100:00:00,560 –> 00:00:02,560You200:00:03,420 –> 00:00:10,520May call what you have faith but it isn’t working. It has no power it brings no light300:00:11,160 –> 00:00:16,480And Jesus didn’t come into the world to give you the kind of faith. That doesn’t work400:00:17,660 –> 00:00:21,080Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Collin Smith. I’m David pick500:00:21,080 –> 00:00:25,700I’m glad you could be with us today and Colin rather than talking about a faith that doesn’t work600:00:25,920 –> 00:00:32,279What does it mean for a faith that does work you could start from any one of a hundred different situations700:00:32,279 –> 00:00:38,279I was speaking to a man recently whose wife died when his children were very young and800:00:39,500 –> 00:00:42,040some years later in his life and I’m saying to900:00:42,540 –> 00:00:49,139Boy, what an experience that must have been and he said well if your faith doesn’t work at a time like that1000:00:49,299 –> 00:00:52,599It’s not worth having and what that meant for him1100:00:52,779 –> 00:00:58,099was that in this awful tragedy being left with a young son that1200:00:58,540 –> 00:01:00,759He found comfort in Christ1300:01:00,759 –> 00:01:03,099he found strength in Christ and1400:01:03,320 –> 00:01:09,360That this wasn’t simply a belief that was out there when he hit this toughest of circumstances1500:01:09,800 –> 00:01:12,300He found strength in God through Jesus Christ1600:01:12,440 –> 00:01:18,239now you can translate that into a hundred other situations of difficulty of temptation of1700:01:19,199 –> 00:01:20,360conflict1800:01:20,360 –> 00:01:25,320It’s the whole of life, but faith connects us to a living Christ1900:01:25,320 –> 00:01:32,860and if it is living faith connected to a living Christ, then it’s going to make a difference to whatever we’re facing in life and2000:01:33,459 –> 00:01:37,279That’s the reality of Christian faith. It’s another world from just saying2100:01:37,279 –> 00:01:40,879Oh I have this belief but it actually doesn’t make a difference and2200:01:41,080 –> 00:01:45,639This is what Jesus Christ has come to bring to us we’ll find this in today’s message2300:01:45,639 –> 00:01:51,220Which is taken from Mark chapter 3 we’re continuing Jesus calls his people to obedience2400:01:51,839 –> 00:01:55,000So I hope you’ll join us in your Bible here’s Colin2500:01:55,540 –> 00:02:02,040Now I want us to look today in Mark in chapter 3 at three responses to Jesus all of which fall2600:02:02,800 –> 00:02:04,800short of obedience2700:02:05,320 –> 00:02:10,199Now the first response that I want us to look at today is the response of the demons to Jesus2800:02:10,360 –> 00:02:14,320Which we find in chapter 3 and verse 112900:02:15,320 –> 00:02:18,339Whenever the evil spirits saw Jesus3000:02:18,860 –> 00:02:26,059they fell down before him and they cried out you are the Son of God the3100:02:27,279 –> 00:02:29,619Demons confess that Jesus is the Son of God3200:02:31,580 –> 00:02:38,279So the demons will be in heaven right wrong as you know, this is going to make us think isn’t it3300:02:38,460 –> 00:02:40,360Conservative3400:02:40,360 –> 00:02:45,279Simply acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God won’t save you the demons do that3500:02:46,960 –> 00:02:50,619Now you see that’s the first response that obviously falls short of3600:02:51,520 –> 00:02:53,080obedience3700:02:53,080 –> 00:02:58,440the response to Jesus from the demons they confess him and3800:02:59,720 –> 00:03:02,240They have to obey him3900:03:03,600 –> 00:03:05,600That’s not saving faith4000:03:06,460 –> 00:03:12,220Here’s a second response and let’s see if we can trace anything of it in our own hearts4100:03:12,520 –> 00:03:19,679The teachers verses 10 to 20 and I would summarize their position this way that they study Jesus4200:03:20,860 –> 00:03:22,940But they refuse to obey him4300:03:22,940 –> 00:03:27,960look at verse 22 the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said he is4400:03:28,279 –> 00:03:33,080Possessed by Bielzebub by the prince of demons. He is driving out4500:03:34,080 –> 00:03:41,960Demons that is an astonishing conclusion isn’t it from trained religious people and4600:03:43,679 –> 00:03:45,679their conclusion after4700:03:46,119 –> 00:03:52,119Evaluated and observing the ministry of Jesus is that see he is somehow in league with Satan4800:03:53,059 –> 00:03:55,600And as Jesus points out in verse 264900:03:55,720 –> 00:04:03,639Well if my ministry’s in league with Satan then evidently Satan’s destroying himself and his kingdom cannot stand and his end has5000:04:03,839 –> 00:04:05,839Obviously come5100:04:06,259 –> 00:04:11,820Now it’s in the setting that Jesus gives both a wonderful glorious promise and5200:04:12,460 –> 00:04:17,500Also a grim warning and we need to hear them both together today5300:04:17,959 –> 00:04:23,880Look at the glorious promise that Jesus gives in verse 28. He says I tell you the truth5400:04:24,880 –> 00:04:30,440All the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them5500:04:33,079 –> 00:04:35,079Now let’s pause here5600:04:36,779 –> 00:04:38,779Will you take in today5700:04:39,540 –> 00:04:42,980that wonderful promise of Jesus Christ and5800:04:43,940 –> 00:04:45,940It’s said with emphasis5900:04:46,559 –> 00:04:47,420I6000:04:47,559 –> 00:04:53,559Tell you the truth that phrase the old version had verily verily. Amen. Amen6100:04:53,920 –> 00:04:59,899I tell you the truth when Jesus wanted to emphasize something of central importance, and that’s what he does here. I6200:05:00,920 –> 00:05:02,920Tell you the truth6300:05:02,940 –> 00:05:04,239all6400:05:04,239 –> 00:05:06,239the sins6500:05:06,380 –> 00:05:09,399All the blasphemy’s of men6600:05:10,559 –> 00:05:12,559Will be forgiven then6700:05:14,119 –> 00:05:16,119Glorious promise6800:05:17,119 –> 00:05:21,380Jesus Christ who died and rose again for you6900:05:23,220 –> 00:05:25,220Stands ready today7000:05:25,920 –> 00:05:27,920to forgive any and7100:05:29,200 –> 00:05:33,899Every sin that you have committed if you will come to him7200:05:35,000 –> 00:05:37,619He is ready to forgive lies and7300:05:39,100 –> 00:05:41,140Thefts7400:05:41,140 –> 00:05:43,299sins of thought and7500:05:44,040 –> 00:05:46,040of speech7600:05:46,940 –> 00:05:49,239Open sins secret sins7700:05:50,839 –> 00:05:53,200Hidden sins from long ago7800:05:55,019 –> 00:05:58,299Sins repeated too many times7900:06:00,399 –> 00:06:02,899He is ready to forgive all blasphemous8000:06:04,799 –> 00:06:06,799Blasphemous thoughts8100:06:08,000 –> 00:06:10,000Blasphemous words8200:06:11,040 –> 00:06:13,040Blasphemous deeds8300:06:13,760 –> 00:06:16,160He gives you his word on this I8400:06:17,299 –> 00:06:19,299Tell you the truth8500:06:19,600 –> 00:06:20,959All8600:06:20,959 –> 00:06:25,500The sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them8700:06:26,880 –> 00:06:34,320The blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient to cover every sin including yours8800:06:36,920 –> 00:06:40,239Take that promise to yourself today8900:06:40,880 –> 00:06:46,839Believe it and come to him on the basis of his word9000:06:48,760 –> 00:06:52,559Tell him your sins name them9100:06:54,399 –> 00:06:56,399Confess them and9200:06:56,959 –> 00:07:02,260Find peace with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ today9300:07:03,760 –> 00:07:05,959Isn’t this a glorious promise? I9400:07:06,700 –> 00:07:08,700The truth says Jesus9500:07:09,260 –> 00:07:11,260all the sins and9600:07:11,660 –> 00:07:14,519blasphemies of men will be9700:07:15,799 –> 00:07:17,799Forgiving9800:07:18,040 –> 00:07:20,420But along with the glorious promise9900:07:21,359 –> 00:07:27,500Jesus gives a grim warning and we need to see both look at it in verse 2910000:07:28,100 –> 00:07:31,200Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit10100:07:32,019 –> 00:07:34,019Will never be forgiven10200:07:34,880 –> 00:07:37,480He is guilty of an eternal sin10300:07:39,920 –> 00:07:44,559Now I know as every pastor knows that this statement has troubled many10400:07:44,899 –> 00:07:49,959Believers who have worried that they may have committed this sin, especially at some time in the past10500:07:50,820 –> 00:07:52,820Let me give you this assurance10600:07:53,420 –> 00:07:55,420The Bible says the end for you10700:07:55,619 –> 00:07:57,619Let me give you this assurance10800:07:58,299 –> 00:08:02,500That if you are at all worried that you might have committed this sin10900:08:02,500 –> 00:08:08,040I can promise you that you haven’t because you’re very concerned over it11000:08:08,859 –> 00:08:15,519Indicates some desire to draw near to God and Jesus is talking about people who are doing exactly the opposite11100:08:17,299 –> 00:08:25,059What then is this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that is so serious that it would land a person in hell forever11200:08:25,779 –> 00:08:33,140Well, it is to do exactly what these teachers of the law have begun to do or at least are in danger of doing11300:08:34,059 –> 00:08:36,400they saw the work of Christ and11400:08:37,039 –> 00:08:40,679they concluded that he was in league with the devil and11500:08:42,039 –> 00:08:44,520the sin that cannot be forgiven is11600:08:45,440 –> 00:08:52,440Very simply the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ and his work on a continuing and final11700:08:52,780 –> 00:08:54,859final basis11800:08:54,859 –> 00:09:00,059All the sins and blasphemies of men can be forgiven through the blood of Christ11900:09:01,739 –> 00:09:07,919But if he was these teachers of the law were doing reject the Lord Jesus Christ and die in that rejection12000:09:08,580 –> 00:09:13,059There are no way in the world that you’re going to enter eternity as a forgiven person12100:09:13,619 –> 00:09:16,700You’re going to find yourself eternally lost in hell12200:09:17,500 –> 00:09:22,419For there is no other way by which a man or a woman may be saved except12300:09:22,440 –> 00:09:29,000By the grace of God through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that is what Jesus is teaching here12400:09:29,020 –> 00:09:29,760You say well12500:09:29,760 –> 00:09:32,280Why is it the blast for me against the Holy Spirit then?12600:09:32,520 –> 00:09:34,140Well because the Spirit came upon12700:09:34,140 –> 00:09:39,380Jesus at his baptism and from that moment the Ministry of the Spirit is expressed in the ministry of Jesus12800:09:41,299 –> 00:09:46,000Now Jesus does not say that the teachers of the law had committed this sin12900:09:46,719 –> 00:09:50,000but you can see that they were on the path to it and13000:09:50,520 –> 00:09:57,960And unless God granted them a radical reversal of their conclusion that path is the path to hell13100:09:57,960 –> 00:10:00,239And that is what Jesus is13200:10:01,179 –> 00:10:03,179Saying to them13300:10:03,280 –> 00:10:05,280so the problem with these men is13400:10:05,919 –> 00:10:08,400That they are educated rebels13500:10:09,219 –> 00:10:10,679educated rebels13600:10:10,679 –> 00:10:13,039They could pass a Bible exam in Old Testament13700:10:13,940 –> 00:10:17,580They could submit first-class papers at seminary13800:10:18,440 –> 00:10:21,380Especially to the Old Testament Department you understand13900:10:22,140 –> 00:10:25,239They loved to meet other people for Bible study14000:10:26,460 –> 00:10:31,140Their knowledge was impressive, but they refused to submit to the authority of Christ14100:10:31,140 –> 00:10:35,119You can be studying in a Christian institution and that would be exactly your position14200:10:36,900 –> 00:10:38,900Pass all the Bible exams14300:10:40,080 –> 00:10:46,739But you know that deep in your own heart, there’s a resistance to the claims of Jesus Christ even today14400:10:48,580 –> 00:10:50,580You are on the wrong path14500:10:51,219 –> 00:10:57,159And you need to hear the grim warning along with the glorious promise14600:10:59,539 –> 00:11:05,820God stands ready to forgive any sin through Jesus Christ his Son who died for you. That’s the promise14700:11:07,659 –> 00:11:13,219But if you go on refusing this Christ there is no other way in which you can be forgiven14800:11:14,380 –> 00:11:15,859And if you go on refusing him14900:11:16,619 –> 00:11:18,599you will die unforgiven and that is the grim warning15000:11:20,219 –> 00:11:21,979Well that’s a grim warning indeed15100:11:21,979 –> 00:11:26,780We’re looking at responses to Jesus and we’ve looked at 2 responses so far15200:11:26,780 –> 00:11:30,059And we’ll look at a third in a few moments. So I do hope you’ll stay with us15300:11:30,820 –> 00:11:34,219Message today is called. Jesus calls his people to obedience15400:11:34,299 –> 00:11:38,280and it’s from the sries the gospel according to Jesus if15500:11:38,419 –> 00:11:40,340You’ve missed any of the series so far15600:11:40,340 –> 00:11:43,619I hope you’ll take the time to come on line to our website15700:11:43,820 –> 00:11:45,619Open the BIBLE.org15800:11:45,619 –> 00:11:49,400UK and listen back to any of the series that you may have missed15900:11:49,559 –> 00:11:52,859You can listen to pastor Colin’s teaching at any time online16000:11:53,380 –> 00:11:59,580Both on our website and as a podcast and those podcasts are available on all the major podcast sites16100:11:59,700 –> 00:12:01,739You can follow the link from our website16200:12:01,739 –> 00:12:08,260Open the bible.org.uk to the podcast or simply go to your favorite podcast site and16300:12:08,979 –> 00:12:12,320subscribe to the podcast to receive regular updates16400:12:13,000 –> 00:12:18,460Back to the message now. Here’s Colin now. We’ve seen two responses to Jesus16500:12:19,840 –> 00:12:22,979The demons who confess and they have to obey16600:12:24,400 –> 00:12:28,239That’s not what a real relationship with Jesus looks like16700:12:30,520 –> 00:12:32,900The teachers who study Jesus16800:12:34,080 –> 00:12:36,080Pass an exam on16900:12:36,960 –> 00:12:38,520Scripture17000:12:38,520 –> 00:12:41,080But for all of their acquired knowledge17100:12:42,799 –> 00:12:47,299That is in their spirit a deep resistance to his claim over17200:12:48,000 –> 00:12:50,039Their lives and that’s not what?17300:12:50,719 –> 00:12:51,599an17400:12:51,599 –> 00:12:54,039authentic relationship with Jesus looks like either17500:12:56,099 –> 00:13:02,320Here’s the third response and it’s the response of the family and we find it first in verse 20 and 2117600:13:02,960 –> 00:13:07,719Then continuing from verse 31 to the end of the chapter17700:13:08,419 –> 00:13:12,340The response of the family that is Jesus mother and his brothers17800:13:13,299 –> 00:13:15,299Marc chapter 3 in verse 2017900:13:16,719 –> 00:13:19,039Then Jesus entered a house and18000:13:20,400 –> 00:13:22,400again a crowd gathered18100:13:23,559 –> 00:13:27,179So that he and his disciples were not even able18200:13:28,200 –> 00:13:30,119to eat18300:13:30,119 –> 00:13:36,559And when his family heard about this they went to take charge of him for they said he is out of his mind18400:13:38,140 –> 00:13:42,440Perhaps just a little aside here, but I think it’s significant some Christians seem to have the idea18500:13:43,859 –> 00:13:47,359That Jesus lived a balanced life18600:13:48,700 –> 00:13:50,700within well-established18700:13:51,739 –> 00:13:53,219boundaries18800:13:53,219 –> 00:13:55,219here that sort of thing a lot and I18900:13:56,159 –> 00:14:00,460Think that needs to be challenged in the light of these scriptures myself19000:14:00,460 –> 00:14:08,080Mark tells us that the demands on the Lord Jesus Christ were so great19100:14:09,039 –> 00:14:14,099That at least at this point in his ministry. It was not unusual for him not even to have time to eat19200:14:15,739 –> 00:14:22,359So that you know this isn’t an isolated statement in the gospel you find exactly the same thing stated in Mark chapter 619300:14:22,359 –> 00:14:24,659In verse 31, so this was not19400:14:25,299 –> 00:14:27,000unusual19500:14:27,000 –> 00:14:29,320now I see this for your encouragement because19600:14:30,179 –> 00:14:32,799Frankly there are many in this congregation19700:14:33,380 –> 00:14:35,380Who know what this is like?19800:14:36,020 –> 00:14:38,020You have been trusted19900:14:38,219 –> 00:14:42,380in the workplace and within the environment of ministry and20000:14:43,299 –> 00:14:47,619Putting all the things that are in your life together. You have been trusted with great20100:14:48,880 –> 00:14:52,619Responsibilities that bring with them great pressure and20200:14:53,940 –> 00:14:58,059Frankly it is very easy for well-meaning people to say to you as they do sometimes20300:14:58,080 –> 00:15:04,200You know you should pull back. You should ease up, but the reality is that others look to you and20400:15:05,559 –> 00:15:10,559There is a weight of responsibility that rests on your shoulders, and God has given it to you20500:15:12,559 –> 00:15:15,640Now I find it helpful just to see in the scriptures20600:15:16,960 –> 00:15:19,739Jesus Christ has been there and20700:15:21,179 –> 00:15:24,880When you’re finding yourself moving from work on the train and20800:15:25,539 –> 00:15:27,559Grabbing a sandwich or not grabbing a sandwich20900:15:28,239 –> 00:15:30,940In order to throw yourself into some ministry21000:15:31,719 –> 00:15:34,679the Son of God knows what that is like21100:15:36,039 –> 00:15:41,219and if this is your experience then you should be thankful of21200:15:42,039 –> 00:15:45,780Course you will need to follow the example of Jesus in finding time to rest21300:15:45,780 –> 00:15:52,320but if you find yourself at times working long hours in the cause of Christ21400:15:52,320 –> 00:15:54,320Don’t complain about it21500:15:55,059 –> 00:15:57,799This is what the master did and21600:15:58,359 –> 00:16:03,979Mark makes it very clear. It wasn’t just Jesus the disciples were caught up in this, too21700:16:04,260 –> 00:16:05,760and21800:16:05,760 –> 00:16:10,559Jesus did not heed the well-meaning people who tried to slow him down21900:16:13,020 –> 00:16:19,440Now let that be an encouragement to some who’ve been trusted with great responsibilities in these days22000:16:19,940 –> 00:16:25,119Now it’s not surprising in that setting when you get the feel of it22100:16:25,119 –> 00:16:30,200Jesus not even having time to eat that Mary the mother of our Lord was concerned about him and22200:16:30,840 –> 00:16:32,840So evidently were his brothers22300:16:33,460 –> 00:16:36,400this godly woman loved her son and22400:16:37,039 –> 00:16:39,940when she saw him missing meals and22500:16:40,880 –> 00:16:42,880No doubt losing sleep22600:16:43,580 –> 00:16:46,200She became anxious for his health22700:16:46,700 –> 00:16:54,780The brothers of course take a harsher view verse 21 they say he’s out his mind. Well the brothers would say that wouldn’t22800:16:57,059 –> 00:17:02,780By the way when you became a Christian there were probably some people that said that about you especially at first22900:17:03,419 –> 00:17:05,420Maybe they’re still are23000:17:05,900 –> 00:17:11,040Reading his Bible praising worshiping how long does he spend in church on a Sunday morning must be out of his mind23100:17:12,739 –> 00:17:14,739What’s wrong with him23200:17:16,520 –> 00:17:21,219Now Jesus family right here decides on what we would call an intervention23300:17:22,439 –> 00:17:26,540They want to take him back home under their control23400:17:28,339 –> 00:17:33,280Verse 21 they went to take charge of him because they said he’s out of his mind23500:17:33,640 –> 00:17:36,839By the way, and several commentators make this point23600:17:36,839 –> 00:17:43,160There is no reason in the text here for us to think that Mary the mother of our Lord thought that her son was out23700:17:43,160 –> 00:17:44,560of his mind23800:17:44,599 –> 00:17:51,359But what seems to be happening here at least is that she was not able to resist the determination of her sons23900:17:51,939 –> 00:17:57,119to restrain Jesus and to bring him home that’s a point that’s made by24000:17:58,000 –> 00:18:00,000some of the best commentators24100:18:01,839 –> 00:18:05,880What then is the response of the family to Jesus very simply it’s this24200:18:07,599 –> 00:18:12,300That the family is connected to Jesus obviously in a very wonderful way24300:18:12,300 –> 00:18:14,099but24400:18:14,099 –> 00:18:16,099They want him24500:18:16,280 –> 00:18:19,859To obey them. That’s the pointed issue here24600:18:20,739 –> 00:18:24,900They want to bring him for the best of reasons and the best of motives24700:18:24,900 –> 00:18:29,579They want to bring him under their control son. You come home with us24800:18:29,699 –> 00:18:33,000We know how to look after you better than you know how to look after24900:18:33,859 –> 00:18:35,859yourself25000:18:36,400 –> 00:18:39,020Now of course later in the Bible story in the book of Acts25100:18:39,020 –> 00:18:45,479We find Mary praying with the disciples and wonderfully James the brother of our Lord writing one of the letters in the New Testament25200:18:47,560 –> 00:18:49,560Wonderful tribute to25300:18:50,579 –> 00:18:52,579his own family25400:18:53,260 –> 00:18:55,260Being his own followers25500:18:55,939 –> 00:19:00,979but clearly at this point in the story the family is out of line with the will of Jesus and25600:19:01,099 –> 00:19:07,300And this must have been painful for Jesus when his own family was out of line with his pursuit of the father’s will25700:19:07,500 –> 00:19:12,280because no one ever loved his family more than the Lord Jesus Christ did and25800:19:14,140 –> 00:19:20,140So mark describes the scene at the end of the chapter when the family arrives for this intervention verse 3125900:19:20,819 –> 00:19:23,939Jesus mother and brothers arrived and standing outside26000:19:24,560 –> 00:19:26,619They sent someone in to call him26100:19:27,540 –> 00:19:32,160The family at outside is very dramatic picture the family outside and26200:19:32,739 –> 00:19:36,119Jesus teaching the word inside the house26300:19:37,619 –> 00:19:43,439And verse 32 a crowd was sitting around him and they told him your mother and brothers are outside26400:19:43,780 –> 00:19:49,439Looking for you, and Jesus asks first thirty-three Who are my mother and my brothers?26500:19:50,699 –> 00:19:52,239extraordinary question26600:19:52,680 –> 00:19:58,859And then he looks at the circle of people in the house who are listening to his teaching of the word and they are receiving26700:19:58,880 –> 00:20:00,560It from him and26800:20:00,560 –> 00:20:03,540He says here are my mother and my brothers26900:20:04,640 –> 00:20:06,099verse 3527000:20:06,099 –> 00:20:11,500Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister?27100:20:13,180 –> 00:20:18,160And don’t you think these words must have gone right through Mary’s heart27200:20:18,160 –> 00:20:20,160She27300:20:22,439 –> 00:20:25,760Even she cannot hold on to him27400:20:26,939 –> 00:20:30,180Through the relationship she has with him by the flesh27500:20:32,319 –> 00:20:34,319Even his own mother27600:20:35,439 –> 00:20:38,619must submit herself to his will and27700:20:39,760 –> 00:20:41,760bow before him as27800:20:42,079 –> 00:20:44,280her savior and her Lord27900:20:45,359 –> 00:20:47,359along with everybody else28000:20:48,160 –> 00:20:49,420and28100:20:49,420 –> 00:20:51,420If she must do this28200:20:52,520 –> 00:20:54,660How much more must you?28300:20:55,540 –> 00:20:56,760If28400:20:56,760 –> 00:20:58,760She cannot bring28500:20:59,640 –> 00:21:01,640Christ under her control28600:21:02,680 –> 00:21:05,839How in all the world do you think you can do that?28700:21:07,439 –> 00:21:13,800So here are three responses to Jesus and I wonder where you might identify with one or more of them28800:21:13,800 –> 00:21:15,800Are28900:21:15,839 –> 00:21:19,420You the kind of person who confesses Jesus29000:21:20,400 –> 00:21:23,780but you only obey him because you have to and29100:21:24,599 –> 00:21:26,599When the constraints are off29200:21:27,719 –> 00:21:30,339When you’re traveling in another city on business29300:21:32,040 –> 00:21:34,040When you’re away from home29400:21:35,560 –> 00:21:37,560You’re a different guy29500:21:39,180 –> 00:21:42,800Because your freedom reveals who you really are29600:21:44,800 –> 00:21:50,959Or could it be that you’re a person who studies Jesus29700:21:52,599 –> 00:21:54,599boy, you can29800:21:54,760 –> 00:21:56,760Answer all kinds of questions about the Bible29900:21:58,040 –> 00:22:01,380But within your heart there is a deep resistance30000:22:02,680 –> 00:22:04,920To him really being lord of your life30100:22:06,719 –> 00:22:12,439Or are you the kind of person who has become in so many wonderful ways connected to Jesus30200:22:14,459 –> 00:22:18,099But what you’re really trying to do is you’re trying to bring him under your control30300:22:18,520 –> 00:22:22,140Because you have a list of things that you want him to do for you30400:22:22,140 –> 00:22:26,920and that’s what the relationship is all about and that’s all that it’s all about and30500:22:28,439 –> 00:22:30,780All these fall short of obedience30600:22:32,500 –> 00:22:38,260Because something essential is missing30700:22:38,260 –> 00:22:48,000And a faith that doesn’t lead to transformation of life, a faith that does not issue in obedience30800:22:50,160 –> 00:22:53,199What in all the world is the use of that?30900:22:55,680 –> 00:23:00,199You may call what you have faith, but it isn’t working31000:23:01,579 –> 00:23:03,579It has no power31100:23:04,339 –> 00:23:06,339It brings no light31200:23:07,040 –> 00:23:08,260And31300:23:08,260 –> 00:23:12,859Jesus didn’t come into the world to give you the kind of faith that doesn’t work31400:23:13,459 –> 00:23:18,400Sobering words and probing questions today on open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith31500:23:18,400 –> 00:23:25,880And if you’ve missed any of the series so far come online to our website openthebible.org.uk31600:23:26,079 –> 00:23:32,099Well open the Bible is a listener supported program, and that means exactly what it sounds like31700:23:32,380 –> 00:23:36,979It’s your generosity that keeps pastor Collins teaching on this station and online31800:23:37,719 –> 00:23:45,140If supporting open the Bible in that way is something you’d like to begin doing and you’re able to set up a monthly direct debit31900:23:45,140 –> 00:23:47,540of five pounds per month or more or a32000:23:47,900 –> 00:23:51,060One-off gift of fifty pounds or more we’d love to say32100:23:51,060 –> 00:23:56,939Thank you by sending you five copies of pastor Collins new booklet what Jesus says to skeptics32200:23:56,959 –> 00:24:01,400That’s one copy for you to read and four to give away to your friends and family32300:24:02,420 –> 00:24:04,819Colin how would you describe a skeptic?32400:24:05,160 –> 00:24:10,479Well, I think a skeptic is someone who would not at this point say that they’ve made a commitment of faith32500:24:10,520 –> 00:24:16,500But on the other hand, they’ve not rejected the Lord Jesus Christ either there somewhere in between there are some real32600:24:16,900 –> 00:24:22,020questions and the good news is that Jesus cares deeply about32700:24:22,439 –> 00:24:25,579skeptics and we find this in John’s Gospel where he32800:24:25,699 –> 00:24:31,560Engages with people who have honest questions and he does it in such a way as to give them32900:24:31,760 –> 00:24:33,140stepping stones to faith33000:24:33,140 –> 00:24:34,119and33100:24:34,119 –> 00:24:41,020that’s the aim of this little booklet to show what Jesus says to skeptics and if you’ve got honest questions or if you know33200:24:41,020 –> 00:24:46,920Someone who has honest questions about the Christian faith, then I hope and pray that this booklet will be useful to you33300:24:47,319 –> 00:24:53,060This booklet is called what Jesus says to skeptics and it’s our gift to you for beginning to support33400:24:53,060 –> 00:24:59,680Open the Bible this month if you set up a new direct debit of £5 per month or more or a one-off gift of33500:24:59,699 –> 00:25:00,979£50 or more33600:25:00,979 –> 00:25:05,540You can give online and find full terms and conditions at our website. That’s openthebible.org.uk33700:25:08,819 –> 00:25:14,319For Pastor Colin Smith and open the Bible I’m David Pickman. I hope you’ll join us again next time33800:25:14,319 –> 00:25:16,319Music33900:25:19,160 –> 00:25:22,079Jesus taught us to pray, your kingdom come34000:25:22,439 –> 00:25:29,500But how will this kingdom come in a world that rejects the King? Find out next time on Open the Bible34100:25:39,579 –> 00:25:41,579You