 –> 00:05:36,899Confession to God of specific sins should be a regular part of our walking in fellowship with Him7300:05:37,500 –> 00:05:41,480This is part of what it looks like to walk in the light7400:05:43,220 –> 00:05:48,579So what was the last identifiable sin that you actually confessed to God is7500:05:49,459 –> 00:05:53,420this part of the normal rhythm of7600:05:53,980 –> 00:05:57,660your fellowship with God of your pursuit of the Christian life7700:05:58,399 –> 00:05:59,540because7800:05:59,540 –> 00:06:05,100the closer we walk with God the more conscious we’re going to be of our own sins and therefore the more7900:06:05,220 –> 00:06:07,380confession is going to be part of our with God8000:06:10,440 –> 00:06:14,160And don’t limit your confession by the way to things you have done8100:06:15,500 –> 00:06:22,380We just seen from verse 8 that sin hides in the heart and that means that it is8200:06:23,000 –> 00:06:24,559appropriate to8300:06:25,140 –> 00:06:26,140Confess to God8400:06:26,140 –> 00:06:31,880not only sins you’ve committed but sins you’ve thought about committing or wanted to commit even though you’ve not done them8500:06:33,679 –> 00:06:35,679Later in this letter8600:06:36,500 –> 00:06:39,100John writes these words in chapter 3 in verse 158700:06:40,739 –> 00:06:45,339Whoever hates his brother is a8800:06:46,920 –> 00:06:48,920Murderer8900:06:49,239 –> 00:06:56,160You read that and you try and take it in he didn’t say if you hate your brother you’re like a murderer9000:06:57,640 –> 00:07:03,519He says if you hate your brother you are a murderer9100:07:05,440 –> 00:07:11,940And you remember that in the Sermon on the Mount the Lord Jesus Christ made very clear that God views9200:07:12,540 –> 00:07:18,679Hatred in the heart that no one else may actually know about but just carrying hatred in your art that God views9300:07:18,679 –> 00:07:20,679That as a kind of murder9400:07:21,820 –> 00:07:29,359Then if use lust in the heart that nobody else may actually know very much or anything about he views that as a9500:07:29,760 –> 00:07:31,760kind of adultery9600:07:32,920 –> 00:07:40,920So confess the hidden sins of your heart as well as the open sins that show up in your life9700:07:41,940 –> 00:07:45,040And then there is this wonderful promise9800:07:46,679 –> 00:07:48,959if we confess our sins9900:07:50,739 –> 00:07:53,459God is faithful and just10000:07:55,679 –> 00:07:57,679To forgive us I10100:07:59,220 –> 00:08:01,540Want us just to take a moment to take the10200:08:02,200 –> 00:08:09,100Beauty and power of this promise into our own souls for it to do its own marvelous healing and nourishing work10300:08:10,000 –> 00:08:12,739What a marvelous promise, this is10400:08:13,899 –> 00:08:18,619Though whatever you have thought or said or done10500:08:19,880 –> 00:08:24,179God is ready to forgive you and10600:08:25,959 –> 00:08:27,959John tells us why10700:08:28,959 –> 00:08:30,959He gives us two reasons10800:08:31,380 –> 00:08:34,299You can be sure that God will forgive you10900:08:34,299 –> 00:08:36,119We keep coming back to how you can be sure11000:08:36,479 –> 00:08:42,739You see you can be sure that God will forgive you first because God is faithful11100:08:43,739 –> 00:08:45,239God has promised11200:08:45,239 –> 00:08:48,239That those who seek his forgiveness will find it11300:08:49,039 –> 00:08:51,039he has said11400:08:51,119 –> 00:08:56,840I will forgive that iniquity and I will remember their sin no more11500:08:57,080 –> 00:09:02,919That’s the promise of God and God is always faithful to his promise11600:09:03,359 –> 00:09:04,960I11700:09:04,960 –> 00:09:11,539Will remember that iniquity no more if God can put your sin behind him11800:09:11,760 –> 00:09:14,159you can put your sin behind you to11900:09:16,380 –> 00:09:22,659And the promise is beautifully and clearly stated right in this verse that’s before us in the Bible today if12000:09:23,280 –> 00:09:25,280We confess our sins12100:09:25,719 –> 00:09:28,659God will forgive us our12200:09:29,700 –> 00:09:31,320sins and12300:09:31,340 –> 00:09:35,140You can rest on this promise because God is12400:09:36,419 –> 00:09:38,419faithful12500:09:39,179 –> 00:09:41,979But then John wants us to have not a single assurance12600:09:41,979 –> 00:09:47,820But a double assurance and he gives us a second reason that we can be sure about the forgiveness of God12700:09:47,940 –> 00:09:51,820If we confess our sins, he’s not only faithful, but he’s also just12800:09:53,500 –> 00:09:56,260To forgive us our sins why just12900:09:57,260 –> 00:09:59,260You know13000:09:59,479 –> 00:10:04,940You might expect this first to say if you were given just the first half of it and you were asked the question13100:10:04,940 –> 00:10:06,940How should the verse continue? I13200:10:07,400 –> 00:10:09,599Think I would say if I was asked that question13300:10:09,940 –> 00:10:17,280Well, it would be if we confess our sins God is faithful and merciful to forgive us our sins. That’s what I would expect13400:10:18,979 –> 00:10:20,179And that’s wonderfully true13500:10:20,179 –> 00:10:22,859but it’s not what John says what he says here is13600:10:22,859 –> 00:10:26,239the reason you can be sure that God will forgive you is that God is13700:10:26,539 –> 00:10:28,500just13800:10:28,500 –> 00:10:31,859You think what why would he bring in the justice of God?13900:10:32,260 –> 00:10:35,960Doesn’t the justice of God tend in the direction of our condemnation14000:10:36,539 –> 00:10:38,539Rather than of our forgiveness14100:10:40,000 –> 00:10:43,440John brings in the justice of God here because14200:10:44,979 –> 00:10:47,900The price of our sin has been paid14300:10:49,200 –> 00:10:51,200by the Lord Jesus Christ14400:10:51,840 –> 00:10:55,200That’s why he brings in justice here. We’ll look at this more God-willing next week14500:10:55,799 –> 00:10:58,119But let’s take it in while we’re here at the moment14600:10:58,900 –> 00:11:00,900the price has been paid by14700:11:01,400 –> 00:11:03,400the Lord Jesus Christ and14800:11:04,020 –> 00:11:09,200God does not reissue bills that have already been paid why because he’s fundamentally14900:11:09,960 –> 00:11:11,960just I15000:11:13,419 –> 00:11:16,760Expect that some of you will have been paying15100:11:17,859 –> 00:11:19,880property taxes this week15200:11:20,479 –> 00:11:27,179I was working on the sermon and I was getting late on Friday night now. It’s suddenly occur to me property taxes are due15300:11:27,640 –> 00:11:32,479So time to break off hop online and get this dealt with15400:11:33,260 –> 00:11:34,840now I15500:11:34,840 –> 00:11:36,840Want you to suppose for a moment?15600:11:37,840 –> 00:11:40,500That someone who really loved you15700:11:41,840 –> 00:11:43,840went online15800:11:44,940 –> 00:11:47,880Pulled up the pin number of your property and15900:11:48,679 –> 00:11:51,000Paid the taxes that you owe16000:11:53,059 –> 00:11:57,460If the money jew for your property had been paid16100:11:58,500 –> 00:12:00,739it would be fundamentally unjust16200:12:02,280 –> 00:12:06,580For the same bill to be charged against your property again16300:12:09,780 –> 00:12:11,780God is just16400:12:11,780 –> 00:12:13,780Just16500:12:13,940 –> 00:12:19,140Where the price of the sins of his people has been paid by the lord jesus christ16600:12:21,059 –> 00:12:27,159He does not charge them against us and that therefore is why we can be absolutely sure16700:12:27,700 –> 00:12:34,039of our forgiveness not only because god is faithful but also because he is just that’s our double assurance16800:12:35,140 –> 00:12:36,979the heart of the gospel16900:12:36,979 –> 00:12:39,780Is that jesus has paid the debt that we owe?17000:12:40,500 –> 00:12:46,340And that is why when we confess our sins we can be absolutely sure that god will forgive us our sins17100:12:46,419 –> 00:12:51,219He’s just he will not charge again. What has already been paid17200:12:52,260 –> 00:12:54,020on our behalf17300:12:54,020 –> 00:13:00,739You’re listening to open the bible with pastor colin smith and a message called assurance grows as you confess your sins17400:13:01,299 –> 00:13:04,500And we’ll be back to the message very shortly. So I hope you’ll stay with us17500:13:05,359 –> 00:13:11,679The message is part of a series called how can I be sure all about how christians can have assurance of salvation17600:13:12,159 –> 00:13:16,239And if you’ve missed any of the series, or if you want to ever go back and listen to it again17700:13:16,559 –> 00:13:20,239You can do that by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk17800:13:22,080 –> 00:13:25,919And there you’ll find all pastor colin’s messages which have already been broadcast17900:13:26,479 –> 00:13:30,960And you can also find them as a podcast if that’s a better way for you to keep up with his teaching18000:13:31,280 –> 00:13:34,080And those are on all the main podcast sites search for18100:13:34,880 –> 00:13:37,960Open the Bible UK or follow the link from our website18200:13:38,580 –> 00:13:45,299Open the Bible is supported by our listeners. And we’re extremely grateful for the financial support that we get from our listeners18300:13:45,700 –> 00:13:47,700So if you already give to open the Bible18400:13:47,859 –> 00:13:49,299Thank you so much18500:13:49,299 –> 00:13:51,859If that’s something you’re considering doing in the future18600:13:52,099 –> 00:13:56,580We have an offer for you if you’re able to start by setting up a new direct debit18700:13:57,140 –> 00:13:59,940To the work of open the Bible or indeed a one-off gift18800:14:00,099 –> 00:14:07,380I’ll be talking to open the bible’s amanda cunningham later in this program about this month’s offer. So I hope you’ll stay with us for that18900:14:08,020 –> 00:14:10,739Back to the message now here again is collin19000:14:11,299 –> 00:14:17,059You can be sure that god is ready to forgive you because he is promised and he’s always faithful to his promise19100:14:17,219 –> 00:14:21,299Because he’s just and because the price has already been paid19200:14:23,140 –> 00:14:26,340And then john has one more thing to say19300:14:26,580 –> 00:14:27,539today19400:14:27,539 –> 00:14:29,539If we confess our sins19500:14:30,260 –> 00:14:34,500He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And19600:14:36,900 –> 00:14:38,900To cleanse us19700:14:40,340 –> 00:14:42,359From all unrighteousness19800:14:44,820 –> 00:14:49,320Now two observations on cleansing the first19900:14:50,559 –> 00:14:53,320Cleansing is never a one-time deal20000:14:54,239 –> 00:14:57,880Think about how often you wash your hands or your face20100:14:59,080 –> 00:15:02,500Think about how often you wash your clothes or your car20200:15:04,340 –> 00:15:06,419Cleansing is never a20300:15:06,419 –> 00:15:08,380one-time deal20400:15:08,380 –> 00:15:12,020Things get dirty and they need to be cleansed often20500:15:13,020 –> 00:15:16,260So cleansing is rather like learning its lifelong20600:15:16,619 –> 00:15:21,479You will never get to a place where you are no longer in need of cleansing20700:15:21,479 –> 00:15:24,500This is John’s point if we say that we are without sin20800:15:24,500 –> 00:15:29,520We’re deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us cleansing is never a one-time deal20900:15:30,700 –> 00:15:33,700But here’s the second thing that needs to be held alongside it21000:15:35,780 –> 00:15:37,780Cleansing makes a difference21100:15:38,559 –> 00:15:40,559Cleansing makes a difference21200:15:40,599 –> 00:15:42,599It really does21300:15:43,479 –> 00:15:48,960Now think for a moment about cleansing a horribly infected wound.21400:15:49,440 –> 00:15:52,700I mean here is this wound. It’s a great gash and21500:15:53,340 –> 00:15:55,340It’s separating21600:15:56,580 –> 00:16:00,400Infection is just oozing out of it and21700:16:01,820 –> 00:16:07,520The more the infection spreads the more powerful it becomes the more debilitating it is21800:16:08,919 –> 00:16:10,919The wound needs treatment21900:16:12,599 –> 00:16:14,599So a nurse22000:16:15,280 –> 00:16:17,280cleanses the wound and22100:16:17,799 –> 00:16:19,799And dresses it22200:16:20,640 –> 00:16:26,840The next day she takes off the dressing and she looks at it again and there there is more infection22300:16:27,960 –> 00:16:33,900So she cleanses the wound again and she dresses it again22400:16:35,159 –> 00:16:37,159Day by day22500:16:37,500 –> 00:16:41,479She is treating this awful infected wound22600:16:42,880 –> 00:16:44,880The infection just keeps22700:16:45,380 –> 00:16:49,080Seeping out of it, but the nurse just keeps22800:16:49,859 –> 00:16:53,599Cleansing it and dressing it and over time22900:16:55,500 –> 00:17:02,559The infection recedes and one day the nurse smiles23000:17:05,020 –> 00:17:07,020This wound is23100:17:07,280 –> 00:17:09,459Healing nicely she says23200:17:10,660 –> 00:17:12,660It’s drying up23300:17:13,479 –> 00:17:16,020The inflammation is coming down23400:17:18,359 –> 00:17:20,359It’s looking clean23500:17:21,920 –> 00:17:26,760Now do you see cleansing happens progressively over time23600:17:28,859 –> 00:17:32,359And some of us will be thinking about battles with sin23700:17:32,359 –> 00:17:37,219In which we failed many many times that we just wish that it could be out of us altogether23800:17:38,180 –> 00:17:42,579But John is giving us this wonderful promise23900:17:42,579 –> 00:17:44,579for our encouragement24000:17:44,579 –> 00:17:56,420That confessing our sins, the blood of Jesus Christ really does cleanse us24100:17:56,420 –> 00:17:58,420It cleanses from all sin24200:17:58,420 –> 00:18:00,420Another way to say that is24300:18:00,420 –> 00:18:04,660The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from sin of every kind24400:18:04,800 –> 00:18:12,180There is no kind of sin in the world from which the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can’t cleanse a person24500:18:12,180 –> 00:18:16,180This is the basis of Christian hope24600:18:17,380 –> 00:18:19,540So let me press this question to you24700:18:19,540 –> 00:18:24,660Do you believe as a Christian that God can forgive you?24800:18:24,660 –> 00:18:28,900Do you believe that God can cleanse you?24900:18:28,900 –> 00:18:36,099Do you believe that by his grace you can make progress25000:18:37,219 –> 00:18:42,739against sin that often besets you, that most discourages you?25100:18:42,739 –> 00:18:45,459Do you believe that God can cleanse you?25200:18:47,380 –> 00:18:49,380Someone says, oh I really want to believe that25300:18:49,380 –> 00:18:51,699But how? How does it happen?25400:18:51,699 –> 00:18:53,380Well you see what is being said here25500:18:53,380 –> 00:19:00,979that cleansing blood of the Lord Jesus Christ gets applied to your life25600:19:00,979 –> 00:19:04,099How? As you walk in the light25700:19:04,979 –> 00:19:06,339that is verse 725800:19:06,339 –> 00:19:11,060and as you confess your sins that is verse 925900:19:12,739 –> 00:19:14,020Here’s the pattern of life26000:19:15,619 –> 00:19:17,459may be things that you bring before the Lord26100:19:17,459 –> 00:19:19,939Many times there may be many times26200:19:19,939 –> 00:19:22,099that the one needs to be cleansed and dressed26300:19:22,099 –> 00:19:24,500and cleansed and dressed and cleansed and dressed26400:19:24,500 –> 00:19:25,699but by God’s grace26500:19:25,699 –> 00:19:27,699by the healing power of the blood of Christ26600:19:27,699 –> 00:19:28,420it will heal26700:19:29,699 –> 00:19:30,819It will be made clean26800:19:32,180 –> 00:19:34,020If we confess our sins26900:19:35,140 –> 00:19:38,020he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins27000:19:39,140 –> 00:19:42,020and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness27100:19:42,020 –> 00:19:43,619Confess your sins27200:19:43,619 –> 00:19:49,300and that is a major strategy by which you’ll make progress27300:19:49,859 –> 00:19:53,380Now let’s very briefly in this last moment27400:19:53,380 –> 00:19:57,540and put together what we have learned from these verses27500:19:57,540 –> 00:19:58,260Two things27600:19:58,260 –> 00:20:01,619First, people who walk in the light27700:20:02,660 –> 00:20:04,739live with remaining sin27800:20:05,540 –> 00:20:06,339Take that in27900:20:06,339 –> 00:20:11,140and let’s use the encouragement of this stark truth28000:20:11,140 –> 00:20:12,739and the encouragement is this28100:20:13,300 –> 00:20:17,380that your continuing battle with particular sins28200:20:17,459 –> 00:20:19,540impulses of your flesh28300:20:19,540 –> 00:20:22,660that does not mean that you are walking in darkness28400:20:23,300 –> 00:20:25,459the very fact that you’re battling against this28500:20:25,459 –> 00:20:28,180the very fact that you so want to be free from it28600:20:29,300 –> 00:20:31,859that is evidence that you are in fact walking in the light28700:20:33,780 –> 00:20:35,459and if you are walking in the light28800:20:35,459 –> 00:20:37,140you have fellowship with God28900:20:37,140 –> 00:20:38,979you will find fellowship with others29000:20:38,979 –> 00:20:40,979and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ29100:20:40,979 –> 00:20:43,219will cleanse you from every kind of sin29200:20:43,219 –> 00:20:44,099every kind of sin29300:20:44,099 –> 00:20:50,180And that is why people who walk in the light make progress29400:20:50,900 –> 00:20:53,540as we confess our sins29500:20:54,180 –> 00:20:56,020in this life it will never go so well29600:20:56,020 –> 00:20:59,459with any of us that we are completely free from all sin29700:20:59,459 –> 00:21:04,020but by God’s grace progress is possible29800:21:04,500 –> 00:21:06,819As we said last week29900:21:06,819 –> 00:21:11,780the most powerful thing in the world30000:21:13,699 –> 00:21:16,500is not the sin with which we are all too familiar30100:21:18,180 –> 00:21:20,579the most powerful thing in the world30200:21:22,180 –> 00:21:25,060is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that cleanses us from it30300:21:25,939 –> 00:21:26,900That’s why there’s hope30400:21:28,099 –> 00:21:29,060That’s why there’s hope30500:21:30,020 –> 00:21:33,459so confess your sins to God30600:21:34,420 –> 00:21:37,939receive His forgiveness30700:21:37,939 –> 00:21:42,579and trust the cleansing power30800:21:42,579 –> 00:21:45,939of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ30900:21:47,380 –> 00:21:49,859You’ve been listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith31000:21:49,859 –> 00:21:54,420in a message called, Assurance Grows As You Confess Your Sins31100:21:54,420 –> 00:21:56,839part of the series How Can I Be Sure31200:21:56,839 –> 00:22:01,459all about how Christians can have assurance of salvation31300:22:01,459 –> 00:22:05,400If you have missed any of the series or want to go back and listen again31400:22:05,400 –> 00:22:08,239you can always do that by coming online to our website31500:22:08,239 –> 00:22:12,099and there you will find all the messages which have already been broadcast31600:22:12,099 –> 00:22:14,979our website address is openthebible.org.uk31700:22:14,979 –> 00:22:19,060you can also find the messages as a podcast31800:22:19,060 –> 00:22:21,260to your favorite podcast site31900:22:21,260 –> 00:22:23,760search for Open The Bible UK32000:22:23,760 –> 00:22:26,400and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates32100:22:26,400 –> 00:22:30,819Also on website and available as a podcast s is Open The Bible Daily32200:22:30,959 –> 00:22:34,839And that’s a series of short two-to-three-minute daily reflections32300:22:34,839 –> 00:22:36,660based on Pastor Colin’s teaching32400:22:36,660 –> 00:22:39,760and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish32500:22:39,760 –> 00:22:41,180Find them on our web site32600:22:41,180 –> 00:22:44,660openthebible.org.uk32700:22:44,660 –> 00:22:47,839At Open The Bible we welcome contact with our listeners32800:22:47,839 –> 00:22:51,000if you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching32900:22:51,000 –> 00:22:52,920and you would like to reach out to us33000:22:52,920 –> 00:22:54,140you can write to us33100:22:54,140 –> 00:22:55,760at Open The Bible33200:22:55,760 –> 00:22:58,339PO Box 142033300:22:58,339 –> 00:22:59,439Cheltenham33400:22:59,439 –> 00:23:01,020GL5033500:23:01,020 –> 00:23:01,9209PG33600:23:01,920 –> 00:23:03,959That’s Open The Bible33700:23:03,959 –> 00:23:06,579PO Box 142033800:23:06,579 –> 00:23:07,599Cheltenham33900:23:07,599 –> 00:23:09,280GL5034000:23:09,280 –> 00:23:10,7399PG34100:23:10,739 –> 00:23:12,800our address and telephone number34200:23:12,800 –> 00:23:15,939and email address are available on our web site34300:23:15,939 –> 00:23:17,079openthebible34400:23:17,079 –> 00:23:19,760dot org dot uk34500:23:19,760 –> 00:23:23,500Open The Bible is supported financially by our listeners34600:23:23,500 –> 00:23:27,760by many groups and individuals who make generous donations regularly34700:23:27,760 –> 00:23:29,420or just once34800:23:29,479 –> 00:23:32,319if you’re considering becoming one of our contributors34900:23:32,319 –> 00:23:34,040thank you so much35000:23:34,040 –> 00:23:36,300you can give online at our website35100:23:36,300 –> 00:23:39,439which makes it easy to set up either a one off gift35200:23:39,439 –> 00:23:41,640or a regular direct debit35300:23:41,640 –> 00:23:45,439just click on the donate button at the top right of your computer screen35400:23:45,439 –> 00:23:48,900or at the bottom of the drop down menu on your phone35500:23:48,900 –> 00:23:51,260here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham35600:23:51,260 –> 00:23:54,060to talk about this month’s Thank You Gift35700:23:54,060 –> 00:23:58,439Do you sometimes feel like life is a constant battle?35800:23:58,479 –> 00:24:00,819In The 10 greater Struggles of Your Life35900:24:00,819 –> 00:24:04,979Colin Smith looks at the everyday struggles we all face36000:24:04,979 –> 00:24:08,040like time, truth, contentment36100:24:08,040 –> 00:24:11,260and shows us how they connect to our relationship with God36200:24:11,260 –> 00:24:13,619and the Ten Commandments36300:24:13,619 –> 00:24:15,599but this book isn’t about rules36400:24:15,599 –> 00:24:19,099it’s about finding real freedom and purpose36500:24:19,099 –> 00:24:21,819plus there’s a great study guide at the back36600:24:21,819 –> 00:24:23,900perfect for reading on your own36700:24:23,900 –> 00:24:26,459or with a small group at church perhaps36800:24:26,459 –> 00:24:28,420We’d love to send you a copy36900:24:28,420 –> 00:24:32,300along with five beautiful Psalm 23 note cards37000:24:32,300 –> 00:24:35,619when you give a one-off gift of £5037100:24:35,619 –> 00:24:40,619or set up a new direct debit of £5 or more this September37200:24:40,619 –> 00:24:44,160Just don’t forget to include your address when you donate37300:24:44,160 –> 00:24:46,319This offer is available all this month37400:24:46,319 –> 00:24:49,699when you set up a new direct debit for £5 or more37500:24:49,699 –> 00:24:52,979or a one-off gift of £50 or more37600:24:52,979 –> 00:24:55,400Full terms and conditions are on our website37700:24:55,459 –> 00:24:57,859openthebible.org.uk37800:24:57,859 –> 00:25:00,359and you can give directly online37900:25:00,380 –> 00:25:03,060Please remember to include your full name and address38000:25:03,060 –> 00:25:05,859so that we can send you your free gift38100:25:05,880 –> 00:25:08,079For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith38200:25:08,079 –> 00:25:13,359I’m David Pick and I hope you will join us again next time38300:25:20,079 –> 00:25:22,160There are two traps that Christians38400:25:22,160 –> 00:25:24,319frequently fall into38500:25:24,359 –> 00:25:27,660Find out what they are and how to avoid them both38600:25:27,660 –> 00:25:29,099next time on Open The Bible
