1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,000 Youíre listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,000 –> 00:00:15,020 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website open- the- bible-dot-org. 3 00:00:15,020 –> 00:00:17,480 Letís get to the message. 4 00:00:17,480 –> 00:00:19,959 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,959 –> 00:00:22,020 Well good morning everyone. 6 00:00:22,059 –> 00:00:28,400 If you would open your bible at 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. 7 00:00:28,400 –> 00:00:33,740 This verse is the focus of our reflection in these weeks leading up to Christmas. 8 00:00:33,740 –> 00:00:40,720 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16 where we read these words. 9 00:00:40,720 –> 00:00:45,439 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness. 10 00:00:45,439 –> 00:00:51,919 He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the spirit. 11 00:00:51,980 –> 00:01:03,240 Seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 12 00:01:03,240 –> 00:01:07,820 The mystery of godliness. 13 00:01:07,820 –> 00:01:16,279 We saw last week that to be godly means very simply that you’re God’s man or God’s woman. 14 00:01:16,279 –> 00:01:20,779 God has set apart the godly for himself. 15 00:01:21,139 –> 00:01:28,860 A person who is godly knows that above everything else, he or she belongs to God. 16 00:01:28,860 –> 00:01:36,320 A godly person loves God, walks with God, lives for God, desires God, and so over time 17 00:01:36,320 –> 00:01:40,620 becomes increasingly like God. 18 00:01:40,620 –> 00:01:42,980 Godliness is what you were made for. 19 00:01:42,980 –> 00:01:46,739 God made us for himself. 20 00:01:46,779 –> 00:01:53,199 But the impulse, of course, of our fallen human nature, is not to be God’s man or God’s 21 00:01:53,199 –> 00:01:58,419 woman but to be, as it were, our own man, to be your own woman. 22 00:01:58,419 –> 00:02:00,459 So how can you be godly? 23 00:02:00,459 –> 00:02:06,779 How can you fulfil the purpose for which God made you, and live the life to which God calls 24 00:02:06,779 –> 00:02:08,020 you? 25 00:02:08,020 –> 00:02:14,419 That is the theme of this verse, and Paul refers to it as the mystery of godliness. 26 00:02:14,899 –> 00:02:21,899 How you can live the life for which God made you and to which He calls you. 27 00:02:22,539 –> 00:02:27,580 And we saw that this word mystery in the Bible has a very distinct meaning. 28 00:02:27,580 –> 00:02:30,940 It doesn’t mean a puzzle that you can’t sort out. 29 00:02:30,940 –> 00:02:37,660 Rather in the Bible a mystery is very simply a secret that God has revealed, though its 30 00:02:37,660 –> 00:02:42,100 full wonder is still to be made known. 31 00:02:42,100 –> 00:02:44,899 So what then is this mystery of godliness? 32 00:02:44,899 –> 00:02:49,660 In other words, the secret that God has made known, though its full wonder has still not 33 00:02:49,660 –> 00:02:51,380 been revealed. 34 00:02:51,380 –> 00:02:55,740 What is the secret of how you can live the life to which God calls you, the life for 35 00:02:55,740 –> 00:02:57,059 which you were made? 36 00:02:57,059 –> 00:03:01,979 And the answer to that is that the mystery of godliness is Jesus. 37 00:03:01,979 –> 00:03:08,020 Great indeed we confess is the mystery of godliness, He! 38 00:03:08,059 –> 00:03:14,559 And then follow six marvellous statements about our Lord Jesus Christ. 39 00:03:14,559 –> 00:03:19,100 So get this established in your mind and in your heart it’s our focus in the lead up to 40 00:03:19,100 –> 00:03:20,539 Christmas this year. 41 00:03:20,539 –> 00:03:26,880 The open secret that God has revealed, though its full wonder is still to be made known, 42 00:03:26,880 –> 00:03:37,300 is that through Jesus Christ, that is particularly when Jesus Christ is in you you can fulfil 43 00:03:37,300 –> 00:03:43,759 the purpose for which God has made you and live the life to which he calls you. 44 00:03:43,759 –> 00:03:49,360 Now we are going to focus then on how this actually happens. 45 00:03:49,559 –> 00:03:59,080 And who this Christ is who comes to dwell in those who draw near to him in humble faith? 46 00:03:59,080 –> 00:04:06,679 How can you indeed grow in this godliness to which God calls you, which is made possible 47 00:04:06,679 –> 00:04:11,419 for you in and through Jesus Christ. 48 00:04:11,419 –> 00:04:16,359 Well there is a great principle in the Bible that has sometimes been described in these 49 00:04:17,239 –> 00:04:27,040 words, becoming by beholding and it’s stated most clearly in 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 50 00:04:27,040 –> 00:04:30,739 and verse 18 where Paul says this. 51 00:04:30,739 –> 00:04:43,760 We all with unveiled face beholding the glory of the lord are being transformed into the 52 00:04:43,760 –> 00:04:47,739 same image from one degree of glory to another. 53 00:04:47,739 –> 00:04:56,480 So, notice that he’s telling us very clearly how we are changed, how we are transformed 54 00:04:56,480 –> 00:04:59,559 into the image of the lord Jesus Christ. 55 00:04:59,559 –> 00:05:02,079 We’re being transformed into the same image. 56 00:05:02,079 –> 00:05:03,179 How does it happen? 57 00:05:03,179 –> 00:05:05,799 Here’s how it happens. 58 00:05:05,799 –> 00:05:10,079 Beholding the glory of the lord. 59 00:05:10,079 –> 00:05:12,119 Becoming by beholding. 60 00:05:12,160 –> 00:05:17,839 You become more like Jesus inasmuch as you behold the glory of the Jesus you seek to 61 00:05:17,839 –> 00:05:19,059 become like. 62 00:05:19,059 –> 00:05:25,519 Is that not then why Paul moves so quickly from the mystery of godliness, how you can 63 00:05:25,519 –> 00:05:30,980 live the life to which God calls you to the greatness and glory of Jesus because the more 64 00:05:30,980 –> 00:05:36,760 you behold this Jesus in all of his glory, who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated 65 00:05:36,760 –> 00:05:41,959 by the spirit, seen by angels and so forth, the more we behold his glory, the more we 66 00:05:42,119 –> 00:05:46,320 will be transformed into his likeness. 67 00:05:46,320 –> 00:05:51,959 That is why in the weeks up to Christmas then with our hearts set on godliness we want to 68 00:05:51,959 –> 00:05:54,600 behold the glory of Jesus. 69 00:05:54,600 –> 00:06:03,640 Right here in this verse the glory of Jesus born and risen, the glory of Jesus seen proclaimed 70 00:06:03,640 –> 00:06:08,959 and the glory of Jesus believed on and glorified. 71 00:06:08,959 –> 00:06:14,260 For the first two of these today I hope you have this wonderful verse open in front of 72 00:06:14,260 –> 00:06:15,260 you. 73 00:06:15,260 –> 00:06:20,320 Great, indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness. 74 00:06:20,320 –> 00:06:23,019 Here it is. 75 00:06:23,019 –> 00:06:31,059 He was manifested in the flesh. 76 00:06:31,059 –> 00:06:36,899 Now here very obviously we come to the heart of the Christmas story. 77 00:06:36,899 –> 00:06:45,480 Because we’ve just heard the work became flesh and dwelt among us. 78 00:06:45,480 –> 00:06:52,119 God became a man in Christ Jesus. 79 00:06:52,119 –> 00:06:56,839 And of course what Paul is saying here is that the incarnation, that’s God becoming 80 00:06:56,839 –> 00:07:01,859 a man in Christ Jesus, the incarnation is a mystery. 81 00:07:01,859 –> 00:07:09,140 That is, it is a secret that God has revealed, but its full wonder is still to be made known. 82 00:07:09,140 –> 00:07:15,019 Let’s gaze into this mystery as we prepare for Christmas this year. 83 00:07:15,019 –> 00:07:25,540 God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all actively engaged in the miracle 84 00:07:25,540 –> 00:07:28,760 of the incarnation. 85 00:07:28,760 –> 00:07:36,019 The incarnation God becoming man in Christ Jesus happened at the initiative of the Father. 86 00:07:36,019 –> 00:07:41,559 The Father sent his Son into the world. 87 00:07:41,559 –> 00:07:50,119 There’s a remarkable statement in Hebrews 10 and verse 5 on the work of the Father in 88 00:07:50,119 –> 00:07:54,239 regards to the birth of Jesus Christ. 89 00:07:54,880 –> 00:07:56,559 We read this. 90 00:07:56,559 –> 00:08:00,200 When Christ came into the world he said, 91 00:08:00,200 –> 00:08:05,899 sacrifices and offerings you have not desired but 92 00:08:05,899 –> 00:08:13,239 a body you have prepared for me. 93 00:08:13,239 –> 00:08:20,440 Isn’t that a remarkable statement, that Jesus should say to the Father, 94 00:08:20,559 –> 00:08:24,700 you’re the one that prepared a body for me. 95 00:08:24,700 –> 00:08:31,200 The Father, in other words, was the designer of the incarnation. 96 00:08:31,200 –> 00:08:33,880 Marvel at this. 97 00:08:33,880 –> 00:08:44,719 The Father designed, architected if you like, a body for the Son. 98 00:08:44,820 –> 00:08:52,320 The incarnation, in other words, is a miracle designed by God Himself that therefore only 99 00:08:52,320 –> 00:08:57,479 God Himself can know its full wonder. 100 00:08:57,479 –> 00:09:00,260 Why a body? 101 00:09:00,260 –> 00:09:09,299 Why did the Father design a body so that God could become man in Jesus Christ? 102 00:09:09,299 –> 00:09:13,960 Why this design of the incarnation that came from the Father Himself? 103 00:09:14,700 –> 00:09:16,599 Three reasons. 104 00:09:16,599 –> 00:09:26,780 Jesus took our flesh so that by becoming one with us He could live the life to which God 105 00:09:26,780 –> 00:09:32,020 has called us and live it on our behalf. 106 00:09:32,020 –> 00:09:35,580 That’s why God became a man in Christ Jesus. 107 00:09:35,580 –> 00:09:43,039 Second, Jesus took our flesh so that He could offer this perfect 108 00:09:43,039 –> 00:09:50,359 life that He lived on our behalf as a sacrifice for our sins. 109 00:09:50,359 –> 00:09:55,880 Hebrews 10 makes this very very clear in the statement that we just looked at. 110 00:09:55,880 –> 00:09:57,419 It begins by telling us… 111 00:09:57,419 –> 00:10:05,099 Hebrews Chapter 10 and verse 4, that it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats 112 00:10:05,099 –> 00:10:08,619 to take away sins. 113 00:10:08,619 –> 00:10:13,679 So all that was happening in the Old Testament with all of these sacrifices being made day 114 00:10:13,679 –> 00:10:17,299 after day, week after week, and year after year… 115 00:10:17,299 –> 00:10:22,179 None of it could actually take away sin. 116 00:10:22,179 –> 00:10:24,179 And the book of Hebrews goes on to say… 117 00:10:24,179 –> 00:10:31,099 Consequently, therefore, because the old testament sacrifices could not take away sin, consequently 118 00:10:31,099 –> 00:10:36,159 when Jesus came into the world He said a body you have prepared for me. 119 00:10:36,960 –> 00:10:43,000 In other words, I have come to do what the sacrifices in the Old testament could never 120 00:10:43,000 –> 00:10:44,000 accomplish. 121 00:10:44,000 –> 00:10:46,020 I have come to be the sacrifice. 122 00:10:46,020 –> 00:10:48,739 I have come to take away sin. 123 00:10:48,739 –> 00:10:54,559 And it is for this reason that Jesus Christ became one with us. 124 00:10:54,559 –> 00:10:57,239 I have come to do your will, Christ says. 125 00:10:57,239 –> 00:11:01,500 Hebrews chapter ten and verse seven. 126 00:11:01,500 –> 00:11:08,280 And that will involved not only God becoming a man in Jesus but Jesus laying down that 127 00:11:08,280 –> 00:11:13,840 perfect life that he lived as a sacrifice for our sins, which is why the New testament 128 00:11:13,840 –> 00:11:23,679 emphasizes that Jesus suffered in the flesh, took our place, he was our substitute, he 129 00:11:23,739 –> 00:11:31,280 went to the cross for us, he bore our sins in his body on the tree, he could not have 130 00:11:31,280 –> 00:11:40,580 done that except that the body was designed and that God became man in Christ Jesus. 131 00:11:40,580 –> 00:11:44,940 He became one with us in the flesh that he could live the life that God calls us to live 132 00:11:44,940 –> 00:11:47,179 so that he could lay it down as a sacrifice. 133 00:11:47,219 –> 00:11:55,200 The third, and this is marvelous, he took a body like ours so that he could transform 134 00:11:55,200 –> 00:11:58,380 it in his resurrection. 135 00:11:58,380 –> 00:12:06,599 In a resurrection body that would become the pattern and the prototype of ours. 136 00:12:07,200 –> 00:12:16,840 Look of the marvel of this miracle of the incarnation designed by God the Father for 137 00:12:16,840 –> 00:12:19,780 your eternal good. 138 00:12:19,780 –> 00:12:25,419 Not only was the Father involved though, as the designer here, a body you have prepared 139 00:12:25,419 –> 00:12:34,659 for me, but the Holy Spirit was directly the operating agent in the bringing about of the 140 00:12:34,659 –> 00:12:36,659 incarnation. 141 00:12:36,659 –> 00:12:39,580 This is repeated three times in the Christmas story. 142 00:12:39,580 –> 00:12:46,580 You remember the words of the angel to Mary, the angel answered her when she asked, how 143 00:12:46,580 –> 00:12:47,580 will this be? 144 00:12:47,580 –> 00:12:55,299 How will the one who is promised come to be born since I am a virgin and the angel answered 145 00:12:55,299 –> 00:13:00,059 the Holy Spirit will come upon you? 146 00:13:00,059 –> 00:13:03,059 The power of the most high will overshadow you. 147 00:13:03,059 –> 00:13:07,960 Therefore the child to be born will be called wholly the son of God. 148 00:13:07,960 –> 00:13:15,780 Matthew tells us that Mary was founds to be with child from the Holy Spirit and the angel 149 00:13:15,780 –> 00:13:21,900 revealed to Joseph, do not fear to take Mary to be your wife for that which is conceived 150 00:13:21,900 –> 00:13:27,080 in her is from the Holy Spirit. 151 00:13:27,099 –> 00:13:35,260 So gaze into the marvel of this mystery, that God the Father designed a body for God the 152 00:13:35,260 –> 00:13:45,479 Son, but it was God the Spirit who formed the human nature of our Lord Jesus Christ 153 00:13:45,479 –> 00:13:50,039 in the womb of the virgin Mary. 154 00:13:50,039 –> 00:13:54,500 Great indeed is this mystery. 155 00:13:54,500 –> 00:14:07,780 Here is the secret that God has revealed though it’s full wonder is yet to be made known. 156 00:14:07,780 –> 00:14:12,580 And not only was it the initiative of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, it 157 00:14:12,580 –> 00:14:20,080 was very clearly, the incarnation, was very clearly the choice of God the Son. 158 00:14:20,080 –> 00:14:27,880 God the Son freely and willingly chose to leave the glory of heaven and to be born of 159 00:14:27,880 –> 00:14:29,039 Mary for us. 160 00:14:29,039 –> 00:14:33,919 We have this in Philippians and Chapter 2 that most of you know well, though he was 161 00:14:33,919 –> 00:14:36,479 in the form of God. 162 00:14:36,479 –> 00:14:40,559 He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 163 00:14:40,559 –> 00:14:41,559 But what did he do? 164 00:14:41,559 –> 00:14:43,000 What did the son of God do? 165 00:14:43,239 –> 00:14:52,380 He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of men. 166 00:14:52,380 –> 00:14:55,799 Look at what God the Son has done. 167 00:14:55,799 –> 00:15:01,359 He exchanged the riches of heaven for a manger in Bethlehem. 168 00:15:01,359 –> 00:15:07,479 He exchanged the praise and the worship of angels for the insults and for the mockery 169 00:15:07,479 –> 00:15:09,520 of men. 170 00:15:09,520 –> 00:15:16,719 He exchanged the joyful fellowship with a Father that He had always known from all eternity 171 00:15:16,719 –> 00:15:21,000 for a life in which at one point, He would cry out in utter darkness, 172 00:15:21,000 –> 00:15:26,780 My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? 173 00:15:26,780 –> 00:15:35,039 And He made this choice, not under any degree of compulsion, but freely and willingly out 174 00:15:35,039 –> 00:15:38,719 of love for you. 175 00:15:38,719 –> 00:15:41,260 We are gazing into a mystery here, aren’t we? 176 00:15:41,260 –> 00:15:44,799 I mean, this staggers the mind. 177 00:15:44,799 –> 00:15:50,820 God has revealed the marvelous truth of the incarnation, but the more you stare at it, 178 00:15:50,820 –> 00:15:56,440 the more you say, well, the full wonder of it has not yet been made known. 179 00:15:56,440 –> 00:16:02,359 But do you see how clearly and how deeply God loves you? 180 00:16:02,679 –> 00:16:13,340 The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, operating together as one for what? 181 00:16:13,340 –> 00:16:18,640 For you and for your salvation. 182 00:16:18,640 –> 00:16:24,359 It was for this reason that Jesus Christ came into the world. 183 00:16:24,359 –> 00:16:37,099 Great indeed is the mystery of godliness, he was manifested in the flesh. 184 00:16:37,099 –> 00:16:45,500 Now this word manifested means simply made known. 185 00:16:45,500 –> 00:16:54,320 And here it’s important to observe that in order to come to know god, 186 00:16:54,320 –> 00:16:57,460 two things needs to happen. 187 00:16:57,460 –> 00:16:59,859 The first is that God must make himself known. 188 00:16:59,859 –> 00:17:03,179 You know we’ll never find God unless he makes himself known. 189 00:17:03,179 –> 00:17:07,079 He’s invisible, no one has ever seen God. 190 00:17:07,079 –> 00:17:13,180 And God has made himself known in Jesus, that’s the wonderful truth of the incarnation. 191 00:17:13,180 –> 00:17:15,260 John chapter 1 in verse 18 192 00:17:15,260 –> 00:17:19,119 No one has ever seen God. 193 00:17:19,119 –> 00:17:27,060 But the only God who is at the Father side, he has made him known. 194 00:17:27,060 –> 00:17:29,719 But here’s the problem. 195 00:17:29,719 –> 00:17:34,640 Even this side of the incarnation, 2000 years on from the incarnation, 196 00:17:34,640 –> 00:17:37,160 God has made himself known in Jesus Christ. 197 00:17:37,160 –> 00:17:39,239 God became man in Jesus Christ. 198 00:17:39,560 –> 00:17:41,260 God has come into our world. 199 00:17:41,680 –> 00:17:48,839 But, the world into which he has come cannot see what God has made known in Jesus. 200 00:17:48,839 –> 00:17:52,300 John says it this way in the words that were read for us earlier, 201 00:17:52,300 –> 00:17:59,640 He, that is Jesus was in the world and the world was made through him. 202 00:17:59,640 –> 00:18:05,239 Yet the world did not know him. 203 00:18:05,239 –> 00:18:08,359 God made himself known in Jesus. 204 00:18:08,359 –> 00:18:14,800 Yet millions and millions of people today are no nearer to God 205 00:18:14,800 –> 00:18:17,479 than if Jesus had never come into the world. 206 00:18:19,280 –> 00:18:27,619 Something else must happen if people are to come to know God in Jesus. 207 00:18:28,280 –> 00:18:31,380 Now this is seen all over the New Testament 208 00:18:31,380 –> 00:18:33,099 and it’s so very very important. 209 00:18:33,140 –> 00:18:38,380 You see it particularly in a fascinating interaction 210 00:18:38,380 –> 00:18:42,800 between Our Lord Jesus and one of his disciples Philip. 211 00:18:42,800 –> 00:18:46,760 This is in John 14 and verses 8 & 9. 212 00:18:46,760 –> 00:18:51,459 Philip one of the disciples says to Jesus 213 00:18:51,459 –> 00:18:54,719 Lord show us the Father and it is enough for us. 214 00:18:55,500 –> 00:18:58,660 And Jesus then says to Philip 215 00:18:58,660 –> 00:19:02,599 Have I been with you so long 216 00:19:02,599 –> 00:19:06,540 and still you do not know me. 217 00:19:09,040 –> 00:19:10,599 Still you don’t know me. 218 00:19:11,880 –> 00:19:13,579 I’ve come into the world. 219 00:19:15,199 –> 00:19:18,599 You’ve been in the circle around me for years. 220 00:19:19,380 –> 00:19:22,079 Still you do not know me. 221 00:19:23,640 –> 00:19:26,339 Still you’re acting as if something else needs 222 00:19:26,339 –> 00:19:27,739 to happen for you to be brought 223 00:19:27,739 –> 00:19:29,280 into a relationship with God. 224 00:19:29,280 –> 00:19:32,000 Still you’re sitting out there on the fringe. 225 00:19:33,640 –> 00:19:35,739 Don’t you understand Philip? 226 00:19:35,739 –> 00:19:39,079 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. 227 00:19:40,739 –> 00:19:42,839 Do you see the quandary here? 228 00:19:42,839 –> 00:19:44,939 God has made himself known in Jesus. 229 00:19:44,939 –> 00:19:46,359 Jesus has come into the world 230 00:19:46,500 –> 00:19:47,619 Jesus has come into the world 231 00:19:47,619 –> 00:19:50,619 and here’s someone who’s in the circle around Jesus. 232 00:19:50,619 –> 00:19:54,160 And yet still he does not know him, 233 00:19:54,959 –> 00:19:56,459 even after years. 234 00:19:57,540 –> 00:19:59,880 Now that reminds us of this very important truth 235 00:19:59,880 –> 00:20:02,739 that if a person is to come to know God, 236 00:20:02,739 –> 00:20:04,140 two things must happen. 237 00:20:04,140 –> 00:20:06,520 One is that God must make himself known, 238 00:20:06,520 –> 00:20:10,359 which he has done in the sending of his son into the world. 239 00:20:10,359 –> 00:20:14,380 But second, we need God to give us the ability 240 00:20:14,400 –> 00:20:18,780 to see what he has made known in Jesus. 241 00:20:19,939 –> 00:20:21,599 Now that very important truth of course 242 00:20:21,599 –> 00:20:24,780 is written all over the Christmas story. 243 00:20:25,739 –> 00:20:30,739 How in the world could shepherds out in the fields 244 00:20:30,760 –> 00:20:33,119 keeping watch over their flocks by night, 245 00:20:33,119 –> 00:20:35,739 how could they ever have known 246 00:20:35,739 –> 00:20:39,040 that a baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem 247 00:20:39,040 –> 00:20:43,040 was actually God manifested in the flesh? 248 00:20:43,040 –> 00:20:44,780 There’s only one answer to that question. 249 00:20:44,780 –> 00:20:48,380 How could they know God told them? 250 00:20:48,380 –> 00:20:50,219 So in order for them to come to know, 251 00:20:50,219 –> 00:20:51,800 it needed not only that God would come 252 00:20:51,800 –> 00:20:53,819 into the world in Christ but that God will reveal 253 00:20:53,819 –> 00:20:55,660 what he had done in Jesus Christ 254 00:20:55,660 –> 00:20:57,939 and that he did through the angels 255 00:20:57,939 –> 00:21:00,040 who appeared to the shepherds who said, 256 00:21:00,040 –> 00:21:02,979 do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy 257 00:21:02,979 –> 00:21:04,819 that will be for all people to you. 258 00:21:04,819 –> 00:21:07,180 Is born this day in the city of David 259 00:21:07,180 –> 00:21:09,119 a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 260 00:21:09,119 –> 00:21:10,719 This is gonna be a sign to you, 261 00:21:10,719 –> 00:21:13,459 you will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes 262 00:21:13,459 –> 00:21:14,780 and lying in the manger. 263 00:21:14,780 –> 00:21:16,280 And when the angels left, 264 00:21:16,280 –> 00:21:19,079 the shepherd said let us go to Bethlehem 265 00:21:19,079 –> 00:21:21,040 and see this thing that has happened 266 00:21:21,040 –> 00:21:25,540 which the Lord has made known to us. 267 00:21:27,579 –> 00:21:29,040 If the Lord hadn’t made it known to them, 268 00:21:29,040 –> 00:21:30,180 they would have spent the whole night, 269 00:21:30,180 –> 00:21:32,060 the next night and the rest of their lives 270 00:21:32,060 –> 00:21:33,479 out on the hills, wouldn’t they? 271 00:21:33,479 –> 00:21:35,380 They’d never have come to know Jesus. 272 00:21:36,880 –> 00:21:38,579 But the Lord made it known to them. 273 00:21:39,520 –> 00:21:41,119 And that’s why they came. 274 00:21:42,859 –> 00:21:45,339 And of course it was the same with the wise men. 275 00:21:46,599 –> 00:21:51,599 How could these kings from remote lands possibly ever 276 00:21:52,479 –> 00:21:56,680 have known where and when the Savior was to be born? 277 00:21:56,680 –> 00:21:59,680 The answer very simply is God told them. 278 00:22:00,660 –> 00:22:04,040 He sent a star to guide them. 279 00:22:04,040 –> 00:22:07,560 It went Matthew tells us before them, 280 00:22:07,560 –> 00:22:12,560 until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 281 00:22:15,199 –> 00:22:17,760 Now, these are not just features of the Christmas story, 282 00:22:17,760 –> 00:22:20,880 this is a theme that runs right through the gospel 283 00:22:20,880 –> 00:22:22,920 and applies directly to our own knowledge 284 00:22:22,920 –> 00:22:25,380 of God today which is why it’s so important. 285 00:22:25,380 –> 00:22:27,699 You see the same thing with Simon Peter. 286 00:22:28,680 –> 00:22:30,439 You remember that after the disciples 287 00:22:30,439 –> 00:22:31,819 had been following Jesus, 288 00:22:31,819 –> 00:22:33,140 and remember from the incident 289 00:22:33,199 –> 00:22:36,040 with Philip, that not all of them are seeing clearly 290 00:22:36,040 –> 00:22:39,859 that Jesus is indeed God in the flesh. 291 00:22:39,859 –> 00:22:41,439 But there was an occasion, 292 00:22:41,439 –> 00:22:44,260 at a place called Caesarea Philippi, 293 00:22:44,260 –> 00:22:47,660 where Jesus directly asked the disciples, 294 00:22:47,660 –> 00:22:51,300 who do you say that I am? 295 00:22:52,400 –> 00:22:53,880 And Peter stepped forward, 296 00:22:53,880 –> 00:22:56,300 and in one of his great moments he said 297 00:22:56,300 –> 00:23:01,219 you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 298 00:23:02,199 –> 00:23:04,640 Do you remember what Jesus said to him next? 299 00:23:06,199 –> 00:23:08,359 Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, 300 00:23:09,579 –> 00:23:12,699 flesh and blood has not revealed this to you 301 00:23:12,699 –> 00:23:16,420 but my Father who is in Heaven. 302 00:23:18,219 –> 00:23:20,380 Now friends it’s the same for us. 303 00:23:21,359 –> 00:23:23,640 How can you come to know God? 304 00:23:24,579 –> 00:23:25,760 Two things must happen, 305 00:23:25,760 –> 00:23:29,880 one, God makes himself known in Jesus 306 00:23:29,900 –> 00:23:31,479 and that’s what we celebrate at Christmas, 307 00:23:31,479 –> 00:23:35,859 second, God gives the ability to see 308 00:23:35,859 –> 00:23:39,260 what he has made known in Jesus. 309 00:23:40,739 –> 00:23:43,579 So here’s the problem that our world faces, 310 00:23:43,579 –> 00:23:45,180 Paul puts it this way, 311 00:23:45,180 –> 00:23:50,180 our Gospel is veiled to those who are perishing. 312 00:23:52,119 –> 00:23:54,939 God comes into the world in Jesus Christ, 313 00:23:54,939 –> 00:23:58,180 manifested in the flesh, unveiling his glory 314 00:24:00,699 –> 00:24:02,599 but there’s a blindness in human nature 315 00:24:02,599 –> 00:24:05,760 that can’t see the glory of God, even when it’s revealed. 316 00:24:07,560 –> 00:24:09,040 And what’s the answer to that? 317 00:24:09,040 –> 00:24:10,920 Well, the Apostle Paul puts it this way 318 00:24:10,920 –> 00:24:13,119 in 2 Corinthians chapter four in verse six, 319 00:24:13,119 –> 00:24:16,439 God who makes the light shine out of darkness 320 00:24:16,439 –> 00:24:18,400 or into darkness says, 321 00:24:20,579 –> 00:24:23,839 he makes his light shining into our hearts 322 00:24:24,880 –> 00:24:28,719 to give us the light of the knowledge 323 00:24:28,760 –> 00:24:33,199 of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 324 00:24:35,479 –> 00:24:36,959 That’s how a person becomes a Christian. 325 00:24:36,959 –> 00:24:40,280 God shines a light into the heart 326 00:24:40,280 –> 00:24:44,680 and you begin to see in Jesus what you never saw before, 327 00:24:46,459 –> 00:24:49,119 and every Christian has a personal testimony to that. 328 00:24:51,000 –> 00:24:52,959 Now, does that then mean 329 00:24:53,880 –> 00:24:57,239 that a person who does not yet have 330 00:24:57,300 –> 00:24:59,219 a living relationship with God 331 00:25:00,140 –> 00:25:02,939 needs to just sit around 332 00:25:02,939 –> 00:25:06,560 and wait until God shines the light into their hearts? 333 00:25:06,560 –> 00:25:07,900 Is that the implication? 334 00:25:07,900 –> 00:25:09,020 No. 335 00:25:10,119 –> 00:25:11,660 Listen to these words of Jesus. 336 00:25:11,660 –> 00:25:13,140 They’re very important 337 00:25:13,140 –> 00:25:18,140 on how you can come to know the truth of Jesus Christ, 338 00:25:18,280 –> 00:25:21,400 how you can come to know God in Jesus Christ. 339 00:25:21,400 –> 00:25:24,640 Matthew 11 verses 25 and 26. 340 00:25:24,640 –> 00:25:26,699 Jesus declared, 341 00:25:26,699 –> 00:25:30,859 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, 342 00:25:32,380 –> 00:25:36,500 that you have hidden these things 343 00:25:38,099 –> 00:25:41,060 from the wise and the understanding 344 00:25:41,060 –> 00:25:45,680 and revealed them to little children. 345 00:25:47,599 –> 00:25:52,599 Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 346 00:25:53,260 –> 00:25:57,060 Now, ponder these words with me for a moment 347 00:25:57,060 –> 00:25:59,239 because they are telling us, 348 00:25:59,239 –> 00:26:01,140 this is the Son of God telling us 349 00:26:02,020 –> 00:26:03,939 how we can come to faith, 350 00:26:03,939 –> 00:26:05,699 how we can know, 351 00:26:05,699 –> 00:26:08,920 how the light will come into our hearts. 352 00:26:08,920 –> 00:26:13,079 First the negative, then the positive. 353 00:26:14,000 –> 00:26:15,739 The negative is, it is not 354 00:26:15,739 –> 00:26:19,439 a matter of intellectual ability. 355 00:26:20,439 –> 00:26:22,800 You have hidden these things, 356 00:26:22,800 –> 00:26:27,459 hidden them from the wise and from the understanding. 357 00:26:29,359 –> 00:26:32,880 It is not a matter of intellectual ability. 358 00:26:32,880 –> 00:26:35,739 Friends, that is the greatest good news 359 00:26:37,520 –> 00:26:41,599 because we are all born with very different degrees 360 00:26:41,599 –> 00:26:45,219 of intellectual ability 361 00:26:45,219 –> 00:26:48,959 and if knowing God was a matter of intelligence, 362 00:26:48,979 –> 00:26:52,079 it would be downright unfair 363 00:26:52,079 –> 00:26:54,540 because a few folks would have a huge advantage 364 00:26:54,540 –> 00:26:56,060 over all the rest of us 365 00:26:57,339 –> 00:26:59,760 but Jesus says no, that’s not how it is. 366 00:27:00,680 –> 00:27:04,339 Actually Father, you’ve hidden these things 367 00:27:04,339 –> 00:27:06,300 from the wise and the understanding 368 00:27:06,300 –> 00:27:07,199 which simply means this, 369 00:27:07,199 –> 00:27:09,000 the person who thinks they know it all, 370 00:27:09,000 –> 00:27:10,319 they don’t know it at all. 371 00:27:11,319 –> 00:27:13,239 You never come to a knowledge of the truth 372 00:27:13,239 –> 00:27:14,979 by thinking that you know it all. 373 00:27:15,939 –> 00:27:20,939 Intelligence gives enormous advantages in life 374 00:27:21,979 –> 00:27:24,099 but it gives no advantage whatsoever 375 00:27:24,099 –> 00:27:25,739 when it comes to knowing God. 376 00:27:27,239 –> 00:27:29,780 Coming from a stable in a prosperous family 377 00:27:29,780 –> 00:27:32,260 gives you enormous advantage in life 378 00:27:32,260 –> 00:27:35,260 but it gives you no advantage whatsoever 379 00:27:35,260 –> 00:27:38,819 when it comes to knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. 380 00:27:38,819 –> 00:27:40,939 Here you are brought up in a Christian home, 381 00:27:40,939 –> 00:27:42,619 all of these advantages. 382 00:27:42,619 –> 00:27:43,859 That gives you no advantage 383 00:27:43,859 –> 00:27:46,060 when it comes to the knowledge of the truth. 384 00:27:46,979 –> 00:27:50,020 The danger is that you might become stuck up and arrogant 385 00:27:50,939 –> 00:27:53,339 and think you know it all. 386 00:27:53,339 –> 00:27:54,579 And you know what? 387 00:27:54,579 –> 00:27:56,660 The marvel and the mystery of Jesus Christ 388 00:27:56,660 –> 00:27:59,760 will remain a mystery to you. 389 00:27:59,760 –> 00:28:01,000 That’s a tragedy. 390 00:28:01,900 –> 00:28:02,739 Tragedy. 391 00:28:04,140 –> 00:28:05,959 Think you know it all. 392 00:28:08,579 –> 00:28:09,719 But flip that round, 393 00:28:09,719 –> 00:28:11,300 you may have drawn 394 00:28:11,300 –> 00:28:14,239 the most miserable combination possible 395 00:28:14,239 –> 00:28:15,400 out of the gene pool. 396 00:28:19,280 –> 00:28:22,300 You may have suffered every social, educational, 397 00:28:22,300 –> 00:28:25,300 or economic disadvantage imaginable. 398 00:28:27,660 –> 00:28:30,140 But when it comes to the greatest riches 399 00:28:30,140 –> 00:28:32,040 a person can ever know, 400 00:28:33,339 –> 00:28:38,339 the door of opportunity is wide open for you 401 00:28:38,880 –> 00:28:41,199 on one condition. 402 00:28:42,819 –> 00:28:43,859 And what is that? 403 00:28:43,859 –> 00:28:45,260 Please if we can just show that verse 404 00:28:45,260 –> 00:28:47,579 one more time at this point. 405 00:28:47,579 –> 00:28:52,579 You need to come to God as a little child. 406 00:28:56,180 –> 00:28:58,959 You have hidden these things from the wise 407 00:28:58,959 –> 00:29:02,780 and understanding and revealed them to who? 408 00:29:02,780 –> 00:29:04,000 Little children. 409 00:29:04,780 –> 00:29:08,780 That means that you need to humble yourself 410 00:29:08,780 –> 00:29:11,739 today before God. 411 00:29:14,040 –> 00:29:16,420 That means that if you ever want to know 412 00:29:16,420 –> 00:29:18,699 the greatest truth, the greatest mystery 413 00:29:18,699 –> 00:29:20,579 that has ever happened in the history of the world 414 00:29:20,579 –> 00:29:21,959 if you want to come to know God, 415 00:29:21,959 –> 00:29:24,119 if you want to come to know what he has done 416 00:29:24,119 –> 00:29:26,859 in Jesus Christ and who he is for you, 417 00:29:26,859 –> 00:29:29,079 you’ve got to come with a humility that says 418 00:29:29,079 –> 00:29:30,959 Lord, I need you to teach me. 419 00:29:31,619 –> 00:29:35,000 I don’t have this in and of myself. 420 00:29:36,880 –> 00:29:37,719 How could I? 421 00:29:39,160 –> 00:29:44,160 Humility, dependence, trust, love. 422 00:29:49,680 –> 00:29:52,199 Before an open Bible, 423 00:29:52,199 –> 00:29:56,540 Lord, teach me. 424 00:29:57,060 –> 00:30:00,180 And Jesus says, 425 00:30:00,180 –> 00:30:02,979 this is how the light comes into a heart. 426 00:30:02,979 –> 00:30:03,819 God is for you. 427 00:30:03,819 –> 00:30:06,520 God wants you to come to a knowledge of the truth. 428 00:30:06,520 –> 00:30:09,260 Light will come to you as you come before him 429 00:30:09,260 –> 00:30:11,339 with a humble spirit, 430 00:30:11,339 –> 00:30:14,079 seeking to know what he has revealed in the Scripture 431 00:30:14,079 –> 00:30:17,099 with regards to his son Jesus Christ. 432 00:30:19,859 –> 00:30:22,500 See, Mary captured this powerfully 433 00:30:22,500 –> 00:30:25,939 in her beautiful song that we know is the Magnificat. 434 00:30:26,839 –> 00:30:29,739 Look, chapter 1 verse 51. 435 00:30:29,739 –> 00:30:33,380 Mary uttered these marvelous words. 436 00:30:33,380 –> 00:30:37,180 God has scattered the proud 437 00:30:37,180 –> 00:30:39,780 in the thoughts of their hearts, 438 00:30:39,780 –> 00:30:43,420 but he has exalted those of humble estate. 439 00:30:43,420 –> 00:30:47,540 Scatters the proud, exalts the humble. 440 00:30:47,540 –> 00:30:49,219 You had nothing going for you. 441 00:30:49,219 –> 00:30:51,140 You’ve got the greatest door of opportunity 442 00:30:51,160 –> 00:30:52,420 wide open in front of you 443 00:30:52,420 –> 00:30:54,180 if you will come as a little child 444 00:30:54,180 –> 00:30:57,300 and if you will come in a humble teachable spirit 445 00:30:57,300 –> 00:30:59,900 and allow God himself to teach you through his Word. 446 00:31:01,979 –> 00:31:06,199 Then she says, he has filled the hungry with good things 447 00:31:06,199 –> 00:31:08,939 but the rich he has sent away empty. 448 00:31:08,939 –> 00:31:10,839 In other words, if you think you’ve already got it all, 449 00:31:10,839 –> 00:31:13,060 if you think your life’s just full and fine as it is, 450 00:31:13,060 –> 00:31:14,599 you go away absolutely empty 451 00:31:14,599 –> 00:31:15,520 and you never come to know 452 00:31:15,520 –> 00:31:17,260 what God has done in Jesus Christ. 453 00:31:17,260 –> 00:31:19,660 But if you have a great hunger and thirst in your soul, 454 00:31:19,660 –> 00:31:20,660 Oh God will feed you. 455 00:31:21,400 –> 00:31:22,300 So Paul says, 456 00:31:22,300 –> 00:31:25,160 I will grant you plenty of fruit 457 00:31:25,160 –> 00:31:27,699 in your knowledge untold. 458 00:31:27,699 –> 00:31:31,579 I ll grant you abundant fruit 459 00:31:31,579 –> 00:31:35,140 in the knowledge that you call me master. 460 00:31:44,900 –> 00:31:48,560 Paul had every privilege imaginable in life, 461 00:31:48,680 –> 00:31:52,079 he was manifested in the flesh. 462 00:31:54,079 –> 00:31:58,239 Now, how do we know that he was manifested in the flesh? 463 00:31:58,239 –> 00:32:03,160 How do we know that Jesus really is God with us? 464 00:32:03,199 –> 00:32:04,619 Well, we know it in this way, 465 00:32:04,619 –> 00:32:09,040 that he was vindicated by the Spirit, 466 00:32:09,040 –> 00:32:12,239 vindicated by the Spirit. 467 00:32:12,239 –> 00:32:13,500 And supremely, of course, 468 00:32:13,500 –> 00:32:15,920 Jesus is vindicated by the Spirit 469 00:32:15,920 –> 00:32:19,439 through his resurrection from the dead. 470 00:32:19,439 –> 00:32:22,839 And the resurrection of Jesus also is a mystery, 471 00:32:22,839 –> 00:32:25,079 a secret, that God has revealed, 472 00:32:25,079 –> 00:32:28,359 though its full wonder is still to be made known. 473 00:32:28,359 –> 00:32:31,140 And again, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit 474 00:32:31,140 –> 00:32:33,260 were all actively involved 475 00:32:33,260 –> 00:32:35,439 in the miracle of the resurrection. 476 00:32:35,439 –> 00:32:37,739 It was at the initiative of the Father. 477 00:32:37,739 –> 00:32:40,560 The Father, Paul says in Galatians 1-1, 478 00:32:40,560 –> 00:32:43,599 raised him from the dead. 479 00:32:43,599 –> 00:32:45,439 And yet, it was through the agency 480 00:32:45,479 –> 00:32:48,619 of the Holy Spirit 1-Peter 3 in verse 18 481 00:32:48,619 –> 00:32:50,160 and several other places. 482 00:32:50,160 –> 00:32:52,239 He was put to death in the flesh 483 00:32:52,239 –> 00:32:55,680 and he was made alive in the spirit. 484 00:32:55,680 –> 00:32:59,060 And yet, it was also the work of God the Son himself 485 00:32:59,060 –> 00:33:01,439 because he says in John chapter 10, 486 00:33:01,439 –> 00:33:04,560 I lay down my life and I take it up again. 487 00:33:04,560 –> 00:33:06,359 I have authority to lay it down. 488 00:33:06,359 –> 00:33:08,079 I have authority to take it up. 489 00:33:08,079 –> 00:33:10,199 No one takes my life from me. 490 00:33:11,880 –> 00:33:13,640 And just as in the incarnation, 491 00:33:13,660 –> 00:33:15,579 there are two things that must happen 492 00:33:15,579 –> 00:33:18,500 in order for us to know this wonderful truth, 493 00:33:18,500 –> 00:33:20,780 not only that Christ should be raised from the dead, 494 00:33:20,780 –> 00:33:23,140 but that God should make it known. 495 00:33:23,140 –> 00:33:25,160 How did the women who went to the tomb 496 00:33:26,180 –> 00:33:28,739 know that Jesus was risen from the dead? 497 00:33:30,219 –> 00:33:32,520 Well te answer is God told them. 498 00:33:32,520 –> 00:33:33,439 God told them. 499 00:33:34,300 –> 00:33:36,239 Of course, we’re surrounded by a kind of idea 500 00:33:36,239 –> 00:33:37,560 that people keep coming up with, 501 00:33:37,560 –> 00:33:39,819 oh, this was just the apostles’ way of coming up with, 502 00:33:39,819 –> 00:33:42,520 you know, this is how we can have a power base 503 00:33:42,560 –> 00:33:44,140 and so they developed this story. 504 00:33:44,140 –> 00:33:45,880 No, it would never have entered their head 505 00:33:45,880 –> 00:33:47,180 if God had not told them. 506 00:33:48,199 –> 00:33:49,040 He is not here. 507 00:33:50,900 –> 00:33:51,800 He is risen. 508 00:33:54,160 –> 00:33:56,640 Now let me end on this point just very briefly. 509 00:33:56,640 –> 00:33:58,479 How does this help us to be godly? 510 00:33:58,479 –> 00:34:02,599 Do you see how great is the love of God for you? 511 00:34:04,260 –> 00:34:08,820 And do you see how a new and different life is possible 512 00:34:08,820 –> 00:34:11,959 the more you see the greatness of Jesus Christ 513 00:34:11,959 –> 00:34:14,280 and the mystery and the wonder of who he is 514 00:34:14,280 –> 00:34:17,479 manifested in the flesh and vindicated by the Spirit, 515 00:34:17,479 –> 00:34:20,580 the more deeply you are going to have confidence 516 00:34:20,580 –> 00:34:24,800 that you can in fact change and grow into his likeness 517 00:34:24,800 –> 00:34:27,679 in as much as he lives in you. 518 00:34:27,679 –> 00:34:29,360 He lives in you. 519 00:34:30,760 –> 00:34:32,080 And I want us to remember this 520 00:34:32,080 –> 00:34:34,320 especially from this morning, 521 00:34:34,320 –> 00:34:37,060 that you will be helped in your pursuit of godliness 522 00:34:37,060 –> 00:34:39,179 from the knowledge that the Savior, 523 00:34:39,179 –> 00:34:41,179 God manifested in the flesh, 524 00:34:41,199 –> 00:34:42,739 he really does know you. 525 00:34:43,879 –> 00:34:47,100 When you’re tempted Jesus can say, I’ve been there. 526 00:34:48,020 –> 00:34:52,080 When you grieve, Jesus can say, I’ve been there too. 527 00:34:53,659 –> 00:34:57,000 If you have conflict in your family, 528 00:34:57,000 –> 00:34:58,320 Jesus has been there. 529 00:34:59,899 –> 00:35:04,020 And if you are lonely, Jesus has been there too. 530 00:35:04,020 –> 00:35:06,179 He knows life in the flesh. 531 00:35:07,340 –> 00:35:09,780 If you’ve been let down by a trusted friend, 532 00:35:09,780 –> 00:35:11,260 Jesus has been there. 533 00:35:11,260 –> 00:35:13,639 If you feel overwhelmed by the pressure 534 00:35:13,639 –> 00:35:15,479 of what God is calling you to do, 535 00:35:15,479 –> 00:35:17,239 well Jesus has been there too. 536 00:35:19,120 –> 00:35:23,500 If you have been abused, Jesus has been there. 537 00:35:25,199 –> 00:35:27,820 If you should find yourself in great darkness 538 00:35:27,820 –> 00:35:30,600 and loose all sense of the love of God 539 00:35:31,600 –> 00:35:34,620 and find yourself crying out why? 540 00:35:35,520 –> 00:35:37,399 Jesus has been there too. 541 00:35:38,340 –> 00:35:41,300 He knows the reality of life in the flesh 542 00:35:41,300 –> 00:35:44,580 and therefore this is a Savior to whom you can come. 543 00:35:45,699 –> 00:35:47,520 He’s been tested in every way as we are, 544 00:35:47,520 –> 00:35:50,060 yet without sin, therefore with confidence, 545 00:35:50,060 –> 00:35:52,239 let us come to his throne of grace 546 00:35:52,239 –> 00:35:54,979 and receive from him the mercy we need 547 00:35:54,979 –> 00:35:58,379 to help us in our time of need. 548 00:35:59,459 –> 00:36:03,179 Then I want you to remember this, that your Savior lives. 549 00:36:03,179 –> 00:36:04,479 At the very heart of our faith 550 00:36:04,479 –> 00:36:07,959 is not simply remembering a Jesus from long ago 551 00:36:07,959 –> 00:36:10,820 but living in the power of a resurrected Jesus 552 00:36:10,820 –> 00:36:15,000 who truly is God with us, God at work in us 553 00:36:15,000 –> 00:36:18,959 by the power and presence of his Holy Spirit. 554 00:36:18,959 –> 00:36:22,899 Nothing could be more futile 555 00:36:22,899 –> 00:36:26,919 than to put your trust in a bogus Savior. 556 00:36:27,840 –> 00:36:32,139 But Jesus Christ has been vindicated by the Holy Spirit. 557 00:36:32,179 –> 00:36:34,500 He arose from the dead on the third day 558 00:36:34,500 –> 00:36:39,500 and he says, because I live, you will live also. 559 00:36:42,459 –> 00:36:43,300 I end with this. 560 00:36:43,300 –> 00:36:47,879 The Bible tells us a story about a very godly man 561 00:36:48,360 –> 00:36:50,300 who was tested. 562 00:36:51,179 –> 00:36:55,100 He suffered the loss of what he enjoyed 563 00:36:55,100 –> 00:36:57,860 and of the people that he loved. 564 00:36:58,459 –> 00:37:03,459 And the one remaining person in his life that he loved, 565 00:37:03,899 –> 00:37:08,320 his wife gave up on God. 566 00:37:10,179 –> 00:37:12,360 And she said to him, Job, why don’t you curse God and die? 567 00:37:12,360 –> 00:37:17,360 In other words, she took the view 568 00:37:17,939 –> 00:37:20,760 that since God had taken away the people he loved 569 00:37:20,760 –> 00:37:22,459 and taken away the things that he enjoyed, 570 00:37:22,459 –> 00:37:24,199 what was the point in being godly? 571 00:37:24,459 –> 00:37:29,459 And Job said this, I know that my Redeemer lives 572 00:37:32,260 –> 00:37:35,719 and at the last he will stand upon the earth 573 00:37:36,780 –> 00:37:40,020 and after my skin has thus been destroyed yet 574 00:37:40,020 –> 00:37:44,360 in my flesh I will see God. 575 00:37:46,800 –> 00:37:51,280 Your Savior knows and your Savior lives. 576 00:37:52,199 –> 00:37:55,500 He is God manifested in the flesh, 577 00:37:55,500 –> 00:37:57,419 he was vindicated by the spirit 578 00:37:57,419 –> 00:38:02,419 and one day your faith in him will be vindicated too. 579 00:38:04,600 –> 00:38:08,500 Father help us therefore to press on in godliness 580 00:38:09,399 –> 00:38:13,100 and grant that seeing the wonder of your amazing 581 00:38:13,100 –> 00:38:18,040 and saving love for us and the glory of the Christ 582 00:38:18,120 –> 00:38:21,540 who has come and the Christ who lives. 583 00:38:21,540 –> 00:38:24,479 Grant that we may be greatly strengthened 584 00:38:24,479 –> 00:38:26,199 to love you and to serve you 585 00:38:26,199 –> 00:38:28,840 and to give ourselves back to the love 586 00:38:28,840 –> 00:38:30,560 with which we have been loved, 587 00:38:30,560 –> 00:38:34,439 for these things we ask in Jesus name amen. 588 00:38:37,379 –> 00:38:38,639 You’ve been listening to a sermon 589 00:38:38,639 –> 00:38:41,040 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible 590 00:38:41,040 –> 00:38:46,040 to contact us, call us at 1-877-Open365 591 00:38:46,040 –> 00:38:49,780 or visit our website openthebible.org.