100:00:00,900 –> 00:00:06,000Your humanity is already in heaven.200:00:06,300 –> 00:00:10,500At the right hand of God the father who is invisible stands300:00:10,500 –> 00:00:15,000the man Christ Jesus, God in the flesh.400:00:15,200 –> 00:00:20,000There is a man in heaven there is someone representing you500:00:20,000 –> 00:00:26,000who knows your life from the inside in heaven and his name is Jesus.600:00:26,600 –> 00:00:29,500Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Collins Smith.700:00:29,500 –> 00:00:30,799I’m David Pick.800:00:31,000 –> 00:00:32,299Glad you could be with us today.900:00:32,299 –> 00:00:36,000And we’re continuing our series 10 distinctives of a gospel-centric1000:00:36,000 –> 00:00:37,200Church.1100:00:37,200 –> 00:00:40,000And Colin today’s message is gospel life.1200:00:40,299 –> 00:00:44,000Yes, I’m looking at one of my favorite verses and the new testament1300:00:44,000 –> 00:00:46,5001st Timothy Chapter 3 in verse 16.1400:00:46,799 –> 00:00:48,500It says this great indeed.1500:00:48,500 –> 00:00:51,900We confess is the mystery of godliness.1600:00:52,500 –> 00:00:56,400So godliness is about how you live a life that is set apart for God1700:00:56,599 –> 00:00:58,400good and a holy life.1800:00:58,400 –> 00:01:00,099How do you go after that?1900:01:00,299 –> 00:01:05,599And the next thing it says is he was manifested in the flesh vindicated2000:01:05,599 –> 00:01:07,500by the Spirit, seen by angels.2100:01:07,699 –> 00:01:10,900And then we have these marvelous descriptions of the truths of the Lord2200:01:10,900 –> 00:01:12,099Jesus Christ.2300:01:12,500 –> 00:01:16,800It’s a very striking verse great is the mystery of godliness.2400:01:16,800 –> 00:01:21,699He in other words, the mystery of how you live a life, that is pleasing2500:01:21,800 –> 00:01:27,500to God is all summed up in a person Jesus Christ now that’s why we’re2600:01:27,500 –> 00:01:31,800going to begin today by looking at Jesus Christ what’s true of him2700:01:31,800 –> 00:01:33,300what he has accomplished.2800:01:33,300 –> 00:01:38,500Why does that matter because that is the key to living the life that2900:01:38,500 –> 00:01:43,800God called us to it’s in him that this new life is possible.3000:01:43,900 –> 00:01:46,699And so we’re going to focus our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ again3100:01:46,699 –> 00:01:47,099today.3200:01:47,199 –> 00:01:48,500Well, let’s do that.3300:01:48,500 –> 00:01:52,800Open your Bible with us, if you can to One Timothy chapters 3 and3400:01:52,800 –> 00:01:56,0994, as we begin a message called gospel life.3500:01:56,099 –> 00:01:57,400Here is Pastor Colin.3600:01:57,699 –> 00:02:01,300We have been learning that Christ calls the church to a global3700:02:01,300 –> 00:02:05,300ministry of the word and prayer there is one mediator.3800:02:05,300 –> 00:02:08,600And that means that there is one gospel and it follows that if3900:02:08,600 –> 00:02:12,699there is one gospel it must be for all people and we have been4000:02:12,699 –> 00:02:16,199asking the question what kind of people then will get this job4100:02:16,199 –> 00:02:16,699done?4200:02:17,199 –> 00:02:20,100What kind of people will be most useful and effective in this4300:02:20,100 –> 00:02:22,500global ministry of the word and prayer?4400:02:23,000 –> 00:02:26,199And last time we saw that there is certain character and4500:02:26,199 –> 00:02:30,699competence that we must seek to develop if we are to maximize4600:02:30,699 –> 00:02:33,199our usefulness to Jesus Christ.4700:02:33,300 –> 00:02:36,699The character lies in the area of Wise judgment and healthy4800:02:36,699 –> 00:02:39,000relationships and moral integrity.4900:02:39,600 –> 00:02:43,300The competence we saw was in the areas of the ability to teach5000:02:43,600 –> 00:02:47,199that is knowing and grasping the truth and being able to apply5100:02:47,199 –> 00:02:51,199it to yourself and to the lives of others the ability to manage5200:02:51,399 –> 00:02:55,199first one self then ones family and then more widely within the5300:02:55,199 –> 00:02:56,399household of God.5400:02:56,800 –> 00:03:00,000And then thirdly the ability to stand against the attacks of5500:03:00,000 –> 00:03:03,500Satan who wants to lure us into pride on the one hand and for5600:03:03,500 –> 00:03:06,899us to fall into disgrace as a consequence.5700:03:07,600 –> 00:03:10,399And we saw that this is God’s calling for all of us to pursue5800:03:10,399 –> 00:03:13,300it particularly for leaders because leaders are to be an5900:03:13,300 –> 00:03:15,199example to the rest of God’s people.6000:03:15,600 –> 00:03:18,419But we saw that this is the kind of character and competence6100:03:18,419 –> 00:03:22,080that is important for all of us if we are to maximize our6200:03:22,080 –> 00:03:26,139usefulness individually and together in the great cause that6300:03:26,139 –> 00:03:28,940Jesus Christ has given to his church.6400:03:29,800 –> 00:03:32,820And we ended last time I think by saying Wonder who is6500:03:32,820 –> 00:03:34,179sufficient for these things.6600:03:34,220 –> 00:03:36,899We would all have the same reaction and say this high6700:03:36,899 –> 00:03:39,380calling seems to be something that is beyond us.6800:03:39,660 –> 00:03:42,179None of us would be stepping forward and saying you know I’m6900:03:42,179 –> 00:03:43,679the man who is going to do all this.7000:03:44,639 –> 00:03:48,059And what is the answer to the question when we feel who is7100:03:48,059 –> 00:03:49,539sufficient for these things.7200:03:50,039 –> 00:03:53,100The answer is our sufficiency is all God.7300:03:53,520 –> 00:03:56,100And we ended last time by seeing that the character and7400:03:56,100 –> 00:04:01,740competence that we need is found in Jesus Christ and that he is7500:04:01,779 –> 00:04:04,619able to produce these things in us.7600:04:05,059 –> 00:04:06,139And that’s our hope.7700:04:07,059 –> 00:04:08,919Now that’s where we’re going to take it up today.7800:04:09,199 –> 00:04:12,240This is one letter and so it has a certain flow to it and7900:04:12,240 –> 00:04:14,960that’s why it’s important to get the sense of where we are.8000:04:15,559 –> 00:04:18,119The question that’s before us in the light of this global8100:04:18,119 –> 00:04:21,399mission that has been trusted to us by Jesus Christ and this8200:04:21,399 –> 00:04:24,679character and competence that we need to develop in order to be8300:04:24,679 –> 00:04:25,579useful in it.8400:04:26,000 –> 00:04:29,279The question obviously is when how do we grow in this life.8500:04:30,279 –> 00:04:35,239How are we to make progress in a godly life that has been8600:04:35,239 –> 00:04:36,640described in Chapter 3.8700:04:37,399 –> 00:04:42,660How are we to become the kind of people who will get God’s work8800:04:42,700 –> 00:04:44,320on earth done.8900:04:44,540 –> 00:04:48,320That’s the question as we come to the end of Chapter 3 in the9000:04:48,320 –> 00:04:50,279beginning of Chapter 4.9100:04:50,859 –> 00:04:54,720Now if you have your Bible open and I hope you will chapter 39200:04:54,720 –> 00:04:58,600in verse 16 is right at the heart of the letter it comes9300:04:58,600 –> 00:05:01,559right in the middle and it is of central importance.9400:05:01,940 –> 00:05:04,480You’ll notice that it stands out even in the way that it is9500:05:04,480 –> 00:05:05,440printed here.9600:05:05,720 –> 00:05:12,279It’s printed as poetry not as prose scholars think that that9700:05:12,339 –> 00:05:15,279indicates that this may well have been a hymn or at least a9800:05:15,279 –> 00:05:18,559fragment of a hymn that was actually sung in the early9900:05:18,559 –> 00:05:21,540church in the times of the Apostle Paul by Christian10000:05:21,540 –> 00:05:24,720believers and it has six marvelous statements about the10100:05:24,720 –> 00:05:26,019Lord Jesus Christ.10200:05:26,420 –> 00:05:29,760Beyond all question the mystery of godliness is great.10300:05:30,239 –> 00:05:34,640He appeared in a body was vindicated by the spirit was10400:05:34,660 –> 00:05:38,839seen by angels was preached among the nations was believed10500:05:38,839 –> 00:05:42,399on in the world and was taken up into glory.10600:05:43,279 –> 00:05:46,200You know that three sixteen seems to be a significant10700:05:46,200 –> 00:05:48,040number in a number of books of the Bible.10800:05:48,320 –> 00:05:52,339You know John 3 16 I hope you’ll come to savor one10900:05:52,339 –> 00:05:56,720Timothy Chapter 3 in verse 16 one of the great statements in11000:05:56,720 –> 00:06:00,799the New Testament about the glory of Jesus Christ beginning11100:06:00,799 –> 00:06:04,200with his coming into the world taking appearing in a11200:06:04,200 –> 00:06:08,380body and moving from his birth to his Ascension.11300:06:08,640 –> 00:06:13,239He was taken up in glory you notice by the way that the11400:06:13,359 –> 00:06:17,000statements here are not in chronological order.11500:06:17,440 –> 00:06:21,739Obviously Christ was preached among the nations and believed11600:06:21,739 –> 00:06:26,160on in the world after the Ascension and not before.11700:06:26,619 –> 00:06:29,859And I draw your attention to that for the simple reason that11800:06:29,859 –> 00:06:33,559sometimes particularly in ancient poetry there is a11900:06:33,559 –> 00:06:38,440parallelism between the first line and the last line and then12000:06:38,440 –> 00:06:41,339as you kind of move towards the middle the second from first12100:06:41,339 –> 00:06:45,079line and the second from last line twin up and then as you12200:06:45,079 –> 00:06:47,739move towards the center and so forth and so on.12300:06:48,140 –> 00:06:51,820And I think that’s the case here and I want us to see it together.12400:06:52,519 –> 00:06:56,980If you’re a Christian for the next few moments I want you just12500:06:56,980 –> 00:06:59,459to sit back and enjoy,12600:07:00,320 –> 00:07:06,619Sever the glory of your Lord Jesus Christ.12700:07:07,500 –> 00:07:11,739That has been the song of the church throughout history and12800:07:11,739 –> 00:07:15,679desire of praise and our joy today.12900:07:17,420 –> 00:07:20,420Three affirmations then of the glory of Christ as we pair13000:07:20,420 –> 00:07:24,359these lines together first in his incarnation The first line13100:07:24,359 –> 00:07:28,820and the last line he appeared in a body and he was taken up13200:07:28,880 –> 00:07:29,540into glory.13300:07:29,540 –> 00:07:35,940Savor this with me your Lord Jesus Christ he appeared in a13400:07:35,940 –> 00:07:36,579body.13500:07:38,140 –> 00:07:41,320He knows your life in this world.13600:07:42,500 –> 00:07:44,459He worked in a carpenter shop.13700:07:45,459 –> 00:07:49,220He would have had callus on his hands.13800:07:50,380 –> 00:07:51,779He worked long days.13900:07:51,779 –> 00:07:54,899He knew what it was as you know what it is to be exhausted14000:07:54,899 –> 00:07:56,339sometimes at night.14100:07:56,579 –> 00:08:01,440He knew pain in his body as some of us here experience pain14200:08:01,440 –> 00:08:02,339even now.14300:08:03,679 –> 00:08:08,679He knew great joy and he savored friendship as many of us14400:08:08,679 –> 00:08:10,820rejoice in these wonderful gifts.14500:08:11,459 –> 00:08:14,079He knew the joy of accomplishment he knew the pain14600:08:14,079 –> 00:08:19,739of of disappointment of sorrow when having taught his own14700:08:19,739 –> 00:08:20,700friend so long.14800:08:20,700 –> 00:08:23,720They still had so little understanding of the truth that14900:08:23,720 –> 00:08:24,519was in him.15000:08:24,820 –> 00:08:27,640He lived your life in this world.15100:08:27,640 –> 00:08:29,220He knows your suffering.15200:08:29,220 –> 00:08:32,900He knows your rejoicing and he knows it from the inside.15300:08:33,820 –> 00:08:37,119Not only did he appear in a body but the glory of his15400:08:37,119 –> 00:08:41,219incarnation is seen in this that he was taken up into glory.15500:08:42,219 –> 00:08:47,739This happened of course at the ascension our humanity your15600:08:47,760 –> 00:08:52,700humanity is already in heaven at the right hand of God the15700:08:52,700 –> 00:08:58,700Father who is invisible stands the man Christ Jesus God in the15800:08:58,700 –> 00:08:59,539flash.15900:09:00,640 –> 00:09:04,599He came into the world coming to us and then he ascended back16000:09:04,599 –> 00:09:09,320to heaven from where the son of God came and he is there for us16100:09:09,559 –> 00:09:11,780at the right hand of the Father.16200:09:12,020 –> 00:09:13,640There is a man in heaven.16300:09:13,840 –> 00:09:18,840There is someone representing you who knows your life from16400:09:18,840 –> 00:09:22,520the inside in heaven and his name is Jesus.16500:09:22,739 –> 00:09:27,619He came here to us and he has gone there for us.16600:09:27,659 –> 00:09:30,479The glory of his incarnation.16700:09:30,739 –> 00:09:34,219And then savor with me the glory of his exultation.16800:09:34,460 –> 00:09:37,739The second line in and the second last line together.16900:09:37,960 –> 00:09:44,080He was vindicated by the spirit and believed on in the world.17000:09:44,340 –> 00:09:47,140The vindication of the Lord Jesus of course happened in many17100:09:47,140 –> 00:09:49,159ways at his baptism.17200:09:49,159 –> 00:09:53,599You remember this is my beloved son at the transfiguration when17300:09:53,599 –> 00:09:56,080his glory was seen on the top of the mountain.17400:09:56,320 –> 00:10:01,419As one day we will see his glory with our own eyes.17500:10:01,679 –> 00:10:05,000But supremely the vindication of the Lord Jesus Christ was in17600:10:05,000 –> 00:10:09,059his mighty resurrection from the dead.17700:10:09,299 –> 00:10:16,640God’s seal was placed on him in the resurrection Romans 1 4.17800:10:16,760 –> 00:10:21,599It was through the spirit that Christ was declared with power17900:10:21,840 –> 00:10:26,000to be the son of God through the resurrection.18000:10:26,239 –> 00:10:28,580He’s vindicated by the spirit.18100:10:28,840 –> 00:10:32,239But along with that Paul reminds us he’s believed on in the18200:10:32,239 –> 00:10:36,760world thank God that the triumphant affirmation of Jesus18300:10:36,799 –> 00:10:42,440in heaven is echoed with a marvelous affirmation of the18400:10:42,679 –> 00:10:47,739Jesus on earth he’s believed on in the world we believe in him18500:10:48,359 –> 00:10:52,820just as God’s seal is upon him so our faith is in him Christ18600:10:54,080 –> 00:10:58,760is exalted by the father in heaven but he is also exalted by18700:10:58,760 –> 00:11:03,000God’s people from every nation on earth those who love him and18800:11:03,000 –> 00:11:06,679those who trust in him and those who like us today gather to18900:11:07,719 –> 00:11:11,280declare his praise and his glory you’re listening to19000:11:11,320 –> 00:11:14,280open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith and a message called19100:11:14,280 –> 00:11:18,599Gospel life, part of our series 10 distinct of a gospel centered19200:11:18,599 –> 00:11:22,440church. And if you’ve tuned in later, you have to leave early,19300:11:22,559 –> 00:11:25,320or if you want to go back and listen to earlier messages in19400:11:25,320 –> 00:11:28,859this series, you can do that by coming online to our website,19500:11:29,020 –> 00:11:34,059openthebible.org.uk or by going to your favorite podcast site,19600:11:34,320 –> 00:11:37,479and they are searching for open the Bible UK there you’ll find19700:11:37,479 –> 00:11:40,140all of pastor Collins messages which have already been19800:11:40,179 –> 00:11:44,880broadcast. Back to the message now we’re in 1 Timothy chapters19900:11:44,880 –> 00:11:48,840three and four today. Here again is Pastor Colin and then the20000:11:48,840 –> 00:11:51,340glory of Christ in his proclamation the middle two20100:11:51,340 –> 00:11:57,880lines, he was seen by angels and preached among the nations. You20200:11:57,880 –> 00:12:01,979see the parallel here. Again, Jesus is the theme of the angels20300:12:01,979 –> 00:12:07,119in heaven. They declare his glory. They never stopped20400:12:07,640 –> 00:12:12,520worshiping day and night. Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God20500:12:12,520 –> 00:12:17,059Almighty. Worthy is the lamb who was slain, they say around the20600:12:17,059 –> 00:12:22,539throne of Christ. But not only is he the theme of the angels20700:12:22,539 –> 00:12:28,580in heaven, he is the theme of the church on earth. We proclaim20800:12:28,580 –> 00:12:33,820him. That is our mission, that is our work. And so here is this20900:12:33,919 –> 00:12:37,859marvelous celebration of the Lord Jesus Christ. He came here21000:12:37,859 –> 00:12:41,599to us in a body, knowing our life from the inside. He21100:12:41,599 –> 00:12:45,340ascended there to heaven for us. He is declared by the21200:12:45,340 –> 00:12:48,460father to be son of God, with power through the resurrection21300:12:48,460 –> 00:12:51,979from the dead, and he is worshiped by us, as the son of21400:12:51,979 –> 00:12:56,179God, through faith in his resurrection from the dead. He21500:12:56,179 –> 00:13:00,679is the praise of the angels in heaven, whose eyes are never21600:13:00,760 –> 00:13:04,840taken off him, and he is the hope of all the nations on21700:13:04,840 –> 00:13:08,320earth, as the church goes out into the world, proclaiming21800:13:08,320 –> 00:13:15,320his unique power and glory. What a marvelous celebration21900:13:15,320 –> 00:13:22,500of Jesus Christ our Savior and our Lord, 1 Timothy chapter 322000:13:22,500 –> 00:13:29,960and verse 16. Now here’s a question. Since this verse is22100:13:29,979 –> 00:13:36,979obviously and entirely a celebration of Jesus Christ and22200:13:36,979 –> 00:13:44,700his glory. Why do you think the apostle Paul begins this22300:13:44,700 –> 00:13:53,320verse by saying, the mystery of godliness is great? Why would22400:13:53,320 –> 00:14:00,640he say that? The verse is about Jesus, but he begins22500:14:00,640 –> 00:14:05,059the verse by saying, not great is the mystery of Jesus22600:14:05,059 –> 00:14:08,419Christ, which is what you’d expect him to say, right?22700:14:08,419 –> 00:14:11,739He appeared in a body and so forth. But he doesn’t say,22800:14:11,739 –> 00:14:14,200great is the mystery of Jesus Christ. What he says is,22900:14:14,200 –> 00:14:18,719great is the mystery of what, say it with me?23000:14:19,539 –> 00:14:25,619Godliness. That’s of huge importance. The heart of the23100:14:25,619 –> 00:14:28,619message today is about understanding the Christian23200:14:28,619 –> 00:14:32,219life. And there is so much confusion about the23300:14:32,219 –> 00:14:36,320Christian life. It’s been my prayer and the burden that23400:14:36,320 –> 00:14:40,000I carry today to try and make it as clear as I can.23500:14:40,000 –> 00:14:43,960And if you can understand the heart of the Christian23600:14:43,960 –> 00:14:46,340life, which is right here in this passage of23700:14:46,340 –> 00:14:49,840Scripture, then it will be a blessing to you for the23800:14:49,840 –> 00:14:55,239rest of your days. And it’s right here. Paul speaks23900:14:55,239 –> 00:15:00,299about the glory of Jesus Christ, but he begins it24000:15:00,299 –> 00:15:03,119not by saying great is the mystery of Jesus Christ.24100:15:03,119 –> 00:15:08,820He says great is the mystery of what? Godliness.24200:15:08,820 –> 00:15:13,700Now, let me take a run at trying to lay this out for24300:15:13,719 –> 00:15:17,559us today. Godliness that is a God-centered life, the24400:15:17,559 –> 00:15:19,760life in which all of us want to grow as Christian24500:15:19,760 –> 00:15:23,840believers is the central theme of chapter four. So24600:15:23,840 –> 00:15:26,739in chapter four and verse seven, train yourself to24700:15:26,739 –> 00:15:30,280be godly. Verse seven, chapter four, and verse24800:15:30,299 –> 00:15:33,539eight. physical training is of some value, but notice24900:15:33,539 –> 00:15:37,500it again. Godliness has by value for all things.25000:15:37,500 –> 00:15:40,719Verse twelve begins to unpack what this looks like.25100:15:40,739 –> 00:15:43,359Paul is talking about an example in speech25200:15:43,380 –> 00:15:46,900and life and love and faith and purity. That’s25300:15:46,900 –> 00:15:49,640godliness. He talks at the end of the chapter in25400:15:49,640 –> 00:15:53,320verse 15 about how Timothy is to progress in this25500:15:53,320 –> 00:15:55,979life, that everyone may see your progress. What’s25600:15:55,979 –> 00:15:59,200your life and your doctrine closely? And so forth25700:15:59,200 –> 00:16:01,719and so on. So the whole of chapter four is about25800:16:01,719 –> 00:16:05,619one question. How can I pursue a godly life? Which25900:16:05,619 –> 00:16:08,099is, of course, exactly what you would expect if26000:16:08,099 –> 00:16:10,059you think about the flow of the letter. We’ve been26100:16:10,059 –> 00:16:12,700commissioned with this great and global work of26200:16:12,700 –> 00:16:15,679the gospel. We need to develop certain character26300:16:15,679 –> 00:16:17,500and competence in order to maximize our26400:16:17,500 –> 00:16:20,219effectiveness in it. The question is, how then26500:16:20,219 –> 00:16:27,440do I do that? How do I grow in a godly life? That26600:16:27,440 –> 00:16:31,820is what chapter four is all about. And running26700:16:31,820 –> 00:16:36,200into it the apostle Paul says great is the26800:16:36,299 –> 00:16:43,340mystery of what? Godliness. Now let’s probe into26900:16:43,760 –> 00:16:46,919what he’s saying here a little more. You’ll27000:16:46,919 –> 00:16:49,919notice that the beginning of chapter four he’s27100:16:49,919 –> 00:16:54,380talking about false paths to godliness. And in27200:16:54,380 –> 00:16:56,719these first five verses, so let’s just clear27300:16:56,719 –> 00:16:58,260this out of the way so that there’s no27400:16:58,260 –> 00:17:03,080distraction, he says to us basically beware of27500:17:03,159 –> 00:17:06,260false parts to godliness but aware of dead ends27600:17:06,260 –> 00:17:09,920that won’t get you where you need to go. And he27700:17:09,920 –> 00:17:11,959says in chapter four verse one that the spirit27800:17:11,959 –> 00:17:14,339clearly says that in later times some will27900:17:14,339 –> 00:17:16,660abandon the faith and they’ll follow deceiving28000:17:16,660 –> 00:17:22,000spirits and things taught by demons. Wow! How did28100:17:22,000 –> 00:17:25,319demons lead people away from the faith? He says28200:17:25,319 –> 00:17:27,079verse two such teachings come through28300:17:27,079 –> 00:17:30,739hypocritical liars whose consciences have been28400:17:31,339 –> 00:17:34,619sealed as with a hot iron. You can see by the28500:17:34,619 –> 00:17:37,160way why it’s so important then for Timothy to28600:17:37,160 –> 00:17:39,780command certain people not to teach false28700:17:39,780 –> 00:17:42,380doctrine because what Paul is saying is that the28800:17:42,380 –> 00:17:46,359work of demons is advanced through false28900:17:46,359 –> 00:17:50,219teaching in the church. If Christian people can29000:17:50,219 –> 00:17:53,359become confused about how to pursue a godly29100:17:53,359 –> 00:17:56,280life they’ll never get there and that would be a29200:17:56,280 –> 00:17:59,520great triumph for the demons. And therefore29300:17:59,920 –> 00:18:02,640wherever there is confusion about this there is a29400:18:02,680 –> 00:18:07,560dark hand as it were at work underneath. And Paul29500:18:07,560 –> 00:18:10,300gives a specific example of how this was already29600:18:10,560 –> 00:18:13,079beginning to manifest itself in the early church.29700:18:13,099 –> 00:18:15,859He says in verse three there are certain people29800:18:15,859 –> 00:18:19,439who are clearly advocating a path to godliness and29900:18:19,439 –> 00:18:22,099they say this is how you do it. They forbid people30000:18:22,099 –> 00:18:26,760to marry and they order them to abstain from30100:18:26,800 –> 00:18:30,260certain foods and there’s been a strand of that30200:18:30,520 –> 00:18:33,800down through the history of the church and I think30300:18:33,800 –> 00:18:38,239you can see where it comes from. The early pagan30400:18:38,239 –> 00:18:42,800world in the Apostle Paul’s day was really30500:18:42,800 –> 00:18:47,640saturated with two things. People were concerned30600:18:47,640 –> 00:18:52,260about the life of the body and the culture was30700:18:52,260 –> 00:18:57,260saturated with sex and with food. You’re saying30800:18:57,859 –> 00:19:02,140what’s changed well nothing’s changed and nothing30900:19:02,140 –> 00:19:05,180ever will change. You know the forms of a change31000:19:05,180 –> 00:19:08,939they didn’t have the internet then. But at the end31100:19:08,939 –> 00:19:13,260of the day human life without God descends to the31200:19:13,260 –> 00:19:17,380body. That becomes a central focus. And it should31300:19:17,380 –> 00:19:21,339not surprise us that in ever evolving ways the31400:19:21,339 –> 00:19:24,119same thing sort of manifests itself that the31500:19:24,119 –> 00:19:29,119culture becomes seated with sex and with food31600:19:30,500 –> 00:19:33,319with the things of the body. Now you can31700:19:33,319 –> 00:19:35,780understand quite easily then why people in the31800:19:35,780 –> 00:19:38,800church might begin to say at least some teachers31900:19:38,800 –> 00:19:40,680would emerge and they would get a following going32000:19:40,680 –> 00:19:44,560after them saying now this obsession with the body32100:19:44,560 –> 00:19:49,400and this sex and food that has so much sin that’s32200:19:49,579 –> 00:19:52,900wrapped up in it, we want nothing to do with that.32300:19:52,900 –> 00:19:54,660We’ve got to, if we’re going to be godly we’ve32400:19:54,660 –> 00:19:57,739got to distance ourselves from that.32500:19:57,739 –> 00:19:59,599These are the things in which many people are32600:19:59,599 –> 00:20:02,380sinning and therefore they are not anything to32700:20:02,380 –> 00:20:04,420do with us and you can see how they would then32800:20:04,420 –> 00:20:07,140get to say well now if you’re really going to be32900:20:07,140 –> 00:20:12,140godly well now you must not marry and you must33000:20:12,560 –> 00:20:15,060go for the most frugal of all possible diets33100:20:15,060 –> 00:20:18,380and certain foods that you’re not eating so forth33200:20:19,060 –> 00:20:21,459and some of us may be familiar with that kind of33300:20:21,459 –> 00:20:25,900a world and that kind of a train of thought.33400:20:26,839 –> 00:20:28,739Now I want you to notice what the Apostle Paul33500:20:28,739 –> 00:20:30,839is saying about that in the New Testament.33600:20:31,880 –> 00:20:34,420He is saying that is completely wrong.33700:20:35,420 –> 00:20:38,280That is a false path to godliness.33800:20:39,339 –> 00:20:41,920That kind of teaching does not come from heaven.33900:20:43,180 –> 00:20:46,619Godliness by abstention never gets you there.34000:20:47,459 –> 00:20:50,739Or to try and encapsulate the main point here,34100:20:50,739 –> 00:20:55,739you cannot love God more by enjoying life less.34200:20:58,300 –> 00:21:00,780And you know there are lots of people in church world34300:21:00,780 –> 00:21:03,719who feel that they’re going to become more holy34400:21:03,719 –> 00:21:06,099only by abstaining from more and more things.34500:21:06,099 –> 00:21:09,099And you can tell them by their sort of hunkered-down misery,34600:21:10,140 –> 00:21:15,060that they associate godliness essentially with unhappiness.34700:21:15,760 –> 00:21:18,619And Paul says, that doesn’t come from heaven,34800:21:18,640 –> 00:21:21,959it comes from somewhere else.34900:21:21,959 –> 00:21:24,339And what’s more, godliness by abstention35000:21:24,339 –> 00:21:27,219simply does not work which is the significance35100:21:27,219 –> 00:21:29,619of the phrase in verse two, did you notice it?35200:21:29,619 –> 00:21:31,400Hypocritical liars.35300:21:31,400 –> 00:21:32,859Hypocritical.35400:21:32,859 –> 00:21:35,459In other words, he’s saying these folks are telling you35500:21:35,459 –> 00:21:40,459that enjoying life less will lead you to love God more,35600:21:41,020 –> 00:21:43,239they’re teaching this godliness by abstention,35700:21:43,239 –> 00:21:46,439the bottom line is that the false teaching doesn’t work.35800:21:46,439 –> 00:21:49,680Godliness by abstention only promotes self-righteousness35900:21:49,680 –> 00:21:53,839and hypocrisy, at the end of the day,36000:21:53,839 –> 00:21:56,800it becomes a veil that covers an unchanged life36100:21:56,800 –> 00:22:00,119because there is no part to change in simply abstention.36200:22:01,199 –> 00:22:06,199You cannot love God more by enjoying life less,36300:22:06,280 –> 00:22:08,640now let that be a breath of fresh air36400:22:08,640 –> 00:22:11,319to some of us who have associated holiness36500:22:11,319 –> 00:22:14,359and unhappiness in our minds all of our lives.36600:22:16,260 –> 00:22:17,099Well, unfortunately,36700:22:17,099 –> 00:22:19,520we’ve got to pause the message there for today36800:22:19,520 –> 00:22:22,339but we’ll be back again with the second part of this message36900:22:22,339 –> 00:22:25,800in our next broadcast, so I hope you’ll join us for that.37000:22:25,800 –> 00:22:27,719The message is called Gospel Life37100:22:27,719 –> 00:22:29,579and it’s part of a series called37200:22:29,579 –> 00:22:32,66010 Distinctives Of A Gospel Centred Church.37300:22:32,660 –> 00:22:34,079If you’ve missed any of the series,37400:22:34,079 –> 00:22:36,439you can easily catch up or go back and listen again37500:22:36,439 –> 00:22:38,400by coming online to our website,37600:22:38,579 –> 00:22:41,400openthebible.org.UK,37700:22:41,400 –> 00:22:43,579or you can find us as a podcast37800:22:43,579 –> 00:22:45,619on all the main podcast sites.37900:22:45,619 –> 00:22:49,260Go to them and search for Open The Bible UK38000:22:49,260 –> 00:22:52,020or follow the link from our website.38100:22:52,020 –> 00:22:54,319Open The Bible is supported by our listeners38200:22:54,319 –> 00:22:56,680and if you already give to support our work,38300:22:56,680 –> 00:22:58,079thank you so much.38400:22:58,079 –> 00:22:59,319If you’re considering beginning38500:22:59,319 –> 00:23:01,599to support Open The Bible, financially,38600:23:01,599 –> 00:23:03,599this month we’d love to say thank you38700:23:03,599 –> 00:23:06,079by sending you John Stott’s book,38800:23:06,079 –> 00:23:08,040The Incomparable Christ.38900:23:08,040 –> 00:23:10,000Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham39000:23:10,000 –> 00:23:11,239to tell us about it.39100:23:11,239 –> 00:23:13,619Hi David, thanks so much for having me.39200:23:13,619 –> 00:23:15,579This month, we’re really pleased39300:23:15,579 –> 00:23:17,640to be giving away a wonderful book39400:23:17,640 –> 00:23:21,880called The Incomparable Christ, by John Stott.39500:23:21,880 –> 00:23:23,959Now, whether someone realizes it or not,39600:23:23,959 –> 00:23:28,040Jesus Christ has had an enormous impact on the world.39700:23:28,040 –> 00:23:30,160In fact, for over 2,000 years,39800:23:30,160 –> 00:23:32,359he has been the most influential person39900:23:32,359 –> 00:23:34,079in human history.40000:23:34,079 –> 00:23:36,979But the really important question is this,40100:23:37,079 –> 00:23:39,199Who is Jesus?40200:23:39,199 –> 00:23:42,380In this book, Stott takes us on a fascinating journey40300:23:42,380 –> 00:23:44,140to explore that question.40400:23:44,140 –> 00:23:47,180He looks at how the New Testament presents Jesus,40500:23:47,180 –> 00:23:50,560how the church has spoken about him through the centuries,40600:23:50,560 –> 00:23:53,180and how people’s lives have been completely changed40700:23:53,180 –> 00:23:55,339through encountering him.40800:23:55,339 –> 00:23:57,920What’s lovely about the book is that it’s thoughtful40900:23:57,920 –> 00:24:00,640and rich, but also very accessible.41000:24:00,640 –> 00:24:03,180Stott spent a lifetime studying the Bible41100:24:03,180 –> 00:24:06,479and helping people understand the person of Christ.41200:24:06,500 –> 00:24:09,300And this book really brings together the fruit41300:24:09,300 –> 00:24:11,979of that lifetime of reflection.41400:24:11,979 –> 00:24:15,380So during April, we’d love to send you a copy41500:24:15,380 –> 00:24:19,119of the incomparable Christ as our way of saying thank you41600:24:19,119 –> 00:24:22,819when you support the ministry of Open the Bible UK.41700:24:22,819 –> 00:24:25,640If you give a one-off gift of 60 pounds41800:24:25,640 –> 00:24:28,959or you set up a new monthly gift of five pounds,41900:24:28,959 –> 00:24:31,119we’ll send the book to you.42000:24:31,119 –> 00:24:34,540Your support helps us continue sharing clear,42100:24:34,619 –> 00:24:38,060faithful Bible teaching across the UK and beyond.42200:24:38,060 –> 00:24:41,260And we are so grateful to you for your partnership.42300:24:41,260 –> 00:24:44,359Well, the incomparable Christ is our gift to you42400:24:44,359 –> 00:24:46,400when you set up a new direct debit42500:24:46,400 –> 00:24:48,719of five pounds per month or more,42600:24:48,719 –> 00:24:52,579or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more this month,42700:24:52,579 –> 00:24:55,260full terms and conditions on our website,42800:24:55,260 –> 00:24:57,420and you can give online.42900:24:57,420 –> 00:25:00,020For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,43000:25:00,020 –> 00:25:03,780I am David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.43100:25:03,780 –> 00:25:10,359Open the Bible43200:25:10,359 –> 00:25:12,420Some people think that a godly life43300:25:12,420 –> 00:25:14,560comes through self-denial.43400:25:14,560 –> 00:25:18,579Others believe we should let go and let God.43500:25:18,579 –> 00:25:20,839Discover the mystery of godliness43600:25:20,839 –> 00:25:22,680next time on Open the Bible.