100:00:00,760 –> 00:00:06,820The Son of God is not on the cross today.200:00:06,820 –> 00:00:12,440The Son of God is not writhing in agony, longing for300:00:12,440 –> 00:00:16,680what is yet to be. He is risen. He is exalted.400:00:16,680 –> 00:00:19,240He is seated at the right hand of the Father.500:00:19,240 –> 00:00:21,940Jesus is the Son of God with power!600:00:21,940 –> 00:00:25,320He once was crucified in weakness700:00:25,320 –> 00:00:28,379but now he lives by God’s power.800:00:28,620 –> 00:00:31,440Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.900:00:31,440 –> 00:00:32,639I’m David Pick.1000:00:32,639 –> 00:00:34,380I’m glad you could be with us today.1100:00:34,380 –> 00:00:38,040And Collins, today we’re concentrating on one of the central doctrines1200:00:38,040 –> 00:00:39,279of the Christian faith,1300:00:39,279 –> 00:00:41,680that Jesus was raised from the dead.1400:00:41,680 –> 00:00:44,860Yeah, and he is seated at the right hand of the Father1500:00:44,860 –> 00:00:47,360and all power and authority is His.1600:00:47,360 –> 00:00:49,259Now, of course, we look at the world as it is1700:00:49,259 –> 00:00:51,500and we say, well, no, the world is in a right old mess.1800:00:51,500 –> 00:00:54,860And indeed it is, but not because Jesus Christ lacks power.1900:00:54,860 –> 00:00:56,740He, at the right hand of the Father2000:00:57,459 –> 00:00:59,099is waiting the day of His return.2100:00:59,560 –> 00:01:03,500He is bringing about His own perfect purpose.2200:01:03,500 –> 00:01:06,139Gathering people to faith in Himself.2300:01:06,139 –> 00:01:07,440That’s what he’s doing at this time.2400:01:07,440 –> 00:01:10,440He’s gathering people out of the darkness into the light2500:01:10,440 –> 00:01:13,279and preparing for the day when He’ll return in glory2600:01:13,279 –> 00:01:15,919and create that new heaven and that new earth.2700:01:15,919 –> 00:01:18,559It’s so good to know that the world is not a drift2800:01:18,559 –> 00:01:20,519but we have a living Savior2900:01:20,519 –> 00:01:23,220who controls all things by the Word of His power.3000:01:23,220 –> 00:01:25,059And our hope isn’t in the world getting better.3100:01:25,059 –> 00:01:26,699Our hope is in His return.3200:01:26,959 –> 00:01:29,339We’ll hear about that in today’s broadcast3300:01:29,339 –> 00:01:32,360so join us if you can in Romans chapter 1.3400:01:32,360 –> 00:01:34,080As we continue the message,3500:01:34,080 –> 00:01:36,080He changed death for you.3600:01:36,080 –> 00:01:36,779Here’s Colin.3700:01:37,239 –> 00:01:39,279You know folks that over 2,000 years3800:01:39,279 –> 00:01:41,320the Lord Jesus Christ has been discussed,3900:01:41,320 –> 00:01:44,680written about, debated, interpreted4000:01:44,680 –> 00:01:48,220more than any other person who has ever lived.4100:01:50,879 –> 00:01:54,800And in the resurrection Almighty God steps in4200:01:55,239 –> 00:02:00,239and He says, I am making a declaration.4300:02:00,419 –> 00:02:04,599This is my son.4400:02:04,599 –> 00:02:06,839And folks the declaration of God4500:02:06,839 –> 00:02:11,279in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is for us.4600:02:11,279 –> 00:02:12,740The angels already know,4700:02:12,740 –> 00:02:15,080always have known that He’s the Son of God.4800:02:15,080 –> 00:02:16,679The demons already know,4900:02:16,679 –> 00:02:18,220they were the first to recognize5000:02:18,220 –> 00:02:19,660as you read the gospel story5100:02:19,660 –> 00:02:21,000that He is the Son of God.5200:02:21,000 –> 00:02:22,520They saw it and they knew it5300:02:22,539 –> 00:02:25,100long before other people did.5400:02:26,399 –> 00:02:30,559God is speaking to you in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.5500:02:30,559 –> 00:02:34,160And He is saying to you, now, this is my son.5600:02:35,000 –> 00:02:37,800He is unlike any other person who has ever lived.5700:02:37,800 –> 00:02:40,479He doesn’t fit the category of simply a great teacher5800:02:40,479 –> 00:02:41,839or an example or whatever.5900:02:41,839 –> 00:02:43,339Great teachers and great examples6000:02:43,339 –> 00:02:44,679do not rise from the dead.6100:02:44,679 –> 00:02:47,720No God says, this is my son.6200:02:48,639 –> 00:02:53,759So hear Him and trust Him and believe Him6300:02:53,759 –> 00:02:57,360and love Him and worship Him and follow Him6400:02:57,360 –> 00:03:00,460and serve Him and give your life to Him6500:03:00,460 –> 00:03:04,160because there’s no one else like Him.6600:03:04,160 –> 00:03:08,419The resurrection declares what was already true.6700:03:09,720 –> 00:03:10,880Will always be true.6800:03:10,880 –> 00:03:14,919Jesus is the Son of God.6900:03:15,919 –> 00:03:18,779It’s God’s declaration to us today.7000:03:21,080 –> 00:03:24,860You ever said, well I wonder if god would ever speak to me.7100:03:24,860 –> 00:03:28,199He speaks to you in the resurrection of Jesus.7200:03:29,660 –> 00:03:31,119Now that’s the first thing.7300:03:31,119 –> 00:03:32,600Here’s the second.7400:03:32,600 –> 00:03:35,699The resurrection declares what was already true7500:03:35,699 –> 00:03:37,460that is Jesus is God’s Son.7600:03:37,460 –> 00:03:39,919But secondly the resurrection reveals7700:03:39,919 –> 00:03:44,039what was previously hidden.7800:03:44,119 –> 00:03:48,880That is that Jesus is the Son of God with power.7900:03:50,479 –> 00:03:53,059Now if you have your bible open, as I hope you do,8000:03:53,059 –> 00:03:55,240I want to show you that there are two ways8100:03:55,240 –> 00:03:56,779to read and understand8200:03:56,779 –> 00:03:59,800what Paul is saying here in this verse.8300:03:59,800 –> 00:04:04,039If you have the NIV, which is the edition of the bible8400:04:04,039 –> 00:04:06,360that is in the pew also,8500:04:06,360 –> 00:04:09,039you will see that the wording the NIV has there8600:04:09,039 –> 00:04:12,479is that he was declared with power8700:04:12,479 –> 00:04:15,360to be the Son of God.8800:04:15,360 –> 00:04:17,679That would mean, of course, that the resurrection8900:04:17,679 –> 00:04:21,839is a powerful statement that Jesus is the Son of God,9000:04:21,839 –> 00:04:23,220which it certainly is,9100:04:23,220 –> 00:04:25,760could hardly be a more powerful statement9200:04:25,760 –> 00:04:28,200that Jesus is the Son of God.9300:04:28,200 –> 00:04:30,200But I want you to notice if you have very good eyes9400:04:30,200 –> 00:04:31,399and also have an NIV,9500:04:31,399 –> 00:04:34,260you will see that there is also a footnote there9600:04:34,260 –> 00:04:36,640that reflects the order of the words9700:04:36,640 –> 00:04:40,160in the original language in which Paul wrote.9800:04:40,200 –> 00:04:43,880Which is that he was declared9900:04:43,880 –> 00:04:47,359to be the Son of God with power.10000:04:47,359 –> 00:04:48,799That’s the order in which the words10100:04:48,799 –> 00:04:51,179were originally written in the Greek,10200:04:51,179 –> 00:04:53,480and I think that that is how we should understand10300:04:53,480 –> 00:04:55,299what Paul says here,10400:04:55,299 –> 00:04:59,920that Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power10500:04:59,920 –> 00:05:03,880by His resurrection from the dead.10600:05:03,880 –> 00:05:04,720In other words,10700:05:04,720 –> 00:05:06,579Paul is saying exactly the same thing10800:05:06,579 –> 00:05:09,119as he says later in 2 Corinthians10900:05:09,660 –> 00:05:10,619in chapter 13,11000:05:10,619 –> 00:05:14,660where Paul says that Jesus was crucified in weakness,11100:05:14,660 –> 00:05:18,019yet He lives by God’s power.11200:05:18,019 –> 00:05:19,380Crucified in weakness,11300:05:19,380 –> 00:05:21,339but He lives in God’s power.11400:05:21,339 –> 00:05:22,880And here he puts it another way,11500:05:22,880 –> 00:05:23,940in Romans 1.4,11600:05:23,940 –> 00:05:27,839He is declared to be the Son of God with power11700:05:27,839 –> 00:05:31,440by His resurrection from the dead.11800:05:34,779 –> 00:05:38,160Now, Jesus has always been the Son of God.11900:05:39,940 –> 00:05:41,940Power is always His.12000:05:43,760 –> 00:05:47,559But when you look at His earthly life,12100:05:47,559 –> 00:05:52,559what you see is the Son of God embracing our weakness.12200:05:54,119 –> 00:05:58,440Look at Him in the manger, the Son of God,12300:05:59,940 –> 00:06:04,940but He needs to be fed and clothed by His mother.12400:06:05,420 –> 00:06:06,459By His mother.12500:06:08,700 –> 00:06:12,260Look at Him in the wilderness, the Son of God,12600:06:13,679 –> 00:06:17,859but He’s hungry and He’s tempted12700:06:19,299 –> 00:06:22,700and angels come to minister to Him.12800:06:24,059 –> 00:06:27,019See through the earthly life of the Lord Jesus,12900:06:27,019 –> 00:06:29,100as we sometimes sing at Christmas,13000:06:29,100 –> 00:06:33,559His glory was veiled in flesh.13100:06:35,200 –> 00:06:38,320People did not look at Jesus and immediately say,13200:06:38,320 –> 00:06:40,799oh, there’s God in the flesh.13300:06:41,799 –> 00:06:42,720No, they didn’t say that.13400:06:42,720 –> 00:06:43,799What did they say?13500:06:43,799 –> 00:06:46,239They said is this not the carpenter’s son?13600:06:47,260 –> 00:06:49,640Can anything good come out of Nazareth?13700:06:50,579 –> 00:06:53,579He saved others, but He can’t save Himself.13800:06:54,899 –> 00:06:57,239The glory of the Son of God was hidden,13900:06:57,239 –> 00:07:01,339it was veiled throughout most of His earthly life14000:07:01,339 –> 00:07:05,339so that even when you come to the miracles14100:07:05,339 –> 00:07:08,040they are seen mostly by relatively few people14200:07:08,040 –> 00:07:12,019and often where Jesus heals someone by His divine power,14300:07:12,019 –> 00:07:14,119He says to them, now don’t tell anybody14400:07:15,179 –> 00:07:17,760because His time had not yet come.14500:07:18,899 –> 00:07:21,859Even among the disciples, those closest to Him.14600:07:21,859 –> 00:07:26,059It was three years before Peter came to the place14700:07:26,059 –> 00:07:28,200of being able to say, you are the Christ,14800:07:28,200 –> 00:07:30,140the Son of the living God.14900:07:30,140 –> 00:07:31,640Before that, what were they saying?15000:07:31,640 –> 00:07:34,500They’re saying things like, well who is this15100:07:34,500 –> 00:07:38,239that even the winds and the waves obey Him.15200:07:39,619 –> 00:07:42,440And strung up on the cross,15300:07:43,459 –> 00:07:47,279writhing in agony and forsaken by the Father,15400:07:49,760 –> 00:07:53,239Jesus could hardly have looked less15500:07:54,339 –> 00:07:56,579like the Son of God with power.15600:07:57,100 –> 00:07:59,760But now He rises from the dead.15700:08:00,880 –> 00:08:03,420No longer the Son of God in weakness,15800:08:03,420 –> 00:08:06,500no longer His glory veiled,15900:08:06,500 –> 00:08:10,459He is declared, Paul says, to be the Son of God16000:08:10,459 –> 00:08:14,920with power through His resurrection from the dead.16100:08:14,920 –> 00:08:17,279In other words, the resurrection reveals16200:08:17,279 –> 00:08:19,380what was previously hidden.16300:08:19,380 –> 00:08:22,279Jesus is the Son of God with power.16400:08:22,279 –> 00:08:24,100He once was crucified,16500:08:24,579 –> 00:08:27,220He once was crucified in weakness,16600:08:27,220 –> 00:08:30,339but now He lives by God’s power.16700:08:30,339 –> 00:08:34,140The Son of God is not on the cross today.16800:08:34,140 –> 00:08:37,580The Son of God is not writhing in agony,16900:08:37,580 –> 00:08:41,619longing for what is yet to be today.17000:08:41,619 –> 00:08:43,900He is risen, He is exalted,17100:08:43,900 –> 00:08:46,640He is seated at the right hand of the Father.17200:08:46,640 –> 00:08:47,599And what is He doing?17300:08:47,599 –> 00:08:51,900By His divine power, He is saving sinners.17400:08:51,940 –> 00:08:54,739He is sustaining His saints,17500:08:54,739 –> 00:08:56,859He is building His church,17600:08:56,859 –> 00:09:00,280He is pouring out the gifts of His Holy Spirit.17700:09:00,280 –> 00:09:02,179One hymn writer puts it this way,17800:09:02,179 –> 00:09:07,179Christian, look, the sight is glorious!17900:09:07,539 –> 00:09:12,000See the man of sorrows, now from the fight,18000:09:12,000 –> 00:09:14,099He’s returned victorious,18100:09:14,099 –> 00:09:19,099and every knee to Him will bow.18200:09:19,099 –> 00:09:21,960I want you to see on this Easter day,18300:09:21,960 –> 00:09:25,200not only that Jesus is the Son of God,18400:09:25,200 –> 00:09:29,400but that Jesus is the Son of God with power,18500:09:29,400 –> 00:09:32,119and that is revealed through the resurrection.18600:09:33,260 –> 00:09:35,359And here’s why that is so important.18700:09:36,440 –> 00:09:40,840Folks, some of us have only ever experienced18800:09:40,840 –> 00:09:42,960a powerless religion.18900:09:44,919 –> 00:09:48,039It’s been about traditions,19000:09:48,059 –> 00:09:50,679it’s been about rituals,19100:09:50,679 –> 00:09:52,200it’s been about disciplines,19200:09:52,200 –> 00:09:54,679it’s been about things that you do,19300:09:54,679 –> 00:09:57,640but you have not yet found or experienced19400:09:57,640 –> 00:10:00,799anything that really changes your life.19500:10:02,960 –> 00:10:06,780You’ve experienced religion without power,19600:10:09,440 –> 00:10:11,200and the resurrection19700:10:12,219 –> 00:10:15,539reveals what may have been hidden to you,19800:10:15,700 –> 00:10:18,559that when we’re talking about the Son of God19900:10:18,559 –> 00:10:19,539risen from the dead,20000:10:19,539 –> 00:10:21,500we’re not talking about a season of the year,20100:10:21,500 –> 00:10:25,640we’re not talking about traditions and rituals.20200:10:25,640 –> 00:10:28,559We’re talking about the Son of God20300:10:29,299 –> 00:10:30,219who is able20400:10:32,239 –> 00:10:35,000to break the power of addictions.20500:10:36,640 –> 00:10:40,799The Son of God who can soften and change a hard heart,20600:10:42,880 –> 00:10:44,340tame a bitter and20700:10:45,719 –> 00:10:47,119vitriolic tongue,20800:10:48,380 –> 00:10:52,539the Son of God who is able to give you peace with God,20900:10:53,280 –> 00:10:58,200to cleanse you of every sin including your unbelief21000:10:58,200 –> 00:11:02,380and your resistance over the years towards him,21100:11:02,380 –> 00:11:04,619the Son of God who is able to sustain you21200:11:04,619 –> 00:11:06,320in your darkest hour,21300:11:06,320 –> 00:11:09,799the Son of God who is able to give you a new heart21400:11:09,799 –> 00:11:14,020that loves God and that loves other people.21500:11:14,020 –> 00:11:16,020The Son of God who is able to bring you21600:11:16,020 –> 00:11:18,400into his immediate presence.21700:11:18,400 –> 00:11:22,739Listen, there is hope for you in Jesus Christ21800:11:22,739 –> 00:11:26,080because he is the Son of God with power,21900:11:26,919 –> 00:11:28,820a risen, living Christ22000:11:31,020 –> 00:11:33,239who is able to touch and change the lives22100:11:33,239 –> 00:11:35,200of all who will come to him.22200:11:35,200 –> 00:11:39,159That is why the Son of God, risen from the dead,22300:11:39,159 –> 00:11:40,900is good news for us.22400:11:40,900 –> 00:11:42,820He’s God’s Son.22500:11:43,340 –> 00:11:45,280He’s God’s Son of power.22600:11:46,239 –> 00:11:47,539You’re listening to Open the Bible22700:11:47,539 –> 00:11:48,880with Pastor Colin Smith22800:11:48,880 –> 00:11:51,719in a message called He Changed Death for You,22900:11:51,719 –> 00:11:54,340part of our series, Good News About God’s Son,23000:11:54,340 –> 00:11:56,460and don’t forget, if you ever miss one of the series,23100:11:56,460 –> 00:11:58,979you can always catch up or go back and listen again.23200:11:58,979 –> 00:12:01,400Come to openthebible.org.uk.23300:12:02,599 –> 00:12:05,099Back to the message now, here’s Colin.23400:12:05,099 –> 00:12:07,400The resurrection declares what was always23500:12:07,400 –> 00:12:10,340true that Jesus is the Son of God.23600:12:10,380 –> 00:12:14,239The resurrection reveals what was previously hidden,23700:12:14,239 –> 00:12:16,780the Son of God with power.23800:12:16,780 –> 00:12:17,840And here’s the last thing.23900:12:17,840 –> 00:12:22,840The resurrection begins what was long promised.24000:12:24,359 –> 00:12:25,479Now, I’ve put up on the screen24100:12:25,479 –> 00:12:29,400and I want to read for you a literal translation24200:12:30,359 –> 00:12:33,039of the precise words that Paul uses here24300:12:33,039 –> 00:12:36,159in Romans and chapter one in verse four.24400:12:36,159 –> 00:12:38,659Literally translated, word for word,24500:12:38,719 –> 00:12:40,520it goes like this.24600:12:40,520 –> 00:12:45,520He was declared to be the Son of God with power24700:12:46,500 –> 00:12:51,500by a resurrection of dead persons.24800:12:51,780 –> 00:12:54,580That’s word for word, literally translated24900:12:54,580 –> 00:12:58,619from the Greek words written by the Apostle Paul.25000:12:58,619 –> 00:13:00,260And let me by way of explanation25100:13:00,260 –> 00:13:02,619quote to you from a distinguished scholar,25200:13:02,619 –> 00:13:05,859Leon Morris, who explains the significance25300:13:05,859 –> 00:13:07,539of these words in this way.25400:13:08,719 –> 00:13:12,520He says it is Jesus’ own resurrection25500:13:12,520 –> 00:13:14,500of which Paul is writing.25600:13:14,500 –> 00:13:15,919So be absolutely clear,25700:13:15,919 –> 00:13:18,340he’s writing about the resurrection of Jesus.25800:13:18,340 –> 00:13:22,359But says Morris, we should not overlook the fact25900:13:22,359 –> 00:13:26,460that he chooses to do this in a way more commonly used26000:13:26,460 –> 00:13:28,799to denote the general resurrection.26100:13:29,799 –> 00:13:31,500The resurrection of Christ26200:13:31,500 –> 00:13:33,400and the resurrection of the dead26300:13:33,400 –> 00:13:36,799are not two totally different things.26400:13:36,900 –> 00:13:40,239For Paul, the resurrection of Christ26500:13:40,239 –> 00:13:44,840is the beginning of the resurrection of the dead.26600:13:44,840 –> 00:13:46,960Now, that’s the important point here.26700:13:46,960 –> 00:13:49,919He writes about the resurrection of Jesus.26800:13:49,919 –> 00:13:52,599But very deliberately, does it in such a way26900:13:52,599 –> 00:13:56,400as to indicate that this is not an isolated event,27000:13:56,400 –> 00:13:58,559but that the resurrection of Jesus27100:13:58,559 –> 00:14:02,739is the beginning of the resurrection of the dead.27200:14:02,739 –> 00:14:06,039That is why the resurrection of Jesus27300:14:06,039 –> 00:14:10,960that happened 2,000 years ago is good news for us today.27400:14:10,960 –> 00:14:14,000The resurrection of Jesus is the first resurrection27500:14:14,000 –> 00:14:17,900of many that will follow, which is what Paul says27600:14:17,900 –> 00:14:19,780in 1 Corinthians chapter 15,27700:14:19,780 –> 00:14:22,340that Christ is the first fruits27800:14:22,340 –> 00:14:24,200of those who have fallen asleep.27900:14:24,200 –> 00:14:27,320He rises, and others who belong to Him28000:14:27,320 –> 00:14:29,599in their turn will rise also.28100:14:29,599 –> 00:14:32,760That’s why Jesus said to the disciples,28200:14:32,760 –> 00:14:37,719because I live, you shall live also.28300:14:37,719 –> 00:14:40,599That’s why he says in John 1,28400:14:40,599 –> 00:14:43,719I am the resurrection and the life,28500:14:43,719 –> 00:14:47,000but He who believes in me, even though He die,28600:14:47,000 –> 00:14:49,679yet shall He live.28700:14:49,679 –> 00:14:53,440In other words, the full glory of the Son of God.28800:14:53,440 –> 00:14:56,960The full demonstration of His almighty power28900:14:56,960 –> 00:15:00,099will be seen, not only in His resurrection,29000:15:00,140 –> 00:15:03,260but also in yours, in the gathering29100:15:03,260 –> 00:15:07,659of a vast company of people who belong to Jesus Christ,29200:15:07,659 –> 00:15:09,799who share in the resurrection29300:15:09,799 –> 00:15:13,059that was begun on that Easter day.29400:15:13,059 –> 00:15:16,140That’s why it’s good news for you, for me.29500:15:18,380 –> 00:15:21,059So the Bible speaks so clearly about the purpose29600:15:21,059 –> 00:15:23,020for which Jesus came into the world,29700:15:23,020 –> 00:15:24,440the purpose for which he died,29800:15:24,440 –> 00:15:27,460and the purpose for which he rose and descended.29900:15:27,460 –> 00:15:28,340What was that?30000:15:29,260 –> 00:15:32,440Hebrews chapter two, in verse 10, puts it this way.30100:15:33,460 –> 00:15:37,799It was to bring many sons to glory.30200:15:38,940 –> 00:15:40,979Love this picture of the family.30300:15:42,640 –> 00:15:45,280To bring many sons to glory.30400:15:46,859 –> 00:15:49,000And in order to bring many sons to glory,30500:15:49,000 –> 00:15:51,380it says in Hebrews 2.10, it was fitting30600:15:52,500 –> 00:15:55,099that the author of their salvation, Jesus,30700:15:55,099 –> 00:15:57,140should be made perfect through suffering,30800:15:57,260 –> 00:15:59,380because both the one who makes men holy30900:15:59,380 –> 00:16:02,859and those who are made holy, they’re of the same family.31000:16:02,859 –> 00:16:06,599You notice the language here, sons, family.31100:16:07,820 –> 00:16:09,539Continuing the writer to Hebrew says,31200:16:09,539 –> 00:16:13,979Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers.31300:16:13,979 –> 00:16:15,659And again, he says, here am I,31400:16:15,659 –> 00:16:18,599and the children that God has given me.31500:16:18,599 –> 00:16:20,239You see the picture?31600:16:20,239 –> 00:16:24,000What’s the Lord Jesus’ purpose in coming into this world?31700:16:24,000 –> 00:16:25,419Dying on the cross?31800:16:25,419 –> 00:16:26,900Rising from the dead?31900:16:26,960 –> 00:16:28,679It’s not simply about himself.32000:16:28,679 –> 00:16:31,000It’s to bring many sons to glory.32100:16:32,640 –> 00:16:33,520A family.32200:16:34,840 –> 00:16:35,840Children.32300:16:36,960 –> 00:16:38,159Brothers.32400:16:39,000 –> 00:16:41,219Sisters.32500:16:41,219 –> 00:16:44,239A vast community of people who belong32600:16:44,239 –> 00:16:48,260to Jesus Christ by faith and they’re drawn32700:16:48,260 –> 00:16:51,039from every tribe, and every language,32800:16:51,039 –> 00:16:55,479and every nation, and every culture, and every background.32900:16:56,380 –> 00:16:59,140The son of God became a man.33000:16:59,140 –> 00:17:02,479He went through the agonies of death on a cross.33100:17:02,479 –> 00:17:03,799He rose from the dead.33200:17:03,799 –> 00:17:04,640Why?33300:17:05,680 –> 00:17:08,500To bring many sons to glory so that33400:17:08,500 –> 00:17:11,060by his resurrection the resurrection33500:17:11,060 –> 00:17:14,040of his people would be begun.33600:17:14,040 –> 00:17:16,760So that not only would we be with him,33700:17:16,760 –> 00:17:18,300but the Bible says that when we’re brought33800:17:18,300 –> 00:17:21,160to be with him, we shall be actually like him.33900:17:21,160 –> 00:17:24,199We shall be conformed to his image34000:17:24,199 –> 00:17:28,040so that he will be the firstborn among many brothers.34100:17:28,040 –> 00:17:32,020That’s Romans chapter eight in verse 29.34200:17:32,020 –> 00:17:33,180It was for us.34300:17:35,239 –> 00:17:38,540So folks, here’s the great truth of the gospel.34400:17:38,540 –> 00:17:41,119Think of it in its great sweep.34500:17:42,280 –> 00:17:44,819Here we are in this fallen world,34600:17:44,819 –> 00:17:48,520so full of God’s goodness, and yet so plagued34700:17:48,520 –> 00:17:51,680by the scourge of human sin and death.34800:17:52,380 –> 00:17:56,540And no man overcomes sin, and no man overcomes death.34900:17:59,479 –> 00:18:01,719Sin reigned, death reigned.35000:18:03,599 –> 00:18:06,160Sin and death have become so wrapped up35100:18:06,160 –> 00:18:09,500in what it means to be human that for us35200:18:10,900 –> 00:18:14,420it’s almost impossible to imagine being human without them.35300:18:14,420 –> 00:18:18,319Can you imagine yourself living forever, can you?35400:18:18,739 –> 00:18:22,079It’s so tied up with what it means to die35500:18:24,040 –> 00:18:26,800that we can’t really even imagine35600:18:26,800 –> 00:18:28,660what it means to live forever35700:18:28,660 –> 00:18:31,780because to be human is to die, isn’t it?35800:18:31,780 –> 00:18:35,260Can you imagine yourself in perfect resplendent holiness?35900:18:35,260 –> 00:18:37,760Can you imagine that yourself?36000:18:38,859 –> 00:18:42,000You see, we’re so wrapped up in sin36100:18:42,000 –> 00:18:44,060that we can hardly imagine ourselves36200:18:44,060 –> 00:18:46,880in the perfection of pure holiness.36300:18:48,579 –> 00:18:51,260So the son of God becomes a man.36400:18:54,060 –> 00:18:57,520And he enters our helplessness, and he enters our defeat,36500:18:57,520 –> 00:19:02,300and he does what no other human being has ever done.36600:19:02,300 –> 00:19:04,219He lives a sinless life.36700:19:06,719 –> 00:19:10,579And then he offers what no other man could ever offer.36800:19:10,579 –> 00:19:12,760He lays down that sinless life36900:19:12,760 –> 00:19:15,920as a sacrifice for the sins of others.37000:19:16,199 –> 00:19:19,979And then he goes where no other man could go,37100:19:19,979 –> 00:19:23,060through death and into the presence of the Father37200:19:23,060 –> 00:19:24,959so that today he is exalted37300:19:24,959 –> 00:19:28,020at the right hand of the Father in heaven.37400:19:28,020 –> 00:19:31,079What that means, the good news of God’s son,37500:19:31,079 –> 00:19:33,920is that there is a man without sin,37600:19:35,280 –> 00:19:37,979and there is a man who has conquered death,37700:19:37,979 –> 00:19:40,719and there is a man in heaven,37800:19:40,719 –> 00:19:42,660and he’s there for us37900:19:42,959 –> 00:19:45,300in order to bring many sons,38000:19:45,300 –> 00:19:47,939a whole family, his people38100:19:47,939 –> 00:19:50,500from every tribe and language and nation38200:19:50,500 –> 00:19:53,780into his presence and into his likeness38300:19:54,699 –> 00:19:57,479to share his life forever and ever,38400:19:57,479 –> 00:19:59,959and that is why, folks, at the end of the Bible,38500:19:59,959 –> 00:20:03,319what you find is this great vision that was given to John38600:20:03,319 –> 00:20:06,000of this vast multitude of people,38700:20:06,000 –> 00:20:07,780and they are drawn from every kind38800:20:07,780 –> 00:20:09,660of background in the world,38900:20:09,660 –> 00:20:13,239and they are singing the praise of Jesus,39000:20:13,239 –> 00:20:16,300the son of God, and they’re saying you are worthy.39100:20:16,300 –> 00:20:18,719You’re worthy because with your blood,39200:20:18,719 –> 00:20:21,000you purchased men for God,39300:20:21,000 –> 00:20:24,520from every tribe and language and people and nation,39400:20:24,520 –> 00:20:26,339and you have made us to be a kingdom,39500:20:26,339 –> 00:20:29,640you have made us to be priests, to serve our God,39600:20:29,640 –> 00:20:32,699so worthy is the lamb who was slain39700:20:32,699 –> 00:20:36,040to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength39800:20:36,040 –> 00:20:38,619and honor and glory and praise.39900:20:40,619 –> 00:20:44,760So here’s what the Resurrection is telling us.40000:20:44,760 –> 00:20:48,839God is speaking to you and he is saying,40100:20:48,839 –> 00:20:50,180Jesus is my Son.40200:20:54,780 –> 00:20:57,339And he’s the son of God with power,40300:20:57,339 –> 00:21:02,160he’s able to touch and to change not only your life now,40400:21:02,160 –> 00:21:03,660but your eternity.40500:21:04,920 –> 00:21:08,640The one of infinite capacity who took our nature40600:21:08,939 –> 00:21:10,619and lived that sinless life40700:21:10,619 –> 00:21:12,560and died that sacrificial death40800:21:12,560 –> 00:21:14,900and rose in that triumphant resurrection40900:21:14,900 –> 00:21:17,079and is at the right hand of the Father,41000:21:17,079 –> 00:21:21,000lives gathering a family of people who follow41100:21:21,000 –> 00:21:24,920and trust him and he lives to bring us to glory41200:21:26,260 –> 00:21:30,079so that his resurrection would not be an isolated event,41300:21:30,079 –> 00:21:33,420but the beginning of the resurrection41400:21:33,420 –> 00:21:37,000in which all his people will one day share.41500:21:37,760 –> 00:21:41,859Listen, why shouldn’t you be part of this family?41600:21:44,599 –> 00:21:47,780The son of God has come, died and risen41700:21:49,640 –> 00:21:52,800and lives to gather a family of people41800:21:56,459 –> 00:21:59,079who trust in him and belong to him41900:21:59,079 –> 00:22:00,920and love him and serve him.42000:22:00,920 –> 00:22:05,199Why should you not become part of that family?42100:22:05,319 –> 00:22:08,339I invite you on this Easter day42200:22:08,339 –> 00:22:11,300to believe what God says to you,42300:22:11,300 –> 00:22:14,880to rejoice in what Christ has done for you42400:22:15,800 –> 00:22:19,380and to lay hold of what this Savior offers.42500:22:21,699 –> 00:22:24,579What a great way to finish our series Good News42600:22:24,579 –> 00:22:26,099About God’s Son42700:22:26,099 –> 00:22:27,979and if you’ve ever missed any of the serious42800:22:27,979 –> 00:22:30,000or if you want to go back and listen again,42900:22:30,000 –> 00:22:31,859you can always do that by coming online43000:22:31,859 –> 00:22:34,859to our website openthebible.org.uk43100:22:35,500 –> 00:22:38,180There you’ll find the whole series ready to listen to.43200:22:38,180 –> 00:22:40,939You’ll also find it on your favorite podcast site43300:22:40,939 –> 00:22:44,020if you go there by following the link on our website43400:22:44,020 –> 00:22:46,959or by searching for Open the Bible UK.43500:22:46,959 –> 00:22:49,959Now, I wonder what plans you may have for Easter.43600:22:49,959 –> 00:22:52,000At Open the Bible, we have something43700:22:52,000 –> 00:22:54,920that might be of interest to you and your church.43800:22:54,920 –> 00:22:57,660We filmed a one-actor, one-hour performance43900:22:57,660 –> 00:22:59,520of Colin’s well-known book,44000:22:59,520 –> 00:23:01,079Heaven How I Got Here?44100:23:01,079 –> 00:23:03,300The Story of the Thief on the Cross.44200:23:03,359 –> 00:23:05,459It’s a powerful gospel message44300:23:05,459 –> 00:23:08,859and we’re making the film available to you for free.44400:23:08,859 –> 00:23:11,619If your church wants to show the film this Easter,44500:23:11,619 –> 00:23:14,699we have created a free resource pack to help you.44600:23:14,699 –> 00:23:15,819To find out more,44700:23:15,819 –> 00:23:19,619go to openthebible.org.uk.44800:23:19,619 –> 00:23:21,420You know, Open the Bible is supported44900:23:21,420 –> 00:23:22,859entirely by our listeners45000:23:22,859 –> 00:23:25,420and if that’s something you’ve been considering doing45100:23:25,420 –> 00:23:27,140but haven’t done up until now,45200:23:27,140 –> 00:23:29,099this month, if you’re able to support45300:23:29,099 –> 00:23:30,900Open the Bible financially45400:23:30,939 –> 00:23:33,739in the amount of £5 per month or more45500:23:33,739 –> 00:23:36,380or a one-off gift of £50 or more,45600:23:36,380 –> 00:23:37,780we’d love to say thank you45700:23:37,780 –> 00:23:40,619by sending you a copy of Colin’s book45800:23:40,619 –> 00:23:41,859Heaven, How I Got Here?45900:23:41,859 –> 00:23:43,739The story of the thief on the cross46000:23:43,739 –> 00:23:45,300and also the booklet46100:23:45,300 –> 00:23:47,459How Can I Be Sure of Heaven?46200:23:47,459 –> 00:23:51,260and a special Open The Bible pen and bookmark.46300:23:51,260 –> 00:23:52,859Colin, how will people be helped46400:23:52,859 –> 00:23:55,380by reading Heaven, How I Got Here?46500:23:55,380 –> 00:23:58,300It’s a small book, very easy to read46600:23:58,300 –> 00:23:59,459and it tells the story of46700:23:59,660 –> 00:24:02,020the thief on the cross in the first person46800:24:02,020 –> 00:24:04,180and the mission of the book,46900:24:04,180 –> 00:24:06,140the reason for writing it47000:24:06,140 –> 00:24:09,500is that this story really explains grace47100:24:09,500 –> 00:24:13,579better than any story that I know or could think of.47200:24:13,579 –> 00:24:15,300Many people have the idea47300:24:15,300 –> 00:24:17,900that if you’re going to get into Heaven47400:24:17,900 –> 00:24:20,099you’ll do that by living a good enough life47500:24:20,099 –> 00:24:21,459and obviously the thief on the cross47600:24:21,459 –> 00:24:24,500didn’t do that and he did get into Heaven47700:24:24,500 –> 00:24:26,699and he got there by God’s grace.47800:24:26,699 –> 00:24:29,020So for anyone who needs to grasp47900:24:29,060 –> 00:24:30,979what the grace of God is,48000:24:30,979 –> 00:24:34,979this is a very simple story that explains that48100:24:34,979 –> 00:24:37,260and so this is a book that you can read and enjoy48200:24:37,260 –> 00:24:38,939and I hope a book that you’ll think about48300:24:38,939 –> 00:24:41,979passing on to a friend who needs to discover God’s grace.48400:24:41,979 –> 00:24:44,300Well this book, Heaven How I Got Here,48500:24:44,300 –> 00:24:46,979along with a booklet, How Can I Be Sure of Heaven48600:24:46,979 –> 00:24:50,260and a special open the Bible pen and book mark48700:24:50,260 –> 00:24:51,780are our thank you gift48800:24:51,780 –> 00:24:54,339if you’re able to set up a new Direct Debit48900:24:54,339 –> 00:24:56,819in the amount of five pounds per month or more49000:24:57,020 –> 00:24:59,619or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or more49100:24:59,619 –> 00:25:02,579to the work of Open the Bible in this month.49200:25:02,579 –> 00:25:05,099For full terms and conditions and to give online49300:25:05,099 –> 00:25:09,219come to our website openthebible.org.uk49400:25:09,219 –> 00:25:13,500For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick49500:25:13,500 –> 00:25:14,660I’m glad you’re with us today49600:25:14,660 –> 00:25:17,060and I hope you’ll be able to join us again tomorrow.49700:25:21,579 –> 00:25:23,699You know you have an anger problem49800:25:23,699 –> 00:25:26,500where will it lead you if you don’t deal with it?49900:25:26,500 –> 00:25:29,380Find out next time on Open the Bible.