Jesus Calls His People to Obedience, Part 2

Mark 3:7-35

In today’s broadcast, we delve into the power of faith, exploring what it truly means to have a faith that transforms and sustains us through life’s toughest challenges. Through a compelling message taken from Mark chapter 3, Pastor Colin takes us on a journey to better understand responses to Jesus, examining real-life examples that resonate with each of us. Are you ready to discover the vitality of living faith? Join us as Pastor Colin teaches us about the profound difference that connecting with a living Christ can make in our lives.

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

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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