100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:09,440The message of these false teachers was not so much a message about Jesus, as a message200:00:09,440 –> 00:00:16,160about us. The power that they thought would change the world was not the power of the300:00:16,160 –> 00:00:21,400risen Lord who is seated at the right hand of the Father but the power of what we do400:00:21,400 –> 00:00:25,280as those who continue Jesus work.500:00:25,280 –> 00:00:29,719Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick, glad you could be with600:00:29,719 –> 00:00:35,320us today. And Colin, it seems like not a lot has changed in the last 2000 years.700:00:35,320 –> 00:00:43,680Isn’t that striking? And whenever the focus is moved from the Lord Jesus Christ to us,800:00:43,680 –> 00:00:49,500then Christian people can discern that something is going badly wrong. And that was the case900:00:49,500 –> 00:00:54,919in the 1st century and as you say it’s still the same today. And what happens when the1000:00:54,919 –> 00:01:00,459focus moves onto us is that we lose sight of the glorious hope that is ours in the Lord1100:01:00,459 –> 00:01:01,919Jesus Christ.1200:01:01,919 –> 00:01:07,440Christianity gets reduced to how we can make this world a better place. That’s an important1300:01:07,440 –> 00:01:12,739thing. But the glorious hope that is ours is not that we’re going to make this world1400:01:12,739 –> 00:01:17,680a better place. It’s that the Lord Jesus Christ is going to return in glory and make the creation1500:01:17,680 –> 00:01:19,480entirely new.1600:01:19,480 –> 00:01:22,519That there’s going to be a new heaven, there’s going to be a new earth, it’s going to be1700:01:22,519 –> 00:01:28,099the home of righteousness and those who are in Christ are going to enjoy it with Him forever1800:01:28,099 –> 00:01:32,459and forever. That’s the hope that we’re called to bring to the world, because the invitation1900:01:32,459 –> 00:01:37,580of Jesus goes to every person to find this new life that is in Him alone.2000:01:37,580 –> 00:01:42,580Well, join us today in your Bible, if you can, as we begin the message, Hope for us.2100:01:42,580 –> 00:01:46,739We’re in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, here’s Colin.2200:01:46,980 –> 00:01:54,080You’re seeing from this chapter that our hope does not lie in something, it lies in someone.2300:01:54,080 –> 00:01:59,980It doesn’t lie in an ethic. It doesn’t lie in living a better kind of life. It doesn’t2400:01:59,980 –> 00:02:08,759even lie in a creed. It lies in a person whose grace will change us as we walk with Him.2500:02:09,399 –> 00:02:18,520Last time that the risen Lord Jesus Christ personally redeems us from our sins and that2600:02:18,520 –> 00:02:25,979the answer to shame and regret over past sins is not only that we’re forgiven, but that2700:02:25,979 –> 00:02:35,160by His grace we’ve actually changed. Paul says, I persecuted the church, but I’m no2800:02:35,160 –> 00:02:42,860longer the person that I once was. Verse nine by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His2900:02:42,860 –> 00:02:50,160grace toward me was not in vain. When you find yourself troubled by your past sins,3000:02:50,160 –> 00:02:56,720use this as an opportunity to thank God for what His grace has done in your life. The3100:02:56,720 –> 00:03:03,100very fact that what you once chose, you now regret shows that you are not the person that3200:03:03,139 –> 00:03:08,779you once were. God’s grace has redeemed you and is redeeming you still. His grace toward3300:03:08,779 –> 00:03:15,779you has not been in vain. Thank God for that. Christ has redeemed us from our past sins,3400:03:17,380 –> 00:03:24,020and then this risen Christ will give us strength for our present calling. Notice verse ten,3500:03:24,020 –> 00:03:30,179Paul says, I worked harder than any of them. He’s referring, of course, to the other3600:03:30,199 –> 00:03:35,339apostles. I worked harder than any of them, he says. Though it was not I, but the grace3700:03:35,339 –> 00:03:42,339of God that is with me. The Risen Lord Jesus Christ has actually given me energy, the apostle3800:03:43,600 –> 00:03:50,600says. To work as I have worked at the ministry that he has trusted to me. And we saw from3900:03:50,820 –> 00:03:56,059this the very wonderful truth that the Risen Lord Jesus Christ will personally give you4000:03:56,380 –> 00:04:03,059all that you need to fulfill all that he is calling you to do. He redeems us from our4100:04:03,059 –> 00:04:10,059past sins and he strengthens us for our present calling. And he does this for who? For all4200:04:10,500 –> 00:04:16,399who receive and continue in the gospel. We saw last time from verses 1 and 2 that we4300:04:16,399 –> 00:04:23,399must receive the gospel, we must stand in it, we must hold fast to it, and then we will4400:04:23,679 –> 00:04:30,380certainly be saved by it. So that’s where we got last week. Paul begins by speaking4500:04:30,380 –> 00:04:37,380about how the risen Lord Jesus Christ changes the past and the present. But the central4600:04:38,179 –> 00:04:45,040focus of 1 corinthians and chapter 15 is of course on how the risen Lord Jesus Christ4700:04:45,040 –> 00:04:52,059is going to change the future. He’s going to bring us into the most glorious future.4800:04:52,100 –> 00:04:59,100As Jesus was raised from the dead we who receive and continue in the gospel will share in his4900:05:00,399 –> 00:05:07,399resurrection life. That’s the main message of 1 corinthians and chapter 15. Now we’re5000:05:07,739 –> 00:05:14,899taking it up today at verse 12 where you will see that some at Corinth had evidently denied5100:05:15,220 –> 00:05:22,220this wonderful truth. Verse 12 if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead how can5200:05:24,739 –> 00:05:31,739some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? so some in Corinth clearly denied5300:05:34,779 –> 00:05:41,440this wonderful truth that believers will rise from the dead to a glorious new life with5400:05:41,440 –> 00:05:48,119the Lord Jesus Christ. Now this was not unique to Corinth because5500:05:48,119 –> 00:05:54,119we know that there were false teachers in the early church who taught that the resurrection5600:05:54,119 –> 00:06:01,119had already happened. Paul refers to this in second Timothy in chapter 2 verses 17 and5700:06:01,779 –> 00:06:08,77918 among them he says are Hymenaius and Philidus who have swerved from the truth saying that5800:06:09,160 –> 00:06:16,160the resurrection has already happened and they are upsetting the faith of some. Now5900:06:19,040 –> 00:06:26,040here are false teachers Paul actually names them here Hymenaius and Philidus and if you6000:06:27,079 –> 00:06:34,079had gone to these false teachers and you had said do you think that there will be a resurrection6100:06:34,079 –> 00:06:39,079they would have said yes of course we do. And it has already happened. If you are a6200:06:43,519 –> 00:06:48,519believer you have already risen to a new life in Jesus Christ and of course that’s wonderfully6300:06:51,559 –> 00:06:58,559true. So the problem was not in what they affirmed the problem was in what they denied.6400:06:59,339 –> 00:07:04,339They denied a future glorious resurrection to an everlasting life in the presence of6500:07:07,339 –> 00:07:12,339the Lord Jesus Christ. Now if you deny the resurrection of believers you have then to6600:07:17,260 –> 00:07:22,260reinterpret the resurrection of Jesus. And that of course is Paul’s point in verse 13.6700:07:23,000 –> 00:07:28,000If there is no resurrection of the dead then not even Christ has been raised. So what was the6800:07:33,959 –> 00:07:38,959message then of Hymenaeus and Philetus, and others that Corinth and in different parts of the6900:07:40,760 –> 00:07:45,760early church who sought to reintroduce a kind of alternative version of Christianity? What7000:07:45,760 –> 00:07:50,760was their message? Well perhaps an analogy will help. The life of Martin Luther King was7100:07:58,980 –> 00:08:03,980tragically cut short in a vicious act of violence. But what he stood for continues. Through all7200:08:04,619 –> 00:08:09,619the people, millions who believe what he believed and teach what he taught. Now someone might7300:08:21,359 –> 00:08:26,359reasonably say Martin Luther King is gone but his work continues through others, and7400:08:26,500 –> 00:08:31,500it may be that Feilitus said something like this in regard to Jesus. The life of Jesus7500:08:39,760 –> 00:08:44,760was tragically cut short in a vicious act of violence but what Jesus stood for, what7600:08:46,859 –> 00:08:51,859Jesus taught continues through people who believe what he believes and teach what he7700:08:52,559 –> 00:08:57,559taught, the good news is that the work of Jesus is being carried on by his people7800:08:58,099 –> 00:09:03,099and of course that last statement is true. The problem was not in affirming that,7900:09:05,280 –> 00:09:09,280the problem was in what they denied that the tomb was empty and that Jesus Christ8000:09:09,280 –> 00:09:11,140is alive today.8100:09:11,140 –> 00:09:16,140Oh, yes if you ask them they would say, we believe that Jesus rose from the dead8200:09:16,940 –> 00:09:21,940but of course what that means they would say is his spirit lives on in his people8300:09:23,700 –> 00:09:28,700and that he continues to bring blessing to the world through what we do.8400:09:28,700 –> 00:09:33,700The resurrection, they would say, means that the spirit of Jesus goes on in us8500:09:33,700 –> 00:09:38,700and that the work of Jesus goes on through us so what matters they would say is not8600:09:38,700 –> 00:09:43,700that the tomb was empty but that we get on with the work of what Jesus has called us to8700:09:43,940 –> 00:09:48,940do. Now do you see how this completely shifts the focus of the message?8800:09:52,539 –> 00:09:59,539The message of these false teachers was not so much a message about Jesus as a message about us.8900:10:00,419 –> 00:10:05,880The power that they thought would change the world was not the power of the risen Lord9000:10:05,880 –> 00:10:11,059who is seep seated at the right hand of the father but the power of what we do as those9100:10:11,059 –> 00:10:13,419who continue Jesus’ work.9200:10:13,419 –> 00:10:18,580You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Collin Smith and a message called Hope for9300:10:18,580 –> 00:10:24,380us. It is part of our series Hope is a name and if you ever miss one of the series you9400:10:24,380 –> 00:10:28,219can always catch up or go back and listen again online, come to our website http://openthebible.org.uk9500:10:28,219 –> 00:10:35,2190 and there you’ll find all the messages which have already gone out on air and you’ll9600:10:35,419 –> 00:10:40,780also find them on your favourite podcast site by searching for Open The Bible UK.9700:10:40,900 –> 00:10:47,179Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners and this month, if you’re considering9800:10:47,179 –> 00:10:52,700starting a new gift to the work of Open The Bible, we have a special offer for you which9900:10:52,700 –> 00:10:55,960we’ll be talking more about at the end of the programme. So, I hope you’ll stay with10000:10:55,960 –> 00:11:00,200us for that. Back to the message now is Collin.10100:11:00,200 –> 00:11:06,140The message of these false teachers was not so much a message about Jesus as a message10200:11:06,380 –> 00:11:12,919about us. The power that they thought would change the world was not the power of the10300:11:12,919 –> 00:11:18,119risen Lord who is seated at the right hand of the Father, but the power of what we do10400:11:18,119 –> 00:11:25,799as those who continue Jesus’ work. And friends, you can see how this would gain10500:11:25,799 –> 00:11:32,500traction and you can see why versions of this kind of thinking are actually still all around10600:11:32,979 –> 00:11:43,719us today. You see, it would gain traction because it sounds spiritual.10700:11:43,719 –> 00:11:51,599Oh, you don’t need to worry about the body, Aimaneus and Philetus would say.10800:11:51,599 –> 00:12:03,419The body is just a shell, do with it what you want, What matters is your spirit, the10900:12:03,419 –> 00:12:14,859real you, what you feel, what you want, the life you choose to live.11000:12:15,119 –> 00:12:18,619And it sounds relevant.11100:12:18,619 –> 00:12:27,739Christians have throughout history, been accused of being too heavenly minded to be of any11200:12:27,739 –> 00:12:29,419earthly use.11300:12:29,419 –> 00:12:35,239Quick straw poll, if you ever heard that accusation against Christians raise your hands.11400:12:35,239 –> 00:12:36,700Almost everyone.11500:12:36,700 –> 00:12:41,479Too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use.11600:12:41,479 –> 00:12:48,559But here in Hymenaeus and Philidas were teachers whose entire focus was on making a difference11700:12:48,559 –> 00:12:54,340in this world because they truly believed that’s all there is.11800:12:54,340 –> 00:12:59,479The calling of the church, they would say is not to prepare people for another world,11900:12:59,479 –> 00:13:02,020it is to meet the needs of this world as it is today.12000:13:02,020 –> 00:13:05,919You heard that, it sounds compelling.12100:13:06,000 –> 00:13:13,940And thirdly it sounds liberating, if there is no resurrection to eternal life we are12200:13:13,940 –> 00:13:17,659accountable only to ourselves.12300:13:17,659 –> 00:13:24,159And of course that puts us in control and it leaves us free to live and to plan our12400:13:24,159 –> 00:13:28,700lives as we think best.12500:13:28,700 –> 00:13:32,419Now, someone might ask at this point, well does this really matter, it sounds like a12600:13:32,419 –> 00:13:35,900theological debate, is it of any importance?12700:13:35,940 –> 00:13:38,479Does it make any practical difference?12800:13:38,479 –> 00:13:43,580Sounds like it’s just another interpretation of Christianity and it may have some things12900:13:43,580 –> 00:13:44,780to commend it.13000:13:44,780 –> 00:13:47,599And the apostle Paul says, no.13100:13:47,599 –> 00:13:49,760No.13200:13:49,760 –> 00:13:57,820This teaching, the apostle says, is like gangrene, that’s the word he uses.13300:13:57,820 –> 00:14:03,739Second Timothy chapter 2, I’m reading from verse 16, avoid irreverent babble for it will13400:14:03,739 –> 00:14:13,900lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.13500:14:13,900 –> 00:14:18,780And among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus who have swerved from the truth by saying13600:14:18,780 –> 00:14:27,700that the resurrection has already happened, and they are upsetting the faith of some.13700:14:27,700 –> 00:14:37,960His teachings like gangrene, he says, if you embrace it, it will lead you into more and13800:14:37,960 –> 00:14:41,219more ungodliness.13900:14:41,219 –> 00:14:45,400The word we would use today is the word toxic.14000:14:45,400 –> 00:14:47,820You don’t want to go anywhere near this.14100:14:47,820 –> 00:14:53,419You don’t want to get anywhere close to it.14200:14:53,500 –> 00:14:59,059You see, it is for that reason that Paul in these verses that are before us today, confronts14300:14:59,059 –> 00:15:01,760the message of the false teachers.14400:15:01,760 –> 00:15:09,700And what he says here is of vital importance to us, dear friends, because the same kinds14500:15:09,700 –> 00:15:17,359of false teaching that troubled the early church all those years ago is still all around14600:15:17,359 –> 00:15:19,419us today.14700:15:19,440 –> 00:15:23,640If you want it put in summary form, you couldn’t do better than what the apostle Paul says14800:15:23,640 –> 00:15:30,320in verse 19, where he describes it as this life only message.14900:15:30,320 –> 00:15:40,940Verse 19, if in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be15000:15:40,940 –> 00:15:42,640pitied.15100:15:42,640 –> 00:15:48,760And then he shows verse 20, that living hope is ours through the resurrection of Jesus15200:15:49,359 –> 00:15:57,700when he says but in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who15300:15:57,700 –> 00:16:00,219have fallen asleep.15400:16:00,219 –> 00:16:05,580I want to offer today three observations that I hope will help us to see why the resurrection15500:16:05,580 –> 00:16:12,219matters and how believing in the resurrection will shape how we live.15600:16:12,219 –> 00:16:16,619And I promise you if you truly believe in the resurrection it will shape how you live15700:16:16,880 –> 00:16:23,000If you do not believe in the resurrection, it will also shape how you live.15800:16:23,000 –> 00:16:24,919So here are the 3 observations.15900:16:24,919 –> 00:16:32,059First a faith for this life only, that’s how Paul describes it in verse 19, a faith for16000:16:32,059 –> 00:16:38,979this life only may sound spiritual but it will leave you without hope.16100:16:38,979 –> 00:16:45,619Paul has three reasons for this, first he says without the resurrection your faith would16200:16:45,619 –> 00:16:51,739be futile and he says this twice in verse 14 and verse 17, if Christ has not been raised16300:16:51,739 –> 00:16:58,539your faith is in vain, verse 14, if Christ has not been raised your faith is futile verse16400:16:58,539 –> 00:17:02,52017, so think about this.16500:17:02,520 –> 00:17:09,979The apostle Paul began this wonderful chapter by reminding believers that we are saved by16600:17:10,420 –> 00:17:17,420Christ through the gospel as we receive it and as we continue in it.16700:17:18,380 –> 00:17:28,500By believing the gospel you have trusted yourself, your life and your eternity into the hands16800:17:29,140 –> 00:17:33,660of Jesus Christ, and if he has not been raised,16900:17:35,459 –> 00:17:37,420such a faith is obviously futile.17000:17:40,099 –> 00:17:51,339Now, the pastors and the residents sometimes like to poke fun at the authors that I17100:17:51,339 –> 00:17:52,739most enjoy reading.17200:17:53,260 –> 00:17:58,060Because all of them are dead, and most of them are Scottish.17300:18:00,500 –> 00:18:06,979And it’s true, I love to read the writings of godly men who are now in the17400:18:06,979 –> 00:18:08,339presence of Jesus.17500:18:09,780 –> 00:18:12,619Dead men can teach you by their writings.17600:18:14,099 –> 00:18:17,020Dead men can inspire you by their example.17700:18:18,260 –> 00:18:20,579Dead men can help you with their wisdom.17800:18:21,579 –> 00:18:29,219But friends, a dead man cannot impart life to you, a dead man cannot possibly17900:18:29,219 –> 00:18:30,300save you.18000:18:31,739 –> 00:18:36,859So if you have trusted your life and your future to a dead man, by definition,18100:18:36,859 –> 00:18:38,180your faith is futile.18200:18:39,500 –> 00:18:41,579Dead men cannot possibly save you.18300:18:43,180 –> 00:18:45,140And that’s just the first problem.18400:18:46,260 –> 00:18:49,619The second is that without the resurrection, you would still be in18500:18:50,180 –> 00:18:51,099your sins.18600:18:51,099 –> 00:18:52,060Verse 17.18700:18:53,979 –> 00:18:57,900Now in verse 3, the first thing the Apostle told us about the gospel is18800:18:57,900 –> 00:19:00,060that Christ died for our sins.18900:19:00,060 –> 00:19:01,540He’s the Lamb of God.19000:19:01,540 –> 00:19:07,619It was his unique calling to take away the sins of the world.19100:19:07,619 –> 00:19:09,900That’s why he came into the world.19200:19:09,900 –> 00:19:13,959He was to take away our sins by carrying them on himself.19300:19:13,959 –> 00:19:17,180All we like sheep, have gone astray, we’ve all turned to our own way,19400:19:17,180 –> 00:19:23,199but the Lord has laid on him, the iniquity of us all.19500:19:23,199 –> 00:19:27,380So let me quote to you something I found helpful from a man by the name19600:19:27,380 –> 00:19:29,500of Robert Candlish.19700:19:29,500 –> 00:19:33,160Yes, he’s dead, he lived in an earlier century, and yes,19800:19:33,160 –> 00:19:34,599he was Scottish.19900:19:36,119 –> 00:19:37,979And he says this,20000:19:37,979 –> 00:19:43,939he, that is Jesus was in your sins when he died.20100:19:43,939 –> 00:19:45,619They were about him.20200:19:45,619 –> 00:19:49,479They were upon him, and they were his.20300:19:49,479 –> 00:19:51,060He was in your sins.20400:19:51,060 –> 00:19:54,780When he was buried, they were still around him,20500:19:54,780 –> 00:19:59,260still upon him as they lay in the dark tomb.20600:19:59,260 –> 00:20:03,459And if he is not risen, he is even yet in your sins.20700:20:03,459 –> 00:20:08,300Your sins are around him and upon him even now.20800:20:08,300 –> 00:20:12,400Now do you see the point?20900:20:12,420 –> 00:20:15,719That if Jesus had remained in the tomb,21000:20:15,719 –> 00:20:18,619he would have been unsuccessful21100:20:20,079 –> 00:20:22,140in removing our sins from us.21200:20:22,140 –> 00:20:27,040And if he was unsuccessful in removing our sins from us,21300:20:27,040 –> 00:20:30,719they would, by definition, still be on us.21400:20:30,719 –> 00:20:35,680If Christ is not raised, you’re still in your sins.21500:20:37,280 –> 00:20:40,199So friends, thank God this morning for verse 20.21600:20:40,199 –> 00:20:44,280Christ has been raised from the dead.21700:20:44,280 –> 00:20:46,199And you see, this is how we know21800:20:46,199 –> 00:20:48,599that our sins have been dealt with.21900:20:48,599 –> 00:20:51,380After six hours on the cross,22000:20:51,380 –> 00:20:54,060the Lord Jesus Christ shouted out in triumph,22100:20:54,060 –> 00:20:55,819it is finished!22200:20:55,819 –> 00:20:58,180And he laid down his life.22300:20:58,180 –> 00:21:02,920And the confirmation of that was that on the third day22400:21:02,920 –> 00:21:05,500the Father raised him from the dead,22500:21:05,500 –> 00:21:08,260echoing that great it is finished22600:21:08,260 –> 00:21:11,459and demonstrating that indeed it was.22700:21:11,459 –> 00:21:14,699Living, he loved me.22800:21:14,699 –> 00:21:17,439Dying, he saved me.22900:21:17,439 –> 00:21:20,979Buried, he carried my sins far away.23000:21:20,979 –> 00:21:25,579And rising, he justified, freely forever,23100:21:25,579 –> 00:21:27,939one day he’s coming.23200:21:27,939 –> 00:21:30,319Oh, glorious day, amen?23300:21:32,079 –> 00:21:37,079And Paul wants it to be clear and settled in our minds.23400:21:39,219 –> 00:21:41,500That our sins have been dealt with23500:21:41,500 –> 00:21:45,020through the death, burial, and resurrection23600:21:46,020 –> 00:21:49,300of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.23700:21:51,199 –> 00:21:52,640You’ve been listening to Open The Bible23800:21:52,640 –> 00:21:54,300with Pastor Colin Smith23900:21:54,300 –> 00:21:56,640and the second message in our series24000:21:56,640 –> 00:21:58,780and the message called Hope For Us.24100:21:58,780 –> 00:22:01,880The second in our series, Hope is a Name,24200:22:01,880 –> 00:22:04,680based on the First Book of Corinthians.24300:22:04,680 –> 00:22:06,739If you ever miss one of our series24400:22:06,900 –> 00:22:08,479or if you want to go back and listen again,24500:22:08,479 –> 00:22:10,119don’t forget you can always do that24600:22:10,119 –> 00:22:11,900by coming online to our website24700:22:15,239 –> 00:22:16,540There you’ll find all the messages24800:22:16,540 –> 00:22:18,180which have already gone out on air.24900:22:18,180 –> 00:22:20,219And you can also find them as a podcast.25000:22:20,219 –> 00:22:22,260Go to your favorite podcast site,25100:22:22,260 –> 00:22:24,359search for Open The Bible UK25200:22:24,359 –> 00:22:27,739and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.25300:22:27,739 –> 00:22:31,619You can also find a link to the podcast on our website.25400:22:31,619 –> 00:22:35,119Also on our website you’ll find Open The Bible Daily25500:22:35,439 –> 00:22:37,079and that’s a series of short,25600:22:37,079 –> 00:22:39,5992-3 minute daily reflections25700:22:39,599 –> 00:22:41,800based on pastor Colin’s teaching25800:22:41,800 –> 00:22:44,400and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.25900:22:44,400 –> 00:22:45,900There’s a new one every day26000:22:45,900 –> 00:22:48,239and many Christians enjoy starting their day26100:22:48,239 –> 00:22:50,500with Open The Bible Daily.26200:22:50,500 –> 00:22:54,160Open Tomorrow is supported financially by our listeners.26300:22:54,160 –> 00:22:55,760And if you already give to support26400:22:55,760 –> 00:22:57,040the work of Open The Bible,26500:22:57,040 –> 00:22:59,560we want to say a big thank you today.26600:22:59,560 –> 00:23:01,079If you don’t already support us26700:23:01,079 –> 00:23:03,020but you’re considering doing so,26800:23:03,020 –> 00:23:04,739you can do that by coming online26900:23:05,560 –> 00:23:08,199to our website, openthebible.org.uk.27000:23:08,199 –> 00:23:09,719There you can give online.27100:23:09,719 –> 00:23:12,020You can also hear about our gift to you27200:23:12,020 –> 00:23:14,520if you’re able to set up a new direct debit27300:23:14,520 –> 00:23:16,140to the work of Open The Bible27400:23:16,140 –> 00:23:19,239in the amount of five pounds per month or more,27500:23:19,239 –> 00:23:22,560or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more.27600:23:22,560 –> 00:23:23,979If you’re able to do that,27700:23:23,979 –> 00:23:25,280we’d love to say thank you27800:23:25,280 –> 00:23:28,160by sending you a copy of Lee Strobel’s book,27900:23:28,160 –> 00:23:29,560The Case For Easter.28000:23:29,560 –> 00:23:31,619Also, Pastor Colin’s booklet,28100:23:31,619 –> 00:23:33,9206 Days That Changed The World,28200:23:34,020 –> 00:23:35,739and on top of that, a lovely28300:23:35,739 –> 00:23:39,319Open The Bible tote bag, pen, and bookmark.28400:23:39,319 –> 00:23:41,140Colin, what might readers get28500:23:41,140 –> 00:23:44,619out of reading Lee Strobel’s book, The Case For Easter?28600:23:44,619 –> 00:23:45,780Well, I think the first thing is28700:23:45,780 –> 00:23:48,819it’s an absolutely fascinating read.28800:23:48,819 –> 00:23:51,160I mean, Lee Strobel was an atheist28900:23:51,160 –> 00:23:53,319when he began exploring the Christian faith.29000:23:53,319 –> 00:23:55,020And, in The Case For Easter,29100:23:55,020 –> 00:23:57,579he retraces his own steps29200:23:57,579 –> 00:23:59,040showing the biblical evidence29300:23:59,040 –> 00:24:00,719that led him to believe29400:24:00,719 –> 00:24:03,359that Jesus really rose from the dead.29500:24:03,380 –> 00:24:05,359And the compelling evidence29600:24:05,359 –> 00:24:07,500on which we can take a recent step of faith29700:24:07,500 –> 00:24:10,099is really placed before us in the gospels.29800:24:10,099 –> 00:24:11,020The reality is29900:24:11,020 –> 00:24:12,099that there are many people30000:24:12,099 –> 00:24:14,300who’ve not seriously considered it.30100:24:14,300 –> 00:24:15,920Well, The Case For Easter30200:24:15,920 –> 00:24:18,739can help Christians come to clarity30300:24:18,739 –> 00:24:21,640about why we believe in the resurrection.30400:24:21,640 –> 00:24:24,500And it can help to provide a pathway to faith30500:24:24,500 –> 00:24:27,459for someone who’s just beginning to explore Christianity.30600:24:27,459 –> 00:24:29,660Well, The Case For Easter by Lee Strobel30700:24:29,660 –> 00:24:31,500and Colin’s booklet30800:24:31,500 –> 00:24:33,160Six Days That Changed the World30900:24:33,160 –> 00:24:35,219As well as a lovely Open The Bible31000:24:35,219 –> 00:24:37,500tote bag, bookmark and pen31100:24:37,500 –> 00:24:38,619are our gift to you31200:24:38,619 –> 00:24:41,219if you’re able to set up a new direct debit31300:24:41,219 –> 00:24:42,939to the work of Open The Bible31400:24:42,939 –> 00:24:46,319this month in the amount of £5 per month or more31500:24:46,319 –> 00:24:49,859or a one-off gift of £50 or more.31600:24:49,859 –> 00:24:51,959Full details, terms and conditions31700:24:51,959 –> 00:24:53,380and to give online31800:24:53,380 –> 00:24:54,619come to our website31900:24:54,619 –> 00:24:58,099openthebible.org.uk32000:24:58,099 –> 00:25:00,619For Colin Smith for Open The Bible32100:25:00,619 –> 00:25:07,339I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again soon32200:25:10,219 –> 00:25:12,660How different would Christianity be32300:25:12,660 –> 00:25:14,260without the Resurrection32400:25:14,260 –> 00:25:15,780and without Heaven?32500:25:15,780 –> 00:25:18,199Find out next time on Open The Bible