1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,760 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:06,760 –> 00:00:16,500 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website openthebible.org. 3 00:00:16,500 –> 00:00:17,719 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,719 –> 00:00:19,360 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,360 –> 00:00:24,760 Well good morning everyone and Merry Christmas to you all. 6 00:00:24,820 –> 00:00:30,920 Would you open your Bible please at 1st Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. 7 00:00:30,920 –> 00:00:35,919 We are looking for the fourth and last time at this marvelous description of the Lord 8 00:00:35,919 –> 00:00:40,480 Jesus Christ who was born on that first Christmas morning. 9 00:00:40,480 –> 00:00:45,360 1st Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16 we read these words, 10 00:00:45,360 –> 00:00:50,540 Great indeed we confess is the mystery of godliness, 11 00:00:50,540 –> 00:00:53,639 He was manifested in the flesh, 12 00:00:53,639 –> 00:00:55,840 vindicated by the Spirit, 13 00:00:55,840 –> 00:00:58,160 seen by angels, 14 00:00:58,160 –> 00:01:00,380 proclaimed among the nations, 15 00:01:00,380 –> 00:01:02,680 believed on in the world, 16 00:01:02,680 –> 00:01:06,500 taken up in glory. 17 00:01:06,500 –> 00:01:10,699 Now this verse very obviously is about godliness. 18 00:01:10,699 –> 00:01:13,580 God made you for himself 19 00:01:13,580 –> 00:01:16,699 and to be Godly very simply as we saw means 20 00:01:16,699 –> 00:01:20,379 to be God’s man or to be God’s woman. 21 00:01:20,379 –> 00:01:22,940 Godliness in other words is the life for which 22 00:01:22,940 –> 00:01:26,540 God made you and the life to which God calls you 23 00:01:26,540 –> 00:01:28,440 and here we’re told in this verse 24 00:01:28,440 –> 00:01:32,260 that how we become Godly is a mystery 25 00:01:32,260 –> 00:01:34,820 and we saw that in the Bible that word mystery 26 00:01:34,820 –> 00:01:38,160 means a secret that God has revealed 27 00:01:38,160 –> 00:01:42,040 though its full wonder is still to be made known 28 00:01:42,040 –> 00:01:43,860 and what God has revealed 29 00:01:43,860 –> 00:01:46,419 is that godliness, the life for which you were made, 30 00:01:46,419 –> 00:01:47,540 the life to which you are called, 31 00:01:47,720 –> 00:01:51,279 is possible through Jesus Christ. 32 00:01:51,279 –> 00:01:54,300 Great is the mystery of godliness. 33 00:01:54,300 –> 00:01:58,680 He was manifested in the flesh 34 00:01:58,680 –> 00:02:00,900 and vindicated by the spirit 35 00:02:00,900 –> 00:02:03,639 and so we have these six marvelous statements 36 00:02:03,639 –> 00:02:05,260 about the Lord Jesus Christ. 37 00:02:05,260 –> 00:02:07,660 He is the mystery of godliness. 38 00:02:07,660 –> 00:02:09,940 He is the secret that God has revealed 39 00:02:09,940 –> 00:02:12,220 though its full wonder is still to be made known 40 00:02:12,220 –> 00:02:14,300 of how you can come to live the life 41 00:02:14,779 –> 00:02:18,460 of which God made you the life to which God calls you. 42 00:02:18,460 –> 00:02:21,940 We’re told here that he was seen by angels. 43 00:02:21,940 –> 00:02:22,800 We saw last time 44 00:02:22,800 –> 00:02:25,139 that angels are messengers. 45 00:02:25,139 –> 00:02:28,580 They announced the meaning of the baby in the manger 46 00:02:28,580 –> 00:02:32,559 and they announced the meaning of the empty tomb. 47 00:02:32,559 –> 00:02:35,199 In other words they announced the incarnation 48 00:02:35,199 –> 00:02:38,080 and they announced the resurrection. 49 00:02:38,080 –> 00:02:43,059 The one who was born in the manger is Christ the Lord. 50 00:02:43,059 –> 00:02:47,259 The one who lay in the tomb is risen from the dead 51 00:02:47,259 –> 00:02:50,100 and is alive for evermore. 52 00:02:51,100 –> 00:02:54,059 Therefore we saw that Christian faith 53 00:02:54,059 –> 00:02:59,059 is not a matter of personal opinion or interpretation. 54 00:02:59,839 –> 00:03:04,839 Christian faith is not based on personal feelings 55 00:03:05,080 –> 00:03:08,660 or impulses, or even experiences. 56 00:03:08,660 –> 00:03:11,059 Christian faith at it’s heart 57 00:03:11,059 –> 00:03:15,580 is believing what God has revealed regarding Jesus. 58 00:03:15,580 –> 00:03:19,259 Which is, that he was manifested in the flesh 59 00:03:19,259 –> 00:03:23,139 and that he was vindicated by the Spirit. 60 00:03:23,139 –> 00:03:26,740 And this good news revealed by God concerning Jesus 61 00:03:26,740 –> 00:03:29,679 seen by angels and announced by them 62 00:03:29,679 –> 00:03:32,660 was proclaimed among the nations by the apostles 63 00:03:32,660 –> 00:03:35,779 and of course this is still our calling today. 64 00:03:35,779 –> 00:03:39,380 You can say to any person, at any time, 65 00:03:39,380 –> 00:03:42,839 any culture, any place, you can say 66 00:03:42,839 –> 00:03:45,580 there is a life for which God made you, 67 00:03:46,460 –> 00:03:49,699 there is a life to which God calls you 68 00:03:49,699 –> 00:03:52,559 and that life which is a life of godliness, 69 00:03:52,559 –> 00:03:56,020 to be God’s man, God’s woman is made possible for you 70 00:03:56,020 –> 00:03:58,399 in and through Jesus Christ. 71 00:03:58,399 –> 00:04:02,759 Great is the mystery of godliness. 72 00:04:02,759 –> 00:04:06,320 Now today we’re going to look at how this life 73 00:04:06,320 –> 00:04:09,259 for which God made you and to which God calls you, 74 00:04:09,360 –> 00:04:12,160 how this life can be yours. 75 00:04:12,160 –> 00:04:13,660 And it’s in the last lines 76 00:04:13,660 –> 00:04:16,640 of this marvelous statement about Jesus 77 00:04:16,640 –> 00:04:20,040 that he was believed on in the world 78 00:04:20,040 –> 00:04:23,739 and taken up into glory. 79 00:04:23,739 –> 00:04:27,880 I want today that we should see clearly 80 00:04:27,880 –> 00:04:32,880 what believing means and where believing leads. 81 00:04:34,920 –> 00:04:38,040 Let’s start here, what believing means. 82 00:04:38,059 –> 00:04:43,059 He was believed on in the world. 83 00:04:45,459 –> 00:04:48,200 Now, the Bible says a very great deal 84 00:04:48,200 –> 00:04:53,200 about believing for God so loved the world 85 00:04:54,559 –> 00:04:58,220 that he gave his one and only Son 86 00:04:59,399 –> 00:05:04,399 that whoever believes in him should not perish 87 00:05:05,320 –> 00:05:08,540 but have everlasting life. 88 00:05:09,540 –> 00:05:14,359 So, everlasting life can be yours by believing, 89 00:05:16,959 –> 00:05:18,140 by believing. 90 00:05:19,160 –> 00:05:22,019 In the Bible we also read these marvelous words, 91 00:05:22,019 –> 00:05:27,019 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. 92 00:05:28,779 –> 00:05:33,760 So, not only is everlasting life yours by believing 93 00:05:33,799 –> 00:05:38,799 but to be saved from the final judgment of Almighty God, 94 00:05:39,359 –> 00:05:41,779 that also is yours by believing. 95 00:05:41,779 –> 00:05:43,980 So, to know what is meant by believing 96 00:05:43,980 –> 00:05:46,700 is therefore of supreme importance 97 00:05:46,700 –> 00:05:49,160 and that is what is before us today. 98 00:05:50,059 –> 00:05:52,959 I want to suggest to you from these verses 99 00:05:52,959 –> 00:05:55,700 that believing in the Lord Jesus Christ 100 00:05:55,700 –> 00:05:59,440 involves three steps and I hope that each and every one 101 00:05:59,440 –> 00:06:02,880 of us in this service today will take these steps 102 00:06:02,880 –> 00:06:07,179 and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 103 00:06:08,239 –> 00:06:13,079 Number one, believing means that you confess 104 00:06:13,079 –> 00:06:15,880 what God has revealed about Jesus. 105 00:06:15,880 –> 00:06:18,720 That’s the first step if you like, in believing, 106 00:06:18,720 –> 00:06:23,720 that you confess what God has revealed about Jesus. 107 00:06:23,799 –> 00:06:28,720 Great indeed, we confess is the mystery of godliness. 108 00:06:28,720 –> 00:06:30,799 He was manifested in the flesh 109 00:06:30,839 –> 00:06:32,959 and vindicated by the spirit. 110 00:06:32,959 –> 00:06:36,279 These words are a confession of faith. 111 00:06:36,279 –> 00:06:38,040 That is what it is to believe. 112 00:06:38,040 –> 00:06:42,559 It is to confess what God has revealed concerning Jesus. 113 00:06:42,559 –> 00:06:44,399 We confess the mystery. 114 00:06:44,399 –> 00:06:47,320 That is we confess the secret that God has revealed, 115 00:06:47,320 –> 00:06:49,760 though its full wonder is still to be made known. 116 00:06:49,760 –> 00:06:51,920 And what has God revealed regarding Jesus? 117 00:06:51,920 –> 00:06:54,000 He was manifested in the flesh. 118 00:06:54,000 –> 00:06:57,200 He was vindicated by the spirit. 119 00:06:57,200 –> 00:07:01,279 So very simply, to believe in Jesus 120 00:07:01,279 –> 00:07:06,279 means that you confess what God has revealed about him. 121 00:07:06,899 –> 00:07:11,899 Yes, I believe that God became Man in Jesus Christ, 122 00:07:14,760 –> 00:07:19,760 that the Baby who lay in the manger is God with us. 123 00:07:21,000 –> 00:07:23,880 That he is indeed Lord of all 124 00:07:23,880 –> 00:07:28,820 and therefore by definition must be Lord of me. 125 00:07:30,000 –> 00:07:34,760 Yes, I believe that he lived that perfect life 126 00:07:34,760 –> 00:07:36,459 that no one else has ever lived 127 00:07:36,459 –> 00:07:39,820 and that he laid that perfect life down 128 00:07:39,820 –> 00:07:43,959 as a sacrifice for my sins. 129 00:07:43,959 –> 00:07:46,320 I believe that he rose from the dead 130 00:07:46,320 –> 00:07:48,440 and he ascended into Heaven 131 00:07:48,440 –> 00:07:51,579 and I believe that one day he will come again 132 00:07:51,579 –> 00:07:53,820 in power and in glory. 133 00:07:54,760 –> 00:07:57,059 Now the Bible says very clearly, 134 00:07:57,059 –> 00:07:59,559 if you confess with your mouth 135 00:07:59,559 –> 00:08:01,679 that Jesus is Lord 136 00:08:01,679 –> 00:08:03,220 and believe in your heart 137 00:08:03,220 –> 00:08:05,720 that God raised him from the dead 138 00:08:05,720 –> 00:08:07,040 you will be saved. 139 00:08:07,040 –> 00:08:08,140 Notice the connection, 140 00:08:08,140 –> 00:08:09,660 you confess with your mouth, 141 00:08:09,660 –> 00:08:10,959 you believe in your heart. 142 00:08:10,959 –> 00:08:14,000 Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. 143 00:08:14,000 –> 00:08:16,380 Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead 144 00:08:16,380 –> 00:08:17,239 you will be saved. 145 00:08:17,239 –> 00:08:18,480 You notice the connection 146 00:08:18,480 –> 00:08:20,079 between confessing and believing 147 00:08:20,079 –> 00:08:22,700 because in the first instance 148 00:08:22,700 –> 00:08:25,739 believing is a matter of confessing 149 00:08:25,739 –> 00:08:29,220 what God has revealed about Jesus. 150 00:08:29,220 –> 00:08:31,260 So I want to ask you very simply this morning 151 00:08:31,260 –> 00:08:34,520 are you ready to take the first step in believing? 152 00:08:35,479 –> 00:08:39,380 I confess what God has revealed about Jesus. 153 00:08:39,380 –> 00:08:41,400 That he was manifested in the flesh, 154 00:08:41,400 –> 00:08:43,940 vindicated by the spirit. 155 00:08:43,940 –> 00:08:46,140 That Jesus is the sovereign Lord 156 00:08:46,140 –> 00:08:49,039 and the Saviour who was born into the world, 157 00:08:49,039 –> 00:08:53,059 died on the cross and rose again from the dead. 158 00:08:53,059 –> 00:08:55,479 Believing means that you confess 159 00:08:55,479 –> 00:09:00,159 what God has revealed about Jesus. 160 00:09:00,159 –> 00:09:05,159 Second, believing means that you stop trusting 161 00:09:06,960 –> 00:09:10,619 in your own attempts to be godly. 162 00:09:11,479 –> 00:09:16,479 Now remember godliness is the life for which God made you 163 00:09:16,820 –> 00:09:19,260 and it is the life to which God calls you. 164 00:09:20,460 –> 00:09:24,960 But what does this godly life look like? 165 00:09:24,960 –> 00:09:29,000 Well, God lays it out in the ten commandments 166 00:09:29,000 –> 00:09:30,500 and here’s the first of them. 167 00:09:31,479 –> 00:09:36,479 You shall have no other gods before me. 168 00:09:38,719 –> 00:09:41,820 Now you see that’s the essence of godliness isn’t it? 169 00:09:41,820 –> 00:09:45,039 To be godly is to be God’s man. 170 00:09:45,059 –> 00:09:50,059 It is to be God’s woman, God made you for himself. 171 00:09:50,460 –> 00:09:54,919 To be godly means that you are wholly devoted to him. 172 00:09:55,820 –> 00:09:59,340 Or as Jesus put it, that you love the Lord your God 173 00:09:59,340 –> 00:10:04,219 with all your heart, with all your soul, 174 00:10:04,219 –> 00:10:09,200 with all your mind, and with all your strength. 175 00:10:09,840 –> 00:10:14,840 Now here’s how you get to believing in Jesus. 176 00:10:16,059 –> 00:10:20,679 You take an honest look at your own life 177 00:10:20,679 –> 00:10:24,700 in the light of the life for which God made you 178 00:10:24,700 –> 00:10:27,359 and the life to which he calls you. 179 00:10:27,359 –> 00:10:30,820 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, 180 00:10:30,820 –> 00:10:33,739 with all your soul, with all your mind, 181 00:10:33,739 –> 00:10:36,580 and with all your strength. 182 00:10:37,359 –> 00:10:40,099 And when you take an honest look at your own life 183 00:10:40,099 –> 00:10:42,400 in the light of the life to which God calls you, 184 00:10:42,400 –> 00:10:44,179 you will come to this conclusion. 185 00:10:45,340 –> 00:10:48,559 I am nowhere close to being Godly! 186 00:10:50,359 –> 00:10:52,059 I haven’t even done the first thing 187 00:10:52,059 –> 00:10:53,940 that God calls me to do! 188 00:10:55,140 –> 00:10:59,260 My life is stretched out between competing loves. 189 00:11:00,880 –> 00:11:03,799 I love myself too much. 190 00:11:03,940 –> 00:11:08,219 I love this world too much. 191 00:11:08,219 –> 00:11:11,280 I love this life too much. 192 00:11:13,020 –> 00:11:18,020 And when you become convinced that you are not Godly, 193 00:11:20,020 –> 00:11:22,739 you will say, well, this is no use. 194 00:11:23,780 –> 00:11:26,559 I cannot continue to put confidence 195 00:11:26,559 –> 00:11:30,340 in my own feeble attempts to live a Godly life 196 00:11:30,340 –> 00:11:32,760 because these attempts at their best 197 00:11:33,080 –> 00:11:36,619 fall pitifully short of the life for which God made me 198 00:11:36,619 –> 00:11:38,539 and the life to which God calls me. 199 00:11:40,479 –> 00:11:43,119 That’s how you will come to believe in Jesus. 200 00:11:43,119 –> 00:11:44,919 You won’t put your trust in Jesus 201 00:11:44,919 –> 00:11:47,400 until you’ve given up trusting in yourself. 202 00:11:49,599 –> 00:11:51,280 Now all over the world, friends, 203 00:11:51,280 –> 00:11:53,640 people are pursuing different paths 204 00:11:53,640 –> 00:11:56,500 in an attempt to be godly. 205 00:11:56,500 –> 00:12:00,159 Each of the world’s religions offers a different path. 206 00:12:00,380 –> 00:12:02,780 They all tell you what you must do. 207 00:12:03,940 –> 00:12:05,760 There are rights to be observed, 208 00:12:05,760 –> 00:12:07,599 there are pilgrimages to be made, 209 00:12:07,599 –> 00:12:09,460 there are sacrifices to be offered, 210 00:12:09,460 –> 00:12:11,940 there are evils to be opposed. 211 00:12:12,820 –> 00:12:17,380 The Gospel says something completely different. 212 00:12:17,380 –> 00:12:19,979 What God says to us in scripture is, 213 00:12:19,979 –> 00:12:21,500 you’re not godly. 214 00:12:22,440 –> 00:12:23,940 And what’s more, 215 00:12:23,940 –> 00:12:27,739 you don’t have it in you to become godly. 216 00:12:28,599 –> 00:12:31,960 And that, of course, goes against the grain 217 00:12:31,960 –> 00:12:34,739 of all that we are taught in our culture. 218 00:12:34,739 –> 00:12:36,559 Our culture is always saying to us, 219 00:12:36,559 –> 00:12:38,960 now you’re a good person, 220 00:12:38,960 –> 00:12:42,780 and you can do whatever you set your mind to do. 221 00:12:42,780 –> 00:12:44,979 And we like that message, so we believe it, 222 00:12:44,979 –> 00:12:48,000 and we say yes, no, I have integrity. 223 00:12:48,000 –> 00:12:49,799 I tell the truth. 224 00:12:49,799 –> 00:12:51,219 I’m a good person. 225 00:12:52,739 –> 00:12:57,179 And, you know, the more ethical you are, 226 00:12:58,219 –> 00:13:02,380 the harder it is to believe that you are not godly. 227 00:13:03,900 –> 00:13:08,059 But if you confess that Jesus really is God with us, 228 00:13:08,960 –> 00:13:11,440 manifested in the flesh and vindicated by the spirit, 229 00:13:11,440 –> 00:13:14,159 at some point you are going to say to yourself, 230 00:13:14,159 –> 00:13:18,739 if you confess that Jesus is who He says He is, 231 00:13:18,739 –> 00:13:20,320 if I confess Jesus, 232 00:13:21,679 –> 00:13:25,179 I can no longer hold onto a view of myself 233 00:13:25,219 –> 00:13:29,159 that is a direct contradiction to why He came into the world. 234 00:13:31,059 –> 00:13:32,960 You shall call His name Jesus, 235 00:13:32,960 –> 00:13:36,239 for He shall save His people from their sins. 236 00:13:39,520 –> 00:13:40,919 So here’s my question, 237 00:13:42,039 –> 00:13:45,940 if you confess what God has revealed about Jesus, 238 00:13:45,940 –> 00:13:47,080 that’s the first step, 239 00:13:48,340 –> 00:13:52,380 are you ready today to take the second step, 240 00:13:52,380 –> 00:13:55,059 which is to stop trusting 241 00:13:55,059 –> 00:13:57,880 your own attempts to be godly? 242 00:13:59,039 –> 00:14:01,059 And I will tell you, when you stop trusting 243 00:14:01,059 –> 00:14:01,960 what’s not working, 244 00:14:01,960 –> 00:14:04,080 you will know the most enormous relief. 245 00:14:05,340 –> 00:14:06,820 Believing means, first, 246 00:14:06,820 –> 00:14:09,179 that you confess what God has revealed about Jesus, 247 00:14:09,179 –> 00:14:11,719 second, that you stop trusting 248 00:14:11,719 –> 00:14:13,960 your own attempts to be godly. 249 00:14:14,820 –> 00:14:16,979 And you say, where do you go from there? 250 00:14:16,979 –> 00:14:19,119 What are you going to put in the place 251 00:14:19,119 –> 00:14:20,299 of trusting in yourself? 252 00:14:20,299 –> 00:14:23,659 That’s the third step in what it means to believe. 253 00:14:23,659 –> 00:14:28,659 Believing means that you trust Jesus for godliness 254 00:14:28,859 –> 00:14:30,580 and isn’t that the whole point of this verse? 255 00:14:30,580 –> 00:14:32,979 Great indeed we confess, 256 00:14:32,979 –> 00:14:35,000 is the mystery of godliness, 257 00:14:35,000 –> 00:14:36,380 the secret that God has revealed 258 00:14:36,380 –> 00:14:39,239 of how you can become the person God calls you to be, 259 00:14:39,239 –> 00:14:40,859 and the answer is it’s in Jesus. 260 00:14:40,859 –> 00:14:43,219 He was manifested in the flesh 261 00:14:43,219 –> 00:14:48,099 and vindicated by the Spirit. 262 00:14:48,099 –> 00:14:50,539 When you believe, 263 00:14:50,599 –> 00:14:55,520 Jesus becomes yours and you become his. 264 00:14:57,799 –> 00:15:02,799 Faith unites you to Jesus Christ 265 00:15:02,840 –> 00:15:07,320 so that when he is yours, 266 00:15:07,320 –> 00:15:12,320 all that is in him becomes yours as well. 267 00:15:13,820 –> 00:15:16,640 Now let me try and illustrate that in this way. 268 00:15:16,640 –> 00:15:20,520 Something very, very wonderful 269 00:15:21,059 –> 00:15:24,140 happened in Britain this year. 270 00:15:25,340 –> 00:15:30,340 An American became a member of the Royal Family. 271 00:15:31,119 –> 00:15:34,760 I tell you, I felt like the two halves of my whole life 272 00:15:34,760 –> 00:15:36,859 were being brought together 273 00:15:36,859 –> 00:15:40,000 on this marvelous occasion when Meghan Markle 274 00:15:40,000 –> 00:15:44,659 married Prince Harry on a perfect summer’s day 275 00:15:44,659 –> 00:15:49,659 watched by a staggering 1.9 billion people around the world. 276 00:15:51,460 –> 00:15:55,099 Now think about this, 277 00:15:56,059 –> 00:15:59,780 Harry is royal by birth, 278 00:16:00,960 –> 00:16:05,239 Meghan is royal by marriage. 279 00:16:05,239 –> 00:16:08,239 His royalty is his own. 280 00:16:09,239 –> 00:16:13,380 Her royalty is in him 281 00:16:13,380 –> 00:16:15,280 and through him 282 00:16:15,280 –> 00:16:19,080 and by virtue of her union with him. 283 00:16:19,719 –> 00:16:23,580 Meghan would not be royal without Harry. 284 00:16:24,479 –> 00:16:27,960 But when she became one with him 285 00:16:27,960 –> 00:16:32,619 what was true of him became true of her. 286 00:16:34,479 –> 00:16:36,159 Now, we’re looking at the question, 287 00:16:36,159 –> 00:16:38,679 how can you be godly? 288 00:16:38,679 –> 00:16:40,559 The answer is Jesus Christ 289 00:16:40,559 –> 00:16:44,799 and Jesus Christ alone is godly in himself. 290 00:16:45,559 –> 00:16:50,559 We become godly in him, through him 291 00:16:51,760 –> 00:16:55,340 and by virtue of union with him. 292 00:16:55,340 –> 00:16:59,900 You would not and could not be godly without Jesus 293 00:16:59,900 –> 00:17:02,219 but when you become one with him 294 00:17:02,219 –> 00:17:07,219 what is true of him becomes true of you as well. 295 00:17:08,280 –> 00:17:09,560 So here’s my question. 296 00:17:10,579 –> 00:17:14,579 If you confess what God has revealed about Jesus 297 00:17:14,640 –> 00:17:18,339 and if in the light of that you have stopped trusting 298 00:17:18,339 –> 00:17:21,380 in your own attempts to be godly 299 00:17:21,380 –> 00:17:24,520 are you ready then to take the third step 300 00:17:24,520 –> 00:17:28,859 of believing today which is to trust Jesus 301 00:17:28,859 –> 00:17:31,359 for what you do not have and to find in him 302 00:17:31,359 –> 00:17:34,400 the godliness that is in him alone. 303 00:17:35,300 –> 00:17:38,339 Actually this analogy of marriage 304 00:17:38,339 –> 00:17:40,699 that the bible uses many many times 305 00:17:40,699 –> 00:17:44,900 to help us understand union with the Lord Jesus Christ 306 00:17:44,900 –> 00:17:47,239 it is such a helpful picture. 307 00:17:47,239 –> 00:17:50,260 Every marriage involves consent. 308 00:17:51,140 –> 00:17:54,540 Will you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? 309 00:17:54,540 –> 00:17:56,140 I will, will you take this woman 310 00:17:56,140 –> 00:17:58,099 to be your lawful wedded wife? 311 00:17:58,099 –> 00:18:00,939 I will involves consent. 312 00:18:02,140 –> 00:18:03,920 May put it to you this way, 313 00:18:03,920 –> 00:18:06,060 that by coming into the world 314 00:18:07,060 –> 00:18:08,599 living that perfect life 315 00:18:08,599 –> 00:18:11,079 and then by going to that cross 316 00:18:11,079 –> 00:18:13,979 where he laid down his life for us 317 00:18:13,979 –> 00:18:16,180 Jesus was consenting 318 00:18:17,500 –> 00:18:21,060 to be your savior and to be your Lord 319 00:18:21,060 –> 00:18:23,760 and to be made one with you. 320 00:18:25,000 –> 00:18:27,979 And when you believe you are consenting 321 00:18:27,979 –> 00:18:31,260 to be made one with him, to be in him 322 00:18:31,260 –> 00:18:34,140 so that that which is true of him alone 323 00:18:34,660 –> 00:18:36,459 becomes true of you in him 324 00:18:36,459 –> 00:18:40,459 by virtue of your union with him. 325 00:18:41,540 –> 00:18:44,859 Here’s what believing means. 326 00:18:44,859 –> 00:18:47,060 It means that you confess 327 00:18:47,060 –> 00:18:50,020 what God has revealed about Jesus. 328 00:18:50,020 –> 00:18:51,560 It means that in the light of that 329 00:18:51,560 –> 00:18:54,439 you stop trusting your own attempts to be godly 330 00:18:54,439 –> 00:18:56,160 and in the light of that 331 00:18:56,160 –> 00:19:01,040 you start trusting Jesus for godliness. 332 00:19:01,719 –> 00:19:05,280 That’s what believing means. 333 00:19:05,280 –> 00:19:07,160 And one more thing more briefly today, 334 00:19:07,160 –> 00:19:10,459 I want you to see from this marvelous verse 335 00:19:10,459 –> 00:19:14,739 where believing leads. 336 00:19:14,739 –> 00:19:17,020 Look at it. 337 00:19:17,020 –> 00:19:22,020 He was taken up in glory. 338 00:19:23,119 –> 00:19:25,300 Now we read from the book of Acts 339 00:19:25,300 –> 00:19:27,319 how 40 days after the resurrection 340 00:19:27,319 –> 00:19:30,119 Jesus ascended into heaven. 341 00:19:30,180 –> 00:19:32,599 We read these words from Acts chapter one and verse nine, 342 00:19:32,599 –> 00:19:36,939 he was lifted up 343 00:19:36,939 –> 00:19:40,359 and a cloud took him out of their sight. 344 00:19:40,359 –> 00:19:42,900 And here we’re reading in 1 Timothy in chapter three 345 00:19:42,900 –> 00:19:45,319 that Jesus who was manifested in the flesh, 346 00:19:45,319 –> 00:19:46,859 born in that manger, 347 00:19:46,859 –> 00:19:49,900 Jesus who rose from the dead, 348 00:19:49,900 –> 00:19:54,280 he was taken up in glory. 349 00:19:55,339 –> 00:19:57,699 And you say what does that mean for us today? 350 00:19:58,680 –> 00:20:03,079 Well, listen to what Jesus says to his disciples, 351 00:20:03,079 –> 00:20:05,280 because those who believe 352 00:20:05,280 –> 00:20:09,060 will one day also, like Jesus be taken up. 353 00:20:09,060 –> 00:20:10,699 Jesus said this, 354 00:20:10,699 –> 00:20:13,640 “‘Let not your heart be troubled. 355 00:20:13,640 –> 00:20:16,520 Believe in God, 356 00:20:16,520 –> 00:20:20,219 believe also in me.’ 357 00:20:21,199 –> 00:20:23,699 Then to those who believe, he says this, 358 00:20:23,819 –> 00:20:28,420 Now I am going to prepare a place for you. 359 00:20:28,420 –> 00:20:29,260 Then he says this, 360 00:20:29,260 –> 00:20:31,699 “‘I will come again 361 00:20:31,699 –> 00:20:36,300 and I will take you to be with myself 362 00:20:36,300 –> 00:20:40,280 that where I am,’ that’s in glory, 363 00:20:40,280 –> 00:20:44,040 “‘you may be also.’” 364 00:20:44,040 –> 00:20:47,979 Christ was taken up in glory. 365 00:20:49,500 –> 00:20:53,660 And if you believe by union with Jesus Christ, 366 00:20:54,000 –> 00:20:58,579 what happened to him will one day happen to you. 367 00:20:58,579 –> 00:21:00,839 You will be taken up in glory. 368 00:21:00,839 –> 00:21:03,540 He says, I will take you to myself 369 00:21:03,540 –> 00:21:07,739 that where I am you also will be. 370 00:21:07,739 –> 00:21:09,959 And this is the ultimate purpose 371 00:21:09,959 –> 00:21:13,180 for which Jesus Christ came into the world. 372 00:21:13,180 –> 00:21:14,939 Just before he went to the cross, 373 00:21:14,939 –> 00:21:16,859 he declared it. 374 00:21:16,859 –> 00:21:18,719 Father, he says, 375 00:21:18,719 –> 00:21:21,079 I desire that they also, 376 00:21:21,079 –> 00:21:23,920 whom you have given me may be with me 377 00:21:23,920 –> 00:21:28,219 where I am to see my glory. 378 00:21:28,219 –> 00:21:30,680 Jesus says, I’m going to the cross for this reason, 379 00:21:30,680 –> 00:21:32,459 I want them to be with me 380 00:21:32,459 –> 00:21:34,760 and I want them to see my glory. 381 00:21:37,199 –> 00:21:40,160 Think of what that means to you, 382 00:21:41,839 –> 00:21:44,900 that what happened to Jesus manifested in the flesh 383 00:21:44,900 –> 00:21:46,579 now taken up into glory. 384 00:21:48,560 –> 00:21:50,040 One day that’s gonna happen to you 385 00:21:50,040 –> 00:21:51,199 if you believe in him, 386 00:21:51,199 –> 00:21:53,040 that’s the promise that’s being given here. 387 00:21:53,040 –> 00:21:55,640 What believing means where believing leads, 388 00:21:58,319 –> 00:22:02,319 he was manifested in the flesh. 389 00:22:04,880 –> 00:22:09,420 That means that nails being driven 390 00:22:09,420 –> 00:22:13,920 through his hands felt exactly as it would feel to you 391 00:22:13,920 –> 00:22:15,920 if a nail was driven through your hand, 392 00:22:18,099 –> 00:22:19,859 he was manifested in the flesh. 393 00:22:20,660 –> 00:22:24,680 So he knew in the flesh what it was 394 00:22:24,680 –> 00:22:27,199 to be weary, as you do 395 00:22:29,199 –> 00:22:33,660 and he knew what it was to suffer, as you do, 396 00:22:36,319 –> 00:22:41,160 but now, he is taken up in glory 397 00:22:42,500 –> 00:22:46,800 and he has a resurrection body that cannot suffer. 398 00:22:46,800 –> 00:22:48,500 It will never tire 399 00:22:48,500 –> 00:22:51,040 and it will never age and one day, 400 00:22:51,040 –> 00:22:53,640 that resurrection body will be yours 401 00:22:53,640 –> 00:22:55,819 if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 402 00:22:57,900 –> 00:23:00,040 He was manifested in the flesh. 403 00:23:01,599 –> 00:23:06,599 That means also that he knew great grief and sorrow, 404 00:23:07,939 –> 00:23:11,140 that burdens were carried in his own soul 405 00:23:11,140 –> 00:23:14,140 and weighed upon his mind and his heart 406 00:23:15,180 –> 00:23:17,339 as you experience that, too. 407 00:23:18,280 –> 00:23:21,239 He was even known as the man of sorrows, 408 00:23:21,239 –> 00:23:23,040 but he’s not the man of sorrows now. 409 00:23:24,400 –> 00:23:27,560 No, now he is taken up in glory 410 00:23:28,739 –> 00:23:30,479 where there is no sorrow 411 00:23:31,680 –> 00:23:34,199 and when you are with him, 412 00:23:34,199 –> 00:23:38,260 he will wipe every tear away from your eyes. 413 00:23:40,119 –> 00:23:43,579 Jesus was manifested in the flesh 414 00:23:44,180 –> 00:23:47,140 and he came into the world to be our sin bearer 415 00:23:48,459 –> 00:23:50,359 and when he carried our sins, 416 00:23:50,359 –> 00:23:54,140 he was plunged into the deepest darkness 417 00:23:54,140 –> 00:23:56,420 in which he cried out, 418 00:23:56,420 –> 00:24:01,420 my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 419 00:24:03,099 –> 00:24:05,780 And you know what it is to ask why? 420 00:24:07,239 –> 00:24:08,420 And you know what it is 421 00:24:08,420 –> 00:24:11,040 to find yourself in great darkness 422 00:24:11,079 –> 00:24:13,640 and to wonder and perhaps even to fear, 423 00:24:13,640 –> 00:24:16,540 has God actually left me, 424 00:24:18,359 –> 00:24:20,319 but Jesus is not in darkness now, 425 00:24:21,699 –> 00:24:25,040 no, he is taken up in glory 426 00:24:25,040 –> 00:24:28,119 and he says to all who believe, 427 00:24:28,119 –> 00:24:30,599 one day you will be with me 428 00:24:30,599 –> 00:24:33,280 and see my glory and brother, sister, 429 00:24:33,280 –> 00:24:35,479 when you see his glory, 430 00:24:35,479 –> 00:24:38,239 you will no longer be asking why. 431 00:24:38,699 –> 00:24:42,959 Jesus was manifested in the flesh 432 00:24:45,280 –> 00:24:46,579 and he took our human flesh 433 00:24:46,579 –> 00:24:48,640 because he was going to the cross 434 00:24:48,640 –> 00:24:50,400 and he died, 435 00:24:52,800 –> 00:24:56,119 they laid his body in a tomb, 436 00:24:57,880 –> 00:24:59,359 but he’s not in the tomb now. 437 00:25:00,699 –> 00:25:03,040 He has taken up into glory 438 00:25:03,040 –> 00:25:06,359 where death no longer has power over him, 439 00:25:06,540 –> 00:25:09,319 for he lives in the power of an endless life 440 00:25:09,319 –> 00:25:11,780 and if you believe in him, 441 00:25:11,780 –> 00:25:14,459 that endless life will be yours also. 442 00:25:16,420 –> 00:25:21,420 Great indeed we confess is the mystery of godliness. 443 00:25:22,739 –> 00:25:25,439 He was manifested in the flesh, 444 00:25:25,439 –> 00:25:28,760 he was vindicated by the Spirit, 445 00:25:28,760 –> 00:25:33,199 angels announced his incarnation and his resurrection, 446 00:25:33,199 –> 00:25:37,099 apostles proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ 447 00:25:37,099 –> 00:25:37,939 to the nations. 448 00:25:37,939 –> 00:25:38,760 Why? 449 00:25:38,760 –> 00:25:43,760 So that by believing the godliness that is in him 450 00:25:43,900 –> 00:25:46,900 and in him alone, might become yours. 451 00:25:46,900 –> 00:25:48,780 So that you might begin to pursue 452 00:25:48,780 –> 00:25:50,219 the life for which God made you 453 00:25:50,219 –> 00:25:52,020 and the life to which God calls you 454 00:25:52,020 –> 00:25:55,500 and that when he comes or calls for you, 455 00:25:56,739 –> 00:26:01,739 you will be taken up in glory. 456 00:26:04,079 –> 00:26:05,680 Let’s pray together. 457 00:26:07,300 –> 00:26:11,560 Father, we bless you today 458 00:26:11,560 –> 00:26:15,859 that when godliness was not found in us, 459 00:26:15,859 –> 00:26:19,680 Christ came so that we might find it in him. 460 00:26:21,500 –> 00:26:26,500 Thank you that he was manifested in the flesh, 461 00:26:26,660 –> 00:26:29,339 vindicated by the Spirit, 462 00:26:29,339 –> 00:26:33,339 seen by angels proclaimed among the nations. 463 00:26:34,800 –> 00:26:38,839 Grant today that we may believe in him, 464 00:26:41,319 –> 00:26:44,579 that, by his grace, we too may one day 465 00:26:44,579 –> 00:26:47,400 be taken up in glory 466 00:26:48,560 –> 00:26:52,099 through Jesus Christ our Lord 467 00:26:52,099 –> 00:26:53,920 to whom be all praise and glory. 468 00:26:53,920 –> 00:26:57,540 And God’s people who believe together said, amen. 469 00:27:00,339 –> 00:27:02,140 You’ve been listening to a sermon 470 00:27:02,140 –> 00:27:04,500 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 471 00:27:04,500 –> 00:27:08,500 To contact us, call us at 1-877-open-365 472 00:27:09,780 –> 00:27:13,339 or visit our website, OpenTheBible.org.