100:00:00,540 –> 00:00:02,000Hold on a second!200:00:03,620 –> 00:00:05,260Now someone may be saying at this point that300:00:05,340 –> 00:00:07,160wait a minute, I have got a question.400:00:07,200 –> 00:00:09,100This isn’t making a whole lot of sense to me500:00:09,180 –> 00:00:13,200because after all, I have come to Christ.600:00:13,200 –> 00:00:15,580I have repented.700:00:15,580 –> 00:00:18,240I have believed.800:00:18,240 –> 00:00:22,260I have taken a step towards God.900:00:22,260 –> 00:00:24,980And so I ask you this question,1000:00:24,980 –> 00:00:29,100how did you come to do that?1100:00:29,180 –> 00:00:31,840Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smyth,1200:00:31,840 –> 00:00:33,799I am David Pick, glad you could join us today.1300:00:33,799 –> 00:00:36,720And Colin, for someone who says I do know Christ,1400:00:36,779 –> 00:00:38,820I have repented and believed,1500:00:38,860 –> 00:00:41,299I have taken that step towards God,1600:00:41,299 –> 00:00:43,380why are you asking that question?1700:00:43,459 –> 00:00:45,639How did you come to do that?1800:00:45,639 –> 00:00:47,740Well, you know, the Bible says that we are dead1900:00:47,740 –> 00:00:49,680in trespasses and sins and the question is2000:00:49,720 –> 00:00:51,299if you are dead in trespasses and sins,2100:00:51,320 –> 00:00:52,799how are you going to make a decision2200:00:52,820 –> 00:00:54,220to become a follower of Christ?2300:00:54,259 –> 00:00:56,459Dead people don’t get up and start walking around.2400:00:56,560 –> 00:00:58,220There is an illustration2500:00:58,939 –> 00:01:01,540that’s really eye opening for so many people.2600:01:01,660 –> 00:01:04,339You introduced us to a mannequin…2700:01:04,400 –> 00:01:06,019Yes, we have a mannequin,2800:01:06,059 –> 00:01:08,500which for some reason, is lying around the church.2900:01:08,500 –> 00:01:10,339So we pulled him out of the cupboard3000:01:10,360 –> 00:01:12,320and put him up on the platform3100:01:12,320 –> 00:01:14,519so that I could ask him to do some things3200:01:14,559 –> 00:01:17,019and he turned out to be rather unresponsive.3300:01:17,059 –> 00:01:18,260He wasn’t very helpful,3400:01:18,339 –> 00:01:20,779but very helpful in your illustration.3500:01:20,779 –> 00:01:23,300So the mannequin is not alive.3600:01:23,419 –> 00:01:26,260How does he help us understand this truth?3700:01:26,419 –> 00:01:28,000Well, it shows us the miracle3800:01:28,000 –> 00:01:29,800of what it is to have new life in Christ.3900:01:29,860 –> 00:01:32,779You were dead in trespasses and sins,4000:01:32,800 –> 00:01:36,400but God has made you alive in Jesus Christ.4100:01:36,459 –> 00:01:37,160That’s a miracle.4200:01:37,220 –> 00:01:38,580It means that to become a Christian4300:01:38,580 –> 00:01:39,940is more than a decision.4400:01:40,419 –> 00:01:43,139It is a work of God, a miracle of grace.4500:01:43,160 –> 00:01:45,139That’s true of every believer.4600:01:45,239 –> 00:01:47,779God has done a miracle of grace in you4700:01:47,879 –> 00:01:49,660and to understand it is wonderful.4800:01:49,940 –> 00:01:51,940So join us today if you can4900:01:51,940 –> 00:01:53,519in Ephesians chapter two5000:01:53,599 –> 00:01:55,160as we begin a message,5100:01:55,160 –> 00:01:56,260Dead Men Walking.5200:01:56,339 –> 00:01:58,000Here is Pastor Colin.5300:01:58,760 –> 00:02:00,879Well, I described at the beginning of our series5400:02:00,940 –> 00:02:02,180the inside story5500:02:02,239 –> 00:02:03,139that this was really going to be5600:02:03,139 –> 00:02:04,820a little bit like a triathlon.5700:02:04,820 –> 00:02:05,660You know what that is.5800:02:05,660 –> 00:02:06,459It’s one event.5900:02:06,500 –> 00:02:07,419It’s three parts6000:02:07,699 –> 00:02:08,940and each of the parts6100:02:08,940 –> 00:02:10,919look and feel very different indeed.6200:02:11,500 –> 00:02:13,179Our aim is that we will6300:02:13,179 –> 00:02:15,259try to discover what the Bible has to say6400:02:15,339 –> 00:02:17,899about the inside story of human life.6500:02:18,440 –> 00:02:20,119Why is the world as it is?6600:02:20,679 –> 00:02:22,720Then that we will look at the inside story6700:02:22,740 –> 00:02:23,779of the Christian life.6800:02:23,880 –> 00:02:26,460Why is my experience as a Christian as it is?6900:02:27,279 –> 00:02:28,399And then in the third part7000:02:28,419 –> 00:02:29,940that we will look at the inside story7100:02:29,940 –> 00:02:31,399of our future life.7200:02:31,600 –> 00:02:33,399What lies ahead of every person7300:02:33,399 –> 00:02:35,740who has ever lived in the eternal future7400:02:36,020 –> 00:02:38,160that Christ has come to reveal?7500:02:38,800 –> 00:02:40,399Now today we actually complete7600:02:40,399 –> 00:02:42,460the first stage of the journey.7700:02:42,600 –> 00:02:44,240We’ve been asking the question7800:02:44,320 –> 00:02:46,919why is the world as it is today?7900:02:47,080 –> 00:02:49,479Why is it after all these years of human history8000:02:50,039 –> 00:02:51,539that we have not yet established8100:02:51,539 –> 00:02:53,639a world in which there is peace and justice8200:02:53,660 –> 00:02:54,240for all?8300:02:54,279 –> 00:02:55,059Why do we still have war?8400:02:55,059 –> 00:02:56,559Why do we still have the breakdown8500:02:56,639 –> 00:02:58,559of families and so forth and so on?8600:02:58,619 –> 00:03:00,039Where does all of this come from?8700:03:01,199 –> 00:03:02,899And we’re trying to set in place8800:03:02,899 –> 00:03:04,979some major building blocks8900:03:05,000 –> 00:03:07,000for understanding the Christian faith.9000:03:08,000 –> 00:03:09,539And we began here9100:03:09,839 –> 00:03:11,119with the Bible telling us9200:03:11,139 –> 00:03:13,220that God created Adam upright9300:03:13,240 –> 00:03:15,220but that men have gone in search9400:03:15,279 –> 00:03:16,800of many schemes.9500:03:17,300 –> 00:03:18,979We learned that every child born9600:03:19,000 –> 00:03:19,759into the world,9700:03:19,759 –> 00:03:21,639in every generation since Adam,9800:03:21,800 –> 00:03:23,440bears the enigma9900:03:23,440 –> 00:03:24,440of a double image.10000:03:24,460 –> 00:03:26,179In other words you are born10100:03:26,199 –> 00:03:27,360in the image of God10200:03:27,479 –> 00:03:29,619and that gives your life unique dignity10300:03:29,639 –> 00:03:30,759value and worth.10400:03:31,399 –> 00:03:33,320But it is also true of every one of us10500:03:33,339 –> 00:03:35,059that we are born in the image of our father10600:03:35,059 –> 00:03:36,639and our mother that it goes all the way back10700:03:36,639 –> 00:03:38,000to Adam and to Eve.10800:03:38,059 –> 00:03:39,639And what that means is that we10900:03:39,660 –> 00:03:41,339also are sinners by nature11000:03:41,339 –> 00:03:42,520and by practice.11100:03:43,080 –> 00:03:44,759We’ve been in Ephesians chapter two11200:03:44,759 –> 00:03:46,419and I hope you’ll have your Bible open there11300:03:46,419 –> 00:03:47,500again today.11400:03:47,679 –> 00:03:49,800And we saw this very clearly in Ephesians11500:03:49,800 –> 00:03:51,0592 verse 3.11600:03:51,399 –> 00:03:53,320All of us lived among them11700:03:53,320 –> 00:03:55,399at one time gratifying11800:03:55,399 –> 00:03:57,539the cravings of our sinful nature.11900:03:58,020 –> 00:04:00,539In other words by nature by birth12000:04:00,899 –> 00:04:02,960at one time it was true of every person12100:04:02,960 –> 00:04:05,720that we were primarily about ourselves.12200:04:06,679 –> 00:04:09,000And then last week we looked at the consequence12300:04:09,000 –> 00:04:10,259of this in verse three.12400:04:10,520 –> 00:04:12,559Like the rest we were by12500:04:12,559 –> 00:04:14,100nature children12600:04:14,720 –> 00:04:15,860of wrath.12700:04:16,399 –> 00:04:18,359So here is what God says about our12800:04:18,359 –> 00:04:19,920condition by nature.12900:04:20,200 –> 00:04:22,040Here is the Biblical explanation of13000:04:22,040 –> 00:04:23,940why the world is as it is13100:04:24,519 –> 00:04:26,540by nature we are sinners from13200:04:26,540 –> 00:04:27,220birth.13300:04:27,720 –> 00:04:30,100By nature we are children13400:04:30,100 –> 00:04:31,079of wrath13500:04:31,399 –> 00:04:33,640and that is the insights story13600:04:33,679 –> 00:04:36,140of human life.13700:04:37,140 –> 00:04:39,040You may remember if you were here that last13800:04:39,040 –> 00:04:41,119week we used a simple parable13900:04:41,200 –> 00:04:43,640the parable of the biggest problem14000:04:43,799 –> 00:04:45,760and we told this story14100:04:45,760 –> 00:04:47,820about a man who comes to see a pastor14200:04:47,820 –> 00:04:49,660because he wants to be more generous.14300:04:50,000 –> 00:04:51,880It soon emerges that the real problem14400:04:51,880 –> 00:04:53,739of his money isn’t his generosity it’s14500:04:53,760 –> 00:04:55,559the fact that he’s rated two million dollars14600:04:55,559 –> 00:04:57,079from his company’s pension fund14700:04:57,399 –> 00:04:59,399and does the pastor is trying to help him face14800:04:59,399 –> 00:05:01,500up to what the implications of this are14900:05:01,640 –> 00:05:02,679and what he must do.15000:05:02,799 –> 00:05:04,660The caretaker of the church comes15100:05:04,660 –> 00:05:05,160bursting in15200:05:05,179 –> 00:05:06,799and saying there’s a bomb in the building15300:05:06,799 –> 00:05:08,760and suddenly there’s another problem15400:05:08,859 –> 00:05:10,179that’s even bigger15500:05:10,200 –> 00:05:11,679and more immediate still.15600:05:12,959 –> 00:05:14,899Now today we are coming to the15700:05:14,899 –> 00:05:15,279third15800:05:15,279 –> 00:05:16,380and the last step15900:05:16,380 –> 00:05:18,279in us grasping16000:05:18,339 –> 00:05:20,720the scale of the human problem16100:05:21,160 –> 00:05:22,959and I fear that some of you might16200:05:22,959 –> 00:05:24,779just be at the point of saying oh please not16300:05:24,779 –> 00:05:25,420again.16400:05:25,640 –> 00:05:27,540You know first you tell us that we are sinners by16500:05:27,540 –> 00:05:29,200nature then you tell us it’s worse we are16600:05:29,200 –> 00:05:30,320children of wrath16700:05:30,320 –> 00:05:32,320and now you’re telling us there’s something even16800:05:32,320 –> 00:05:33,660worse well I’m afraid so16900:05:33,660 –> 00:05:35,160but this is it folks.17000:05:35,459 –> 00:05:37,260I hope you have your Bible open at Ephesians17100:05:37,260 –> 00:05:37,880chapter 217200:05:37,880 –> 00:05:39,600in verse one here’s the biggest problem17300:05:39,600 –> 00:05:40,299of all.17400:05:41,359 –> 00:05:43,160As for you17500:05:44,399 –> 00:05:46,040you where17600:05:46,720 –> 00:05:47,420dead17700:05:48,220 –> 00:05:48,959dead17800:05:50,119 –> 00:05:50,679dead17900:05:51,679 –> 00:05:54,859in your transgressions18000:05:55,799 –> 00:05:56,760and sins.18100:05:57,399 –> 00:06:00,040Now do you see immediately why I say that this18200:06:00,040 –> 00:06:02,440is this is the capstone as it were on18300:06:02,440 –> 00:06:04,000the problem this is the this is the18400:06:04,000 –> 00:06:05,559biggest dimension of all.18500:06:06,480 –> 00:06:08,739By nature we are sinners from birth that’s18600:06:08,739 –> 00:06:09,559one thing18700:06:10,000 –> 00:06:11,959by nature we are children of wrath18800:06:11,959 –> 00:06:13,179that’s another thing18900:06:13,679 –> 00:06:15,200but now here we’re discovering19000:06:15,200 –> 00:06:17,679from the Bible that by nature we can do19100:06:17,679 –> 00:06:19,679nothing to change our own position19200:06:19,760 –> 00:06:22,019that’s the capstone that’s the worst of all19300:06:23,920 –> 00:06:26,399now I want to pledge with you to take19400:06:26,399 –> 00:06:27,040the Bible19500:06:27,040 –> 00:06:30,160seriously as we look at the scripture19600:06:30,160 –> 00:06:30,940today19700:06:31,760 –> 00:06:34,559for some of us we will struggle even as19800:06:34,559 –> 00:06:35,940soon as it’s read19900:06:36,239 –> 00:06:37,760and you might find yourself struggling20000:06:37,760 –> 00:06:39,279for the next half hour or so20100:06:39,279 –> 00:06:40,820I urge you to struggle20200:06:41,200 –> 00:06:42,959I urge you to struggle and to place20300:06:42,959 –> 00:06:44,720yourself under the Bible20400:06:44,720 –> 00:06:47,200even if it is reshaping what you have20500:06:47,200 –> 00:06:47,839thought up20600:06:47,839 –> 00:06:50,320until today20700:06:51,279 –> 00:06:54,000the Bible does not say here that you20800:06:54,000 –> 00:06:54,480were20900:06:54,480 –> 00:06:56,619trapped in your sins21000:06:57,760 –> 00:06:59,679see we spoke a few weeks ago about21100:06:59,679 –> 00:07:01,279the story of Aaron Ralston21200:07:01,279 –> 00:07:03,920you remember that guy from Indiana who21300:07:03,920 –> 00:07:05,200was out in Utah21400:07:05,200 –> 00:07:07,059and he’s exploring a canyon on his own21500:07:07,059 –> 00:07:08,480and he gets his arm21600:07:08,480 –> 00:07:11,519trapped underneath a falling rock21700:07:11,519 –> 00:07:12,839and he’s there for21800:07:12,839 –> 00:07:15,519127 hours21900:07:16,239 –> 00:07:18,079and he keeps hoping that someone will22000:07:18,079 –> 00:07:20,160come and help him but nobody does22100:07:20,160 –> 00:07:22,559and in the end after 127 hours when no22200:07:22,559 –> 00:07:24,559one is there and he loses hope of that22300:07:24,559 –> 00:07:26,559he decides the only thing he can do is22400:07:26,559 –> 00:07:27,119to take22500:07:27,119 –> 00:07:29,760radical personal surgery to get himself22600:07:29,760 –> 00:07:30,959out of the situation22700:07:30,959 –> 00:07:34,480he cuts off his own arm to save22800:07:34,480 –> 00:07:36,320his own life22900:07:36,320 –> 00:07:38,559it is an extraordinary story a man who23000:07:38,559 –> 00:07:39,279is23100:07:39,279 –> 00:07:41,700trapped in a canyon23200:07:41,700 –> 00:07:44,820may be able even after23300:07:45,059 –> 00:07:48,100127 hours to take some drastic action to23400:07:48,100 –> 00:07:50,500find an extreme way to get himself out23500:07:50,500 –> 00:07:52,420even if it pushes him to the limit of23600:07:52,420 –> 00:07:55,140personal pain23700:07:55,459 –> 00:07:57,779but a man who is dead in a canyon is in23800:07:57,779 –> 00:08:00,980a different position right23900:08:01,619 –> 00:08:05,299there is no hope for him he cannot move24000:08:05,299 –> 00:08:08,420he cannot feel he cannot24100:08:08,420 –> 00:08:12,100act we all use the phrase while there’s24200:08:12,100 –> 00:08:13,540life there’s24300:08:13,540 –> 00:08:16,100hope but you see where there’s death24400:08:16,100 –> 00:08:18,339there’s no hope is there24500:08:18,339 –> 00:08:22,739there’s no hope at all life is gone24600:08:22,739 –> 00:08:25,299and the situation of death is one that24700:08:25,299 –> 00:08:26,100speaks of24800:08:26,100 –> 00:08:29,380absolute complete total and utter24900:08:29,380 –> 00:08:32,340hopelessness in terms of any ability to25000:08:32,340 –> 00:08:34,260alter the situation at all think about25100:08:34,260 –> 00:08:34,659it25200:08:34,659 –> 00:08:38,020if a man falls in a pit you can throw25300:08:38,020 –> 00:08:39,299him a rope25400:08:39,299 –> 00:08:40,900and he can grab onto the rope and you25500:08:40,900 –> 00:08:42,900can pull him out but if the man is25600:08:42,900 –> 00:08:45,219dead in the pit25700:08:45,219 –> 00:08:48,580then the rope is of no value to him25800:08:48,580 –> 00:08:52,340whatsoever25900:08:52,340 –> 00:08:53,940now i thought about all this business26000:08:53,940 –> 00:08:55,940of being dead and thought well you know26100:08:55,940 –> 00:08:58,260maybe if we had a corpse in the church26200:08:58,260 –> 00:08:59,780that would kind of help illustrate this26300:08:59,780 –> 00:09:02,099then i thought of one or two problems26400:09:02,099 –> 00:09:04,020in relation to the practicalities of26500:09:04,020 –> 00:09:05,059doing that so26600:09:05,059 –> 00:09:06,900let me introduce you instead to my26700:09:06,900 –> 00:09:07,859friend here26800:09:07,859 –> 00:09:10,500mannie mannie the mannequin we’ve26900:09:10,500 –> 00:09:12,500become good friends over these27000:09:12,500 –> 00:09:14,739last weeks and and you can see here what27100:09:14,739 –> 00:09:16,500a fine fellow manny is27200:09:16,500 –> 00:09:18,500and how very respectable and obviously27300:09:18,500 –> 00:09:19,700he’s lived a very27400:09:19,700 –> 00:09:22,020prosperous and successful life it looks27500:09:22,020 –> 00:09:23,940magnificent i would say would you not27600:09:23,940 –> 00:09:25,219agree and27700:09:25,219 –> 00:09:28,820very very sharp rather large feet but27800:09:28,820 –> 00:09:31,940uh you know27900:09:32,020 –> 00:09:34,179i come to manny if you’ll put up with my28000:09:34,179 –> 00:09:36,099foolishness for a minute and i say you28100:09:36,099 –> 00:09:38,419know manny28200:09:38,419 –> 00:09:40,659it’s really important my friend that you28300:09:40,659 –> 00:09:42,260live a life that28400:09:42,260 –> 00:09:44,979honours god28500:09:44,979 –> 00:09:48,340the 10 commandments manny the sermon on28600:09:48,340 –> 00:09:50,979the mount manny28700:09:50,979 –> 00:09:52,900love God with all your heart manny love28800:09:52,900 –> 00:09:54,340your neighbor as yourself28900:09:54,340 –> 00:09:59,940manny not very responsive this guy is he29000:09:59,940 –> 00:10:05,380not much comes from him he’s lifeless29100:10:05,380 –> 00:10:09,780he’s dead he does not have the capacity29200:10:09,780 –> 00:10:12,179to do what i’m talking to him about can’t29300:10:12,179 –> 00:10:14,340even hear it29400:10:14,340 –> 00:10:18,179suppose i say to him in my29500:10:18,179 –> 00:10:21,460desire that my friend here becomes a29600:10:21,460 –> 00:10:23,299christian i say to him29700:10:23,299 –> 00:10:27,780now manny god helps them that helps29800:10:27,780 –> 00:10:29,539themselves you ever heard that phrase by29900:10:29,539 –> 00:10:31,380the way30000:10:31,380 –> 00:10:33,780manny god god helps them that helps30100:10:33,780 –> 00:10:35,780themselves and god is very gracious and30200:10:35,780 –> 00:10:37,619god is very kind and you got some stuff30300:10:37,619 –> 00:10:39,140wrong in your life manny as i30400:10:39,140 –> 00:10:41,940i got stuff wrong in my life but here’s30500:10:41,940 –> 00:10:43,700what you need to do because god is very30600:10:43,700 –> 00:10:44,739gracious and kind30700:10:44,739 –> 00:10:46,340you gotta take the first step towards30800:10:46,340 –> 00:10:47,859god now come on manny let’s go30900:10:47,859 –> 00:10:51,299take the first step towards god31000:10:51,700 –> 00:10:53,380manny ain’t gonna take the first step31100:10:53,380 –> 00:10:55,940towards god is he31200:10:55,940 –> 00:11:01,380he’s dead there’s no life in him31300:11:01,460 –> 00:11:04,020now friends forgive my foolishness i31400:11:04,020 –> 00:11:04,820want you to31500:11:04,820 –> 00:11:07,219think about this what the bible that’s31600:11:07,219 –> 00:11:08,820open in front of you is31700:11:08,900 –> 00:11:12,340saying it’s not saying that the problem31800:11:12,340 –> 00:11:14,979for the sinner is that he’s weak31900:11:14,979 –> 00:11:16,820it’s not saying that the problem for the32000:11:16,820 –> 00:11:18,340sinner is that he can’t make up his mind32100:11:18,340 –> 00:11:19,859whether he wants to come to christ or32200:11:19,859 –> 00:11:21,780not32300:11:21,780 –> 00:11:24,020what it’s saying is that the problem at32400:11:24,020 –> 00:11:26,340its root for the sinner32500:11:26,340 –> 00:11:30,340is that he is dead towards god32600:11:30,340 –> 00:11:32,500he’s alive in this world he’s socially32700:11:32,500 –> 00:11:34,260engaged he can be at church and he can32800:11:34,260 –> 00:11:35,619sing and all the rest of it32900:11:35,619 –> 00:11:37,940but at root the problem for the sinner33000:11:37,940 –> 00:11:38,979is this he is33100:11:38,979 –> 00:11:42,260dead towards god he can’t act he can’t33200:11:42,260 –> 00:11:42,739feel33300:11:42,739 –> 00:11:45,219he can’t move he is without hope and33400:11:45,219 –> 00:11:47,140that is why it says in the same chapter33500:11:47,140 –> 00:11:48,340in verse 1233600:11:48,340 –> 00:11:51,940you were without hope you gotta take33700:11:51,940 –> 00:11:52,900that seriously33800:11:52,900 –> 00:11:55,140you were without hope and you were33900:11:55,140 –> 00:11:56,099without34000:11:56,099 –> 00:12:00,500god in the world34100:12:01,460 –> 00:12:03,299now i have to tell you and this is why34200:12:03,299 –> 00:12:05,380i say some of us will be st Ruglyng even34300:12:05,380 –> 00:12:06,419right now34400:12:06,419 –> 00:12:09,539that no doctrine is more offensive to34500:12:09,539 –> 00:12:11,380the sinner than this34600:12:11,380 –> 00:12:14,419even the wrath of god causes less34700:12:14,419 –> 00:12:17,140offense than this34800:12:17,140 –> 00:12:20,260no matter how hard a problem is34900:12:20,260 –> 00:12:23,059a man will feel good about himself if he35000:12:23,059 –> 00:12:26,659thinks he has the ability to tackle it35100:12:26,659 –> 00:12:28,659so tell me that i have a sinful nature35200:12:28,659 –> 00:12:31,700and i’ll tell you i’ll fight it35300:12:31,700 –> 00:12:33,539tell me that i’m liable to the wrath of35400:12:33,539 –> 00:12:35,460god and i’ll tell you i’ll live a life35500:12:35,460 –> 00:12:38,979that will win god’s admiration35600:12:38,979 –> 00:12:42,260but if you tell me that i am dead that35700:12:42,260 –> 00:12:42,900there is35800:12:42,900 –> 00:12:45,219nothing that i can do about my own35900:12:45,219 –> 00:12:46,979position you insult36000:12:46,979 –> 00:12:52,099me and i will not accept your doctrine36100:12:52,099 –> 00:12:53,700and you have friends with the bible open36200:12:53,700 –> 00:12:55,700in front of us do you not see that is36300:12:55,700 –> 00:12:57,940exactly the teaching of the bible if36400:12:57,940 –> 00:12:59,219we’re prepared to take the words of36500:12:59,219 –> 00:13:02,820scripture seriously36600:13:02,820 –> 00:13:04,659see this is important because many36700:13:04,659 –> 00:13:06,260church people have bought36800:13:06,260 –> 00:13:08,580into a view of sin that goes something36900:13:08,580 –> 00:13:10,739like this37000:13:10,739 –> 00:13:12,979well we all mess up in various ways37100:13:12,979 –> 00:13:14,659nobody’s perfect37200:13:14,659 –> 00:13:17,859we all have our problems but god is37300:13:17,859 –> 00:13:19,539gracious and god is kind and if we’re37400:13:19,539 –> 00:13:21,059sorry and want to do better he will37500:13:21,059 –> 00:13:21,700forgive us37600:13:21,700 –> 00:13:24,820and help us and jesus made all that37700:13:24,820 –> 00:13:27,299possible37800:13:28,099 –> 00:13:31,219friend if that is what you think the37900:13:31,219 –> 00:13:33,940problem is38000:13:33,940 –> 00:13:35,700you will never think that salvation is38100:13:35,700 –> 00:13:38,419that big a deal38200:13:38,419 –> 00:13:40,340if that is the size of the problem38300:13:40,340 –> 00:13:42,900jesus christ will not seem to you to be38400:13:42,900 –> 00:13:45,460a great saviour38500:13:45,460 –> 00:13:48,179you really want38600:13:48,340 –> 00:13:50,260and what i’m wanting us to grasp from38700:13:50,260 –> 00:13:51,619the bible as we have38800:13:51,619 –> 00:13:53,299made our way through the first part of38900:13:53,299 –> 00:13:54,419this series39000:13:54,419 –> 00:13:56,179is that the wrong things that we have39100:13:56,179 –> 00:13:58,340done in our lives are only the tip of39200:13:58,340 –> 00:13:59,700the iceberg39300:13:59,700 –> 00:14:02,659here’s the bible’s doctrine of sin try39400:14:02,659 –> 00:14:03,780and get this clear in39500:14:03,780 –> 00:14:05,780your mind it will be a building block39600:14:05,780 –> 00:14:07,700for understanding the christian faith39700:14:07,700 –> 00:14:09,700what’s the bible doctrine of sin by39800:14:09,700 –> 00:14:10,659nature39900:14:10,659 –> 00:14:13,539we are sinners from birth by nature we40000:14:13,539 –> 00:14:14,900are children of wrath40100:14:14,900 –> 00:14:17,700by nature we cannot change our own40200:14:17,700 –> 00:14:18,419position40300:14:18,419 –> 00:14:21,140by nature therefore we’re completely40400:14:21,140 –> 00:14:21,940hopeless40500:14:21,940 –> 00:14:25,940that is the inside story of the human40600:14:25,940 –> 00:14:28,500life you’re listening to open the bible40700:14:28,500 –> 00:14:30,179with pastor collins smith and we have to40800:14:30,179 –> 00:14:31,539pause the message40900:14:31,539 –> 00:14:33,460there but we’ll be back very shortly so41000:14:33,460 –> 00:14:35,380please do stay with us41100:14:35,380 –> 00:14:38,179message is called dead men walking and41200:14:38,179 –> 00:14:40,099it’s part of the series at the inside41300:14:40,099 –> 00:14:42,020story of human life41400:14:42,020 –> 00:14:43,859if you’ve missed any of the messages in41500:14:43,859 –> 00:14:46,260the series you can easily catch up or go41600:14:46,260 –> 00:14:48,099back and listen again by coming to our41700:14:48,099 –> 00:14:48,979website41800:14:48,979 –> 00:14:52,179that’s at openthebible.org.uk41900:14:52,179 –> 00:14:55,140or if you prefer find it as a podcast42000:14:55,140 –> 00:14:57,140that’s on all the main podcast sites and42100:14:57,140 –> 00:14:58,979you can find it by searching for42200:14:58,979 –> 00:15:00,179open the bible42300:15:00,500 –> 00:15:04,179uk or by following a link from our website42400:15:04,179 –> 00:15:06,500open the Bible is supported by our many42500:15:06,500 –> 00:15:07,380listeners42600:15:07,380 –> 00:15:09,539and if you’re one of them thank you so42700:15:09,539 –> 00:15:10,580much42800:15:10,580 –> 00:15:13,219it’s not just the radio program the42900:15:13,219 –> 00:15:15,059website and podcast that you’re43000:15:15,059 –> 00:15:16,179supporting43100:15:16,179 –> 00:15:17,940here’s open the bibles executive43200:15:17,940 –> 00:15:19,380director john martin43300:15:19,380 –> 00:15:21,539well david it’s great to be with you and43400:15:21,539 –> 00:15:22,659share more about43500:15:22,659 –> 00:15:25,700open the bible’s impact across the UK43600:15:25,700 –> 00:15:27,539the ministry across the UK continues to43700:15:27,539 –> 00:15:28,020grow43800:15:28,059 –> 00:15:30,780since the beginning of 2026 our online43900:15:30,780 –> 00:15:32,299reach has doubled44000:15:32,299 –> 00:15:34,099we’ve also enjoyed pastor colin44100:15:34,099 –> 00:15:36,140speaking at significant events44200:15:36,140 –> 00:15:37,900and we’ve expanded our ministry with44300:15:37,900 –> 00:15:40,059prisons and other marginalized groups44400:15:40,059 –> 00:15:42,940it’s very exciting44500:15:42,940 –> 00:15:46,059let me tell you a story from england44600:15:46,059 –> 00:15:48,299we have this one hour film of the story44700:15:48,299 –> 00:15:49,900of the thief on the cross based on44800:15:49,900 –> 00:15:52,140colin’s book heaven how i got here44900:15:52,140 –> 00:15:54,460we promoted the film to churches across45000:15:54,460 –> 00:15:56,059the UK earlier this year45100:15:56,059 –> 00:15:57,820encouraging them to show it as an45200:15:57,820 –> 00:15:59,820easter outreach event45300:15:59,820 –> 00:16:02,179hundreds of churches access the film and45400:16:02,179 –> 00:16:04,020our free promotional resources45500:16:04,020 –> 00:16:06,179and one church had the courage to book45600:16:06,179 –> 00:16:08,580a cinema and invite guests to the45700:16:08,580 –> 00:16:09,700showing45800:16:09,700 –> 00:16:12,500brian craven of life-church st helens45900:16:12,500 –> 00:16:13,859said46000:16:13,859 –> 00:16:16,099it’s a truly excellent reproduction on46100:16:16,099 –> 00:16:17,219the big screen46200:16:17,219 –> 00:16:19,700ours is a tale of just how much can be46300:16:19,700 –> 00:16:21,780achieved by simply stepping out46400:16:21,780 –> 00:16:23,940doing what we can then watching as46500:16:23,940 –> 00:16:26,179father god brings everything else into46600:16:26,179 –> 00:16:27,219line46700:16:27,219 –> 00:16:29,219we really are so grateful for the46800:16:29,219 –> 00:16:30,580connection we have made with open the46900:16:30,580 –> 00:16:31,219bible47000:16:31,219 –> 00:16:33,219and for all the efforts made to support47100:16:33,219 –> 00:16:34,500and encourage us47200:16:34,500 –> 00:16:36,580my hope and prayer is that open the47300:16:36,580 –> 00:16:38,739bible will now be able to promote many47400:16:38,739 –> 00:16:40,580more cinema screenings in the years to47500:16:40,580 –> 00:16:42,020come47600:16:42,020 –> 00:16:43,460so david if there are listeners that are47700:16:43,460 –> 00:16:45,140interested in showing that film47800:16:45,140 –> 00:16:47,059at easter or any other time either in47900:16:47,059 –> 00:16:49,219their churches or even being like48000:16:49,219 –> 00:16:50,820life church st helens and booking a48100:16:50,820 –> 00:16:52,179cinema screening then they should get48200:16:52,179 –> 00:16:53,700in touch with open the bible and we’ll48300:16:53,700 –> 00:16:55,539do all we can to help them48400:16:55,539 –> 00:16:58,099the film is free you can get involved in48500:16:58,099 –> 00:16:59,940supporting open the bible’s work48600:16:59,940 –> 00:17:02,419by coming to our website open the bible48700:17:02,419 –> 00:17:04,180.org.uk48800:17:04,180 –> 00:17:06,579you’ll find lots more information terms48900:17:06,579 –> 00:17:09,380and conditions and you can give online49000:17:09,380 –> 00:17:11,619back to the message now here again is49100:17:11,619 –> 00:17:12,819pastor colin49200:17:12,819 –> 00:17:14,819what’s the bible doctrine of sin by49300:17:14,819 –> 00:17:15,699nature49400:17:15,699 –> 00:17:18,660we are sinners from birth by nature we49500:17:18,660 –> 00:17:20,099are children of wrath49600:17:20,099 –> 00:17:22,819by nature we cannot change our own49700:17:22,819 –> 00:17:23,540position49800:17:23,540 –> 00:17:26,339by nature therefore we are completely49900:17:26,339 –> 00:17:27,219hopeless50000:17:27,219 –> 00:17:31,140that is the inside story of the human50100:17:31,140 –> 00:17:33,459life50200:17:33,540 –> 00:17:34,979now someone may be saying at this point50300:17:34,979 –> 00:17:37,219now wait a minute i got a question50400:17:37,219 –> 00:17:38,979this isn’t making a whole lot of sense50500:17:38,979 –> 00:17:40,579to me because after all50600:17:40,579 –> 00:17:45,540i have come to christ i have repented50700:17:45,540 –> 00:17:49,300i have believed i have taken a step50800:17:49,300 –> 00:17:51,939towards god50900:17:51,939 –> 00:17:55,859and so i ask you this question how51000:17:55,859 –> 00:18:00,500did you come to do that51100:18:00,579 –> 00:18:03,699and here’s the answer. God51200:18:03,699 –> 00:18:10,099made you alive in Jesus Christ. Look at that in verse four.51300:18:10,099 –> 00:18:10,739Will you51400:18:10,739 –> 00:18:12,660you see the first three verses of this51500:18:12,660 –> 00:18:14,819chapter are really laying out the inside51600:18:14,819 –> 00:18:16,660story of human life. Sinners by birth51700:18:16,660 –> 00:18:18,420children of wrath, unable to change our51800:18:18,420 –> 00:18:20,020position, completely dead51900:18:20,500 –> 00:18:22,900the situation is hopeless but then look52000:18:22,900 –> 00:18:26,900at verse 4. It is glorious but52100:18:26,900 –> 00:18:29,380but you think oh after all these weeks52200:18:29,380 –> 00:18:30,979of looking at the doctrine of sin52300:18:30,979 –> 00:18:34,579we finally got there but52400:18:34,579 –> 00:18:37,619because of his great love to us52500:18:38,420 –> 00:18:41,780God who is rich in mercy52600:18:41,780 –> 00:18:44,900made us alive with Jesus Christ that’s52700:18:44,900 –> 00:18:46,180what Paul is saying to all of his52800:18:46,180 –> 00:18:47,140christian readers.52900:18:47,140 –> 00:18:48,579That is what has happened to you if you53000:18:48,579 –> 00:18:49,939have come to Jesus Christ.53100:18:50,020 –> 00:18:52,819God has stepped into your death53200:18:52,819 –> 00:18:55,939and he has brought life. Here we were53300:18:55,939 –> 00:18:57,619dead in sins unable to53400:18:57,619 –> 00:19:00,260act unable to move by ourselves what has53500:19:00,260 –> 00:19:01,699God done but53600:19:01,699 –> 00:19:04,739God but God. See at the heart of the53700:19:04,739 –> 00:19:06,420gospel it’s not about something that53800:19:06,420 –> 00:19:07,219you’re doing53900:19:07,219 –> 00:19:09,060to move towards God it’s about54000:19:09,060 –> 00:19:10,819something that God has done to move54100:19:10,819 –> 00:19:14,060towards you. It’s amazing.54200:19:14,099 –> 00:19:15,939A friend of mine who is a new Christian54300:19:15,939 –> 00:19:17,699just said to me the other week54400:19:17,699 –> 00:19:19,540he said you know I was really thinking54500:19:19,540 –> 00:19:21,300that my conversion was all about me54600:19:21,300 –> 00:19:22,500reaching out to God54700:19:22,500 –> 00:19:24,339now I’m realizing God was reaching out54800:19:24,339 –> 00:19:26,420to me54900:19:26,420 –> 00:19:28,500and his face was aglow with the wonder55000:19:28,500 –> 00:19:30,219of it.55100:19:30,219 –> 00:19:33,380He saw the love of Christ for him.55200:19:33,540 –> 00:19:36,500Christ saved me.55300:19:36,660 –> 00:19:39,619See grace is more than God making55400:19:39,619 –> 00:19:42,420salvation possible.55500:19:42,420 –> 00:19:44,979It is more than God opening a door and55600:19:44,979 –> 00:19:46,739then standing back to see who will come.55700:19:46,739 –> 00:19:47,699Some folks have55800:19:47,699 –> 00:19:50,180that very shriveled view of salvation in55900:19:50,180 –> 00:19:52,099their minds. Listen56000:19:52,099 –> 00:19:55,300if God merely opened a door56100:19:55,300 –> 00:19:57,140and then step back and said well let’s56200:19:57,140 –> 00:19:58,660see how the human race56300:19:58,660 –> 00:20:00,180all of whom are dead in sin are going to56400:20:00,180 –> 00:20:02,020come through this door.56500:20:02,020 –> 00:20:05,619Guess how many would come precisely56600:20:05,619 –> 00:20:07,619none because at the end of the day an56700:20:07,619 –> 00:20:10,099open door is no different from a closed56800:20:10,099 –> 00:20:12,099door to a person who is56900:20:12,099 –> 00:20:15,540dead. Makes no difference.57000:20:15,540 –> 00:20:17,859So grace is more than God making your57100:20:17,859 –> 00:20:19,300salvation possible57200:20:19,300 –> 00:20:22,900grace is God saving you57300:20:22,900 –> 00:20:24,579and that’s precisely what Paul is saying57400:20:24,579 –> 00:20:26,500here in Ephesians chapter 2 in verse57500:20:26,500 –> 00:20:26,979457600:20:26,979 –> 00:20:28,500here is what has happened if you are a57700:20:28,500 –> 00:20:29,939Christian if you have faith if you have57800:20:29,939 –> 00:20:31,060come to repentance57900:20:31,060 –> 00:20:32,979if you have taken a step towards God58000:20:32,979 –> 00:20:34,819here today then here is what is58100:20:34,819 –> 00:20:36,339happening or what has happened in your58200:20:36,339 –> 00:20:36,900life58300:20:36,900 –> 00:20:41,300God who is rich in mercy has made you58400:20:41,300 –> 00:20:45,699alive in Christ even when you were dead58500:20:45,699 –> 00:20:48,339in transgressions58600:20:48,339 –> 00:20:51,060and sins58700:20:51,300 –> 00:20:54,819Now you say how did this happen?58800:20:54,819 –> 00:20:56,500turn with me back to the passage that58900:20:56,500 –> 00:20:58,739was read for us earlier in John’s gospel59000:20:58,739 –> 00:21:01,219in chapter 5 would you?59100:21:01,219 –> 00:21:03,699John’s gospel in chapter 5 because here59200:21:03,699 –> 00:21:06,180Jesus speaks about exactly the same59300:21:06,180 –> 00:21:06,979thing59400:21:06,979 –> 00:21:09,859and the words of our Lord Jesus are59500:21:09,859 –> 00:21:11,140wonderful and they are59600:21:11,140 –> 00:21:15,459full of hope. John’s gospel chapter 559700:21:15,459 –> 00:21:17,939and verse 24 and I want you to see here59800:21:17,939 –> 00:21:18,979how Jesus59900:21:18,979 –> 00:21:22,579offers hope to us helpless60000:21:22,579 –> 00:21:25,939sinners he says this whoever hears my60100:21:25,939 –> 00:21:26,420word60200:21:26,420 –> 00:21:31,140whoever who ever hears my word60300:21:31,140 –> 00:21:34,819and believes him who sent me60400:21:34,819 –> 00:21:38,339that person has eternal life60500:21:38,420 –> 00:21:41,060and will not be condemned so the wrath60600:21:41,060 –> 00:21:43,300is removed as well60700:21:43,300 –> 00:21:46,579and he has crossed over from60800:21:46,579 –> 00:21:50,420death to life60900:21:50,420 –> 00:21:52,020now look at this marvelous promise61000:21:52,020 –> 00:21:54,500Jesus is speaking about how a person61100:21:54,500 –> 00:21:56,739who is in the realm of death61200:21:56,739 –> 00:21:59,619unable to move unable to respond may61300:21:59,619 –> 00:22:04,260cross over Jesus says from death61400:22:04,260 –> 00:22:08,819to life and here Jesus holds out this61500:22:08,819 –> 00:22:11,540marvelous offer he says whoever hears my61600:22:11,540 –> 00:22:13,060word61700:22:13,060 –> 00:22:17,699whoever believes him who has sent me61800:22:17,699 –> 00:22:19,939so here’s the son of god and he has life61900:22:19,939 –> 00:22:22,260in himself he has life and he’s able to62000:22:22,260 –> 00:22:24,500give life62100:22:24,500 –> 00:22:28,180and he says he gives this life to those62200:22:28,180 –> 00:22:30,099who hear62300:22:30,099 –> 00:22:33,939the word that he speaks and believe62400:22:33,939 –> 00:22:36,579in the father who sent him but of course62500:22:36,579 –> 00:22:38,180that raises the obvious question doesn’t62600:22:38,180 –> 00:22:38,579it62700:22:38,579 –> 00:22:42,020let’s go back to mani how’s many gonna62800:22:42,020 –> 00:22:42,739hear62900:22:42,739 –> 00:22:46,339when he’s dead how’s many gonna believe63000:22:46,339 –> 00:22:47,939when he’s dead how’s many going to63100:22:47,939 –> 00:22:49,939cross over from death to life that’s the63200:22:49,939 –> 00:22:52,020question63300:22:52,020 –> 00:22:53,619so i want you to see what Jesus says63400:22:53,619 –> 00:22:55,300right here63500:22:55,300 –> 00:22:58,500that christ gives life to people who63600:22:58,500 –> 00:23:01,939are spiritually dead look at what he63700:23:01,939 –> 00:23:03,859says in verse 2163800:23:03,859 –> 00:23:07,540just as the father raises the dead63900:23:07,540 –> 00:23:10,660and gives them life even64000:23:10,660 –> 00:23:14,500so the son gives life64100:23:14,500 –> 00:23:17,780to whom he is pleased64200:23:17,780 –> 00:23:21,540to give it see death is the end of all64300:23:21,540 –> 00:23:23,619hope for us64400:23:23,619 –> 00:23:27,699but not for god the father raises the64500:23:27,699 –> 00:23:28,979dead64600:23:28,979 –> 00:23:30,979and the son of god who has life in64700:23:30,979 –> 00:23:32,579himself is able to give64800:23:32,579 –> 00:23:36,020this life to whom he is pleased64900:23:36,020 –> 00:23:38,900to give it. You’re listening to open the65000:23:38,900 –> 00:23:40,819bible with pastor Colin Smith in a65100:23:40,819 –> 00:23:41,859message called65200:23:41,859 –> 00:23:44,579dead men walking and we’ll continue this65300:23:44,579 –> 00:23:46,420message in our next broadcast so i hope65400:23:46,420 –> 00:23:48,180you’ll join us for that65500:23:48,180 –> 00:23:50,819Colin when you asked the question, if god65600:23:50,819 –> 00:23:52,739opened a door of salvation and stood65700:23:52,739 –> 00:23:53,219back65800:23:53,219 –> 00:23:55,619who would walk through it i’m sure65900:23:55,619 –> 00:23:57,380there were some of us who wanted to say66000:23:57,380 –> 00:24:00,339well me i did, jesus opened the door and66100:24:00,339 –> 00:24:01,619i walked through it66200:24:01,699 –> 00:24:04,260well yeah but the problem is, if that’s66300:24:04,260 –> 00:24:06,420the case, what is the difference between66400:24:06,420 –> 00:24:08,420the christian and the person who’s not a66500:24:08,420 –> 00:24:09,380christian? well you66600:24:09,380 –> 00:24:10,979walked through that door66700:24:10,979 –> 00:24:12,660and that means that ultimately my66800:24:12,660 –> 00:24:14,260salvation is down to me66900:24:14,260 –> 00:24:17,140and the bible says there’s no grounds67000:24:17,140 –> 00:24:17,780for which67100:24:17,780 –> 00:24:20,739a christian can boast because ultimately67200:24:20,739 –> 00:24:21,780my salvation67300:24:21,780 –> 00:24:24,420is a matter of god’s grace having laid67400:24:24,420 –> 00:24:25,540hold of me67500:24:25,540 –> 00:24:26,819and that’s the miracle that we’re67600:24:26,819 –> 00:24:29,219looking at in this message, i was67700:24:30,180 –> 00:24:34,819and the effect of christ giving me life67800:24:34,819 –> 00:24:36,339was that i walked through the door and i67900:24:36,339 –> 00:24:37,540embraced him with faith68000:24:37,540 –> 00:24:39,699so if someone says i always thought it68100:24:39,699 –> 00:24:42,020was something i did that i placed my68200:24:42,020 –> 00:24:43,219faith in jesus68300:24:43,219 –> 00:24:45,380oh well it is something that you, it is68400:24:45,380 –> 00:24:46,739something, but the question is why did68500:24:46,739 –> 00:24:48,660you do it and the answer to that68600:24:48,660 –> 00:24:51,140question is gods grace was at work in68700:24:51,140 –> 00:24:51,699you68800:24:51,699 –> 00:24:53,380so sure to be a christian is your68900:24:53,380 –> 00:24:55,380decision but it’s much more69000:24:55,380 –> 00:24:57,300god has laid hold of you and that’s the69100:24:57,300 –> 00:24:58,819most marvelous truth69200:24:58,819 –> 00:25:00,900and we’ll look at that truth in more69300:25:00,900 –> 00:25:03,540detail next time so i hope you’ll join69400:25:03,540 –> 00:25:04,660us for that69500:25:04,660 –> 00:25:06,339you’ve been listening to pastor colin69600:25:06,339 –> 00:25:08,739smith on open the bible, I’m david pick69700:25:08,739 –> 00:25:10,180and i hope you’ll join us again69800:25:10,180 –> 00:25:11,859next time for the second part of the69900:25:11,859 –> 00:25:17,859message dead men walking70000:25:22,020 –> 00:25:24,180grace means more than god making70100:25:24,180 –> 00:25:25,459salvation possible70200:25:25,459 –> 00:25:29,859find out why next time on open the bible