100:00:00,200 –> 00:00:10,700And to think that he was with us everyday of our life on the earth.200:00:10,700 –> 00:00:13,700Why did we not have more faith?300:00:13,700 –> 00:00:15,600Why did we not make more progress?400:00:15,600 –> 00:00:18,900What in all the world were we thinking about?500:00:20,200 –> 00:00:22,400He was with us.600:00:23,200 –> 00:00:24,100Us.700:00:24,280 –> 00:00:26,799Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith.800:00:26,799 –> 00:00:28,000I’m David Pick.900:00:28,000 –> 00:00:31,100I’m glad you could join us today and Colin obviously,1000:00:31,100 –> 00:00:34,400the he that you’re talking about here is Jesus.1100:00:34,400 –> 00:00:35,700But to go back a bit,1200:00:35,700 –> 00:00:38,200what is the context for today’s message?1300:00:38,200 –> 00:00:42,400We’re talking about this great promise that God by his divine power has given us everything1400:00:42,400 –> 00:00:45,599that we need for life through Jesus Christ.1500:00:45,599 –> 00:00:51,000And I’m just thinking when we actually see Christ and see how great he is1600:00:51,980 –> 00:00:55,779he was with us by the Holy Spirit every day of our Christian lives.1700:00:55,779 –> 00:00:58,480Why in the world would we not have made more progress?1800:00:58,480 –> 00:01:01,619I find that a very challenging thought that the presence1900:01:01,619 –> 00:01:04,519of Christ means I can make a lot more progress2000:01:04,519 –> 00:01:07,199than I have made up to that point in my Christian life.2100:01:07,199 –> 00:01:09,199That’s always true of every Christian2200:01:09,199 –> 00:01:13,019and is one of the great incentives and encouragements in the promise of God.2300:01:13,019 –> 00:01:15,220He’s given you everything you need for life,2400:01:15,220 –> 00:01:19,180so why not press forward in faith and seek to grow as a Christian2500:01:19,220 –> 00:01:21,620That’s what today’s message is about,2600:01:21,620 –> 00:01:25,040so join us if you can in 2 Peter chapter 12700:01:25,040 –> 00:01:28,680as we continue the message everything you need for life.2800:01:28,680 –> 00:01:30,339Here is pastor Colin.2900:01:30,339 –> 00:01:33,620Why would anyone become a Christian in the 21st century?3000:01:34,959 –> 00:01:39,879Why would anyone who’s living a postmodern secular life3100:01:39,879 –> 00:01:41,620become a follower of Jesus Christ?3200:01:41,620 –> 00:01:42,459Why would that happen?3300:01:42,459 –> 00:01:48,459What would compel a person to become a Christian today?3400:01:48,500 –> 00:01:50,580And Peter answers that question right here.3500:01:50,580 –> 00:01:53,300The way in which Christ calls us,3600:01:53,300 –> 00:01:56,559the way in which Christ draws us,3700:01:56,559 –> 00:02:00,820the way in which Christ wins us is through two things.3800:02:00,820 –> 00:02:02,980Number one, his glory.3900:02:02,980 –> 00:02:06,139Number two, his goodness.4000:02:06,139 –> 00:02:11,139Here’s why you should follow Jesus Christ.4100:02:11,539 –> 00:02:16,000First, just the sheer moral excellence of his life draws,4200:02:16,020 –> 00:02:19,119the sheer abundance of his goodness to you draws.4300:02:21,259 –> 00:02:24,339Second, his glory, the total impact of his person.4400:02:25,899 –> 00:02:27,899Here’s how Jesus gets hold of people.4500:02:27,899 –> 00:02:29,139That’s what Peter is saying,4600:02:29,139 –> 00:02:31,419Jesus gets hold of people.4700:02:31,419 –> 00:02:33,960Jesus draws people by his own glory4800:02:33,960 –> 00:02:36,699and by his own goodness.4900:02:37,740 –> 00:02:39,279This is how faith is formed.5000:02:39,279 –> 00:02:42,740It is the gift of God, but it happens5100:02:42,740 –> 00:02:45,899as the glory and the goodness of Jesus Christ5200:02:45,899 –> 00:02:49,380are lifted up and when you see it,5300:02:49,380 –> 00:02:52,479when you see the greatness, glory and goodness5400:02:52,479 –> 00:02:55,139of Jesus Christ, when you see that,5500:02:55,139 –> 00:02:57,240that day you will follow him.5600:02:57,240 –> 00:02:58,779You’ll be compelled just as the first5700:02:58,779 –> 00:03:00,179disciples were compelled,5800:03:01,820 –> 00:03:04,000and you see how great he is?5900:03:04,000 –> 00:03:08,619It’s what draws people to follow Jesus Christ.6000:03:08,619 –> 00:03:12,179And the great promise of the gospel which6100:03:12,240 –> 00:03:14,839Peter is now going to explain to us6200:03:14,839 –> 00:03:18,860very wonderfully is given to those6300:03:18,860 –> 00:03:23,860who have this faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.6400:03:24,820 –> 00:03:28,440Peter wants you to know if you have this faith6500:03:28,440 –> 00:03:30,119then here’s what’s true of you.6600:03:30,119 –> 00:03:32,160If you have this faith in Jesus Christ6700:03:32,160 –> 00:03:35,720then you have everything you need6800:03:35,720 –> 00:03:38,699for life and godliness given to you6900:03:38,699 –> 00:03:42,199by God’s power through your knowledge7000:03:42,199 –> 00:03:45,339of Jesus Christ who has called you7100:03:45,339 –> 00:03:47,100and he did it by his own glory7200:03:48,199 –> 00:03:49,460and by his goodness.7300:03:51,080 –> 00:03:53,500Now what exactly is that God gives to us7400:03:53,500 –> 00:03:56,220in the gospel that enables Peter to say7500:03:56,220 –> 00:03:58,899that you have everything you need for life?7600:03:58,899 –> 00:04:00,479Notice that there are two things7700:04:00,479 –> 00:04:02,860that God gives and promises to those7800:04:02,860 –> 00:04:04,479who have this faith.7900:04:05,300 –> 00:04:07,320Christ has given us, verse four,8000:04:07,320 –> 00:04:09,080these great and precious promises8100:04:09,080 –> 00:04:12,119so that through them two things will happen.8200:04:12,119 –> 00:04:14,759The first is that you will participate8300:04:14,759 –> 00:04:15,960in the divine nature8400:04:17,399 –> 00:04:20,440and the second is that you will escape8500:04:20,440 –> 00:04:23,000the corruption in the world8600:04:23,000 –> 00:04:26,279that is caused by evil desires.8700:04:26,279 –> 00:04:29,339These two things are our focus together.8800:04:30,260 –> 00:04:33,880First, as you come to faith in Jesus Christ,8900:04:33,899 –> 00:04:35,179as you’ve become a true Christian,9000:04:35,179 –> 00:04:37,119you share this apostolic faith,9100:04:39,059 –> 00:04:41,299God is giving to you everything you need for life9200:04:41,299 –> 00:04:43,660because by his gracious promise9300:04:43,660 –> 00:04:48,100you participate in the divine nature.9400:04:48,100 –> 00:04:51,179You say, what in all the world does that mean?9500:04:51,179 –> 00:04:54,540How could I participate9600:04:54,540 –> 00:04:56,579in the divine nature?9700:04:58,339 –> 00:05:01,480Now there are two ways I guess9800:05:01,480 –> 00:05:03,679in which such a thing could happen.9900:05:04,660 –> 00:05:07,059One is that somehow you would10000:05:07,059 –> 00:05:09,420have to enter into the life of God10100:05:10,619 –> 00:05:14,200and the Bible never suggests that possibility,10200:05:14,200 –> 00:05:17,019that is part of Eastern mysticism10300:05:17,019 –> 00:05:18,799but it is no part of Christianity,10400:05:18,799 –> 00:05:22,239God is God and you are you10500:05:22,239 –> 00:05:26,040and I am me and the Bible never suggests to us10600:05:26,040 –> 00:05:30,799that we somehow get absorbed into the life of God.10700:05:30,799 –> 00:05:32,540But the other way in which you could participate10800:05:32,540 –> 00:05:35,299in the divine nature would be if somehow10900:05:35,299 –> 00:05:38,200the life of God came to you.11000:05:39,380 –> 00:05:43,339And the New Testament very clearly and repeatedly11100:05:43,339 –> 00:05:46,779tells us that that is precisely the promise of the Gospel.11200:05:46,779 –> 00:05:49,700When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ,11300:05:49,700 –> 00:05:53,619God’s Spirit enters the life of that person.11400:05:54,519 –> 00:05:57,739We have, to use a phrase from the Bible,11500:05:57,739 –> 00:06:01,700union with Jesus Christ, we are united with Him.11600:06:02,299 –> 00:06:04,619And that wonderful truth of the believer’s union11700:06:04,619 –> 00:06:06,779with Christ is expressed in different ways11800:06:06,779 –> 00:06:08,959in the Bible, perhaps the most striking11900:06:08,959 –> 00:06:11,700is the way Peter expresses it right here12000:06:11,700 –> 00:06:15,579when he says that you participate in the divine nature.12100:06:15,579 –> 00:06:18,100Paul really is saying the same thing in a different way12200:06:18,100 –> 00:06:20,140when he says I’ve been crucified with Christ12300:06:20,140 –> 00:06:23,500and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.12400:06:23,500 –> 00:06:27,859The life of Christ has come to me and is in me.12500:06:27,899 –> 00:06:31,640Jesus, our Lord, uses a picture12600:06:31,640 –> 00:06:33,920to express exactly the same thing12700:06:33,920 –> 00:06:35,660when he said in John chapter 15,12800:06:35,660 –> 00:06:39,679I am the vine and you are the branches12900:06:39,679 –> 00:06:43,640and if a man remains in me, he will bear much fruit.13000:06:45,739 –> 00:06:46,579See, all of these are different ways13100:06:46,579 –> 00:06:47,880of saying the same thing.13200:06:49,019 –> 00:06:54,019That at its heart, Christian life in this world13300:06:54,019 –> 00:06:57,640involves God’s life, God’s spirit,13400:06:57,640 –> 00:07:01,839God’s presence, God’s power entering into your life13500:07:01,839 –> 00:07:03,600and therefore into your experience13600:07:03,600 –> 00:07:05,839and it is on that basis that Peter says13700:07:05,839 –> 00:07:08,079you have everything that you need13800:07:08,940 –> 00:07:11,420for life and for godliness.13900:07:13,760 –> 00:07:15,600I’ve thought about this a great deal14000:07:16,619 –> 00:07:18,820and I have to tell you, if there was just one thing,14100:07:18,820 –> 00:07:20,899if I had the choice that there would be one thing14200:07:20,899 –> 00:07:23,880that I could get across to the whole congregation14300:07:23,880 –> 00:07:26,519in this year, just one thing.14400:07:27,760 –> 00:07:29,820I think it would be this.14500:07:32,000 –> 00:07:36,940I’d want to get across that Christianity14600:07:36,940 –> 00:07:39,799is more than forgiveness for the past14700:07:39,799 –> 00:07:41,359and heaven for the future.14800:07:43,220 –> 00:07:47,579I’d want to get across that at its core,14900:07:47,579 –> 00:07:50,720to be a Christian involves the power15000:07:50,720 –> 00:07:53,760and the presence of God in your life15100:07:53,760 –> 00:07:55,899and in everything you face today.15200:07:58,140 –> 00:08:01,640If the gospel only addresses your past failures15300:08:01,640 –> 00:08:03,079and your future hopes,15400:08:04,739 –> 00:08:06,779it isn’t big enough for your life today.15500:08:07,880 –> 00:08:09,959And there are many people in church world15600:08:09,959 –> 00:08:13,640who have this partial grasp of faith.15700:08:14,959 –> 00:08:16,799They believe in forgiveness through the cross15800:08:16,799 –> 00:08:18,600and heaven through the resurrection.15900:08:19,920 –> 00:08:23,059But they have no real grasp that God16000:08:23,059 –> 00:08:27,279by his powerful holy Spirit is present in my life today16100:08:27,279 –> 00:08:28,679in everything that I face.16200:08:28,679 –> 00:08:30,119And that’s why, at your core,16300:08:30,119 –> 00:08:32,479you really think that Jesus is enough for faith16400:08:32,479 –> 00:08:35,559but you don’t really think that he’s enough for life.16500:08:35,559 –> 00:08:38,880You’re kind of looking for how you can face life16600:08:38,880 –> 00:08:41,479and it’s disconnected from the gospel.16700:08:43,320 –> 00:08:44,599There was a great Christian writer16800:08:44,599 –> 00:08:46,520lived some hundreds of years ago16900:08:46,520 –> 00:08:51,520with the delightful name Henry Scougill.17000:08:51,539 –> 00:08:52,760Scougill.17100:08:52,760 –> 00:08:54,880Can you imagine which country of the world17200:08:54,880 –> 00:08:56,400he might have come from?17300:08:58,239 –> 00:09:01,640Scougill wrote great Christian book17400:09:01,640 –> 00:09:02,820that you can still get hold of today17500:09:02,820 –> 00:09:04,840and it has the most marvelous title,17600:09:06,080 –> 00:09:10,940The Life of God in the Soul of Man.17700:09:13,320 –> 00:09:15,919That’s the heart of what it means to be a Christian,17800:09:17,159 –> 00:09:20,940the life of God in your soul,17900:09:22,020 –> 00:09:24,000in your experience, the spirit of God,18000:09:24,000 –> 00:09:25,719the presence of God, the power of God18100:09:26,020 –> 00:09:28,679that once was out there as far as your concerned18200:09:28,679 –> 00:09:32,159now coming in here for God is with you18300:09:32,159 –> 00:09:37,159by his spirit in you in everything that you face.18400:09:38,080 –> 00:09:40,080Participate in the divine nature Peter says18500:09:40,080 –> 00:09:44,239and that is why in Christ by knowing him18600:09:45,280 –> 00:09:47,640you have everything that you need for life.18700:09:47,640 –> 00:09:48,840Whatever it is that you are facing right now18800:09:48,840 –> 00:09:51,340and whatever it is that you’re gonna face18900:09:51,340 –> 00:09:55,039in this coming week, he is with you.19000:09:56,719 –> 00:09:59,000Now on the last day when we stand in19100:09:59,000 –> 00:10:02,159the presence of the lord Jesus Christ,19200:10:02,159 –> 00:10:04,479try and picture that with me just a little bit.19300:10:04,479 –> 00:10:07,599I think that if we’re talking to each other19400:10:07,599 –> 00:10:09,479in the glory of that at all,19500:10:09,479 –> 00:10:10,799because we’ll probably be taken up19600:10:10,799 –> 00:10:11,979with everything we’re looking at.19700:10:11,979 –> 00:10:15,020But if you and I were to be speaking to each other19800:10:15,020 –> 00:10:17,419we would probably be saying something like this.19900:10:18,559 –> 00:10:23,159I knew he was great but I never knew he was this great.20000:10:24,159 –> 00:10:28,520I wonder if on that day we might be saying to each other20100:10:28,520 –> 00:10:32,559and to think that he was with us20200:10:33,500 –> 00:10:36,619everyday of our life on the earth.20300:10:37,919 –> 00:10:39,880Why did we not have more faith?20400:10:40,820 –> 00:10:43,559Why did we not make more progress?20500:10:43,559 –> 00:10:45,880What in all the world were we thinking about?20600:10:47,400 –> 00:10:48,239He20700:10:49,239 –> 00:10:50,880was with20800:10:50,880 –> 00:10:51,719us.20900:10:53,200 –> 00:10:55,159That’s what Peter wants to get across.21000:10:56,260 –> 00:11:00,000Because when you see that this is what is promised21100:11:00,000 –> 00:11:02,619in the gospel, then you will begin to believe21200:11:03,780 –> 00:11:06,400that in knowing Jesus Christ you have everything21300:11:06,400 –> 00:11:08,719that you need for every circumstance of life21400:11:08,719 –> 00:11:09,979that you will ever face.21500:11:09,979 –> 00:11:13,140And you will go out into this week a different person.21600:11:14,719 –> 00:11:16,960Because you’re holding this apostolic faith21700:11:18,039 –> 00:11:21,179and this Christ is with you.21800:11:21,219 –> 00:11:22,919What a wonderful thought that is.21900:11:22,919 –> 00:11:27,919Jesus is with us and He gives us everything we need for life.22000:11:28,500 –> 00:11:30,440That’s what this message and this series22100:11:30,440 –> 00:11:32,780is all about from 2 Peter.22200:11:32,780 –> 00:11:34,400And if you ever miss one of the series22300:11:34,400 –> 00:11:36,179don’t forget it’s easy to catch up22400:11:36,179 –> 00:11:38,159or go back and listen again by coming22500:11:38,159 –> 00:11:40,239online to our website openthebible.org.uk.22600:11:42,739 –> 00:11:46,200Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.22700:11:46,200 –> 00:11:48,239Now there is a second part to the Great Promise22800:11:48,239 –> 00:11:50,099which is equally important, and so let’s22900:11:50,099 –> 00:11:53,020just look at it for a few moments together.23000:11:53,020 –> 00:11:56,140Not only will you participate in the divine nature,23100:11:56,140 –> 00:11:57,700but look at what he says in verse 4.23200:11:57,700 –> 00:11:59,900This is promised to those who believe,23300:11:59,900 –> 00:12:03,520who hold this great faith that we’ve been speaking of,23400:12:03,520 –> 00:12:07,739that you will escape the corruption in the world23500:12:07,739 –> 00:12:11,280caused by evil desires.23600:12:12,460 –> 00:12:14,440Now just a side note, this is a sort of23700:12:14,440 –> 00:12:15,880Christian Worldview question,23800:12:15,880 –> 00:12:17,940do you notice that Peter says very clearly23900:12:17,960 –> 00:12:22,960that the corruption in the world is caused by evil desires?24000:12:23,200 –> 00:12:25,039You see, you will hear all kinds of discussion24100:12:25,039 –> 00:12:27,799about where does the corruption in the world come from?24200:12:28,679 –> 00:12:30,580Why is the world as it is?24300:12:30,580 –> 00:12:31,619What’s the problem?24400:12:32,500 –> 00:12:33,599And you’ll hear people saying,24500:12:33,599 –> 00:12:37,099well it’s lack of education, it’s lack of opportunity,24600:12:37,099 –> 00:12:39,619it is lack of resources?24700:12:39,619 –> 00:12:42,979And all that we can say about that is,24800:12:42,979 –> 00:12:46,000well, Peter would disagree,24900:12:46,000 –> 00:12:47,580the apostles would disagree.25000:12:48,539 –> 00:12:51,619However much the corruption in the world25100:12:51,619 –> 00:12:55,419may be exacerbated by lack of education,25200:12:55,419 –> 00:12:58,520lack of resources, lack of opportunity.25300:12:58,520 –> 00:13:02,460Peter says at its core, the corruption in the world25400:13:02,460 –> 00:13:06,520comes from evil desires.25500:13:06,520 –> 00:13:09,419Which is why you find corruption in people25600:13:09,419 –> 00:13:12,200who have education, have opportunity,25700:13:12,280 –> 00:13:16,280and have resources as much as you find corruption25800:13:16,280 –> 00:13:18,280and those who do not.25900:13:18,280 –> 00:13:19,520Because that’s its root.26000:13:20,940 –> 00:13:23,840Now you say what evil desires are you talking about?26100:13:24,719 –> 00:13:28,679You make your own list, but here’s a few starters.26200:13:28,679 –> 00:13:33,679Envy, greed, lust, pride, laziness,26300:13:37,200 –> 00:13:40,039I mean that’s just a few of the evil desires.26400:13:40,039 –> 00:13:44,400And Peter is saying this is where the corruption comes from26500:13:44,400 –> 00:13:48,700these things are in us and they corrupt us.26600:13:49,739 –> 00:13:51,080We were talking just a few moments ago26700:13:51,080 –> 00:13:54,460about the moods that can come over us26800:13:54,460 –> 00:13:56,880and perhaps that begins in teenage years.26900:13:56,880 –> 00:13:59,940Wish that it would end in teenager years.27000:14:01,659 –> 00:14:03,739Why was I like that?27100:14:03,739 –> 00:14:05,219What’s going on inside me?27200:14:05,219 –> 00:14:08,400Why did I say that, where did that sourness come from?27300:14:10,280 –> 00:14:12,239You see there’s something going on inside you27400:14:12,239 –> 00:14:15,020and it’s spoiling you, it is corrupting you.27500:14:15,020 –> 00:14:17,619That is what Peter is saying here.27600:14:19,280 –> 00:14:21,440You find, you look at another person perhaps27700:14:21,440 –> 00:14:25,239and you see what they have and the success that they enjoy27800:14:26,659 –> 00:14:30,099and instead of rejoicing in that it eats away at you.27900:14:31,419 –> 00:14:34,080You say well why am I like that.28000:14:34,960 –> 00:14:39,960Well it’s the corruption that comes from evil desires.28100:14:42,299 –> 00:14:44,159Now notice the marvelous promise28200:14:44,159 –> 00:14:45,960that God gives to us here in verse four.28300:14:45,960 –> 00:14:48,219The promise is that by his divine power28400:14:48,219 –> 00:14:49,840and through the knowledge of Jesus Christ28500:14:49,840 –> 00:14:52,119who called us by his own glory and goodness28600:14:52,119 –> 00:14:54,880you will not only participate in the divine nature28700:14:54,880 –> 00:14:58,219but God promises that you will escape.28800:14:58,219 –> 00:15:03,219There’s the word, escape this corruption28900:15:03,580 –> 00:15:08,580that comes from evil desires.29000:15:08,820 –> 00:15:11,940Now I know some of us will be saying at this point29100:15:11,940 –> 00:15:15,000escape, what do you mean escape?29200:15:16,479 –> 00:15:18,619You obviously don’t live in the real world.29300:15:19,539 –> 00:15:23,640I do, I’ve been a Christian for years,29400:15:23,640 –> 00:15:26,880you may be saying, I have an ongoing battle29500:15:26,880 –> 00:15:29,940with evil desires, I have a battle with lust,29600:15:29,940 –> 00:15:31,539I have a battle with greed,29700:15:32,500 –> 00:15:34,539I’ve a battle with pride,29800:15:34,539 –> 00:15:37,039I fight it everyday.29900:15:38,219 –> 00:15:41,020You’re standing up there and you’re talking about escape,30000:15:42,179 –> 00:15:45,299I struggle with these desires all the time.30100:15:47,260 –> 00:15:50,140How many of us have seen the film The Fugitive,30200:15:50,140 –> 00:15:52,260you’ve seen The Fugitive, lots of people30300:15:52,260 –> 00:15:54,640that have seen The Fugitive, a few haven’t,30400:15:54,640 –> 00:15:58,739great film, the story starring Harris and Ford30500:15:58,739 –> 00:16:01,400about a doctor who is framed30600:16:01,440 –> 00:16:05,080for the murder of his wife, he is sent to jail,30700:16:05,080 –> 00:16:08,219it’s great fun because its set here in Chicago,30800:16:08,219 –> 00:16:12,479and while he is being transported to the penitentiary30900:16:12,479 –> 00:16:16,320there is an accident, the bus rolls off the road31000:16:16,320 –> 00:16:18,640and in the chaos that follows,31100:16:18,640 –> 00:16:21,979Harrison Ford the hero escapes31200:16:23,000 –> 00:16:26,260and he is the fugitive.31300:16:27,799 –> 00:16:30,359Now think about his position.31400:16:31,099 –> 00:16:33,280He hits the road with a mission,31500:16:33,280 –> 00:16:37,020his mission is to find the truth and to establish justice.31600:16:38,479 –> 00:16:41,159He moves from place to place,31700:16:42,119 –> 00:16:45,820all the time the long arm of the law is behind him,31800:16:45,820 –> 00:16:47,919sometimes very close to him,31900:16:47,919 –> 00:16:51,679all the time he is in danger of being apprehended.32000:16:51,679 –> 00:16:53,400He’s involved in a great struggle,32100:16:53,400 –> 00:16:56,039he is relentlessly pursued,32200:16:56,039 –> 00:16:59,200sometimes you think his position is absolutely impossible,32300:16:59,280 –> 00:17:00,780and if you say the whole world is against him,32400:17:00,780 –> 00:17:02,479he’ll never get out of this.32500:17:03,640 –> 00:17:04,699But here’s the key,32600:17:06,260 –> 00:17:07,979he is not in chains,32700:17:09,319 –> 00:17:10,160he is free,32800:17:11,199 –> 00:17:12,260he’s the fugitive,32900:17:13,640 –> 00:17:14,939he’s on the move,33000:17:16,060 –> 00:17:17,160he acts,33100:17:18,040 –> 00:17:23,040he is relentlessly pursued but he is not in chains.33200:17:25,199 –> 00:17:26,959Now I find that little picture helpful33300:17:26,959 –> 00:17:28,880and I hope you do too.33400:17:28,939 –> 00:17:30,719If you’re a Christian believer,33500:17:30,719 –> 00:17:33,640understand your position in Jesus Christ33600:17:33,640 –> 00:17:36,599and it will begin to make sense of your experience.33700:17:36,599 –> 00:17:38,280See, I am the fugitive,33800:17:39,839 –> 00:17:44,839I have escaped from the chains of bondage to Satan,33900:17:46,119 –> 00:17:49,000I have been released from the kingdom of darkness,34000:17:49,000 –> 00:17:51,160that’s what it means to become a Christian34100:17:51,160 –> 00:17:53,560but Satan is pursuing me,34200:17:53,560 –> 00:17:56,959sin and temptation are always breathing down my neck,34300:17:56,959 –> 00:18:00,020Satan who once held me in the chains of his darkness34400:18:00,020 –> 00:18:02,680is always after me but God is with me,34500:18:04,380 –> 00:18:07,859Satan is out there like a roaring lion34600:18:07,859 –> 00:18:09,280seeking whom he may devour,34700:18:10,500 –> 00:18:13,959the Lord Jesus Christ is in here strengthening me34800:18:13,959 –> 00:18:18,380in the struggle, guiding me in this great mission of life34900:18:18,380 –> 00:18:20,579to which I am now committed,35000:18:22,280 –> 00:18:25,280I found it helpful to just condense it down35100:18:25,280 –> 00:18:27,219to a phrase this way that’s based on35200:18:27,219 –> 00:18:29,760Romans chapter six and verse 14,35300:18:29,760 –> 00:18:33,660when you’re a Christian sin is your enemy35400:18:34,719 –> 00:18:36,719but it is no longer your master,35500:18:38,020 –> 00:18:42,619sin is my enemy feel its hot breath35600:18:42,619 –> 00:18:45,180down the back of my neck many times35700:18:46,920 –> 00:18:48,739but it is not my master,35800:18:50,400 –> 00:18:51,800it is not my master,35900:18:53,079 –> 00:18:54,599and what Peter is saying here36000:18:54,900 –> 00:18:56,780it’s the same as Paul says in Romans chapter six36100:18:56,780 –> 00:18:58,560in verse 14, what you have to understand36200:18:58,560 –> 00:19:00,359about your position in Jesus Christ36300:19:00,359 –> 00:19:01,880is that you are not a captive,36400:19:01,880 –> 00:19:04,280you are not in chains, you can move,36500:19:04,280 –> 00:19:07,420you can act and this freedom36600:19:07,420 –> 00:19:10,680is God’s gift to you in the gospel.36700:19:12,800 –> 00:19:14,719So on these last moments let me just36800:19:14,719 –> 00:19:16,280give this word of encouragement36900:19:16,280 –> 00:19:19,920to Christians who feel defeated37000:19:21,380 –> 00:19:23,640and there are Christians who feel defeated37100:19:24,780 –> 00:19:27,780in church every Sunday morning.37200:19:29,420 –> 00:19:31,699I want you to hear the promise,37300:19:34,260 –> 00:19:37,979God says to you if you are in Christ today37400:19:40,339 –> 00:19:42,760that by his power and through your knowledge37500:19:42,760 –> 00:19:46,839of Jesus you have everything that you need37600:19:46,839 –> 00:19:49,040to face life including all the battles,37700:19:49,040 –> 00:19:50,880all the trials and all the temptations37800:19:50,880 –> 00:19:52,359and all the struggle, you have everything37900:19:52,359 –> 00:19:54,140you need to face life.38000:19:55,520 –> 00:19:57,560Because his Spirit is with you,38100:19:57,560 –> 00:19:59,380you participate in the divine nature38200:19:59,380 –> 00:20:02,699and because in the miracle of his grace38300:20:02,699 –> 00:20:07,140at your conversion, you have escaped the corruption38400:20:07,140 –> 00:20:11,160that is in the world caused by evil desires.38500:20:11,160 –> 00:20:13,300You have a battle, a lifelong battle38600:20:13,300 –> 00:20:18,020but you are not in chains, you are the fugitive.38700:20:19,800 –> 00:20:22,000Stop telling yourself you’re in chains,38800:20:22,000 –> 00:20:24,239you’re merely repeating Satan’s lie38900:20:24,319 –> 00:20:26,260and if you tell yourself you’re in chains,39000:20:26,260 –> 00:20:29,439you’ll never move, you’ll never act,39100:20:29,439 –> 00:20:31,160you’ll never grow, which is why39200:20:31,160 –> 00:20:33,400so many folks who say they believe39300:20:33,400 –> 00:20:37,000never grow or flourish in the Christian life39400:20:38,079 –> 00:20:39,760because it’s a little compartment39500:20:39,760 –> 00:20:41,719and it’s about yesterday and it’s about tomorrow39600:20:41,719 –> 00:20:43,800but it’s never about today,39700:20:43,800 –> 00:20:45,359it’s never about God’s power,39800:20:46,319 –> 00:20:48,239it’s never about his presence.39900:20:49,760 –> 00:20:52,560I thank God for this promise, don’t you?40000:20:52,719 –> 00:20:55,680May we thank God for the sheer scale of the gospel,40100:20:55,680 –> 00:20:57,319more than forgiveness for the past,40200:20:57,319 –> 00:21:00,140more even than heaven for the future,40300:21:00,140 –> 00:21:02,680God’s power with you and work in you40400:21:02,680 –> 00:21:05,619to change your life today.40500:21:06,719 –> 00:21:11,040Peter says, let me tell you about a faith40600:21:11,040 –> 00:21:12,319that is big enough for life40700:21:12,319 –> 00:21:15,099for everything you will ever face.40800:21:16,959 –> 00:21:19,439It comes through the knowledge of Jesus Christ40900:21:19,939 –> 00:21:24,280and it is the gift of God’s power41000:21:24,280 –> 00:21:28,880and work within you through Jesus41100:21:28,880 –> 00:21:32,599who calls you by his own glory and goodness41200:21:32,599 –> 00:21:34,500and you have everything that you need for life41300:21:34,500 –> 00:21:37,479because by his grace, you participate in the divine nature,41400:21:37,479 –> 00:21:41,560his spirit is with you and by his incredible mercy41500:21:41,560 –> 00:21:43,420and by his great power, he’s released you41600:21:43,420 –> 00:21:47,079from the chains, sins your enemy,41700:21:47,719 –> 00:21:51,640but it is not your master.41800:21:53,540 –> 00:21:55,300And I hope therefore that our response41900:21:55,300 –> 00:21:57,160would be one of two things this morning,42000:21:57,160 –> 00:21:58,739either that you will say,42100:21:59,599 –> 00:22:01,699thank God, that’s what I’ve got42200:22:03,099 –> 00:22:04,920and believing the promise of the gospel,42300:22:04,920 –> 00:22:06,599you’ll be encouraged as you go out42400:22:06,599 –> 00:22:08,540into whatever you’re facing this week42500:22:09,520 –> 00:22:12,739and if you can’t say thank God that’s what I’ve got,42600:22:13,640 –> 00:22:15,699I hope you’ll say today,42700:22:15,699 –> 00:22:19,260please God, that’s what I need42800:22:21,380 –> 00:22:23,060and as you ask and as you draw near42900:22:23,060 –> 00:22:26,800and put your trust in Jesus Christ as He calls you to do,43000:22:28,380 –> 00:22:29,219He will come to you43100:22:30,420 –> 00:22:32,219and He will save you.43200:22:32,219 –> 00:22:33,579Master Colin Smith there.43300:22:33,579 –> 00:22:35,739Ending our first message in the series,43400:22:35,739 –> 00:22:37,819everything you need for life.43500:22:37,819 –> 00:22:39,300If you ever missed one of our messages,43600:22:39,300 –> 00:22:41,619it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again43700:22:41,619 –> 00:22:46,439by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk43800:22:46,439 –> 00:22:48,739or go to wherever you get your podcasts,43900:22:48,739 –> 00:22:51,400search there for Open the Bible UK.44000:22:51,400 –> 00:22:53,219On our website and as a podcast44100:22:53,219 –> 00:22:55,739you’ll also find Open the Bible Daily44200:22:55,739 –> 00:22:56,939and that’s our series44300:22:56,939 –> 00:23:00,140of short two to three minute daily reflections,44400:23:00,140 –> 00:23:03,300A new one every day based on Pastor Colin’s teaching44500:23:03,300 –> 00:23:05,420and read specially in the UK.44600:23:05,420 –> 00:23:07,219You can find that on our website44700:23:07,219 –> 00:23:09,819openthebible.org.uk44800:23:09,819 –> 00:23:10,780or as a podcast44900:23:10,859 –> 00:23:13,699by searching for Open the Bible UK.45000:23:13,699 –> 00:23:16,339That’s Open the Bible Daily.45100:23:16,339 –> 00:23:18,780Open the Bible is able to be on this station45200:23:18,780 –> 00:23:21,500as well as our website and the podcasts45300:23:21,500 –> 00:23:24,180because listeners like you give generously45400:23:24,180 –> 00:23:25,739to support our work.45500:23:25,739 –> 00:23:28,400So if you already support Open the Bible in this way,45600:23:28,400 –> 00:23:30,239thank you so much.45700:23:30,239 –> 00:23:31,819If supporting Open the Bible45800:23:31,819 –> 00:23:34,380is something you’d want to start doing this month,45900:23:34,380 –> 00:23:35,699we’d love to say, thank you46000:23:35,699 –> 00:23:38,459by sending you Pastor Colin’s brand new book,46100:23:38,459 –> 00:23:39,819Grow in Hope.46200:23:39,819 –> 00:23:42,459It’s a 30-day devotional study46300:23:42,459 –> 00:23:46,979drawing on Scripture and years of pastoral experience.46400:23:46,979 –> 00:23:49,959Colin, why did you write this book?46500:23:49,959 –> 00:23:53,680Well, Grow in Hope is the second of three books46600:23:53,680 –> 00:23:56,900that we are putting out from Open the Bible this year,46700:23:56,900 –> 00:24:00,660grow in faith, grow in hope and grow in love.46800:24:00,660 –> 00:24:03,619And the reason for all three is that as Paul says46900:24:03,619 –> 00:24:05,959in 1 Corinthians chapter 13,47000:24:05,959 –> 00:24:08,560everything else will pass away.47100:24:08,560 –> 00:24:10,560I mean, that’s quite a statement, isn’t it?47200:24:10,560 –> 00:24:13,040Everything else will pass away47300:24:13,040 –> 00:24:18,040but these things will remain faith, hope, and love.47400:24:18,119 –> 00:24:21,119So, these are things of supreme importance,47500:24:21,119 –> 00:24:25,920I’m absolutely persuaded that our greatest need47600:24:25,920 –> 00:24:29,680is to have a stronger faith, to have a more certain hope47700:24:29,680 –> 00:24:32,719and to be renewed in a resilient kind of love.47800:24:32,719 –> 00:24:34,339You know, if that happens in the lives47900:24:34,660 –> 00:24:35,520of Christian believers48000:24:35,520 –> 00:24:37,780some very, very good things will follow.48100:24:37,780 –> 00:24:40,219So, Pastor Colin’s book, Grow in Hope,48200:24:40,219 –> 00:24:42,260is our gift to you when you set up48300:24:42,260 –> 00:24:45,900a new direct debit of five pounds per month or more48400:24:45,900 –> 00:24:48,660or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more48500:24:48,660 –> 00:24:51,619to support the work of Open the Bible this month.48600:24:51,619 –> 00:24:53,979Full terms and conditions are on our website48700:24:53,979 –> 00:24:56,660at Openthebible.org.uk48800:24:56,660 –> 00:24:58,640and you can give online.48900:24:58,640 –> 00:25:00,699Don’t forget though, to leave your full name49000:25:00,699 –> 00:25:02,280and address when you donate49100:25:02,380 –> 00:25:05,260so we’ll be able to send you your gift.49200:25:05,260 –> 00:25:07,800For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,49300:25:07,800 –> 00:25:10,560I’m David Pick, thanks for being with us today49400:25:10,560 –> 00:25:13,520and we look forward to having you join us again next time.49500:25:20,160 –> 00:25:22,319If God has provided everything we need49600:25:22,319 –> 00:25:24,400for life and godliness,49700:25:24,400 –> 00:25:27,680why is it that we’re not always growing?49800:25:27,680 –> 00:25:30,119Find out next time on Open the Bible.