100:00:00,980 –> 00:00:10,900In our culture especially we are surrounded by a form of faith that is200:00:10,900 –> 00:00:17,879unrecognisably different from what is laid out for us in the scriptures300:00:17,879 –> 00:00:21,600welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick, I’m glad400:00:21,600 –> 00:00:25,639you’ve been able to join us today and Colin can you explain that what is this500:00:25,639 –> 00:00:29,000faith that is so different to what we find in the scriptures ?600:00:29,120 –> 00:00:29,940oh while I think that700:00:29,940 –> 00:00:34,700very commonly nowadays the understanding of faith is that it’s a kind of ascent800:00:34,700 –> 00:00:38,799to certain beliefs, a sort of signing off on certain doctrines oh yes I believe900:00:38,799 –> 00:00:43,360but in the New Testament faith is the bond of a living union with Jesus Christ1000:00:43,360 –> 00:00:48,880that in its very nature involves a turning to him and a following after1100:00:48,880 –> 00:00:53,759him that’s an entirely different thing. I mean even the devils are in the1200:00:53,759 –> 00:00:57,200position of knowing that there’s a God and that Jesus rose from the dead they1300:00:57,599 –> 00:01:01,040The fact that people believe that the thing is that they have not submitted to Jesus Christ as Lord.1400:01:01,040 –> 00:01:04,639So we’ve got to get to what the Bible means by faith there’s no such thing as a1500:01:04,639 –> 00:01:08,559faith that doesn’t change you and the fact that so often people of the idea1600:01:08,559 –> 00:01:12,639that you can just have a faith that leaves you the same indicates that1700:01:12,639 –> 00:01:16,059we’ve lost touch with the reality of what the Bible means by faith.1800:01:16,059 –> 00:01:20,160So when the Bible says we need to have this living faith that we don’t just believe1900:01:20,160 –> 00:01:24,279that there is a God and that Jesus existed but rather we’re making him the2000:01:24,279 –> 00:01:25,500Lord of our life?2100:01:25,519 –> 00:01:29,019That’s right and the primary phrase that the New Testament has for this is2200:01:29,019 –> 00:01:34,019to be in Christ, that’s what faith does it puts you in Christ or to put it2300:01:34,019 –> 00:01:37,699another way puts Christ in you by the Holy Spirit that’s2400:01:37,699 –> 00:01:42,879life changing in its very nature and that’s what we’re going to get after today.2500:01:42,940 –> 00:01:47,459So join us today if you can in Matthew chapter five as we begin a2600:01:47,459 –> 00:01:51,500message blessed are those who mourn. Here is Pastor Colin.2700:01:51,800 –> 00:01:54,019Everywhere through this series we’re going2800:01:54,019 –> 00:02:01,059to discover paths into the enjoyment of God, the riches of his blessing and2900:02:02,239 –> 00:02:08,820the Son of God here is saying to us let me speak to you about this and we began3000:02:08,820 –> 00:02:13,720last time in verse 3 where Jesus makes this astonishing statement where does3100:02:13,720 –> 00:02:19,899blessing begin and he says blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the3200:02:19,960 –> 00:02:23,899kingdom of heaven we saw last time that Christians are people who know they’re3300:02:23,899 –> 00:02:28,720on poverty they look to Jesus for what they do not have and they know that in3400:02:28,720 –> 00:02:33,979Him they have everything that they need aren’t you glad that the first beatitude3500:02:33,979 –> 00:02:39,300is blessed are the poor in spirit I can get there I am there I know what it3600:02:39,300 –> 00:02:45,500is to be there I’m so thankful that the first beatitude is not blessed are the3700:02:45,979 –> 00:02:51,619in heart if blessing begins with being pure in heart that’s not the place where3800:02:51,619 –> 00:02:58,300we can begin but if blessing begins in knowing that I do not have what it takes3900:02:58,300 –> 00:03:02,580when it comes before God that’s a place where I can get on the first ring as4000:03:02,580 –> 00:03:06,820we’ve been using that analogy of swinging from one ring to another4100:03:06,820 –> 00:03:11,779through these wonderful truths that Jesus gives to us here Spurgeon has a4200:03:11,779 –> 00:03:16,520different analogy from the rings but I think it’s very helpful he says this if4300:03:16,520 –> 00:03:23,520a ladder is to be useful it’s first rung must be near the ground isn’t that good4400:03:23,520 –> 00:03:27,360what’s the point in a ladder the first rungs above your head you can’t get on4500:03:27,360 –> 00:03:32,779it so thank God that the Beatitudes do not begin with blessed are the pure in4600:03:32,779 –> 00:03:38,500hearts cuz that’s not us that’s where we want to be but that’s not where we begin4700:03:38,539 –> 00:03:43,139and it begins here blessed or the poor in spirit less it is the person who4800:03:43,139 –> 00:03:48,020really comes to the place of saying however praised I am in my business or4900:03:48,020 –> 00:03:52,660in my family or in my sports team I don’t have what it takes when it comes5000:03:52,660 –> 00:03:59,119to standing before God and so we saw last time that Jesus begins here that5100:03:59,119 –> 00:04:04,860the law will bring you to a place that is called poor in spirit that’s why even5200:04:04,860 –> 00:04:08,919the law is a good gift of God because it gets us on the first ring it shows us5300:04:08,919 –> 00:04:13,580how much we need Jesus Christ the law will bring you to a place that is called5400:04:13,580 –> 00:04:19,399poor in spirit and Jesus Christ will meet you there less so the poor in5500:04:19,399 –> 00:04:22,299spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven and that’s where we’ve begun5600:04:22,299 –> 00:04:26,339today we move then to the second Beatitude that you’ll see there in verse5700:04:26,339 –> 00:04:33,880four we have these words blessed Jesus still speaking about blessing blessed5800:04:34,339 –> 00:04:41,200are and it’s astonishing those who mourn how would you put these two together5900:04:41,200 –> 00:04:49,559for they shall be comforted two things for us here today then we’re6000:04:49,559 –> 00:04:53,660going to look at the morning that is blessed and then we’re going to look6100:04:53,660 –> 00:04:59,140much more briefly at the blessing on those who mourn firstly then the morning6200:04:59,920 –> 00:05:08,579Blessed are those who mourn a very important question what is the mourning6300:05:08,579 –> 00:05:16,179that is blessed because clearly not all morning is blessed there are three kinds6400:05:16,179 –> 00:05:21,579of morning and it is very important to distinguish between them6500:05:21,579 –> 00:05:25,359number one, there’s what we would call natural morning which is probably the6600:05:25,579 –> 00:05:30,299first to come to our minds that is of course grieving for someone you have6700:05:30,299 –> 00:05:35,399lost. God has given you a wonderful gift and a person who has been very dear to6800:05:35,399 –> 00:05:43,160you and that gift has been taken away and so the natural proper response to6900:05:43,160 –> 00:05:50,119that loss is to mourn. Those who have been bereaved in the congregation all of7000:05:50,239 –> 00:05:57,320you know what this is and some of you are walking this journey right now Jesus7100:05:57,320 –> 00:06:04,739knows this journey. He wept at the graveside of a dear friend Jesus wept,7200:06:04,739 –> 00:06:12,959that’s natural mourning. Now the presence of Jesus and the comfort of Jesus in the7300:06:12,959 –> 00:06:17,640journey that a believer takes through the pains of bereavement is a very7400:06:17,679 –> 00:06:25,200special and a treasured gift from God. But it is not what Jesus is speaking7500:06:25,200 –> 00:06:33,380about here and here’s why I say that. In the Beatitudes Jesus is speaking about7600:06:33,380 –> 00:06:40,179qualities that we should pursue, qualities that we should go after7700:06:40,359 –> 00:06:48,320qualities that we should get as much of in our lives as we possibly can. Jesus is7800:06:48,320 –> 00:06:54,160speaking about conditions of heart and life that are so laden with blessing7900:06:54,160 –> 00:06:59,959that no person can ever get too much of them. That is true of all seven8000:06:59,959 –> 00:07:06,160Beatitudes going after purity, going after being merciful, going after meekness8100:07:06,820 –> 00:07:10,760going after hunger and thirst for righteousness. You can never get too much8200:07:10,760 –> 00:07:15,059of these things. And then an 8th a Beatitude is added which is simply the8300:07:15,059 –> 00:07:20,339consequence of going after this kind of life and that is of course that the8400:07:20,339 –> 00:07:26,500world will persecute you as a result of it. But all of the Beatitudes are8500:07:26,500 –> 00:07:31,820speaking to us of qualities that we are to pursue. Now nobody would say that8600:07:32,019 –> 00:07:37,079about natural mourning. Nobody who is going through the sorrow of bereavement8700:07:37,079 –> 00:07:42,519would say, I want to go after as much of this as I can possibly get. Nobody would8800:07:42,519 –> 00:07:48,600say that. So, I’m saying to you therefore that, as treasured as it is that Christ8900:07:48,600 –> 00:07:54,000walks with the believer in the valleys of bereavement, and he does, that9000:07:54,220 –> 00:08:00,399nevertheless is not what Jesus is speaking about here.9100:08:00,399 –> 00:08:05,779There’s a second and very different kind of mourning. And again it’s a mourning9200:08:05,779 –> 00:08:11,519that Jesus is not speaking about here. And that I’m going to describe as sinful9300:08:11,519 –> 00:08:18,339mourning. And sinful mourning is simply a pining after something that God has not9400:08:18,500 –> 00:08:23,600given. And that’s very different from natural mourning. It’s natural for us to9500:08:23,600 –> 00:08:28,040grieve what God has taken away, the Lord gave, the Lord has taken away.9600:08:28,040 –> 00:08:32,840There is a grief that is natural to that. But sinful mourning is something9700:08:32,840 –> 00:08:36,200very different. It is a pining after something that God never intended you9800:08:36,200 –> 00:08:44,099to have. Paul speaks about this in 2 Corinthians, chapter 7 and verse 10.9900:08:44,099 –> 00:08:47,960He speaks about a worldly sorrow that leads to death.10000:08:47,960 –> 00:08:53,719There’s a kind of sorrowing that’s killing, a kind of grieving that causes10100:08:53,719 –> 00:09:00,159death inside. And what is this sinful mourning? It is to pine after what God10200:09:00,159 –> 00:09:06,119never intended you to have. There’s an example of that, many examples10300:09:06,119 –> 00:09:10,880in the Bible, but just to take one, we’re told in the Book of Kings in chapter10400:09:10,880 –> 00:09:17,15921 the story of King Ahab. God gave him very much. God gave him a palace.10500:09:17,179 –> 00:09:21,820God gave him a kingdom, despite the fact that he was a wretched king.10600:09:23,000 –> 00:09:30,320But beyond the boundaries of the palace, there was an adjoining little field10700:09:30,320 –> 00:09:37,820that was a vineyard. It belonged to a man, a poor man by the name of Naboth.10800:09:39,979 –> 00:09:44,960Although the king had all of his palace, he set his eye on this little vineyard10900:09:44,960 –> 00:09:52,059that he rather liked. And then he set his heart on the little vineyard.11000:09:53,659 –> 00:09:59,700And it began to get into him. He looked at what God had given his neighbor,11100:10:00,799 –> 00:10:03,419and he began to use the Bible’s Word to covet.11200:10:03,419 –> 00:10:07,880In fact, it’s interesting the way the Bible describes it in Kings chapter 21.11300:10:08,179 –> 00:10:11,640The Bible says that Ahab became vexed.11400:10:12,359 –> 00:10:16,159He became sullen. These are the words the Bible uses.11500:10:16,159 –> 00:10:20,679We might use another word today, we might use the word pouting.11600:10:21,500 –> 00:10:25,320Here’s the king and he’s pouting around the palace, right?11700:10:26,260 –> 00:10:34,719And why is he pouting? Because his mind is full of what God has given to someone else but hasn’t given to him.11800:10:35,380 –> 00:10:40,140And this pining after what God did not intend him to have eventually consumes him.11900:10:40,159 –> 00:10:51,080It leads to the murder of Naboth and brings the very opposite of blessing into the life of Ahab.12000:10:51,739 –> 00:10:55,320So there is a kind of sinful mourning, becoming obsessed with what God didn’t give you.12100:10:56,479 –> 00:11:02,039And that is always a killer. It leads to death, the Bible says and obviously by definition,12200:11:02,280 –> 00:11:07,039therefore sinful mourning is not what Jesus is speaking about here because that kind of mourning12300:11:07,039 –> 00:11:09,539is never, never, never blessed.12400:11:10,559 –> 00:11:14,859So he’s not talking about natural mourning because he’s talking about something we should go after12500:11:14,859 –> 00:11:17,580and nobody would say that about bereavement.12600:11:18,080 –> 00:11:21,919He’s not talking about sinful mourning because he’s talking about something that is blessed12700:11:21,919 –> 00:11:26,299and sinful mourning, a pining after what God never intended you to have,12800:11:26,299 –> 00:11:29,619it brings death, it certainly does not bring life or blessing.12900:11:29,619 –> 00:11:34,159So now we’re in a position to be very clear about what Jesus is speaking about13000:11:34,440 –> 00:11:42,719spiritual mourning, which is sorrow over our sins against God, that’s what he’s speaking about here.13100:11:43,200 –> 00:11:45,599You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smyth13200:11:45,599 –> 00:11:48,619and a message called, Blessed Are Those Who Mourn.13300:11:48,619 –> 00:11:53,020It’s from our series, called Momentum, How To Make Progress In The Christian Life,13400:11:53,020 –> 00:11:55,419which is based on the Beatitudes.13500:11:55,719 –> 00:12:00,340If you ever miss one of our messages you can easily catch up or go back and listen again13600:12:00,340 –> 00:12:05,380by coming online to our website, that’s at openthebible.org.uk,13700:12:05,380 –> 00:12:08,780also available as a podcast on all the main podcast sites13800:12:08,780 –> 00:12:13,320by searching for Open The Bible UK or follow the link from our website.13900:12:13,919 –> 00:12:17,080Back to the message now, here again, is Pastor Colin.14000:12:17,539 –> 00:12:21,979Now, we’re in a position to be very clear about what Jesus is speaking about,14100:12:22,219 –> 00:12:28,419spiritual mourning, which is sorrow over our sins against God,14200:12:28,419 –> 00:12:30,099that’s what he’s speaking about here.14300:12:30,700 –> 00:12:35,880And he says this is blessed, blessing is found here,14400:12:35,880 –> 00:12:38,080joy will be found in your life here.14500:12:38,080 –> 00:12:41,559In as much as you know this, you are blessed.14600:12:41,559 –> 00:12:44,940You cannot get too much of this, says Jesus.14700:12:46,200 –> 00:12:51,820This is the godly sorrow that Paul speaks about in 2 Corinthians 7, verse 1014800:12:51,820 –> 00:12:56,700and is blessed because it produces the repentance that leads to life14900:12:56,700 –> 00:12:59,679and that is what Jesus is speaking about here.15000:13:00,700 –> 00:13:05,599Now friends, I want to suggest to you today, now that we know what Jesus15100:13:05,599 –> 00:13:11,900is speaking about, that these words are of huge incalculable importance15200:13:11,900 –> 00:13:15,840to the church of Jesus Christ today15300:13:15,840 –> 00:13:18,900And I say it for this reason,15400:13:18,900 –> 00:13:25,099that there are many, many people who would assume themselves to be15500:13:25,099 –> 00:13:30,080Christians and would identify themselves as Christians15600:13:30,239 –> 00:13:34,739who know very little of the joy and the life of Jesus Christ15700:13:34,739 –> 00:13:38,119and one reason is that they have experienced very, very little15800:13:38,119 –> 00:13:44,099of the spiritual mourning that Jesus speaks about here15900:13:44,099 –> 00:13:49,539and I think that, that barrenness and that loss has been multiplied in our time16000:13:49,539 –> 00:13:53,299because in our culture, especially, we are surrounded by16100:13:53,340 –> 00:14:01,299by a form of faith that is unrecognizably different16200:14:01,299 –> 00:14:04,340from what is laid out for us in the scriptures16300:14:04,340 –> 00:14:09,799Now I want to take a moment to try to show you that as clearly as I can16400:14:09,799 –> 00:14:15,479We rejoice in the wonderful truth that as believers we are justified16500:14:15,479 –> 00:14:19,020by faith and in that way, have peace with God through16600:14:19,020 –> 00:14:22,580our Lord Jesus Christ That’s the wonderful and glorious statement16700:14:22,659 –> 00:14:27,119of Romans chapter 5 and verse 1, but why16800:14:27,119 –> 00:14:30,979is it that a believer is justified by faith?16900:14:30,979 –> 00:14:35,539What is it about faith as opposed to works or anything else that17000:14:35,539 –> 00:14:40,799brings a person into the place of being in a right relationship with God17100:14:40,799 –> 00:14:45,500and the answer is simply this, that in the Bible17200:14:45,500 –> 00:14:49,419a believer is justified by faith17300:14:49,419 –> 00:14:54,820because faith unites a person to Jesus Christ.17400:14:54,820 –> 00:14:58,320Faith is the bond of a living union with Jesus Christ,17500:14:58,320 –> 00:15:03,239with Jesus Christ who justifies and sanctifies17600:15:03,239 –> 00:15:08,239and glorifies believers through the power of His shed blood17700:15:08,239 –> 00:15:15,059applied to them personally by the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit17800:15:15,059 –> 00:15:17,780and all of that is contained in17900:15:17,820 –> 00:15:21,080the wonderful, simple statement that we are justified by faith.18000:15:21,080 –> 00:15:22,619Why am I justified by faith?18100:15:22,619 –> 00:15:24,979Because faith is the bond of a living union18200:15:24,979 –> 00:15:30,619with Jesus Christ who justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies the believer18300:15:30,619 –> 00:15:33,820through the application of the power of His shed blood18400:15:33,820 –> 00:15:37,119by the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit18500:15:37,119 –> 00:15:38,700in that person’s life.18600:15:40,919 –> 00:15:42,919Now that’s the very core of what we believe.18700:15:44,119 –> 00:15:46,400The truth on which we stand in the Bible.18800:15:48,260 –> 00:15:51,119But friends, here is what has happened widely18900:15:51,119 –> 00:15:55,460over the last half-century and more in our culture.19000:15:55,460 –> 00:15:56,659Two things,19100:15:56,659 –> 00:15:57,960one,19200:15:57,960 –> 00:16:01,539the faith that unites a person to Jesus Christ19300:16:01,539 –> 00:16:04,539who justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies,19400:16:04,539 –> 00:16:07,039that faith that unites a person to Jesus Christ19500:16:07,039 –> 00:16:10,280has been reduced to or replaced by19600:16:10,280 –> 00:16:12,460mere belief,19700:16:12,460 –> 00:16:16,239an assent to certain truths,19800:16:16,739 –> 00:16:19,940now friends, simply believing certain things19900:16:19,940 –> 00:16:22,799will not change you.20000:16:22,799 –> 00:16:25,979Jesus Christ will change you.20100:16:25,979 –> 00:16:28,260Faith justifies because it is the bond20200:16:28,260 –> 00:16:30,640of a Living Union with Jesus Christ20300:16:30,640 –> 00:16:33,440who justifies, and sanctifies, and glorifies.20400:16:33,440 –> 00:16:35,419It’s Jesus Christ who changes you.20500:16:35,419 –> 00:16:38,500It’s the presence of Christ in a person’s life20600:16:38,500 –> 00:16:40,059that is life-changing,20700:16:40,059 –> 00:16:43,859not simply believing certain things.20800:16:44,520 –> 00:16:47,700Faith is the bond of a Living Union with Jesus Christ20900:16:47,700 –> 00:16:51,659and when Jesus Christ enters the life21000:16:51,659 –> 00:16:53,880he comes to forgive you21100:16:53,880 –> 00:16:56,380and he comes to make you holy.21200:16:57,479 –> 00:17:01,500He accepts you as you are, that’s grace.21300:17:01,500 –> 00:17:03,500But he never leaves you as you are,21400:17:03,500 –> 00:17:05,239and that’s grace too.21500:17:07,339 –> 00:17:09,599So the replacement of a faith21600:17:09,599 –> 00:17:12,239that unites people to Jesus Christ21700:17:12,520 –> 00:17:15,760in the bond of a living and personal union21800:17:15,760 –> 00:17:18,339with this sort of notional ascent21900:17:18,339 –> 00:17:21,060to certain truths on which I can sign off22000:17:21,060 –> 00:17:25,640leads to thousands of people who quote, accept Christ.22100:17:26,959 –> 00:17:30,560But never come to a place of bowing to his lordship22200:17:30,560 –> 00:17:33,040over their lives and think they are Christians22300:17:33,040 –> 00:17:34,979without ever experiencing the blessing22400:17:34,979 –> 00:17:36,520of those who are in Christ.22500:17:37,000 –> 00:17:42,000That is a form of faith so far from the biblical reality22600:17:44,339 –> 00:17:47,459and so far from it in the reality of experience22700:17:47,459 –> 00:17:50,380as to be utterly unrecognizable.22800:17:50,380 –> 00:17:52,300It is a form of faith that leaves the person22900:17:52,300 –> 00:17:54,060essentially unchanged.23000:17:55,819 –> 00:17:59,939And when the world looks at this,23100:17:59,939 –> 00:18:02,979it despises it and it is right to do so23200:18:03,959 –> 00:18:07,739because this is nothing that is anywhere near23300:18:07,739 –> 00:18:10,400to a recognizable form of biblical faith.23400:18:12,099 –> 00:18:14,660Second massive emaciation,23500:18:14,660 –> 00:18:16,400evisceration that has taken place,23600:18:16,400 –> 00:18:20,420is that the repentance that in the Bible involves23700:18:20,420 –> 00:18:24,560a change of direction has been reduced23800:18:24,560 –> 00:18:28,319to simply admitting that I am a sinner23900:18:28,319 –> 00:18:29,380and saying a prayer.24000:18:29,380 –> 00:18:30,579There’s all the difference in the world24100:18:30,579 –> 00:18:31,839between these two things.24200:18:33,640 –> 00:18:35,160Listen to the words of Scripture24300:18:35,160 –> 00:18:38,199and try to take in for a moment with me24400:18:38,199 –> 00:18:43,040how far this sort of popularized emaciated24500:18:43,040 –> 00:18:46,420posing under the banner of Christianity24600:18:46,420 –> 00:18:49,500really is in comparison with true biblical faith.24700:18:49,500 –> 00:18:51,599Let me give you just two simple statements,24800:18:51,599 –> 00:18:52,880well known ones from the Bible,24900:18:52,880 –> 00:18:53,959one from the Old Testament,25000:18:53,959 –> 00:18:54,800one from the new,25100:18:54,800 –> 00:18:57,040and see how far this is from the sort of thing25200:18:57,040 –> 00:19:01,780that is widely repeated around us in many churches today.25300:19:02,619 –> 00:19:05,000This is Isaiah 55.25400:19:05,000 –> 00:19:07,000Seek the Lord while He may be found,25500:19:07,880 –> 00:19:09,900call on Him while He is near.25600:19:09,900 –> 00:19:11,219What does that mean?25700:19:11,219 –> 00:19:12,719Here’s what Isaiah says,25800:19:12,719 –> 00:19:16,640let the wicked forsake His way,25900:19:18,040 –> 00:19:19,800let the wicked forsake His way.26000:19:19,800 –> 00:19:20,640Leave it.26100:19:20,640 –> 00:19:21,479Turn.26200:19:22,520 –> 00:19:25,900And the unrighteous man his thoughts.26300:19:25,900 –> 00:19:29,780So there is a turning from wicked ways,26400:19:29,839 –> 00:19:32,780leaving, forsaking.26500:19:33,780 –> 00:19:37,060There is a turning from wicked thoughts.26600:19:37,979 –> 00:19:41,140There’s something decisive here, there’s change here.26700:19:41,140 –> 00:19:43,219Let him return to the Lord26800:19:43,219 –> 00:19:45,500that he may have compassion on him26900:19:45,500 –> 00:19:48,739and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.27000:19:48,739 –> 00:19:50,000So, what is God saying here?27100:19:50,000 –> 00:19:53,540He’s saying to the wicked, you must forsake your way.27200:19:53,540 –> 00:19:54,359Forsake it.27300:19:54,359 –> 00:19:55,199Leave it.27400:19:55,199 –> 00:19:56,020Turn.27500:19:56,900 –> 00:20:01,280That’s a world difference from admit that you’re a sinner,27600:20:02,219 –> 00:20:03,380hugely different.27700:20:05,219 –> 00:20:08,319Very easy to admit that I’m a sinner and carry on sinning.27800:20:09,780 –> 00:20:12,439And God is calling me to something different here.27900:20:12,439 –> 00:20:14,300He’s calling me to repentance,28000:20:14,300 –> 00:20:16,900which is much more than admitting that I’m a sinner.28100:20:18,099 –> 00:20:21,140Here’s a New Testament version of the same thing.28200:20:21,140 –> 00:20:24,500It’s from 2 Timothy Chapter 2 in Verse 19.28300:20:24,500 –> 00:20:26,579And listen to what is said here,28400:20:26,579 –> 00:20:30,979God’s foundation stands firm bearing the seal.28500:20:30,979 –> 00:20:34,260So Paul is talking about something foundational,28600:20:34,260 –> 00:20:37,800something that’s at the very core of everything28700:20:37,800 –> 00:20:39,459in relation to Christianity.28800:20:39,459 –> 00:20:41,939Here’s God’s foundation and it bears this seal,28900:20:41,939 –> 00:20:42,939and it’s in two parts.29000:20:42,939 –> 00:20:43,859Here’s number one.29100:20:43,859 –> 00:20:46,699The Lord knows who are His,29200:20:47,859 –> 00:20:50,079and secondly, how do we know who are His?29300:20:51,180 –> 00:20:53,000Well, here’s the mark of a person who is His,29400:20:53,040 –> 00:20:55,400let everyone who names the name of the Lord29500:20:55,400 –> 00:20:57,680depart from iniquity.29600:20:59,000 –> 00:21:03,359A helpful look there by pastor Colin Smith at repentance.29700:21:03,359 –> 00:21:05,839It’s not just being sorry for our sin,29800:21:05,839 –> 00:21:09,140rather it’s turning away from sin.29900:21:09,140 –> 00:21:10,540You’ve been listening to Open The Bible30000:21:10,540 –> 00:21:12,079with Pastor Colin Smith,30100:21:12,079 –> 00:21:15,479and a message called Blessed are Those Who Mourn,30200:21:15,479 –> 00:21:17,760part of our series Momentum.30300:21:17,760 –> 00:21:20,000How to make progress in the Christian life.30400:21:20,000 –> 00:21:22,560And that’s based on the Beatitudes.30500:21:22,560 –> 00:21:24,380When we think about mourning,30600:21:24,380 –> 00:21:27,520blessed is not really what comes to mind30700:21:27,520 –> 00:21:29,079but next time we’ll hear about30800:21:29,079 –> 00:21:31,719how mourning can produce real blessing.30900:21:31,719 –> 00:21:34,040So I hope you’ll join us for that.31000:21:34,040 –> 00:21:36,359Open the Bible is supported by our listeners.31100:21:36,359 –> 00:21:39,640It’s you who keep us on the air and on the internet.31200:21:39,640 –> 00:21:42,079But it’s not just Open The Bible programming31300:21:42,079 –> 00:21:43,239you’re supporting.31400:21:43,239 –> 00:21:46,579His Open The Bible’s executive director, John Martin,31500:21:46,579 –> 00:21:48,839with a new Open The Bible initiative31600:21:48,839 –> 00:21:51,079taking the Good News of Jesus Christ31700:21:51,119 –> 00:21:53,119to prisoners in UK prisons.31800:21:53,119 –> 00:21:54,760Listeners might be interested to know31900:21:54,760 –> 00:21:57,400where some of the donations to Open The Bible go.32000:21:57,400 –> 00:22:00,660So through a mutual friend, I got to know Gaius Fillingham32100:22:00,660 –> 00:22:04,119who is the CEO of Daylight Christian Prison Trust32200:22:04,119 –> 00:22:07,000or Daylight for short and Gaius and I32300:22:07,000 –> 00:22:08,880were talking about some of the resources32400:22:08,880 –> 00:22:10,280that Open The Bible has.32500:22:10,280 –> 00:22:14,079I mentioned Colin has this first person account32600:22:14,079 –> 00:22:15,800of the story of the thief on the cross,32700:22:15,800 –> 00:22:17,400Heaven, How I Got Here.32800:22:17,400 –> 00:22:18,839That was a story that was relevant32900:22:18,959 –> 00:22:20,959to prisoners, obviously.33000:22:20,959 –> 00:22:23,780I mentioned that the book had actually been produced33100:22:23,780 –> 00:22:27,520as a one-hour one-actor filmed performance33200:22:27,520 –> 00:22:28,640and that was available.33300:22:28,640 –> 00:22:30,680And would that be of use in prisons?33400:22:30,680 –> 00:22:34,599So we produced a prison edition of Heaven,33500:22:34,599 –> 00:22:35,439How I Got Here.33600:22:35,439 –> 00:22:37,300The Story of The Thief on the Cross.33700:22:37,300 –> 00:22:40,119150 DVDs were produced.33800:22:40,119 –> 00:22:41,479We did it as a prison edition,33900:22:41,479 –> 00:22:45,359whereby we had Open The Bible and Daylight’s logos on there34000:22:45,380 –> 00:22:48,979and Colin recorded a bespoke little epilogue34100:22:48,979 –> 00:22:50,719to address the prisoners,34200:22:50,719 –> 00:22:52,719point them to the prison chaplain,34300:22:52,719 –> 00:22:54,699encourage them to speak to their chaplains34400:22:54,699 –> 00:22:56,280to get more literature.34500:22:56,280 –> 00:22:59,119We’ve heard from prison chaplains who said,34600:22:59,119 –> 00:23:02,439the video, the film has been well received.34700:23:02,439 –> 00:23:04,859We printed a whole lot of little booklets34800:23:04,859 –> 00:23:07,439about how to get into heaven,34900:23:07,439 –> 00:23:09,479how they can respond themselves.35000:23:09,479 –> 00:23:12,839And those, again, were distributed with the DVDs35100:23:12,839 –> 00:23:13,880and there’s a whole lot more35200:23:14,439 –> 00:23:15,699that can be requested for free.35300:23:15,699 –> 00:23:17,880So, donations towards Open the Bible35400:23:17,880 –> 00:23:21,079can be sent directly into that ministry.35500:23:21,079 –> 00:23:22,599If you’d like to support the work35600:23:22,599 –> 00:23:24,040of Open the Bible generally35700:23:24,040 –> 00:23:25,199or our work in prison,35800:23:25,199 –> 00:23:27,900in association with daylights specifically,35900:23:27,900 –> 00:23:30,199you can do that online at our website,36000:23:30,199 –> 00:23:33,439openthebible.org.uk.36100:23:33,439 –> 00:23:35,339This Christmas at Open the Bible,36200:23:35,339 –> 00:23:38,260we’re telling people about Christmas stories.36300:23:38,260 –> 00:23:39,959That’s Pastor Colin Smith’s book,36400:23:39,959 –> 00:23:41,560Telling the Christmas Story,36500:23:41,619 –> 00:23:42,739from the perspective of36600:23:42,739 –> 00:23:45,579several different Bible characters.36700:23:45,579 –> 00:23:47,680There’s Abraham, Adam,36800:23:47,680 –> 00:23:49,959King David, The Angel Gabriel,36900:23:49,959 –> 00:23:52,380and even King Herod.37000:23:52,380 –> 00:23:54,420Not only are we offering two copies37100:23:54,420 –> 00:23:56,680of Colin’s beautifully illustrated book,37200:23:56,680 –> 00:23:57,979Christmas Stories,37300:23:57,979 –> 00:23:59,500when you begin to support the work37400:23:59,500 –> 00:24:01,099of Open the Bible by giving37500:24:01,099 –> 00:24:03,099a one-off or regular gift,37600:24:03,099 –> 00:24:05,939full details of the offer are on our website,37700:24:05,939 –> 00:24:09,459but we’re also offering free resource materials37800:24:09,459 –> 00:24:10,959for churches and groups37900:24:10,979 –> 00:24:14,040to use this Christmas based on the book.38000:24:14,040 –> 00:24:16,640Again, full details are on our website38100:24:16,640 –> 00:24:19,640openthebible.org.uk38200:24:20,599 –> 00:24:23,239Colin, how does the Angel Gabriel38300:24:23,239 –> 00:24:24,800tell the Christmas story?38400:24:24,800 –> 00:24:28,199Here’s the story of Jesus viewed from Heaven itself,38500:24:28,199 –> 00:24:30,920and there’s a fascinating reference to the New Testament.38600:24:30,920 –> 00:24:34,199Even angels long to look into these things.38700:24:34,199 –> 00:24:36,239So let’s take a look at the Christmas story38800:24:36,239 –> 00:24:37,900from the perspective of the angels38900:24:37,900 –> 00:24:39,680who were witnesses to it.39000:24:39,680 –> 00:24:42,739Of course they knew Christ and His glory before He came.39100:24:42,739 –> 00:24:45,099What an astonishing thing it must have been for them39200:24:45,099 –> 00:24:46,619to see Him born as a baby?39300:24:46,619 –> 00:24:48,619You can find all the information about39400:24:48,619 –> 00:24:50,819Christmas stories on our website39500:24:50,819 –> 00:24:54,140openthebible.org.uk39600:24:54,140 –> 00:24:56,719For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,39700:24:56,719 –> 00:24:59,239I’m David Pick, thanks for being with us today39800:24:59,239 –> 00:25:00,459and I hope you’ll join us again39900:25:00,459 –> 00:25:02,979next time on Open the Bible.40000:25:03,900 –> 00:25:18,060How can you move forward in the Christian life?40100:25:18,060 –> 00:25:21,180Spiritual mourning is one of the keys.40200:25:21,180 –> 00:25:26,160Find out what that is next time on Open the Bible