100:00:00,240 –> 00:00:03,340SIN IS A NEVER ISOLATED EVENT200:00:03,340 –> 00:00:05,840Sin is never an isolated event.300:00:05,840 –> 00:00:09,380Sometimes we think that if we do something wrong, it’s like walking along a road and400:00:09,380 –> 00:00:13,240you’re kind of tripping over a stone and you get up and shake yourself down.500:00:13,240 –> 00:00:15,460Leave it behind.600:00:15,460 –> 00:00:20,660But actually, the Bible teaches us that sin is more like a quicksand.700:00:20,660 –> 00:00:25,540Once you begin to tread into it, it has its own power of sucking you down,800:00:25,540 –> 00:00:27,719pulling you in…900:00:27,760 –> 00:00:31,799Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick, glad you could be1000:00:31,799 –> 00:00:32,799with us today.1100:00:32,799 –> 00:00:36,660And Colin, why can’t we simply shake off sin and leave it behind?1200:00:36,660 –> 00:00:42,500Oh well, I think because the nature of sin is not simply actions, but it’s also desires.1300:00:42,500 –> 00:00:46,720And Jesus speaks about this very clearly in the Sermon on the Mount.1400:00:46,720 –> 00:00:49,580You’ve heard it said, you shall not murder.1500:00:49,580 –> 00:00:53,139But I say to you, well you’re not even to be angry with your brother and so forth and1600:00:53,139 –> 00:00:54,139so on.1700:00:54,139 –> 00:00:58,820If it was just the action, then we could say, well you know, I’ve done that, but now I need1800:00:58,820 –> 00:01:01,080to move on and not do that again.1900:01:01,080 –> 00:01:05,839But, when we know that it’s the desire, the desires are inside of us.2000:01:05,839 –> 00:01:10,000And that’s why it’s only the work of the Holy Spirit inside of us that’s going to be able2100:01:10,000 –> 00:01:12,860to bring the change that we really need.2200:01:12,860 –> 00:01:14,839So we’re going to see that in the story of David today.2300:01:14,839 –> 00:01:20,080He can’t just move away from the sin of adultery in which he engaged.2400:01:20,080 –> 00:01:24,059Because there’s something in his heart that actually needs to be changed and dealt with2500:01:24,120 –> 00:01:25,459by the Spirit of God.2600:01:25,459 –> 00:01:27,720So that’s what our message today is all about.2700:01:27,720 –> 00:01:33,000Join us if you can in your Bible at Psalm 51 as we begin the message, Get the Right2800:01:33,000 –> 00:01:34,019Diagnosis.2900:01:34,019 –> 00:01:35,019Here is Colin.3000:01:35,019 –> 00:01:40,680It was almost six months ago that I sketched out some ideas for a series of sermons on3100:01:40,680 –> 00:01:42,160the subject of repentance.3200:01:42,160 –> 00:01:46,839At that time I wrote down some questions.3300:01:46,839 –> 00:01:50,720Is it enough to say sorry when you know that you have done something that is seriously3400:01:50,720 –> 00:01:52,519wrong?3500:01:52,519 –> 00:01:58,160What is the appropriate course of action for a person who has committed a serious offense?3600:01:58,160 –> 00:02:04,199How can we know when another person’s repentance is sincere?3700:02:04,199 –> 00:02:07,040Because sin affects all of us in at least two ways.3800:02:07,040 –> 00:02:09,100The first is obviously that all of us sin.3900:02:09,100 –> 00:02:13,820If we believe the Bible, then we must take that for granted, and therefore because all4000:02:13,820 –> 00:02:16,720of us sin, all of us must know how to repent.4100:02:16,720 –> 00:02:21,300We need to know how to do that and what it means.4200:02:21,300 –> 00:02:26,559The second is that because we live in a fallen world, all of us in different ways are sinned4300:02:26,559 –> 00:02:28,559against.4400:02:28,559 –> 00:02:36,179Other people’s mistakes, sins, evils affect us in deep ways, and we need to know how to4500:02:36,179 –> 00:02:42,220recognize genuine repentance in another person.4600:02:42,220 –> 00:02:45,580So over these next three weeks, we’re going to be in the doctor’s surgery.4700:02:45,660 –> 00:02:51,100We’re going to have our three characters to help us as we move through the process4800:02:51,100 –> 00:02:57,559that takes us from being terribly wrong back to the position where we are right and healthy4900:02:57,559 –> 00:02:59,440again.5000:02:59,440 –> 00:03:04,860And this morning we’re going to begin by looking at the subject of diagnosis.5100:03:04,860 –> 00:03:11,039Because it’s quite clear that before we can ever begin to talk meaningfully about cure,5200:03:11,039 –> 00:03:16,160we have to have a proper understanding of what the problem is that we’re actually dealing5300:03:16,160 –> 00:03:17,720with.5400:03:17,720 –> 00:03:23,960And as long as we are like characters who want to avoid full diagnosis, we will never5500:03:23,960 –> 00:03:29,740begin on the pathway of recovery.5600:03:29,740 –> 00:03:34,160So I’d like to invite you to open your Bibles this morning at Psalm 51, which is going to5700:03:34,160 –> 00:03:40,240be our focus over these next three Sunday mornings.5800:03:40,240 –> 00:03:45,240And you’ll notice from the title there that there were a particular historical set of5900:03:45,240 –> 00:03:49,240events out of which this psalm was written.6000:03:49,240 –> 00:03:55,020It says there that this was written by David who was of course the King of Israel and it6100:03:55,020 –> 00:04:02,300was written when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with6200:04:02,300 –> 00:04:03,300Bathsheba.6300:04:03,320 –> 00:04:11,080Now you can read the story of these events in 2 Samuel 11 and chapter 12, but very simply6400:04:11,080 –> 00:04:14,139the facts are these.6500:04:14,139 –> 00:04:20,260David had reached the pinnacle of his success, which is always a dangerous time for a man6600:04:20,260 –> 00:04:26,420or a woman, perhaps his success had made him feel that the normal rules of life that apply6700:04:26,420 –> 00:04:28,739to other people didn’t apply to him.6800:04:29,260 –> 00:04:32,440Perhaps he felt he could walk on water.6900:04:32,440 –> 00:04:38,380But he lost touch with the normal reality with which he had lived in the past.7000:04:38,380 –> 00:04:42,140One day when he was walking on the roof of his house, he saw a woman who gripped his7100:04:42,140 –> 00:04:43,500attention.7200:04:43,500 –> 00:04:49,279She was married to another man, a man by the name of Uriah, who served in David’s army.7300:04:49,279 –> 00:04:53,679But David, being attracted to her, commanded that she be brought to him.7400:04:53,679 –> 00:04:58,420And the Scripture tells us that he committed adultery with her.7500:04:58,420 –> 00:05:00,739He betrayed his own wife.7600:05:00,739 –> 00:05:05,200He sinned against a neighbour, and he sinned against God.7700:05:05,200 –> 00:05:08,420There is no such thing as private sin.7800:05:08,420 –> 00:05:13,779Sin always affects many other people.7900:05:13,779 –> 00:05:17,179Now the story goes on that the woman conceived a child.8000:05:17,179 –> 00:05:22,480And so David did the thing that comes instinctively to sinners.8100:05:22,480 –> 00:05:24,100He attempted a cover-up.8200:05:24,100 –> 00:05:27,500Very interesting that when you go back to the very first book in the Bible and the very8300:05:28,000 –> 00:05:32,820first sin, you remember Adam and Eve in the garden, they disobeyed God for the very first8400:05:32,820 –> 00:05:34,579time, and what does Genesis tell us?8500:05:34,579 –> 00:05:40,899Immediately after the first sin, they hid, they hid.8600:05:40,899 –> 00:05:44,359R.C. Sproul calls it Edengate .8700:05:44,359 –> 00:05:48,220Well named, well named.8800:05:48,220 –> 00:05:50,399It’s instinctive.8900:05:50,399 –> 00:05:53,619Did something wrong, I hide.9000:05:53,619 –> 00:05:56,100And here we’ve got Bathsheba gate.9100:05:56,420 –> 00:06:01,059Because David tried to cover up what he had, had done.9200:06:01,059 –> 00:06:03,619His first attempted cover up was very simple.9300:06:03,619 –> 00:06:08,019One, bring the woman’s husband home from the field of battle.9400:06:08,019 –> 00:06:13,220Two, give them extended time alone together.9500:06:13,220 –> 00:06:20,299Three, send Uriah, the husband back to the field of battle for an extended tour of duty9600:06:20,339 –> 00:06:25,839Then he comes back, nine months later, nice surprise, happy family.9700:06:25,839 –> 00:06:29,019Bathsheba knows how to keep his secret and everyone will live happy ever after.9800:06:29,019 –> 00:06:30,980No one will be any the wiser.9900:06:31,440 –> 00:06:34,600Well, the plan didn’t work, for one simple reason.10000:06:34,600 –> 00:06:40,959Uriah was a noble man and it got to his conscience that he was being given this unexpected vacation10100:06:40,959 –> 00:06:46,399while his colleagues were out camping in the fields in fear of their lives.10200:06:46,399 –> 00:06:50,079And Uriah feels he just can’t go back to his wife while his own colleagues are under these10300:06:50,079 –> 00:06:56,040circumstances, and so he comes back to Jerusalem, but he does not enjoy the life of home.10400:06:56,040 –> 00:07:01,480And when he returns to the field, no, time has been spent together.10500:07:01,480 –> 00:07:03,679And so David has to come up with another plan.10600:07:03,679 –> 00:07:11,359It’s very interesting as you follow the story, nothing makes a man lose his judgment more10700:07:11,359 –> 00:07:13,880than a guilty conscience.10800:07:13,880 –> 00:07:18,820And as a bad conscience begins to gain its grip on David’s heart and in his mind, his10900:07:19,220 –> 00:07:25,619actions become more and more wide of the mark, more and more extreme as he attempts his cover11000:07:25,619 –> 00:07:26,859up.11100:07:26,859 –> 00:07:28,799Sin is never an isolated event.11200:07:28,799 –> 00:07:32,959See, sometimes we think that if we do something wrong, it’s like walking along a road and11300:07:32,959 –> 00:07:36,260you kind of trip over a stone, and all you need to do is you get up and you shake yourself11400:07:36,260 –> 00:07:39,079down and leave it behind.11500:07:39,079 –> 00:07:44,339But actually, the Bible teaches us that sin is more like a quicksand.11600:07:44,480 –> 00:07:49,920you begin to tread into it, it has its own power of sucking you down, pulling you11700:07:49,920 –> 00:07:51,679in.11800:07:51,679 –> 00:07:55,119This is what David was beginning to experience.11900:07:55,119 –> 00:07:57,380Cover up plan two went as follows.12000:07:57,380 –> 00:08:04,040One, arrange with the army commander that Uriah should be placed in the front lines12100:08:04,040 –> 00:08:10,260of battle, making his death almost inevitable.12200:08:10,260 –> 00:08:13,559Assuming that he be duly killed in action.12300:08:13,640 –> 00:08:17,619After a suitable period to marry the grieving widow.12400:08:17,619 –> 00:08:24,380Three, in due course adopt her unborn child into the royal household, a fitting tribute12500:08:24,380 –> 00:08:29,179to a brave soldier who was killed in the line of duty.12600:08:29,179 –> 00:08:33,640And the Bible goes on to describe the story, very simply, the plan worked.12700:08:33,640 –> 00:08:40,080It all panned out exactly as David had planned it in scenario number two, so that David at12800:08:40,140 –> 00:08:44,659the end of this with Uriah tragically killed in the field of battle, the grieving widow12900:08:44,659 –> 00:08:48,719wonderfully taken up into the royal household and becoming part of David’s family and13000:08:48,719 –> 00:08:57,599the son adopted, David thinks it’s all signed, sealed, delivered, and suitably buried in13100:08:57,599 –> 00:08:58,619the past.13200:08:58,619 –> 00:09:05,280Except for one thing, 2 Samuel 11 in verse 27 tells us this, that the thing that David13300:09:05,280 –> 00:09:11,799did displeased the Lord.13400:09:11,799 –> 00:09:14,159God knew.13500:09:14,159 –> 00:09:22,599And so because God loved David, God took an initiative so that it would not remain buried13600:09:22,599 –> 00:09:27,780in the past until the day of judgment.13700:09:27,780 –> 00:09:33,640And what God did was this, he sent a prophet whose name was Nathan and David was very happy13800:09:33,640 –> 00:09:35,479to receive Nathan at the palace.13900:09:35,479 –> 00:09:41,739And Nathan knew something that’s true of all of us, that we see the sins of other people14000:09:41,739 –> 00:09:46,000much more clearly than we see our own sins.14100:09:46,000 –> 00:09:52,119And so Nathan, wanting to communicate to David his own sinfulness, did it in a very subtle14200:09:52,119 –> 00:09:53,119way.14300:09:53,119 –> 00:09:57,400He told a report of another person’s sin.14400:09:57,400 –> 00:10:01,520And it went like this, came to the palace.14500:10:01,700 –> 00:10:08,460David no doubt says, nice to see you, good to have a prophet around the palace, what14600:10:08,460 –> 00:10:09,619have you got to say today?14700:10:09,619 –> 00:10:15,119What he says, Nathan, I’ve got to tell you, there’s been a terrible miscarriage14800:10:15,119 –> 00:10:19,080of justice in one of our towns.14900:10:19,080 –> 00:10:22,780Really has people talking and frankly, King, if we don’t do something about this, we’re15000:10:22,780 –> 00:10:25,559going to have some social unrest if this sort of thing carries on.15100:10:25,559 –> 00:10:26,940Oh, tell me, what’s the problem?15200:10:27,659 –> 00:10:34,219Well, it says, Nathan, it concerns two neighbors, a very wealthy man and a very poor family15300:10:34,219 –> 00:10:37,260who live actually immediately next door.15400:10:37,260 –> 00:10:41,679Wealthy man has a large acreage and many flocks of sheep, but the poor family next door, they15500:10:41,679 –> 00:10:45,919just have a fenced off yard and very little.15600:10:45,919 –> 00:10:50,260And you need to know that, that family some years ago bought one little lamb.15700:10:50,260 –> 00:10:56,700It was the kid’s pet, they fed it out a bottle, played with it for years.15800:10:56,719 –> 00:10:57,739Go on.15900:10:58,640 –> 00:11:04,140Well one day the rich neighbor, he had guests coming, and he wanted to put on roast lamb16000:11:04,140 –> 00:11:06,320for dinner.16100:11:06,320 –> 00:11:08,140And you know what he did?16200:11:08,140 –> 00:11:15,059He’s got all these flocks outside, but he jumps right over the fence, grabs the children’s16300:11:15,059 –> 00:11:21,599lamb, takes it, slaughters it, cooks it for dinner.16400:11:22,419 –> 00:11:24,400Can you imagine it?16500:11:24,619 –> 00:11:29,140He just went straight into their garden and he took the lamb!16600:11:30,299 –> 00:11:34,739The Bible says that David burned with anger.16700:11:35,520 –> 00:11:36,460And this is what he said.16800:11:36,460 –> 00:11:41,299The man who did that must die.16900:11:41,299 –> 00:11:45,419In one of the most dramatic moments in the Bible, Nathan no doubt looking the king straight17000:11:45,419 –> 00:11:50,539in the eyes, says to him, you are that man.17100:11:51,380 –> 00:11:54,059You are the man David who saw17200:11:54,059 –> 00:11:55,500something you wanted.17300:11:55,500 –> 00:12:00,760It wasn’t yours, but just because you wanted it you went and took it.17400:12:03,299 –> 00:12:07,260And at that moment it was as if a shaft of God’s truth,17500:12:07,260 –> 00:12:11,340light just came through David’s whole being,17600:12:11,340 –> 00:12:14,580his whole soul.17700:12:14,580 –> 00:12:17,260And he knew that God knew.17800:12:17,260 –> 00:12:20,179And he knew that it mattered.17900:12:20,219 –> 00:12:24,619And it’s out of that, the Bible tells us, that David penned this psalm18000:12:24,619 –> 00:12:27,780that we’re going to look at over these three Sunday mornings.18100:12:27,780 –> 00:12:32,059It was that discovery of himself18200:12:32,059 –> 00:12:36,380that led to this magnificent roadmap18300:12:36,380 –> 00:12:39,099of the highway of repentance.18400:12:39,099 –> 00:12:42,099You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith18500:12:42,099 –> 00:12:45,140and a message called Get the Right Diagnosis.18600:12:45,140 –> 00:12:48,400And if you tuned in late or if you ever miss one of our messages,18700:12:48,460 –> 00:12:50,859you can easily catch up or go back and listen again18800:12:50,859 –> 00:12:53,320by coming online to our website,18900:12:56,119 –> 00:12:59,119Or, you can also find Pastor Colin as a podcast19000:12:59,119 –> 00:13:01,500and those are on all of the main podcast sites.19100:13:01,500 –> 00:13:03,599Simply search for Open the Bible UK19200:13:03,599 –> 00:13:06,320or you can follow the link from our website.19300:13:06,320 –> 00:13:07,719Back to the message now.19400:13:07,719 –> 00:13:09,599Here again is Colin.19500:13:09,599 –> 00:13:10,739Now this morning, as I’ve said,19600:13:10,739 –> 00:13:13,219we’re going to focus in on the subject of diagnosis.19700:13:13,219 –> 00:13:15,000What is the problem?19800:13:15,000 –> 00:13:17,059Isn’t it interesting that you read through this psalm19900:13:17,059 –> 00:13:18,239and there’s no mention of adultery20000:13:18,380 –> 00:13:19,919and there’s no mention of murder.20100:13:21,260 –> 00:13:22,080Why?20200:13:22,080 –> 00:13:27,099Because David is now going deeper than the particular sins.20300:13:28,479 –> 00:13:31,919He’s grappling with the core of the problem.20400:13:33,059 –> 00:13:37,000He’s not only looking at the immediate pain that is felt,20500:13:37,940 –> 00:13:41,940he’s beginning to grapple with the very source of it.20600:13:43,479 –> 00:13:44,780Now as we go through this diagnosis,20700:13:44,780 –> 00:13:46,619will you follow me with your Bible open please?20800:13:46,619 –> 00:13:48,059We’re going to look at the terms20900:13:49,059 –> 00:13:52,239that he uses that begin to explain and open up for us21000:13:52,239 –> 00:13:55,559just what the problem with the human condition really is.21100:13:55,559 –> 00:13:57,299And I want you to notice, first of all,21200:13:57,299 –> 00:13:59,659in verse one there that he speaks of,21300:13:59,659 –> 00:14:01,340my transgressions.21400:14:04,539 –> 00:14:06,599Verse one, have mercy on me, O God,21500:14:06,599 –> 00:14:08,820according to your unfailing love,21600:14:08,820 –> 00:14:10,900according to your great compassion,21700:14:10,900 –> 00:14:12,500blot out21800:14:12,500 –> 00:14:14,219my21900:14:14,219 –> 00:14:15,880transgressions.22000:14:16,340 –> 00:14:19,280Now to transgress22100:14:19,280 –> 00:14:21,359is to step over22200:14:21,359 –> 00:14:23,780a boundary line.22300:14:23,780 –> 00:14:27,599It always makes me recall a sign22400:14:27,599 –> 00:14:31,359that was posted outside of a convent.22500:14:31,359 –> 00:14:34,239There was this building and grounds around it22600:14:34,239 –> 00:14:36,140and a kind of perimeter fence.22700:14:36,140 –> 00:14:40,179And on the fence of the convent was this sign,22800:14:40,179 –> 00:14:43,479trespassers will be prosecuted22900:14:43,979 –> 00:14:47,479to the full extent of the law.23000:14:47,479 –> 00:14:49,679And then underneath it had signed23100:14:49,679 –> 00:14:51,820the sisters of mercy.23200:14:51,820 –> 00:14:53,820I always rather enjoyed that.23300:14:55,020 –> 00:14:57,020But that’s the meaning of transgression,23400:14:57,020 –> 00:15:00,739there is a boundary, you go across it you’re in trouble.23500:15:00,739 –> 00:15:04,500And very simply the Bible gives to us boundary lines23600:15:04,500 –> 00:15:09,200that God has set for us in human behavior.23700:15:09,200 –> 00:15:12,219And to transgress or to trespass23800:15:12,219 –> 00:15:14,799is to cut across these boundaries.23900:15:14,799 –> 00:15:18,280God has said, you shall not commit adultery.24000:15:19,880 –> 00:15:21,619And if you read the teaching of Jesus,24100:15:21,619 –> 00:15:24,559you’ll find that that does not include just specific acts,24200:15:24,559 –> 00:15:28,000but it includes the whole area of sexual sin24300:15:28,000 –> 00:15:30,280in the mind as well as in the body.24400:15:32,039 –> 00:15:35,700You shall not kill, but if you read the teaching of Jesus,24500:15:35,700 –> 00:15:37,000you will find very clearly24600:15:37,000 –> 00:15:39,460that that includes the whole area24700:15:39,460 –> 00:15:41,640of the abuse of other people,24800:15:41,640 –> 00:15:43,440including our words,24900:15:44,359 –> 00:15:45,200including the ways25000:15:45,200 –> 00:15:47,900in which we suppress other personalities.25100:15:49,320 –> 00:15:52,219You shall not steal, you shall not covet,25200:15:53,479 –> 00:15:54,679includes that craving25300:15:54,679 –> 00:15:56,700to be in another person’s position.25400:15:58,599 –> 00:16:01,359You shall not give false testimony,25500:16:01,359 –> 00:16:04,400including the whole area of the masks that we wear,25600:16:04,440 –> 00:16:07,440the images that we knowingly and falsely present.25700:16:08,799 –> 00:16:11,200Now David says, I’ve stepped over the line, God,25800:16:13,200 –> 00:16:15,200and I’m worried about my transgression.25900:16:17,320 –> 00:16:18,659But it doesn’t stop there.26000:16:20,320 –> 00:16:22,479Notice verse two, he talks about my sin.26100:16:25,280 –> 00:16:28,140Because of your mercy, blot out my transgression26200:16:29,000 –> 00:16:32,780and cleanse me from my sin.26300:16:32,859 –> 00:16:34,500Now the word sin in the Bible,26400:16:34,500 –> 00:16:36,260slightly different range of meaning.26500:16:36,260 –> 00:16:39,640It means to come up short off the mark.26600:16:40,940 –> 00:16:43,179I always remember one occasion back in London26700:16:43,179 –> 00:16:45,900a few years ago now, when a friend of mine26800:16:45,900 –> 00:16:47,539who was a missionary in Africa26900:16:47,539 –> 00:16:51,840had brought back a genuine African hunters bow and arrow.27000:16:51,840 –> 00:16:55,859Magnificent thing, four feet long, seemed to weigh a ton.27100:16:56,859 –> 00:16:58,679And that he gave me this demonstration,27200:16:58,679 –> 00:17:00,580kind of stands there puts this Arrow-Win,27300:17:00,580 –> 00:17:03,179holds this thing, looks absolutely magnificent.27400:17:03,179 –> 00:17:06,619There were fields, way, way, way behind their house.27500:17:06,619 –> 00:17:08,680And he shoots for the sun27600:17:08,680 –> 00:17:11,979and this thing flies through the air, gliding beautifully.27700:17:13,380 –> 00:17:14,880And he says to me, have a turn.27800:17:16,140 –> 00:17:19,819Well, just before my inaugural experience of archery,27900:17:19,819 –> 00:17:20,660he said to me,28000:17:20,660 –> 00:17:23,500noticing that just about where the sound desk is there,28100:17:23,500 –> 00:17:26,959about 10 feet away, the children had a rabbit hutch.28200:17:27,880 –> 00:17:29,459And he said, just before you try,28300:17:29,479 –> 00:17:31,380I’m gonna take the rabbit out.28400:17:31,380 –> 00:17:33,359And I thought rather insulting.28500:17:33,359 –> 00:17:34,380And.28600:17:34,380 –> 00:17:37,859But I tell you, I’ve never in all my life28700:17:37,859 –> 00:17:42,859been so thankful for the prevention of disaster.28800:17:43,300 –> 00:17:46,140I took this thing and aiming for the sun28900:17:46,140 –> 00:17:49,400as best I could, it kind of slid off at the optimum moment29000:17:49,400 –> 00:17:51,140and skated along the path,29100:17:51,140 –> 00:17:53,660and landed up just in front of the rabbit hutch.29200:17:54,699 –> 00:17:56,239Unbelievably embarrassing.29300:17:56,239 –> 00:17:58,619Well, if you can get that picture in your mind,29400:17:58,739 –> 00:18:00,300that arrow sinned.29500:18:02,260 –> 00:18:07,260It was destined to shoot for the sky,29600:18:08,979 –> 00:18:13,119but the reality was it skated limply along the ground.29700:18:14,219 –> 00:18:18,579Sin is literally missing the mark,29800:18:18,579 –> 00:18:20,339but missing the mark by a mile.29900:18:21,500 –> 00:18:23,280That’s what the word means.30000:18:23,280 –> 00:18:25,459I say, well what is the target, what is the mark?30100:18:25,459 –> 00:18:26,839Jesus set it out very simply.30200:18:26,959 –> 00:18:29,380He said, you love the Lord your God with all your heart,30300:18:29,380 –> 00:18:30,660soul and mind and strength,30400:18:30,660 –> 00:18:32,199and love your neighbor as yourself.30500:18:32,199 –> 00:18:36,119You are made by God to fly in love for God30600:18:36,119 –> 00:18:37,719and in love for your neighbor.30700:18:39,160 –> 00:18:42,839I look at my life and I love God, I love my neighbor,30800:18:42,839 –> 00:18:45,560but to love God with all my heart, all my soul,30900:18:45,560 –> 00:18:47,199all my mind and all my strength31000:18:47,199 –> 00:18:49,900as there been one day in my life when I’ve done that.31100:18:51,920 –> 00:18:54,800David says, it’s not just that I’m worried31200:18:54,800 –> 00:18:57,400about the places where I’ve broken your law.31300:18:59,199 –> 00:19:02,760I’m worried also about the fact that there is my sin.31400:19:02,760 –> 00:19:05,920I just am miserably short of everything31500:19:05,920 –> 00:19:07,300you’ve called me to be, God.31600:19:09,300 –> 00:19:12,439And then he uses a third word, verse two again.31700:19:12,439 –> 00:19:15,739Notice how he speaks there about my iniquity.31800:19:16,939 –> 00:19:20,400Now, iniquity literally means twistedness.31900:19:20,400 –> 00:19:22,859You think of a piece of shrapnel,32000:19:22,859 –> 00:19:25,420the remains of a bomb case32100:19:25,420 –> 00:19:28,079after an explosion has taken place.32200:19:28,079 –> 00:19:31,579Have you ever held a piece of shrapnel in your hand?32300:19:31,579 –> 00:19:32,819I mean you wonder how it could ever32400:19:32,819 –> 00:19:34,380have been a flat piece of metal.32500:19:34,380 –> 00:19:38,219It is so clinkered, twisted, in every dimension.32600:19:40,040 –> 00:19:42,380That’s what the word iniquity means.32700:19:42,380 –> 00:19:46,020He says there is something within me that is twisted.32800:19:47,719 –> 00:19:50,520So, God, here’s the problem I’m beginning to diagnose32900:19:50,520 –> 00:19:51,780and bring before you.33000:19:51,839 –> 00:19:53,959I’ve transgressed Your law.33100:19:53,959 –> 00:19:56,239I have come up short of Your calling.33200:19:56,239 –> 00:19:57,939And the reason is that there is something33300:19:57,939 –> 00:19:59,880twisted in my very nature.33400:20:01,939 –> 00:20:03,219Now try and follow this for a moment.33500:20:03,219 –> 00:20:06,300The Bible’s teaching is primarily33600:20:07,800 –> 00:20:12,319not that we are sinners because we sin,33700:20:13,760 –> 00:20:18,479but that we sin because we are sinners.33800:20:20,400 –> 00:20:21,300Let me say that again.33900:20:21,300 –> 00:20:23,939The Bible’s teaching at it’s heart on this subject34000:20:23,939 –> 00:20:27,579is not that we are sinners because we sin.34100:20:27,579 –> 00:20:28,780In other words some people think34200:20:28,780 –> 00:20:30,140we are all going along very nicely,34300:20:30,140 –> 00:20:31,500basically good people at heart34400:20:31,500 –> 00:20:33,540and occasionally we stumble over the odd brick34500:20:33,540 –> 00:20:35,739we make a mistake and that makes us sinners.34600:20:35,739 –> 00:20:37,780No that is not what the Bible is saying to us.34700:20:37,780 –> 00:20:39,300It’s saying it the other way around.34800:20:39,300 –> 00:20:44,300It is saying the reason we sin is because we are sinners.34900:20:45,239 –> 00:20:48,859The reason that there is bad fruit in our lives35000:20:48,859 –> 00:20:51,819is that there is something wrong with the tree.35100:20:51,819 –> 00:20:54,640The reason David is now beginning to diagnose35200:20:54,640 –> 00:20:57,900that there are these symptoms of actions35300:20:57,900 –> 00:21:01,760that are foul in God’s sight, my transgressions and my sin,35400:21:01,760 –> 00:21:04,420it arises from the fact that there’s something twisted35500:21:04,420 –> 00:21:06,160that goes to the very core of me.35600:21:08,140 –> 00:21:10,520The problem is not only what I did.35700:21:12,079 –> 00:21:13,959The problem is the reason I did it.35800:21:13,959 –> 00:21:17,119It’s a heart problem.35900:21:19,060 –> 00:21:22,020And if my idea for repentance is just that I say sorry,36000:21:22,020 –> 00:21:23,339where on earth will stop me36100:21:23,339 –> 00:21:25,339from doing exactly the same thing again?36200:21:27,020 –> 00:21:29,439Being sorry is hardly an adequate defense36300:21:29,439 –> 00:21:31,420against the pull of the quicksand.36400:21:33,020 –> 00:21:34,780A reminder therefore from Pastor Cullen36500:21:34,780 –> 00:21:36,839that there is always going to be sin36600:21:36,839 –> 00:21:38,800in our journey through the world,36700:21:38,800 –> 00:21:42,380but that doesn’t have to drive a wedge between us and God.36800:21:42,380 –> 00:21:44,900It can actually drive us towards Him.36900:21:44,900 –> 00:21:45,900And that’s what our series,37000:21:45,900 –> 00:21:48,339Changing Direction is all about.37100:21:48,339 –> 00:21:52,040When King David sinned, he longed to be forgiven,37200:21:52,040 –> 00:21:54,239but he also longed to be changed37300:21:54,239 –> 00:21:57,839so that he would avoid repeating those same failures.37400:21:57,839 –> 00:22:01,180He needed to change direction just as we do.37500:22:01,180 –> 00:22:03,619It involves more than just being sorry.37600:22:03,619 –> 00:22:06,459It involves a deep change of heart37700:22:06,459 –> 00:22:08,959through the power of the Holy Spirit.37800:22:08,959 –> 00:22:10,660And that’s what our series is really37900:22:10,699 –> 00:22:13,000all about, changing direction.38000:22:13,000 –> 00:22:14,439If you ever miss one of the series,38100:22:14,439 –> 00:22:16,319don’t forget it’s easy to catch up38200:22:16,319 –> 00:22:18,140or go back and listen again online38300:22:18,140 –> 00:22:22,160at our website, openthebible.org.uk.38400:22:22,160 –> 00:22:24,459Or as a podcast, you can find Pastor Colin38500:22:24,459 –> 00:22:26,479on all the main podcast sites38600:22:26,479 –> 00:22:28,800by searching for Open the Bible UK38700:22:28,800 –> 00:22:31,640or by following the link from our website.38800:22:31,640 –> 00:22:34,920Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.38900:22:34,920 –> 00:22:37,180It’s you that keep us on this station39000:22:37,180 –> 00:22:38,640and on the internet,39100:22:38,640 –> 00:22:42,339and we’re extremely grateful for the support you give us.39200:22:42,339 –> 00:22:45,260If that’s something you’ve been considering doing yourself,39300:22:45,260 –> 00:22:47,979then this month, we have a great offer for you.39400:22:47,979 –> 00:22:50,900If you’re able to start a new direct debit39500:22:50,900 –> 00:22:52,660to the work of Open the Bible39600:22:52,660 –> 00:22:55,060for five pounds per month or more,39700:22:55,060 –> 00:22:58,260or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,39800:22:58,260 –> 00:22:59,619we’d love to say thank you39900:22:59,619 –> 00:23:03,060by sending you two copies of Pastor Colin’s book,40000:23:03,060 –> 00:23:04,280”Christmas Stories”40100:23:04,280 –> 00:23:06,800along with five beautiful Christmas cards40200:23:06,839 –> 00:23:09,920with illustrations taken from the book.40300:23:09,920 –> 00:23:12,479Christmas Stories is the Christmas story40400:23:12,479 –> 00:23:13,900seen from the perspective40500:23:13,900 –> 00:23:16,560of several different biblical characters,40600:23:16,560 –> 00:23:21,560the angel Gabriel, Joseph, Mary, Simeon, even King Herod.40700:23:22,760 –> 00:23:25,280Colin, what’s one thing you would like people40800:23:25,280 –> 00:23:27,479to take away from reading this book?40900:23:27,479 –> 00:23:30,160Well, I really hope and pray that when people read this,41000:23:30,160 –> 00:23:33,540they will just have a fresh sense of wonder41100:23:33,540 –> 00:23:36,300at what it meant for God to become a man41200:23:36,300 –> 00:23:39,199in Christ Jesus, for the Lord Jesus to be born41300:23:39,199 –> 00:23:41,359into the world and to become our saviour.41400:23:41,359 –> 00:23:44,459It is indeed the greatest story ever told.41500:23:44,459 –> 00:23:47,979And for it to be fresh and to be seen in its wonder41600:23:47,979 –> 00:23:49,739is just a marvellous thing.41700:23:49,739 –> 00:23:52,099But then I hope that having read it,41800:23:52,099 –> 00:23:54,459people will take the opportunity41900:23:54,459 –> 00:23:56,839to perhaps read one of these chapters42000:23:56,839 –> 00:23:58,500at the dinner table at Christmas42100:23:58,500 –> 00:23:59,979or at some other Christmas event42200:23:59,979 –> 00:24:01,579where loved ones are gathered together.42300:24:01,579 –> 00:24:03,619And you could just take this little book out,42400:24:03,619 –> 00:24:05,739Christmas Stories, and you could say,42500:24:05,839 –> 00:24:08,420let’s take five minutes before we eat42600:24:08,420 –> 00:24:10,280to read the Christmas story.42700:24:10,280 –> 00:24:12,780Or perhaps after the meal would be a good time to do it.42800:24:12,780 –> 00:24:15,859It’ll only take about five minutes at the most42900:24:15,859 –> 00:24:18,380to read this, but it’s a way of presenting43000:24:18,380 –> 00:24:20,459to people you know and love,43100:24:20,459 –> 00:24:21,540who may be in your home43200:24:21,540 –> 00:24:23,579and celebrating Christmas with you,43300:24:23,579 –> 00:24:26,099the good news of Jesus Christ43400:24:26,099 –> 00:24:28,699so that eyes may be directed to him.43500:24:28,699 –> 00:24:30,699Two copies of Christmas Stories43600:24:30,699 –> 00:24:33,619along with five lovely postcards43700:24:33,619 –> 00:24:35,339are our gift to you this month.43800:24:35,339 –> 00:24:36,819If you are able to begin,43900:24:36,819 –> 00:24:39,640a new direct debit to the work of Open The Bible44000:24:39,640 –> 00:24:42,560in the amount of five pounds per month or more44100:24:42,560 –> 00:24:45,339or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more.44200:24:45,339 –> 00:24:47,780Full details, terms and conditions44300:24:47,780 –> 00:24:51,859are on our website at openthebible.org.uk44400:24:51,859 –> 00:24:53,800and you can give online.44500:24:53,800 –> 00:24:54,959Don’t forget please,44600:24:54,959 –> 00:24:57,420if you want to take advantage of this offer,44700:24:57,420 –> 00:24:59,099don’t give anonymously44800:24:59,099 –> 00:25:01,479and do leave your full name and address44900:25:01,479 –> 00:25:03,319so we can send you your free gift.45000:25:04,119 –> 00:25:07,000For Open The Bible, Pastor Colin Smith,45100:25:07,000 –> 00:25:08,199I’m David Pick45200:25:08,199 –> 00:25:10,280and I hope you’ll join us again next time.45300:25:10,280 –> 00:25:12,479What you say is the greatest problem in life,45400:25:20,160 –> 00:25:22,180Find out what King David said45500:25:22,180 –> 00:25:23,520next time on Open The Bible.
