100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:14,240If anyone is in Christ he or she is a new creation. The old has gone, behold the new200:00:14,240 –> 00:00:21,500has come. If you are in Christ you are no longer the person you were, you really are300:00:21,500 –> 00:00:29,240a new creation. And John is going to tell us how we can know that we are in Christ.400:00:29,379 –> 00:00:33,799Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Collin Smith, I’m David Pick. Glad you could be500:00:33,799 –> 00:00:39,160with us today and Collin, many might say I believe that I’ve been made a new creation600:00:39,160 –> 00:00:44,919in Christ, because the Bible tells me that. But if that’s so why am I still struggling700:00:44,919 –> 00:00:47,040with all the same old sins.800:00:47,040 –> 00:00:53,799ha, well the very fact that you’re struggling would be the clearest evidence that you are900:00:53,799 –> 00:00:55,459in fact a new creation.1000:00:55,540 –> 00:01:00,439I mean think of it this way, any dead fish can float down in the direction that the river1100:01:00,439 –> 00:01:07,080is going, but it takes a lively fish to swim against the power of the stream, and when1200:01:07,080 –> 00:01:11,400you become in new creation in Christ that’s precisely what you are doing.1300:01:11,400 –> 00:01:14,860Sin wasn’t a big issue to you before, you could live with it.1400:01:14,860 –> 00:01:19,059Your conscience wasn’t particularly bothering you, now you’re a new creation, you’re in1500:01:19,059 –> 00:01:22,519a different position, your conscience does bother you because you want to live for the1600:01:22,519 –> 00:01:27,239glory of God, you want to be more like Christ, that’s precisely why you have a struggle.1700:01:27,239 –> 00:01:32,699So the struggle itself seems to me to be one of the clearest evidences of the fact that1800:01:32,699 –> 00:01:35,440there really is a new spiritual life in you.1900:01:35,440 –> 00:01:38,080And so in that sense there’s a profound encouragement there.2000:01:38,080 –> 00:01:44,019Well we’ll continue to look at that encouragement, so join us if you can in 1 John, chapter 22100:01:44,019 –> 00:01:48,339as we continue the message Assurance Grows As You Obey God’s Commands.2200:01:48,660 –> 00:01:50,180Here is Colin,2300:01:50,180 –> 00:01:59,680If assurance depends on our keeping God’s commands what hope can we ever have of assurance?2400:01:59,680 –> 00:02:05,680Because which of us honestly can say this morning that we walk as Jesus walked, and2500:02:05,680 –> 00:02:09,740which of us can truly say that we keep all of God’s commands?2600:02:09,740 –> 00:02:17,800Now that’s a really, really important question, and I want to attempt to answer it directly2700:02:17,940 –> 00:02:23,740and this is very important, the answer comes in two parts.2800:02:23,740 –> 00:02:30,679Part one, no Christian keeps God’s commands completely.2900:02:30,679 –> 00:02:36,759Now, john has already made this very clear, he’s told us in chapter one in verse eight,3000:02:36,759 –> 00:02:40,259If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.3100:02:40,259 –> 00:02:45,000Can’t really be clearer than that and then just to underline it he says it again in chapter3200:02:45,000 –> 00:02:46,100one in verse ten.3300:02:46,419 –> 00:02:52,139If we say we have not sinned, we make out God to be a liar and his word is not in us.3400:02:53,199 –> 00:03:01,820And you see the reason that we need always, even on our best days, to lean our whole weight3500:03:01,820 –> 00:03:08,080on the Lord Jesus Christ and what he has accomplished for us on the cross is because even on our3600:03:08,179 –> 00:03:17,119best days, we all fall far short of the life that God has called us to live.3700:03:18,619 –> 00:03:25,699So no Christian keeps God’s commands completely, that’s the first part of the answer.3800:03:26,080 –> 00:03:33,559Second part of the answer that you must hold together with it, all Christians begin to3900:03:33,639 –> 00:03:36,039live according to God’s commands.4000:03:37,639 –> 00:03:41,300Now this is very clear, in so many scriptures let me just give you one.4100:03:41,320 –> 00:03:44,559Romans chapter 8 in verses 3 and 4.4200:03:44,559 –> 00:03:48,839God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do by sending his son in the4300:03:48,839 –> 00:03:57,259likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous4400:03:57,259 –> 00:04:03,779requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh4500:04:03,779 –> 00:04:07,399but according to the Spirit.4600:04:07,399 –> 00:04:14,839Now we know, and I hope all of us grasp very clearly, that Jesus fulfilled the righteous4700:04:14,839 –> 00:04:18,500requirement of the Law for us.4800:04:18,500 –> 00:04:23,859He lived the perfect life that none of us have lived and then he laid it down as a sacrifice4900:04:23,920 –> 00:04:26,399for our sins on the cross.5000:04:26,399 –> 00:04:31,899But notice that is not what the apostle is saying here, what he is saying here is that5100:04:31,899 –> 00:04:40,000the outcome of what Jesus has accomplished on the cross, is that the righteous requirement5200:04:40,000 –> 00:04:44,600of the law will be met in us.5300:04:44,600 –> 00:04:48,440That is in those who walk not according to the flesh but in according to the Spirit.5400:04:48,679 –> 00:04:57,160In other words, that out of the cross will come a community of people who truly are pursuing5500:04:57,779 –> 00:05:01,739a life that is according to the commandments and the will of God.5600:05:01,739 –> 00:05:05,779And you have this all over the New Testament.5700:05:05,779 –> 00:05:16,600I mean, Peter in chapter 2, in verse 24, Jesus bore our sins in his body on the tree.5800:05:16,600 –> 00:05:17,600Why?5900:05:17,839 –> 00:05:22,380So that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.6000:05:22,380 –> 00:05:28,279That’s what comes out of what Jesus has accomplished on the cross.6100:05:28,279 –> 00:05:31,100So we must hold these things together.6200:05:31,100 –> 00:05:37,899No Christian keeps God’s commands completely, but all Christians begin to live according6300:05:37,899 –> 00:05:41,040to God’s commands.6400:05:41,040 –> 00:05:46,480And there is a wonderfully helpful statement or at least I have found it wonderfully helpful6500:05:46,480 –> 00:05:51,239in a document called the Heidelberg Catechism.6600:05:51,239 –> 00:05:56,160This is from several centuries ago, so it has stood the test of time, and a catechism6700:05:56,160 –> 00:06:01,559is simply a tool for teaching the Christian faith in the form of questions and answers.6800:06:01,559 –> 00:06:05,540And the Heidelberg Catechism goes through all of the 10 commandments asking what each6900:06:05,540 –> 00:06:11,339of them mean, and what our responsibilities are in the light of each of them and then7000:06:11,339 –> 00:06:14,399it asks this question.7100:06:14,399 –> 00:06:15,619Question.7200:06:15,739 –> 00:06:19,959But can those converted to God obey these commands perfectly?7300:06:19,959 –> 00:06:23,799That’s the question and here’s the answer.7400:06:24,579 –> 00:06:26,200No.7500:06:26,959 –> 00:06:27,820No.7600:06:28,720 –> 00:06:31,100Ah, but that’s not the end of the answer.7700:06:31,100 –> 00:06:33,779Can we obey them perfectly?7800:06:33,779 –> 00:06:35,279No.7900:06:35,279 –> 00:06:44,500In this life, even the holiest have only a small beginning of obedience so let no one8000:06:44,700 –> 00:06:49,559think that he or she obeys the commandments of God perfectly.8100:06:49,559 –> 00:06:53,859Only Jesus has ever done that.8200:06:53,859 –> 00:06:59,100In this life, even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience.8300:06:59,100 –> 00:07:10,000Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not8400:07:10,000 –> 00:07:12,059only some of God’s commandments.8500:07:12,059 –> 00:07:13,619It’s a beautiful statement.8600:07:14,700 –> 00:07:16,260And you see what they’re saying?8700:07:17,519 –> 00:07:23,059When you are in Christ, there is the beginning of the fulfillment of all the commandments8800:07:23,059 –> 00:07:25,239going on in you.8900:07:25,239 –> 00:07:28,179There’s the beginning of you truly loving God.9000:07:28,200 –> 00:07:29,200Do you love him perfectly?9100:07:29,200 –> 00:07:29,899No.9200:07:29,899 –> 00:07:31,399You want to love him more than you do.9300:07:31,399 –> 00:07:34,000But there is truly a beginning of love for God.9400:07:35,420 –> 00:07:37,320And there’s the beginning of purity.9500:07:38,579 –> 00:07:39,739Are you completely pure?9600:07:39,739 –> 00:07:40,239No.9700:07:40,239 –> 00:07:41,119You’re far from that.9800:07:41,160 –> 00:07:41,859You know that.9900:07:43,220 –> 00:07:44,980But there is the beginning of it there.10000:07:44,980 –> 00:07:47,200And there is a desire for it to be more.10100:07:47,200 –> 00:07:49,200There’s the beginning of contentment.10200:07:49,200 –> 00:07:50,940You go through all of the commandments.10300:07:50,940 –> 00:07:55,820The beginning of the fulfillment of all the law of God is in you by the presence of the10400:07:55,820 –> 00:07:56,820Holy Spirit.10500:07:56,820 –> 00:08:02,260And by the very wonderful fact that you have been made a new creation in Christ.10600:08:02,260 –> 00:08:06,600You are no longer the person that you were.10700:08:07,540 –> 00:08:13,519And you see, because we have a beginning, not a completion, but a real beginning, that10800:08:13,519 –> 00:08:20,859is why the Apostle Paul says in Philippians in chapter 3, not that I have already obtained10900:08:20,859 –> 00:08:30,140this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own forgetting what lies behind,11000:08:30,140 –> 00:08:31,820straining toward what lies ahead.11100:08:31,920 –> 00:08:37,320I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.11200:08:37,320 –> 00:08:41,359And John is saying that’s the path on which assurance will be found.11300:08:41,359 –> 00:08:44,559This is how assurance grows.11400:08:44,559 –> 00:08:50,340We know that we have come to know God if we keep His commandments and by this we know11500:08:50,340 –> 00:08:53,179that we are in Christ.11600:08:53,179 –> 00:08:58,200We walk in the same way in which he walked.11700:08:58,200 –> 00:09:03,919Walk this path and you will grow in peace.11800:09:03,919 –> 00:09:13,799You will grow in joy and you will grow in love and you will grow in assurance.11900:09:15,919 –> 00:09:21,599So we’ve looked at a glorious promise and we’ve seen a very clear path.12000:09:21,599 –> 00:09:26,260There’s more that John has to say and we’ll look at the other things in the coming weeks12100:09:26,340 –> 00:09:31,239but this is the first of them and it relates to the commandments.12200:09:32,419 –> 00:09:37,780Now someone might say at this point,12300:09:37,780 –> 00:09:41,500Well this all sounds very miserable,12400:09:41,500 –> 00:09:46,859because, well you’ll hear this, you’ll hear this,12500:09:46,859 –> 00:09:50,400you’re describing a life of duty.12600:09:51,280 –> 00:09:56,059Obey the commandments, do what you’re told,12700:09:56,059 –> 00:10:01,200where’s the joy and the freedom in that?12800:10:01,200 –> 00:10:08,159Well, if you think12900:10:08,159 –> 00:10:13,440that the Christian life is only a matter of duty,13000:10:13,479 –> 00:10:16,900you haven’t understood the Christian life at all.13100:10:18,020 –> 00:10:20,239Well we’ve got to pause the messages there very briefly,13200:10:20,539 –> 00:10:21,820the message is called,13300:10:21,820 –> 00:10:24,919Assurance Grows as you Obey God’s Commands13400:10:24,919 –> 00:10:26,020part of our series,13500:10:26,039 –> 00:10:27,559How can I be Sure?13600:10:27,559 –> 00:10:30,960all about how you can be assured of salvation.13700:10:31,580 –> 00:10:33,559If you’ve missed any of the series so far13800:10:33,559 –> 00:10:35,479or if you want to listen again,13900:10:35,479 –> 00:10:38,119you can do that by coming online to our website14000:10:38,119 –> 00:10:40,919openthebible.org.uk14100:10:41,479 –> 00:10:44,400or you can find Pastor Colin as a podcast14200:10:44,400 –> 00:10:46,559and those on all the main podcast sites14300:10:46,799 –> 00:10:49,599simply search for Open the Bible UK14400:10:49,840 –> 00:10:51,960or follow the link from our website.14500:10:52,799 –> 00:10:55,719Back to the message now where in 1 John chapter 214600:10:55,719 –> 00:10:57,320here again is Colin.14700:10:58,080 –> 00:11:01,840If you think that the Christian life14800:11:01,840 –> 00:11:04,359is only a matter of duty,14900:11:05,719 –> 00:11:07,960you haven’t understood the Christian life at all15000:11:09,200 –> 00:11:09,919not at all15100:11:11,039 –> 00:11:12,479and that leads me to the last thing15200:11:12,500 –> 00:11:14,400that’s in these wonderful verses here15300:11:14,400 –> 00:11:17,000which is a Beautiful Freedom15400:11:17,000 –> 00:11:18,159Beautiful Freedom15500:11:18,960 –> 00:11:19,960Look at verse five15600:11:21,440 –> 00:11:25,239But whoever keeps his word15700:11:26,559 –> 00:11:28,400in him truly15800:11:29,520 –> 00:11:31,479the love of God15900:11:32,559 –> 00:11:33,760is perfected16000:11:35,200 –> 00:11:37,119Now let’s take it a step at a time16100:11:37,119 –> 00:11:38,559look at what he says16200:11:38,559 –> 00:11:42,400whoever keeps his word16300:11:43,280 –> 00:11:48,000so to keep God’s word obviously is to keep God’s commandments16400:11:48,559 –> 00:11:51,280It’s to walk as Jesus walked16500:11:51,280 –> 00:11:55,599These are really three ways of saying precisely the same thing16600:11:55,599 –> 00:11:59,039And he says here whoever keeps his word16700:11:59,039 –> 00:12:00,960That is whoever keeps God’s commands16800:12:00,960 –> 00:12:03,760that is whoever walks as Jesus walked16900:12:03,760 –> 00:12:09,440In him truly the love of God is perfected17000:12:10,559 –> 00:12:12,320So do you see how important this is?17100:12:12,640 –> 00:12:15,119He’s been talking the language of law17200:12:16,880 –> 00:12:19,280And now he’s talking the language of love17300:12:20,960 –> 00:12:24,000And the two are inextricably joined together17400:12:25,919 –> 00:12:28,239Whoever keeps his word17500:12:29,679 –> 00:12:34,640In him truly the love of God is perfected17600:12:34,640 –> 00:12:38,159Now that word perfected is very important17700:12:38,159 –> 00:12:39,280What it means is this17800:12:40,320 –> 00:12:42,719The love of God has a mission17900:12:43,840 –> 00:12:45,840The love of God has a purpose18000:12:46,880 –> 00:12:49,039The love of God has a goal18100:12:50,239 –> 00:12:54,159And the purpose, mission, and goal of the love of God18200:12:54,159 –> 00:12:57,200Is to reproduce itself in us18300:12:58,320 –> 00:13:02,880That we may love as he first loved us18400:13:04,400 –> 00:13:06,159And what John is telling us here18500:13:06,159 –> 00:13:08,320Is that the evidence or proof18600:13:09,039 –> 00:13:13,200That God’s love has fulfilled its purpose in our lives18700:13:13,200 –> 00:13:14,960That it has been perfected in us18800:13:14,960 –> 00:13:18,559In other words, that it has done what it was intended to do18900:13:18,559 –> 00:13:21,599Is that we keep God’s word19000:13:21,599 –> 00:13:23,679That we obey his commandments19100:13:23,679 –> 00:13:27,359That we walk as Jesus walked19200:13:28,479 –> 00:13:30,719So do you see he’s making it quite clear19300:13:31,280 –> 00:13:34,080That the obedience he’s describing here19400:13:34,080 –> 00:13:37,840Is that it is much more than a sense of duty19500:13:37,840 –> 00:13:39,200It’s way beyond that19600:13:40,960 –> 00:13:42,159It comes from love19700:13:43,840 –> 00:13:46,159Which of course is what the Lord Jesus said19800:13:46,159 –> 00:13:47,280Time and time again19900:13:47,280 –> 00:13:49,200John had heard this from Jesus20000:13:50,799 –> 00:13:53,039He heard the Lord Jesus say20100:13:53,039 –> 00:13:57,760If you love me, keep my commandments20200:13:59,200 –> 00:14:02,000Whoever has my commandments and keeps them20300:14:02,000 –> 00:14:05,280He it is who loves me20400:14:07,039 –> 00:14:10,159And notice how Jesus then ties that to assurance20500:14:11,599 –> 00:14:14,080that he who loves me will be loved by my Father20600:14:14,080 –> 00:14:17,840and I will love him and manifest myself to him20700:14:18,960 –> 00:14:21,200There’s going to be a profound awareness20800:14:21,919 –> 00:14:25,359of your own knowledge of God and being in Christ20900:14:25,359 –> 00:14:28,479that comes to you as you walk this path21000:14:28,799 –> 00:14:32,799John chapter 15 and verse 1021100:14:32,799 –> 00:14:34,400if you keep my commandments21200:14:34,400 –> 00:14:36,340you will abide in my love21300:14:36,340 –> 00:14:40,880just as I have kept my Father’s commandments21400:14:40,880 –> 00:14:44,320and abide in his love21500:14:47,440 –> 00:14:51,799Our obedience to God’s commands21600:14:51,799 –> 00:14:58,320is the direct fruit of God’s love21700:14:58,320 –> 00:14:59,479in our lives21800:15:00,320 –> 00:15:04,280We love Him21900:15:04,280 –> 00:15:07,640because He first loved us22000:15:07,640 –> 00:15:10,979And because we love Him22100:15:10,979 –> 00:15:14,659we make it our aim, as the apostle said22200:15:14,659 –> 00:15:16,859to please Him22300:15:16,859 –> 00:15:19,380to keep His Word22400:15:19,380 –> 00:15:22,140because we love Him22500:15:22,140 –> 00:15:24,599because His love has fulfilled its purpose22600:15:24,599 –> 00:15:28,619in our lives22700:15:28,619 –> 00:15:32,780you know, even in the Old Testament22800:15:32,780 –> 00:15:36,539King David did not say22900:15:36,539 –> 00:15:41,299well, I guess if I’m to know God23000:15:41,299 –> 00:15:45,080I need to keep the commandments23100:15:45,080 –> 00:15:48,840King David even in the Old Testament said23200:15:48,840 –> 00:15:54,260O, how I love your law23300:15:54,260 –> 00:15:58,780Lord, your love has so captured my heart23400:15:58,780 –> 00:16:05,340that I have come to love what you love23500:16:06,979 –> 00:16:11,419now, there is a beautiful freedom23600:16:11,419 –> 00:16:14,619in this Christian life23700:16:14,619 –> 00:16:17,599that is lived out of God’s23800:16:17,599 –> 00:16:19,900love being made perfect, complete23900:16:19,900 –> 00:16:23,520accomplishing it’s purpose in us24000:16:23,640 –> 00:16:26,580beautiful freedom24100:16:26,580 –> 00:16:28,640and you know people are talking all24200:16:28,659 –> 00:16:31,799the time about freedom24300:16:31,820 –> 00:16:33,479and it’s worth asking the question24400:16:33,500 –> 00:16:34,739what is freedom?24500:16:34,739 –> 00:16:37,539exactly what is it?24600:16:37,559 –> 00:16:39,520and you know well that some people24700:16:39,539 –> 00:16:42,619have the idea that freedom24800:16:42,640 –> 00:16:44,359is being able to be able to do whatever24900:16:44,380 –> 00:16:47,000you want to do25000:16:47,020 –> 00:16:49,080but here’s the problem with that25100:16:49,080 –> 00:16:50,580and you might find it useful to raise this25200:16:50,580 –> 00:16:52,840in conversations with people who think25300:16:52,900 –> 00:16:54,960that freedom is being able to do25400:16:54,979 –> 00:16:57,400whatever you want to do25500:16:57,400 –> 00:17:00,380in a fallen world25600:17:00,400 –> 00:17:02,940some of the things we want to do25700:17:02,960 –> 00:17:06,300would be very damaging to ourselves25800:17:06,319 –> 00:17:08,540very hurtful to others25900:17:08,560 –> 00:17:12,420and deeply offensive to god26000:17:12,439 –> 00:17:14,479so let me offer to you a better definition26100:17:14,500 –> 00:17:17,380of freedom26200:17:17,400 –> 00:17:22,439freedom is when what you really want26300:17:22,439 –> 00:17:25,420aligns with Gods commands26400:17:25,439 –> 00:17:29,420and you see that is why we read in Psalm One26500:17:29,439 –> 00:17:31,420about a man who is blessed26600:17:31,439 –> 00:17:33,619whose blessed?26700:17:33,640 –> 00:17:36,780the one who delights26800:17:36,800 –> 00:17:39,660in the Law of God26900:17:39,680 –> 00:17:41,599because if you are brought to a place27000:17:41,599 –> 00:17:43,400where what you really27100:17:43,420 –> 00:17:47,300in your heart of hearts, want27200:17:47,319 –> 00:17:48,760aligns perfectly with27300:17:48,780 –> 00:17:51,660what god has commanded you to do27400:17:51,839 –> 00:17:53,119then you’re blessed27500:17:53,140 –> 00:17:55,119then you’re free27600:17:55,140 –> 00:17:58,119you’re not under compulsion at all27700:17:58,140 –> 00:17:59,599its the best thing you can do27800:17:59,660 –> 00:18:01,119is to pursue the deepest desire27900:18:01,140 –> 00:18:02,119of your own heart28000:18:02,619 –> 00:18:05,160and do you see how wonderful this is28100:18:05,180 –> 00:18:07,319that the Lord Jesus Christ28200:18:07,339 –> 00:18:09,160brings us into28300:18:09,180 –> 00:18:11,180this most beautiful freedom28400:18:11,199 –> 00:18:13,880by aligning our hearts28500:18:13,900 –> 00:18:14,920our desires28600:18:14,939 –> 00:18:16,500with Gods word28700:18:16,540 –> 00:18:19,180and when your desire aligns28800:18:19,199 –> 00:18:20,739with what God commands28900:18:20,900 –> 00:18:23,099then you will be wonderfully free29000:18:23,160 –> 00:18:25,579and not only will you be wonderfully free29100:18:25,599 –> 00:18:29,020you will have a growing sense of assurance29200:18:29,040 –> 00:18:31,040you will know that you know God29300:18:32,880 –> 00:18:35,199and you will know29400:18:35,219 –> 00:18:37,219that you are in Christ29500:18:39,060 –> 00:18:42,060so here’s the message today29600:18:42,079 –> 00:18:45,439this is how we know that we know God29700:18:45,459 –> 00:18:48,959this is how we know that we are in Christ29800:18:48,959 –> 00:18:51,260we keep his commands29900:18:51,280 –> 00:18:54,979and we walk as Jesus walked30000:18:54,979 –> 00:18:57,280and the reason we do this is30100:18:57,280 –> 00:18:59,979because God’s love30200:19:00,000 –> 00:19:03,400has conquered our hearts30300:19:03,420 –> 00:19:05,920whoever keep his word30400:19:05,939 –> 00:19:07,439in him truly30500:19:07,459 –> 00:19:09,060the love of God is perfected30600:19:09,079 –> 00:19:10,180it has reached it’s goal30700:19:10,199 –> 00:19:12,199it has accomplished it’s purpose30800:19:14,680 –> 00:19:17,380so how then should we respond30900:19:17,459 –> 00:19:21,140to this message from God’s word today31000:19:21,140 –> 00:19:23,579very simply we should first take in31100:19:23,579 –> 00:19:26,079the love of God for us31200:19:26,079 –> 00:19:28,260in the Lord Jesus Christ31300:19:28,280 –> 00:19:29,479you’re never going to make progress31400:19:29,479 –> 00:19:30,380in the Christian life31500:19:30,380 –> 00:19:32,780apart from taking in the love of God31600:19:32,780 –> 00:19:34,739that’s one of the first things31700:19:34,739 –> 00:19:36,540that we should be doing in worship31800:19:36,540 –> 00:19:38,380that we would take in31900:19:38,380 –> 00:19:39,660the love of God32000:19:39,660 –> 00:19:40,939that’s going to be the driver32100:19:40,939 –> 00:19:44,439of all progress in the Christian life32200:19:44,520 –> 00:19:48,380and John’s letter is absolutely full of it32300:19:48,380 –> 00:19:53,000see what love the father has lavished on us32400:19:53,000 –> 00:19:55,699that we should be called children of God32500:19:55,699 –> 00:19:56,880underline the we32600:19:56,880 –> 00:19:57,920of all people32700:19:57,920 –> 00:20:02,359that we should be called the children of God32800:20:02,359 –> 00:20:04,719and this is love32900:20:04,719 –> 00:20:06,079not that we loved God33000:20:06,079 –> 00:20:08,079but that he loved us33100:20:08,079 –> 00:20:09,880and sent his son33200:20:09,880 –> 00:20:14,439to be the propitiation for our sins33300:20:14,439 –> 00:20:17,479we love John says in this letter33400:20:17,479 –> 00:20:19,079because33500:20:19,079 –> 00:20:21,839he first loved us33600:20:21,839 –> 00:20:26,680take in the love of God for you in Christ33700:20:26,680 –> 00:20:29,079and in the light of that renew33800:20:29,079 –> 00:20:30,780your commitment33900:20:30,780 –> 00:20:33,479to scripture34000:20:33,479 –> 00:20:38,160see it’s very easy for us as Christians to drift34100:20:38,260 –> 00:20:41,839and to just get the idea that somehow we know intuitively34200:20:41,839 –> 00:20:43,560what is pleasing to God34300:20:43,560 –> 00:20:45,459and then to end up presuming34400:20:45,459 –> 00:20:47,459that we are doing what is pleasing to God34500:20:47,459 –> 00:20:49,760and very rarely scanning the Bible34600:20:49,760 –> 00:20:54,459like the captain scanning the sky or the sea34700:20:54,459 –> 00:20:57,459renew your commitment to scripture34800:20:57,459 –> 00:20:58,680the life you’re called to34900:20:58,680 –> 00:21:01,260is not a life of pursuing what you think35000:21:01,260 –> 00:21:04,319or feel God wants35100:21:04,319 –> 00:21:05,579the life you are called to35200:21:05,579 –> 00:21:08,760the life in which Assurance will grow for you35300:21:08,760 –> 00:21:14,599is a life in which you pursue what God says He wants35400:21:14,599 –> 00:21:17,459you’re only going to find that in scripture35500:21:17,459 –> 00:21:20,839you won’t know it intuitively35600:21:20,839 –> 00:21:22,800and then lastly35700:21:22,800 –> 00:21:27,640renew your commitment to obedience35800:21:27,640 –> 00:21:29,939that’s the very clear message35900:21:29,939 –> 00:21:32,140that John lays before us36000:21:32,140 –> 00:21:33,640there are other things to be said36100:21:33,640 –> 00:21:38,920but this he says to us here in these verses today36200:21:38,920 –> 00:21:43,939as you renew your commitment to obedience36300:21:43,939 –> 00:21:45,180you will come increasingly36400:21:45,180 –> 00:21:47,959to know that you know God36500:21:47,959 –> 00:21:49,199you will grow in assurance36600:21:49,199 –> 00:21:52,359that you really are in Christ36700:21:52,359 –> 00:21:54,400and as you do this36800:21:54,400 –> 00:21:56,260God’s wonderful love will indeed36900:21:56,260 –> 00:22:01,300fulfill its purpose in you37000:22:01,300 –> 00:22:03,939A message of hope and encouragement today37100:22:03,939 –> 00:22:04,959entitled37200:22:04,959 –> 00:22:08,180assurance grows as you obey God’s commands37300:22:08,180 –> 00:22:09,520It’s part of our series37400:22:09,520 –> 00:22:10,619How can I be sure37500:22:10,619 –> 00:22:13,500all about having assurance of salvation37600:22:13,500 –> 00:22:15,160And if you’ve missed any of the series37700:22:15,180 –> 00:22:17,479or if you want to go back and listen again37800:22:17,479 –> 00:22:20,119you can do that by coming online to our website37900:22:20,119 –> 00:22:22,780www.openthebible.org.UK38000:22:22,780 –> 00:22:25,560or find Pastor Colin as a podcast38100:22:25,560 –> 00:22:27,459on all the main podcast sites38200:22:27,459 –> 00:22:29,699search for openthebible.org.UK38300:22:29,699 –> 00:22:32,219or follow the link from our website38400:22:32,219 –> 00:22:33,719While you’re on our website38500:22:33,719 –> 00:22:36,579don’t forget to check out Open The Bible Daily38600:22:36,579 –> 00:22:38,219That’s a series of short38700:22:38,219 –> 00:22:40,540two to three-minute daily reflections38800:22:40,540 –> 00:22:42,479based on Pastor Colin’s teaching38900:22:42,479 –> 00:22:45,119and read in the UK by Sue McLeish39000:22:45,119 –> 00:22:46,719There’s a new one every day39100:22:46,719 –> 00:22:48,979and many Christians find it’s a great way39200:22:48,979 –> 00:22:50,520to start the day39300:22:50,520 –> 00:22:53,739That’s Open The Bible Daily39400:22:53,739 –> 00:22:55,800Open The Bible is supported by our listeners39500:22:55,800 –> 00:22:57,420and if you’re thinking about doing that39600:22:57,420 –> 00:22:59,140for the first time this month39700:22:59,219 –> 00:23:02,380we would like to offer you something in return39800:23:02,380 –> 00:23:04,819If you’re able to set up a new direct debit39900:23:04,819 –> 00:23:07,079of £5 per month or more40000:23:07,079 –> 00:23:10,040or a one-off gift of £50 pounds or more40100:23:10,040 –> 00:23:12,920We’ll send you a copy of Pastor Colin Smith’s book40200:23:12,920 –> 00:23:15,640The Ten Greatest Struggles of Your Life40300:23:15,640 –> 00:23:18,099Finding Freedom In God’s Commands40400:23:18,099 –> 00:23:22,219Along with five beautiful psalm 23 note cards40500:23:22,219 –> 00:23:25,439Colin, this is a book about the Ten Commandments40600:23:25,439 –> 00:23:27,959Can you share something which really encouraged you40700:23:28,579 –> 00:23:30,979when you studied these familiar commands?40800:23:30,979 –> 00:23:33,579I think the big aha moment for me40900:23:33,579 –> 00:23:35,260in studying the Ten Commandments41000:23:35,260 –> 00:23:38,859was the realisation that God actually speaks directly41100:23:38,859 –> 00:23:42,439to the greatest struggles of our lives41200:23:42,439 –> 00:23:44,780That makes sense41300:23:44,780 –> 00:23:47,040Every parent knows you don’t have to give a command41400:23:47,040 –> 00:23:49,199to your children to say eat your dessert41500:23:49,199 –> 00:23:51,719What you do have to say is eat your vegetables41600:23:51,719 –> 00:23:54,000because that’s the thing that they struggle with41700:23:54,000 –> 00:23:56,459They are not immediately inclined to do41800:23:57,140 –> 00:23:59,300You just went out and did interviews41900:23:59,319 –> 00:24:00,979with people in the street42000:24:00,979 –> 00:24:03,160What are the greatest struggles of your life?42100:24:03,160 –> 00:24:05,099I think you’d find people talking about42200:24:05,099 –> 00:24:07,640struggles to have peace, struggles to have purity42300:24:07,640 –> 00:24:10,859struggles to have contentment struggles with time42400:24:10,859 –> 00:24:12,400struggles with money and so forth42500:24:12,400 –> 00:24:14,400and guess what?42600:24:14,400 –> 00:24:17,119All of these are directly addressed in the Ten Commandments42700:24:17,119 –> 00:24:18,239Because God knows us42800:24:18,239 –> 00:24:19,280He made us42900:24:19,280 –> 00:24:21,040He knows what we’re made of43000:24:21,040 –> 00:24:23,800and He speaks therefore directly43100:24:24,020 –> 00:24:27,199to the issues that are right front and center of our lives43200:24:27,199 –> 00:24:29,479That just opened up the Ten Commandments43300:24:29,479 –> 00:24:31,140in an entirely new way43400:24:31,140 –> 00:24:34,060The Ten Commandments are so far from being43500:24:34,060 –> 00:24:35,219a relic of the past43600:24:35,219 –> 00:24:38,599They speak right into the very center of our lives today43700:24:38,640 –> 00:24:41,339So that’s our gift to you this month of September43800:24:41,339 –> 00:24:44,000if you were able to set up a new direct debit43900:24:44,000 –> 00:24:46,000of five pounds, per month or more44000:24:46,000 –> 00:24:48,160or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or more44100:24:48,160 –> 00:24:50,160to the work of Open The Bible44200:24:50,160 –> 00:24:53,060Full terms and conditions on our website44300:24:53,239 –> 00:24:56,140that’s at openthebible.org.uk44400:24:56,140 –> 00:24:58,140and you can give online44500:24:58,140 –> 00:25:00,140If you’d like us to send you this gift44600:25:00,140 –> 00:25:01,680please don’t give anonymously44700:25:01,680 –> 00:25:03,680and remember to include your address44800:25:03,680 –> 00:25:05,680so that we can send you your gift44900:25:05,780 –> 00:25:08,339For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith45000:25:08,339 –> 00:25:09,479I’m David Pick45100:25:09,479 –> 00:25:11,479And I hope you’ll join us again next time45200:25:11,479 –> 00:25:13,479on Open The Bible45300:25:13,479 –> 00:25:23,140Assurance of faith grows when you have the right ingredients45400:25:23,140 –> 00:25:25,239And John gives us a check list45500:25:25,479 –> 00:25:27,479Find out what’s on that list45600:25:27,479 –> 00:25:29,479next time on Open The Bible
