100:00:00,360 –> 00:00:09,760Our hope is from God it is through Christ and this hope is given it is not200:00:09,760 –> 00:00:14,680earned… Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David pickup300:00:14,680 –> 00:00:18,219I’m glad you could be with us today and Colin I’m pleased that we’re going to400:00:18,219 –> 00:00:22,840spend some time thinking about where hope comes from because sometimes we do500:00:22,840 –> 00:00:24,920feel it’s something we have to earn.600:00:24,920 –> 00:00:28,879Yeah I think that’s right and it’s actually the default position of the700:00:28,879 –> 00:00:32,520human heart that we feel that if we do the things that God has commanded us to800:00:32,520 –> 00:00:37,639do that that will be a basis on which we would have hope before him and of course900:00:37,639 –> 00:00:42,040the problem is it never works we never get to a place where we really do have1000:00:42,040 –> 00:00:46,959lively hope or confidence before God on the basis of the lives that we’ve lived1100:00:46,959 –> 00:00:53,639and Jesus speaks very clearly about this he says in John 5 and verse 45 do not1200:00:54,360 –> 00:01:01,480I will accuse you to the Father there is one who accuses you Moses on whom you1300:01:01,480 –> 00:01:05,839have set your hope so here are people who are setting their hope on living a1400:01:05,839 –> 00:01:11,279good enough life for God and Jesus says now that’s actually going to lead not to1500:01:11,279 –> 00:01:14,760your vindication but actually to your condomination that’s the law that’s1600:01:14,760 –> 00:01:19,519going to accuse you so here’s the wonderful truth that we’re heading to in1700:01:19,519 –> 00:01:25,699the program today that hope does not come through our fulfilling of the law1800:01:25,699 –> 00:01:31,519hope comes to us through the grace that we find in the Lord Jesus Christ and1900:01:31,519 –> 00:01:37,680that is a wonderfully renewing truth let’s continue with that truth as we2000:01:37,680 –> 00:01:43,339look at to Thessalonians chapter two and begin the message hope by grace here is2100:01:43,339 –> 00:01:47,660pastor Colin we’re asking the question how can I grow2200:01:48,080 –> 00:01:56,220hope and we saw very simply first that hope comes from God we looked at the2300:01:56,220 –> 00:02:01,320experience of David at a low point in his life he was dried out he was2400:02:01,320 –> 00:02:06,760downcast he was in turmoil but he challenged his darkest thoughts why are2500:02:06,760 –> 00:02:15,639you cast down Oh my soul hope in God we saw that there is hope in God for every2600:02:16,119 –> 00:02:22,100person and you find that hope through a relationship with him David could speak2700:02:22,100 –> 00:02:29,479about God as my rock my salvation my God so that led us to the question well now2800:02:29,479 –> 00:02:35,020how do you come to such a relationship with God in which you find hope in Him2900:02:35,020 –> 00:02:39,880and we saw the answer of the Bible to that question is through faith in the3000:02:39,880 –> 00:02:45,000Lord Jesus Christ we looked last time at Colossians chapter 1 and verse 273100:02:45,199 –> 00:02:52,919Christ in you the hope of glory when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ He3200:02:52,919 –> 00:02:59,720Himself comes to dwell in you by the Holy Spirit Jesus said to his disciples3300:02:59,720 –> 00:03:08,919the Holy Spirit will dwell with you and he will be in you Christ in you and it’s3400:03:08,919 –> 00:03:13,320the presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit in a person’s life that makes a3500:03:13,320 –> 00:03:18,600whole new life possible we saw that the Holy Spirit is more than a mentor coming3600:03:18,600 –> 00:03:21,080alongside and telling you what you need to do3700:03:21,080 –> 00:03:28,240he actually works in you renewing your mind shaping your will changing you from3800:03:28,240 –> 00:03:34,940the inside out and this is why there is hope for every person in Jesus Christ3900:03:34,940 –> 00:03:40,839Christ in you is what makes the Christian life possible you’re going to4000:03:41,639 –> 00:03:46,179everything that God created and redeemed you to be and it’s going to happen4100:03:46,179 –> 00:03:54,479through Christ in you. So we’ve learned that hope comes from God and it comes4200:03:54,479 –> 00:04:00,020through Jesus Christ but there’s something else that we need4300:04:00,020 –> 00:04:05,440to grasp if we’re going to grow in hope so today I want us to take a third step4400:04:05,460 –> 00:04:12,580in our journey. Hope comes from God, it is through Christ and now today I want us4500:04:12,580 –> 00:04:18,380to see it is by grace. Look with me if you would, at 2nd Thessalonians chapter4600:04:18,380 –> 00:04:22,8992 and verse 16.4700:04:35,679 –> 00:04:46,119Now notice that the apostle is speaking here about hope. He speaks about4800:04:46,119 –> 00:04:53,679eternal comfort and good hope and he tells us what we’ve already seen that4900:04:53,679 –> 00:04:58,799hope comes from God and it comes through Christ and notice the5000:04:59,019 –> 00:05:07,299relationship hope comes from our Lord Jesus Christ and God our father.5100:05:07,299 –> 00:05:13,320But there’s something more here the Apostle tells us that this hope comes from God5200:05:13,320 –> 00:05:21,760our father through Our Lord Jesus Christ and it comes to us by grace.5300:05:21,760 –> 00:05:26,980Now what is grace well notice the word gave in this verse?5400:05:26,980 –> 00:05:35,079Our Lord Jesus Christ and God our father who loved us gave us good hope.5500:05:35,079 –> 00:05:44,000So our hope is from God it is through Christ and this hope is given it is not earned5600:05:44,000 –> 00:05:48,899and that is the meaning of this wonderful word grace.5700:05:48,899 –> 00:05:56,540Now I want us to see today that hope does not come from the law it’s not earned by what we do5800:05:56,619 –> 00:06:01,899it does come through grace and in the light of that we’re going to look at some further5900:06:01,899 –> 00:06:06,119strategies as to how we can grow in hope.6000:06:06,119 –> 00:06:11,279First then, hope does not come by the law.6100:06:11,279 –> 00:06:17,820Now I’d like to look at one other verse of scripture today and that’s from John 5 and verse 45.6200:06:17,820 –> 00:06:20,399Look at these words of the Lord Jesus6300:06:20,399 –> 00:06:24,200Do not think he says that i will6400:06:24,200 –> 00:06:33,660accuse you to the father. There is one who accuses you, Moses on whom you have6500:06:33,660 –> 00:06:41,179set your hope. Now notice that Jesus is speaking here to people who have set6600:06:41,179 –> 00:06:48,380their hope on Moses. Now Moses of course received the law from God, he was the one6700:06:48,619 –> 00:06:56,579who gave God’s laws to God’s people. And so to set your hope on Moses, as these6800:06:56,579 –> 00:07:02,920people to whom Jesus speaks here were doing, is to base your hope on obedience6900:07:02,920 –> 00:07:11,839to God’s law. So here were people who had set their hope on a life of obedience.7000:07:11,839 –> 00:07:16,540They believed that hope comes from God and they knew that God had given the7100:07:16,540 –> 00:07:20,920Commandments. And so they had concluded that they could have hope in God if they7200:07:20,920 –> 00:07:28,519did what God said. If I live a good life, well God will see what I have done and7300:07:28,519 –> 00:07:36,559he will then welcome me into the joy of his presence. That was their hope. Now7400:07:36,559 –> 00:07:43,000notice what Jesus says here, you have set your hope on Moses. But here’s the7500:07:43,019 –> 00:07:52,440problem. Moses is not your friend. Moses is your accuser. There is one who7600:07:52,440 –> 00:08:02,920accuses you. Moses, on whom you have set your hope. Now why would Moses have been7700:08:02,920 –> 00:08:10,299their accuser? Well, because none of these people and none of us, have kept the law7800:08:10,440 –> 00:08:18,440that Moses gave. Take the Tenth Commandment as an example. You shall not7900:08:18,440 –> 00:08:25,700covet. There’s part of the law given by God through Moses. And you see the good8000:08:25,720 –> 00:08:30,579in this command, you shall not covet. And so you try to keep it. You say, well, I8100:08:30,579 –> 00:08:37,059must not covet. And what that means is that I must learn to be content. I must8200:08:37,059 –> 00:08:43,299be grateful for what I have. I must live within my means. It also means, of8300:08:43,299 –> 00:08:48,880course, that I must find as much joy in what God gives to others, as I would if8400:08:48,880 –> 00:08:55,719God had given these same things to me. But now think about it. Can any of us8500:08:55,820 –> 00:09:03,940honestly say that when you see other people’s gifts, and opportunities and8600:09:03,940 –> 00:09:13,419friends and looks, and skills and homes and possessions? Can any of us honestly8700:09:13,419 –> 00:09:18,099say that we never covet, not even a tiny little bit?8800:09:18,099 –> 00:09:27,900Now if you set your hope on Moses, on obedience to the law of God, if that’s8900:09:28,039 –> 00:09:32,460your hope you’re in for a rude awakening, that’s the point of what Jesus is9000:09:33,340 –> 00:09:39,799saying. The law’s not on your side, it’s not your friend, it’s your accuser. So hope does not9100:09:39,799 –> 00:09:51,380come by the law. Now does anyone sets their hope on Moses today? Yes, absolutely.9200:09:51,380 –> 00:10:00,299Millions do, and the place you’re most likely to find many of them is in church.9300:10:00,299 –> 00:10:08,280You see, it is possible to believe that hope comes from God and to believe that9400:10:08,280 –> 00:10:14,960it comes through the Lord Jesus Christ and then to set your hope on living a9500:10:14,960 –> 00:10:24,039good enough Christian life. And here’s what you will experience if you set your9600:10:24,039 –> 00:10:29,820hope on obedience to God’s law. What you’ll find is that when you’re doing9700:10:29,859 –> 00:10:33,979well you’ll think I’m really doing rather well and you’ll immediately be9800:10:33,979 –> 00:10:39,880tempted to pride. And when you do badly, well then immediately you’re going to9900:10:39,880 –> 00:10:46,020find that you’re tempted to despair. And you’re going to find that you will live10000:10:46,020 –> 00:10:55,059under the constant cloud of haunting questions that never go away. Have I done10100:10:55,059 –> 00:11:04,460enough? Have I prayed enough? Have I been a good enough mother or father or son or10200:11:04,460 –> 00:11:10,679daughter or husband or wife or brother or sister? Have I been a good enough10300:11:10,679 –> 00:11:18,940neighbour? Have I been a good enough friend? Have I been a really good witness?10400:11:18,979 –> 00:11:30,179Have I been a good example? Is my faith good enough? Do I love God enough? Have I10500:11:30,179 –> 00:11:36,820been a good enough Christian? And you know to all of these haunting questions10600:11:36,820 –> 00:11:48,020your conscience will whisper the answer no no no10700:11:48,020 –> 00:11:56,619if you set your hope on fulfilling all that God has called you to do you will10800:11:56,619 –> 00:12:02,080not have any hope at all your conscience will tell you that there’s more that10900:12:02,080 –> 00:12:07,599you could have done that there’s more that you should have done you will never11000:12:07,599 –> 00:12:13,780feel that you have done enough and in the end the law on which you set your11100:12:13,780 –> 00:12:22,080hope will condemn you hope does not come through the law11200:12:22,080 –> 00:12:30,919but God gives hope by grace that’s the central point of the text that we’re11300:12:31,320 –> 00:12:35,799at today do you remember at the beginning of John’s gospel John says the11400:12:35,799 –> 00:12:43,900law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ and he11500:12:43,900 –> 00:12:51,359says we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness you’re11600:12:51,359 –> 00:12:54,719listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and we have to pause the11700:12:54,719 –> 00:12:58,400message briefly but we’ll be back very shortly so please stay with us11800:12:58,400 –> 00:13:04,200message is called hope by grace and it’s part of our series growing and today’s11900:13:04,200 –> 00:13:09,039message based on two Thessalonians chapter 2 thinking about how hope does12000:13:09,039 –> 00:13:13,140not come from following the law in a moment we’ll see how hope comes through12100:13:13,140 –> 00:13:17,820grace so stay with us for the second part of the message if you have to leave12200:13:17,820 –> 00:13:21,159early or if you ever miss one of our messages you can come online to our12300:13:21,159 –> 00:13:26,380website openthebible.org.uk and there you’ll find all the messages which have12400:13:26,380 –> 00:13:30,679already gone out on air and you can also find them as a podcast many people are12500:13:30,679 –> 00:13:35,159now following pastor Collins teaching using their favorite podcast site you12600:13:35,159 –> 00:13:41,219can find it by searching online for open the Bible UK back to the message now here12700:13:41,260 –> 00:13:47,119again is pastor Colin. So we’re going to focus on grace in our text today let’s12800:13:47,119 –> 00:13:55,400look at it more closely together. Hope does not come from the law hope comes by12900:13:55,400 –> 00:14:01,479grace see this in 2nd Thessalonians and chapter 2 in verse 16. Now may our Lord13000:14:01,479 –> 00:14:06,380Jesus Christ himself and God our father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort13100:14:06,799 –> 00:14:11,219hope. How? Through grace, hope through13200:14:11,219 –> 00:14:24,219grace and grace is God giving what we don’t deserve and hope comes through13300:14:24,219 –> 00:14:31,679grace. Now, do you see that this cuts right through all these haunting13400:14:31,700 –> 00:14:37,619questions about how well you’ve performed in the Christian life, how13500:14:37,619 –> 00:14:42,960much have you prayed, how well have you lived, how faithful have you been. Grace13600:14:42,960 –> 00:14:51,299simply sets all these questions aside because your hope is not based on you13700:14:51,299 –> 00:14:58,619measuring up. Hope comes through grace. That is it is God giving you what you13800:14:58,960 –> 00:15:08,780deserve. He gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace.13900:15:08,780 –> 00:15:18,200Hope comes from God through Christ and it’s by grace. Now when I think about14000:15:18,200 –> 00:15:25,979grace the first thing that comes to my mind is that Jesus died for our sins. Our14100:15:26,020 –> 00:15:33,919sins were laid on Jesus. He gave his life as a sacrifice so that our sins would14200:15:33,919 –> 00:15:42,520not be charged against us. But you know there are two parts to what God has done14300:15:42,520 –> 00:15:49,559for us in Christ. Two dimensions as it were of God’s grace. God on the one side14400:15:49,780 –> 00:15:58,099has taken away our sins and on the other He has credited to us Christ’s14500:15:58,099 –> 00:16:07,460righteousness. You can think about God’s grace to you being like a robe that is14600:16:07,460 –> 00:16:12,299draped around you. You might find it helpful actually if you put on a robe in14700:16:12,299 –> 00:16:18,479the morning. When you put that robe on to think about how it represents the two14800:16:18,479 –> 00:16:28,159sides of God’s grace. Two sides of the robe are folded over you. On the one side14900:16:28,159 –> 00:16:36,940God folds you in the forgiveness that is yours through the death of Jesus. And on15000:16:36,940 –> 00:16:43,020the other side God folds you in the righteousness that is yours through the15100:16:43,260 –> 00:16:53,500life of Jesus. Jesus died the death that we should have died and Jesus lived the15200:16:53,500 –> 00:17:01,299life that we should have lived. In other words Christ did what we have failed to15300:17:01,299 –> 00:17:09,839do and he lived his life for us. So when our hearts condemn us in regards to what15400:17:09,839 –> 00:17:16,560we have failed to do we find hope not only in resting in the death of Jesus15500:17:16,560 –> 00:17:23,880for us but also resting in the life of Jesus for us. The death he died and the15600:17:23,880 –> 00:17:32,640life he lived. I’ve been reading a book by Andrew Bonner in which he shows how15700:17:32,640 –> 00:17:40,060to apply the perfect life of Jesus to your conscience when you find yourself15800:17:40,060 –> 00:17:45,800very troubled by a sense of your own failure. Now I’m putting this in my own15900:17:45,800 –> 00:17:56,599words but I’m drawing from Bonner’s examples. Did you waste your youth?16000:17:57,160 –> 00:18:07,640Jesus Christ grew in wisdom and in favor with God and man. See he lived the16100:18:07,640 –> 00:18:14,760perfect youth and childhood for you. He lived the youth and childhood that you16200:18:14,760 –> 00:18:25,099didn’t so don’t let your wasted youth or childhood lead you to despair. Have you16300:18:25,260 –> 00:18:31,680neglected prayer? Christ rose early in the morning to pray and he prayed16400:18:31,680 –> 00:18:41,140through the night. Bonar says, this God will impute to me as if I had prayed16500:18:41,140 –> 00:18:48,920every day and every night. See, God by His grace and mercy will regard you as if16600:18:48,920 –> 00:18:53,420you had prayed as much as Jesus himself did.16700:18:53,859 –> 00:19:01,380Have you sought your own will rather than the will of God? Do you perhaps16800:19:01,380 –> 00:19:06,380look back even years ago to a decision you made, you felt God was calling you to16900:19:06,380 –> 00:19:12,380something costly and, well, you weren’t up for it, you pulled back. And years later17000:19:12,380 –> 00:19:16,400you look back on that decision and the different course that your life took and17100:19:16,400 –> 00:19:21,819you have a profound feeling that you let him down, you didn’t have the17200:19:21,839 –> 00:19:26,000courage to do what you sensed he was calling you to do. And you live with a17300:19:26,000 –> 00:19:30,760great sense of regret. Have you sought your own will rather than the will of17400:19:30,760 –> 00:19:44,400God? Jesus said to the Father, not my will but yours be done. He gave what you17500:19:44,400 –> 00:19:51,400withheld and God regards you in his grace and mercy in Jesus Christ as if17600:19:51,459 –> 00:19:58,280you had been as willing to pursue that costly call as Jesus himself was.17700:19:58,280 –> 00:20:03,359Examples could be multiplied and17800:20:03,359 –> 00:20:08,680you can work this out for yourself. Have you been worldly? Jesus was not of this17900:20:08,680 –> 00:20:15,219world. Have you been double-minded? Jesus was always single and resolute in his18000:20:15,239 –> 00:20:21,040purpose and all these things he did. He lived the life that we have failed to18100:20:21,040 –> 00:20:28,699live and he lived that life for us. And then Boner, because he was a pastor, makes18200:20:28,699 –> 00:20:37,719this application. Have I been a good enough pastor? You see the questions of18300:20:37,719 –> 00:20:41,979whether we’ve been good enough at what God has called us to do go everywhere.18400:20:42,380 –> 00:20:48,280And where is a pastor or a missionary or a Christian leader to go when we feel18500:20:48,280 –> 00:20:56,560our own failings? Well we find hope not in what we are doing for Christ, but in18600:20:56,560 –> 00:21:03,900what he has done for us. He is the perfect Shepherd that no one else has18700:21:03,900 –> 00:21:11,040ever managed to be. And what he did he did for us.18800:21:11,040 –> 00:21:21,180Bonar says his Shepherds heart and work cover over ours. Do you see this18900:21:21,180 –> 00:21:28,680beautiful truth? Jesus is everything that we have failed to be. He has done19000:21:28,680 –> 00:21:34,479everything that we have failed to do. And God counts all that the Lord Jesus19100:21:34,479 –> 00:21:41,199Christ has done for us as if it had been done by us.19200:21:41,199 –> 00:21:45,619You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible in a message called19300:21:45,619 –> 00:21:51,619Hope by grace and we’ll continue the message next time. We’ve been hearing how hope19400:21:51,619 –> 00:21:56,699does not come from the law but it does come from grace. Next time we’ll hear how19500:21:56,839 –> 00:22:01,660we can grows in hope so join us for that. If you’re not going to be able to join us19600:22:01,660 –> 00:22:05,520on the radio you can always catch up or go back and listen again to any of the19700:22:05,520 –> 00:22:10,319broadcasts that have already gone out by coming to our website that’s at19800:22:10,339 –> 00:22:14,719openthebible.org.uk or by going to your favorite podcast site and searching19900:22:14,719 –> 00:22:19,000there for Open the Bible UK. You’ll find all those broadcasts that have already20000:22:19,000 –> 00:22:24,439gone out on-air. I know many of you listen to podcasts and we’re excited to20100:22:24,479 –> 00:22:29,380tell you about a new podcast for open the Bible. It’s a companion to Pastor20200:22:29,380 –> 00:22:34,459Colin’s book hike through the Bible. Yeah and each week I’ll read a chapter from20300:22:34,459 –> 00:22:38,520the book and then I get to discuss it with some friends. So if you join us on20400:22:38,540 –> 00:22:44,060the podcast, in 50 weeks we’ll cover 50 chapters of the Bible together and in a20500:22:44,060 –> 00:22:49,060year you’ll have hiked through the entire Bible story. Now if you think20600:22:49,060 –> 00:22:54,020hiking sounds like hard work, don’t worry. I promise you this hike will be an20700:22:54,079 –> 00:22:55,520easy, gentle piece.20800:22:55,520 –> 00:22:58,300There’s a link to the podcast and lots more20900:22:58,300 –> 00:23:05,060information on our website at openthebible.org.uk. Open the Bible is21000:23:05,060 –> 00:23:09,319supported by our listeners. We’re able to bring you Pastor Colin’s teaching on21100:23:09,319 –> 00:23:14,260the radio, internet and podcasts as a result of the generosity of listeners21200:23:14,260 –> 00:23:19,380like you. So if you already give to support our work, thank you so much. We do21300:23:19,400 –> 00:23:23,880appreciate it. This month when you begin to support Open the Bible for the21400:23:23,880 –> 00:23:28,140first time, we’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin’s21500:23:28,140 –> 00:23:32,939brand new book, Grow in Faith. This devotional book is not yet available in21600:23:32,939 –> 00:23:37,939the UK so our offer is very exclusive. Colin, what is the one thing that you21700:23:37,939 –> 00:23:41,560want people to take away from this book? Well this is a book for ordinary21800:23:41,560 –> 00:23:45,459Christians. You know you talk about growing faith someone might think well21900:23:45,479 –> 00:23:50,040you know I’m no giant of the Faith so that’s probably not for me. Well, you know22000:23:50,040 –> 00:23:56,500Jesus spoke on five occasions about people with little faith. Oh you of22100:23:56,500 –> 00:24:02,380little faith and that’s where we start in this book, Grow in Faith. If you feel22200:24:02,380 –> 00:24:08,180that your faith is small, this is exactly for you. It’s a place from which you can22300:24:08,180 –> 00:24:14,020begin to grow and you know there are two wonderful things about little faith. One22400:24:14,380 –> 00:24:20,979is that little faith is saving faith if it is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and22500:24:20,979 –> 00:24:26,160the other is that little faith because faith is a living thing is faith that22600:24:26,160 –> 00:24:31,060really can grow and I think that this book will help people to grow in faith.22700:24:31,060 –> 00:24:35,020That’s our hope and our prayer as we’ve been working on it and preparing it and22800:24:35,020 –> 00:24:38,339I hope that it’s going to be a real blessing to you.22900:24:38,339 –> 00:24:43,180Well Pastor Collin’s book Grow in Faith is our special offer to you this month23000:24:43,180 –> 00:24:46,939when you support Open the Bible financially for the first time with a23100:24:46,939 –> 00:24:52,640one-off gift of £60 or more or a monthly direct debit of £5 per23200:24:52,640 –> 00:24:58,260month or more. Full terms and conditions are on our website that’s at23300:24:58,260 –> 00:25:03,540openthebible.org.uk and you can give online please do remember to leave your23400:25:03,540 –> 00:25:07,680full name and address when you set up your payment so we can send you your23500:25:07,680 –> 00:25:13,079free gift. For Open the Bible and Pastor Collin Smith I’m David Pig and I look23600:25:13,079 –> 00:25:18,339forward to you joining us again next time on Open the Bible.23700:25:20,859 –> 00:25:27,420Every believer relates to God either by way of the law or by grace. Discover the23800:25:27,420 –> 00:25:31,739difference next time on Open the Bible.