100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:14,300Christ was taken up in glory and if you believe, by union with Jesus Christ what happened to200:00:14,300 –> 00:00:22,080Him will one day happen to you. You will be taken up in glory. He says, I will take you300:00:22,080 –> 00:00:27,320to myself that where I am you also will be.400:00:27,360 –> 00:00:31,200Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pig. Glad you could be500:00:31,240 –> 00:00:36,099with us today and Colin, today we’re going to spend some time reflecting on who Jesus600:00:36,099 –> 00:00:42,320is, through the Book of 1 Timothy in chapter 3 verse 16. And Colin, the Bible speaks there700:00:42,320 –> 00:00:49,880of Jesus being manifested in the flesh, vindicated by Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among800:00:49,880 –> 00:00:56,080the nations, and believed on in the world and then taken up in glory. And it’s particularly900:00:56,099 –> 00:00:59,099taken up in glory that we’re going to be looking at today.1000:00:59,099 –> 00:01:05,739Isn’t it a marvellous verse? It really takes us to the heart of all that we celebrate about1100:01:05,739 –> 00:01:10,480what God has done for us in the Lord Jesus Christ. It starts off with this Mystery of1200:01:10,480 –> 00:01:17,059Godliness, what a marvellous statement that is. How can I live a godly life? That’s the1300:01:17,059 –> 00:01:21,540question, that’s the mystery. How can I become the person that God is calling me to be?1400:01:22,059 –> 00:01:27,699And the answer is in the next word – He, Christ. Christ in you, is the hope of glory.1500:01:27,699 –> 00:01:33,220How has that come about? Well, he was manifested in the flesh. There’s Christmas in a single1600:01:33,220 –> 00:01:42,120statement that the Son of God took our flesh. God wants you to know him. And so he has made1700:01:42,120 –> 00:01:47,959himself known to you in Jesus Christ. Not only was he manifested in the flesh, he’s1800:01:48,580 –> 00:01:53,500vindicated in the Spirit. That’s a reference to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ1900:01:53,500 –> 00:01:57,800– He layed down his life. Then it was proved he really is the Son of2000:01:57,800 –> 00:02:05,300God, proved beyond all shadow of a doubt – because He was raised from the dead. He is and always2100:02:05,300 –> 00:02:09,679will be God’s only Son – our Saviour, our Lord.2200:02:09,679 –> 00:02:14,000He was seen by angels. That, of course, is right at the heart of the Christmas story2300:02:14,160 –> 00:02:19,460and the heart of the resurrection, when the angels announced he’s not here, he’s risen.2400:02:19,460 –> 00:02:23,139He’s been proclaimed among the nations, and believed on in the world – that’s2500:02:23,139 –> 00:02:27,179our task, and it’s our privilege. I mean, even today in this programme, to say that2600:02:27,179 –> 00:02:33,279Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he’s the Saviour of the world. Put your trust in Him,2700:02:33,279 –> 00:02:36,639believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.2800:02:36,639 –> 00:02:41,460And what comes at the end of that is this wonderful phrase – taken up into glory.2900:02:41,699 –> 00:02:45,419Now, of course, that’s what happened at the end of Jesus’ earthly life.3000:02:47,899 –> 00:02:53,479Well, guess what? We too are going to ascend. We who belong to him are going to also be3100:02:53,479 –> 00:02:59,559taken up into glory. So I just love this verse, it really takes us to the heart of Christmas.3200:02:59,559 –> 00:03:06,080And it’s a wonderful verse, just to savour together what God has done for us in the Lord3300:03:06,080 –> 00:03:07,199Jesus Christ.3400:03:07,220 –> 00:03:13,220So we’re going to spend some time looking at this verse in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse3500:03:13,220 –> 00:03:20,61916, and also into Acts chapter 1 and verses 6-11, as we continue our message, Believed3600:03:20,619 –> 00:03:22,899and Glorified. Here’s Colin.3700:03:22,899 –> 00:03:31,139Godliness is the life for which God made you, and it is the life to which God calls you.3800:03:31,160 –> 00:03:39,740But what does this Godly life look like? Well, God lays it out in the Ten Commandments, and3900:03:39,740 –> 00:03:42,380here’s the first of them.4000:03:42,380 –> 00:03:49,539You shall have no other gods before me.4100:03:49,539 –> 00:03:55,759Now you say, that’s the essence of godliness, isn’t it? To be godly is to be God’s man,4200:03:55,759 –> 00:04:03,559it is to be God’s woman, God made you for himself. To be godly means that you are wholly4300:04:03,559 –> 00:04:13,080devoted to Him, or as Jesus put it, that you love the Lord your God with all your heart,4400:04:13,080 –> 00:04:21,079all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.4500:04:21,799 –> 00:04:32,000Now here’s how you get to believing in Jesus. You take an honest look at your own life in4600:04:32,000 –> 00:04:38,920the light of the life for which God made you and the life to which He calls you. Love the4700:04:38,920 –> 00:04:45,000Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all4800:04:45,640 –> 00:04:52,279strength. And when you take an honest look at your own life in the light of the life to which God4900:04:52,279 –> 00:05:01,279calls you, you will come to this conclusion. I am nowhere close to being godly. I haven’t5000:05:01,279 –> 00:05:08,640even done the first thing that God calls me to do. My life is stretched out between competing5100:05:09,119 –> 00:05:16,119loves. I love myself too much. I love this world too much. I love this life too much.5200:05:23,779 –> 00:05:30,779And when you become convinced that you are not godly, you will say, well this is no use,5300:05:30,779 –> 00:05:38,299you will say, well this is no use. I cannot continue to put confidence in my own feeble5400:05:38,299 –> 00:05:45,519attempts to live a godly life, because these attempts at their best fall pitifully short5500:05:45,519 –> 00:05:51,500of the life for which God made me and the life to which God calls me. That s how you5600:05:51,500 –> 00:05:56,299will come to believe in Jesus. You won t put your trust in Jesus until you ve given up5700:05:57,239 –> 00:06:02,140yourself! Now, all over the world, friends, people5800:06:02,140 –> 00:06:08,579are pursuing different paths in an attempt to be godly. Each of the worlds religions5900:06:08,579 –> 00:06:16,279offers a different path. They all tell you what you must do. There are rights to be observed.6000:06:16,279 –> 00:06:20,940There are pilgrimages to be made. There are sacrifices to be offered. There are evils6100:06:21,040 –> 00:06:29,679to be opposed. The gospel says something completely different. What God says to us in Scripture6200:06:29,679 –> 00:06:39,899is You’re not godly. And what’s more, You don’t have it in You to become godly.6300:06:39,899 –> 00:06:45,339And that, of course, goes against the grain of all that we are taught in our culture.6400:06:45,339 –> 00:06:51,100Our culture is always saying to us, Now you’re a good person. And you can do whatever you6500:06:51,100 –> 00:06:58,500set your mind to do. And we like that message. So we believe it, and we say yes. I have integrity,6600:06:58,500 –> 00:07:10,059I tell the truth. I’m a good person. And you know, the more ethical you are, the6700:07:10,059 –> 00:07:18,859more likely to believe that you are not godly. But, if you confess that Jesus really is God6800:07:18,859 –> 00:07:22,980with us, manifested in the flesh and vindicated by the spirit, At some point you’re going6900:07:22,980 –> 00:07:33,980to say, if you confess that Jesus is who he says he is. If I confess Jesus, I can no longer7000:07:33,980 –> 00:07:40,000hold onto a view of myself that is a direct contradiction to why he came into the world.7100:07:40,100 –> 00:07:48,320You shall call his name Jesus, for He shall save his people from their sins.7200:07:49,820 –> 00:07:58,140So here’s my question. If you confess what God has revealed about Jesus, that’s the first step.7300:07:58,459 –> 00:08:05,940Are you ready today to take the second step which is to stop trusting your7400:08:06,140 –> 00:08:12,000attempts to be godly? And I will tell you, when you stop trusting what’s not7500:08:12,000 –> 00:08:17,600working, you will know the most enormous relief. Believing means, first, that you7600:08:17,600 –> 00:08:21,640confess what God has revealed about Jesus. Second, that you stop trusting7700:08:21,640 –> 00:08:27,040your own attempts to be godly. You say where do you go from there?7800:08:27,040 –> 00:08:30,779What are you going to put in the place of trusting in yourself?7900:08:30,779 –> 00:08:35,520That’s the third step in what it means to believe. Believing means that you8000:08:35,559 –> 00:08:40,960trust Jesus for godliness. And isn’t that the whole point of this verse?8100:08:40,960 –> 00:08:46,239Great, indeed, we confess. Is the mystery of godliness. The secret that God has8200:08:46,239 –> 00:08:50,119revealed of how you can become the person God calls you to be. And the8300:08:50,119 –> 00:08:54,400answer is in Jesus. He was manifested in the flesh and8400:08:54,400 –> 00:09:04,960vindicated by the Spirit. When you believe, Jesus becomes yours, and you8500:09:04,960 –> 00:09:17,440become His. Faith unites you to Jesus Christ, so that when He is yours, all8600:09:17,440 –> 00:09:25,919that is in Him becomes yours as well. Now let me try and illustrate that in this8700:09:25,919 –> 00:09:30,960way. Something very, very, wonderful8800:09:31,200 –> 00:09:39,799happened in Britain this year. An American became a member of the royal8900:09:39,799 –> 00:09:45,559family. I tell you I felt like the two halves of my whole life were being9000:09:45,559 –> 00:09:50,919brought together on this marvellous occasion when Meghan Markle married9100:09:50,919 –> 00:10:00,000Prince Harry on a perfect Summer’s day watched by a staggering 1.9 billion9200:10:00,119 –> 00:10:03,080people around the world.9300:10:04,239 –> 00:10:14,619Now think about this. Harry is royal by birth. Meghan is royal by marriage.9400:10:15,979 –> 00:10:18,780His royalty is his own.9500:10:19,780 –> 00:10:29,119Her royalty is in him and through him and by virtue of her union with him.9600:10:30,020 –> 00:10:34,500Meghan would not be royal without Harry.9700:10:34,919 –> 00:10:43,159But when she became one with him, what was true of him became true of her.9800:10:44,820 –> 00:10:48,359Now we’re looking at the question, how can you be godly?9900:10:48,659 –> 00:10:55,119The answer is Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone, is godly in himself.10000:10:56,080 –> 00:11:05,119We become godly in him, through him, and by virtue of union with him.10100:11:05,460 –> 00:11:17,419You would not and could not be godly without Jesus, but when you become one with him what is true of him becomes true of you as well.10200:11:18,400 –> 00:11:20,400So here’s my question10300:11:20,599 –> 00:11:24,859If you confess what God has revealed about Jesus10400:11:25,140 –> 00:11:31,299And if in the light of that you have stopped trusting in your own attempts to be godly10500:11:31,299 –> 00:11:36,940Are you ready then to take the third step of believing today10600:11:37,080 –> 00:11:45,320Which is to trust Jesus for what you do not have and to find in him the godliness that is in him alone10700:11:45,599 –> 00:11:53,059Actually this analogy of marriage that the Bible uses many many times to help us understand10800:11:53,059 –> 00:11:55,099Union with the Lord Jesus Christ10900:11:55,099 –> 00:11:57,500It is such a helpful picture11000:11:57,679 –> 00:12:01,559Every marriage involves consent11100:12:01,559 –> 00:12:05,559Will you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? I will11200:12:05,559 –> 00:12:09,580Will you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? I will11300:12:09,700 –> 00:12:11,539Involves consent11400:12:12,239 –> 00:12:14,239Let me put it to you this way11500:12:14,500 –> 00:12:16,900That by coming into the world11600:12:17,679 –> 00:12:21,559Living that perfect life and then by going to that cross11700:12:21,719 –> 00:12:24,599Where he laid down his life for us11800:12:24,599 –> 00:12:27,219Jesus was consenting11900:12:28,140 –> 00:12:34,440To be your Savior and to be your Lord and to be made one with you12000:12:35,599 –> 00:12:40,739And when you believe you are consenting to be made one with him12100:12:41,640 –> 00:12:49,559So that that which is true of him alone becomes true of you in him by virtue of your union with12200:12:49,979 –> 00:12:51,820him12300:12:51,820 –> 00:12:57,900You’re listening to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith and a message called believed and glorified12400:12:58,500 –> 00:13:00,419part of our series simply called12500:13:00,419 –> 00:13:05,340Jesus if you’ve missed any of the series so far or if you’d like to go back and listen again12600:13:05,340 –> 00:13:09,440You can do that by coming online to our website open the Bible org12700:13:09,719 –> 00:13:15,940Dot-uk there you’ll find all the messages which have already gone out on air if you enjoy listening to podcasts12800:13:15,940 –> 00:13:17,020You might find that12900:13:17,020 –> 00:13:22,380That’s a better way to keep up with Pastor Colin’s teaching they’re available on all the major podcast sites13000:13:22,380 –> 00:13:28,679And you can find them by searching for open the Bible UK or by following the link from our website13100:13:28,679 –> 00:13:32,739Which again is at open the Bible dot org dot UK?13200:13:33,299 –> 00:13:37,080Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners and this month13300:13:37,080 –> 00:13:42,119We have an offer if you’re considering setting up a new direct debit to the work of open the Bible13400:13:42,500 –> 00:13:46,059I’ll be talking to Pastor Colin a bit more about this later on in the program13500:13:46,520 –> 00:13:48,640So I hope you’ll stay with us for that13600:13:49,140 –> 00:13:54,039Again, we’re in one Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16 and also in the Acts of the Apostles13700:13:54,700 –> 00:13:59,460Chapter 1 and verses 6 to 11 back to the message now, Here’s Colin13800:14:00,039 –> 00:14:02,520Here’s what believing means13900:14:03,239 –> 00:14:05,239It means that you confess14000:14:05,479 –> 00:14:07,619What God has revealed about Jesus?14100:14:08,380 –> 00:14:15,539It means that in the light of that you stop trusting your own attempts to be godly and in the light of that you start14200:14:15,859 –> 00:14:17,859trusting Jesus for14300:14:18,500 –> 00:14:20,500godliness14400:14:20,840 –> 00:14:22,840That’s what believing means and14500:14:23,820 –> 00:14:29,419One more thing more briefly today. I want you to see from this marvelous verse where14600:14:30,059 –> 00:14:32,059believing leads14700:14:33,159 –> 00:14:35,159Look at it14800:14:35,359 –> 00:14:38,539He was taken up in glory14900:14:41,599 –> 00:14:47,640Now we read from the book of Acts have 40 days after the resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven15000:14:48,500 –> 00:14:51,900we read these words from act chapter 1 in verse 9 he was15100:14:53,200 –> 00:14:55,200lifted up and15200:14:55,479 –> 00:14:58,359a cloud took him out of their sight and15300:14:58,719 –> 00:15:05,260And here we are reading in first timothy in chapter 3 that Jesus who was manifested in the flesh born in that manger15400:15:05,479 –> 00:15:07,700Jesus who rose from the dead15500:15:08,320 –> 00:15:10,619He was taken up in15600:15:12,020 –> 00:15:13,599glory15700:15:13,599 –> 00:15:15,799And they said what does that mean for us today?15800:15:17,080 –> 00:15:20,059Well, listen to what Jesus says to his disciples15900:15:21,619 –> 00:15:23,619Because those who believe16000:15:23,659 –> 00:15:26,700Will one day also like Jesus be taken up16100:15:27,679 –> 00:15:31,219Jesus said this let not your hearts be troubled16200:15:32,479 –> 00:15:34,479believe in God16300:15:35,400 –> 00:15:37,400believe also in16400:15:37,900 –> 00:15:39,619me16500:15:39,619 –> 00:15:45,960Then to those who believe he says this now. I am going to prepare a place for you16600:15:46,780 –> 00:15:48,900Then he says this I will come again16700:15:49,700 –> 00:15:50,599and16800:15:50,599 –> 00:15:54,080I will take you to be with myself16900:15:54,659 –> 00:15:56,659That where I am17000:15:56,739 –> 00:15:58,739That’s in glory17100:15:58,900 –> 00:16:00,900You may be also17200:16:02,659 –> 00:16:06,780Christ was taken up in glory and17300:16:08,179 –> 00:16:10,179if you believe17400:16:10,700 –> 00:16:16,219By union with Jesus Christ what happened to him will one day happen to you17500:16:17,000 –> 00:16:19,359You will be taken up in glory17600:16:19,359 –> 00:16:25,219He says I will take you to myself that where I am. You also will be17700:16:25,380 –> 00:16:26,460And17800:16:26,460 –> 00:16:30,700This is the ultimate purpose for which Jesus Christ came into the world17900:16:31,700 –> 00:16:34,820Just before he went to the cross, he declared it18000:16:35,500 –> 00:16:43,299Father he says I desire that they also whom you have given me may be with me where I am18100:16:44,380 –> 00:16:46,380To see my glory18200:16:46,719 –> 00:16:53,039Jesus says I’m going to the cross for this reason. I want them to be with me and I want them to see my glory18300:16:53,479 –> 00:16:55,500Glory18400:16:55,599 –> 00:16:58,460Think of what that means for you18500:17:00,140 –> 00:17:04,760That what happens to Jesus manifested in the flesh now taken up into glory18600:17:06,939 –> 00:17:13,599One day that’s gonna happen to you if you believe in him, that’s the promise that’s being given here what believing means we’re believing leads18700:17:16,760 –> 00:17:20,020He was manifested in the flesh18800:17:23,359 –> 00:17:25,359That means18900:17:26,160 –> 00:17:30,180That nails being driven through his hands felt exactly19000:17:30,819 –> 00:17:34,380As it would feel to you if a nail was driven through your hand19100:17:36,479 –> 00:17:38,479He was manifested in the flesh19200:17:40,400 –> 00:17:45,760So he knew in the flesh what it was to be weary as you do19300:17:47,199 –> 00:17:52,160And he knew what it was to suffer as you do19400:17:53,920 –> 00:17:55,920but now19500:17:56,640 –> 00:17:59,680He is taken up in glory19600:18:01,199 –> 00:18:04,719And he has a resurrection body that cannot suffer19700:18:05,439 –> 00:18:12,000It will never tire and it will never age and one day that resurrection body will be yours19800:18:12,239 –> 00:18:14,239If you believe in the lord, jesus christ19900:18:16,479 –> 00:18:18,479He was manifested in the flesh20000:18:19,359 –> 00:18:25,199…that means also that he knew great grief and sorrow20100:18:26,560 –> 00:18:32,319That burdens were carried in his own soul and weighed upon his mind and his heart20200:18:33,760 –> 00:18:35,760As you experience that too20300:18:37,040 –> 00:18:41,599He was even known as the man of sorrows, but he’s not the man of sorrows now20400:18:43,119 –> 00:18:46,000No, now he is taken up in glory20500:18:46,000 –> 00:18:48,959Dimly, where there is no sorrow20600:18:50,319 –> 00:18:56,959And when you are with him, he will wipe every tear away from your eyes20700:18:58,880 –> 00:19:01,359Jesus was manifested in the flesh20800:19:02,959 –> 00:19:05,920And he came into the world to be our sin bearer20900:19:07,040 –> 00:19:12,099And when he carried our sins he was plunged into the deepest darkness21000:19:12,819 –> 00:19:17,060In which he cried out, my God my God21100:19:17,060 –> 00:19:19,780Why have you forsaken me?21200:19:21,699 –> 00:19:23,939And you know what it is to ask why21300:19:25,859 –> 00:19:29,619And you know what it is to find yourself in great darkness21400:19:29,619 –> 00:19:32,339And to wonder, and perhaps even to fear21500:19:32,339 –> 00:19:35,859Has God actually left me?21600:19:36,900 –> 00:19:38,819But Jesus is not in darkness now21700:19:38,979 –> 00:19:42,739No, He has taken up in glory21800:19:43,699 –> 00:19:46,020And He says to all who believe21900:19:46,819 –> 00:19:50,819One day you will be with me and see my glory22000:19:50,819 –> 00:19:54,099And brother, sister, when you see His glory22100:19:54,099 –> 00:19:56,500You will no longer be asking why22200:19:56,500 –> 00:20:01,300Jesus was manifested in the flesh22300:20:03,859 –> 00:20:06,099He took our human flesh because He was22400:20:06,099 –> 00:20:08,739going to the cross and He died22500:20:09,219 –> 00:20:14,500They laid His body in a tomb22600:20:16,420 –> 00:20:17,780But He’s not in the tomb now22700:20:19,300 –> 00:20:21,699He is taken up into glory22800:20:21,699 –> 00:20:24,979Where death no longer has power over Him22900:20:24,979 –> 00:20:28,020He lives in the power of an endless life23000:20:28,020 –> 00:20:30,500And if you believe in Him23100:20:30,500 –> 00:20:32,900That endless life will be yours also23200:20:33,380 –> 00:20:40,500Great, indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness23300:20:41,540 –> 00:20:44,099He was manifested in the flesh23400:20:44,099 –> 00:20:46,579He was vindicated by The Spirit23500:20:47,540 –> 00:20:51,859Angels announced His incarnation and His resurrection23600:20:51,859 –> 00:20:56,579Apostles proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ to the nations23700:20:56,579 –> 00:20:57,459Why?23800:20:57,459 –> 00:21:04,500So that by believing the godliness that is in Him, and in Him alone might become yours23900:21:05,540 –> 00:21:08,819So that you might begin to pursue the life for which God made you24000:21:08,819 –> 00:21:10,660and the life to which God calls you24100:21:10,660 –> 00:21:13,859and that when He comes or calls for you24200:21:15,459 –> 00:21:21,380you will be taken up in glory24300:21:22,579 –> 00:21:25,619You’ve been listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith24400:21:25,619 –> 00:21:28,420and a message called Believed and Glorified24500:21:29,219 –> 00:21:32,260It’s part of our series simply entitled Jesus24600:21:32,260 –> 00:21:35,699And if you’ve missed any of the series or if you want to go back and listen again24700:21:36,260 –> 00:21:39,219you can do that by coming online to our website24800:21:39,219 –> 00:21:41,619openthem Bible.org.uk24900:21:41,619 –> 00:21:46,020There you’ll find all the broadcasts that have already gone out on air25000:21:46,020 –> 00:21:49,459You can also find us on every major podcast site25100:21:49,459 –> 00:21:52,819You can do that by searching for Open the Bible UK25200:21:52,819 –> 00:21:55,380or by following a link from our website25300:21:56,500 –> 00:22:01,060Also on the website, and available as a podcast is Open The Bible Daily25400:22:01,060 –> 00:22:04,420And that’s a series of two to three minute reflections25500:22:04,420 –> 00:22:08,339with a new one every day based on Pastor Colin’s teaching25600:22:08,339 –> 00:22:10,739and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish25700:22:10,739 –> 00:22:13,780Many Christians tell us that it’s a great way to start the day25800:22:15,060 –> 00:22:18,260At Open the Bible we welcome contact with our listeners25900:22:18,260 –> 00:22:21,380If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching26000:22:21,380 –> 00:22:23,219and you’d like to reach out to us26100:22:23,219 –> 00:22:25,140there are several ways you can do that26200:22:25,140 –> 00:22:34,819You can write to us at Open the Bible PO Box 1420 Cheltenham GL 50 9PG26300:22:34,819 –> 00:22:42,819Or you can phone us on 0330 335 808926400:22:42,819 –> 00:22:45,140If we’re not available when you call26500:22:45,140 –> 00:22:47,859Leave a message for us and we’ll return your call26600:22:47,859 –> 00:22:50,180And you can find all those contact details26700:22:50,180 –> 00:22:52,339On our website OpenTheBible.org.uk26800:22:52,339 –> 00:22:57,540Open the Bible is able to stay on this station26900:22:57,540 –> 00:23:00,180And on our website and as a podcast27000:23:00,180 –> 00:23:02,900Because of the generous gifts of our listeners27100:23:02,900 –> 00:23:05,939So thank you if you already give to support our work27200:23:06,660 –> 00:23:10,099If you’re thinking about beginning to support us in that way in the future27300:23:10,660 –> 00:23:13,540And you’re able to set up a new direct debit27400:23:13,540 –> 00:23:16,739In the amount of 5 pounds per month or more27500:23:16,739 –> 00:23:19,699Or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more27600:23:19,699 –> 00:23:24,260We’d love to say thank you by sending you three copies of the Gospel of John27700:23:24,260 –> 00:23:26,180To give away to your family and friends27800:23:26,180 –> 00:23:28,020And perhaps to read with them27900:23:28,020 –> 00:23:32,099Colin what’s behind the idea of offering a Book of the Bible?28000:23:32,099 –> 00:23:36,099Well i’m assuming that the vast number of people listening to us right now28100:23:36,099 –> 00:23:38,500Already have a copy of the Bible28200:23:38,500 –> 00:23:41,780But you know you have someone in your life28300:23:41,780 –> 00:23:43,859Who needs to know the God of the Bible28400:23:43,859 –> 00:23:47,140And probably has read very little of the Word of God28500:23:47,699 –> 00:23:49,060And if that’s the case28600:23:49,060 –> 00:23:51,459The best place for them to start28700:23:51,459 –> 00:23:53,699May be the Gospel of John28800:23:53,699 –> 00:23:55,699Why shouldn’t you be the person28900:23:55,699 –> 00:23:58,099To give a copy of John’s Gospel29000:23:58,099 –> 00:24:00,180To someone you know and love29100:24:00,180 –> 00:24:02,260Who needs to know the God of the Bible29200:24:02,260 –> 00:24:06,020And that’s why we’re offering not one but three copies of John’s Gospel29300:24:06,020 –> 00:24:07,300Here’s the challenge29400:24:07,300 –> 00:24:10,739Can you think and pray over this season29500:24:10,739 –> 00:24:14,420About who in your life needs to know the God of the Bible29600:24:14,420 –> 00:24:17,780And then ask that God would open an opportunity29700:24:17,780 –> 00:24:20,660For you to give them a copy of John’s Gospel29800:24:20,660 –> 00:24:22,660And offer to read it with them29900:24:23,219 –> 00:24:27,219If you can open up a conversation around the Word of God30000:24:27,219 –> 00:24:32,180Well then you’re getting the living seed into a person’s life30100:24:32,180 –> 00:24:35,780And when the living seed of the Word of God gets into a person’s life30200:24:35,780 –> 00:24:38,819You’ve got hope of seeing something very wonderful happening30300:24:38,819 –> 00:24:42,099Well, we want to help you to get that living word of God30400:24:42,099 –> 00:24:46,099Into your life and into the lives of those you come into contact with30500:24:46,099 –> 00:24:47,939Your family and friends30600:24:47,939 –> 00:24:50,819Full details of this offer are on our website30700:24:50,819 –> 00:24:53,619openthebible.org.uk30800:24:53,619 –> 00:24:55,619And that you can also give online30900:24:56,260 –> 00:24:58,579For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith31000:24:58,579 –> 00:24:59,540I’m David Pick31100:24:59,540 –> 00:25:02,079And I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time31200:25:08,699 –> 00:25:10,500The apostle John called himself31300:25:10,500 –> 00:25:13,219The disciple whom Jesus loved31400:25:13,219 –> 00:25:16,579Find out what he had to say about the birth of Christ31500:25:16,579 –> 00:25:18,339next time on Open the Bible