100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:12,540Do you really think that God would have gone to these lengths if hell was no big deal?200:00:12,540 –> 00:00:23,760Measure how serious hell is by what it took for Christ to make a way out of it for us.300:00:23,760 –> 00:00:28,100Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I am David Pick.400:00:28,100 –> 00:00:36,480Colin, today we continue to look at a very serious subject, how Jesus warns his people about hell.500:00:36,480 –> 00:00:41,220I think the emphasis here is on it that Jesus who is saying this.600:00:41,220 –> 00:00:47,200It’s very important to remember when we come to this subject about which we should only speak very, very carefully,700:00:47,200 –> 00:00:49,200and with a very, very tender heart.800:00:49,200 –> 00:00:53,299The subject of hell is not the invention of sick medieval minds900:00:53,299 –> 00:00:56,939it’s not the creation of some priests that come up with the idea1000:00:56,939 –> 00:01:02,020that Jesus Christ speaks more clearly about this subject1100:01:02,020 –> 00:01:04,760than any other person even within scripture.1200:01:04,760 –> 00:01:10,400And in Mark’s gospel, in chapter 9 we have very, very plain words of our Lord1300:01:10,400 –> 00:01:14,279in which he speaks clearly about this issue.1400:01:14,279 –> 00:01:18,739So I want us today to take time to absorb what Jesus says,1500:01:18,739 –> 00:01:21,980what we learn from what Jesus says,1600:01:21,980 –> 00:01:25,720and how we must respond to what Jesus says1700:01:25,720 –> 00:01:29,220because understanding the words of Jesus about Hell,1800:01:29,220 –> 00:01:34,639surely must, if you are not yet committed to Christ,1900:01:34,639 –> 00:01:39,239surely this must make you say I must be committed to Jesus Christ today.2000:01:39,239 –> 00:01:43,360And if you are, then it ought to renew within you a sense2100:01:43,360 –> 00:01:47,940of just how much he has endured to make you his own.2200:01:47,940 –> 00:01:51,419Remember, Jesus went through Hell2300:01:51,419 –> 00:01:54,040so that you Christian brothers, sisters,2400:01:54,059 –> 00:01:56,480should never know what that is like.2500:01:56,480 –> 00:01:59,720He endured it so that you never would.2600:01:59,720 –> 00:02:02,800And we’re gonna touch today something of what that means2700:02:02,800 –> 00:02:04,800and the awesomeness of it.2800:02:04,800 –> 00:02:06,440That is today’s message.2900:02:06,440 –> 00:02:08,300And here’s Colin.3000:02:08,300 –> 00:02:12,000Now I want simply to make five observations3100:02:12,000 –> 00:02:14,699from the words of our Lord Jesus Christ here3200:02:14,699 –> 00:02:15,820and if you have the Bible open,3300:02:15,820 –> 00:02:18,639you will see quite clearly where all of them3400:02:18,639 –> 00:02:20,740come from the plain speaking3500:02:20,740 –> 00:02:22,740of our Lord Jesus Christ.3600:02:22,800 –> 00:02:24,660Observation number one,3700:02:25,559 –> 00:02:27,399your influence matters.3800:02:29,160 –> 00:02:30,000Verse 42,3900:02:31,179 –> 00:02:34,660if anyone causes one of these little ones to sin,4000:02:34,660 –> 00:02:38,539so Jesus concerned here is the influence of one person4100:02:38,539 –> 00:02:42,699causing another, weaker or more vulnerable person to sin.4200:02:44,660 –> 00:02:48,059He’s saying in other words that your influence matters.4300:02:48,059 –> 00:02:50,899You’re responsible not only for your own sins,4400:02:50,940 –> 00:02:55,440for any sins that you may lead another person into.4500:02:57,220 –> 00:02:59,300So even if you’re a young person here4600:03:00,460 –> 00:03:03,679and you are going down the wrong track,4700:03:03,679 –> 00:03:05,800but you have friends and you are leading4800:03:05,800 –> 00:03:08,880one or more of your friends down the same track,4900:03:08,880 –> 00:03:10,360what Jesus is telling you here5000:03:10,360 –> 00:03:13,500is that God holds you doubly responsible,5100:03:13,500 –> 00:03:17,979doubly responsible first for your own sin5200:03:17,979 –> 00:03:20,699and second for the sin into which5300:03:20,699 –> 00:03:23,960you are leading another person5400:03:23,960 –> 00:03:28,039because your influence matters,5500:03:29,220 –> 00:03:32,500and Jesus is asking us here to consider our influence5600:03:32,500 –> 00:03:34,059whether it be in the home, in the family,5700:03:34,059 –> 00:03:38,500amongst our friends, in our workplace,5800:03:38,500 –> 00:03:40,740and He’s saying if you cause someone younger5900:03:40,740 –> 00:03:43,619or weaker than you to sin,6000:03:43,619 –> 00:03:46,020it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea6100:03:46,020 –> 00:03:50,619with a large millstone tied around your neck.6200:03:50,619 –> 00:03:54,860Now, we need to know this so that we will be restrained6300:03:54,860 –> 00:03:58,500from what we might otherwise do in this world.6400:04:00,820 –> 00:04:02,839Second observation.6500:04:02,839 –> 00:04:06,300God’s justice is perfect.6600:04:07,539 –> 00:04:10,059Now, with a kind of baited breath,6700:04:10,059 –> 00:04:11,660we should thank God for this6800:04:13,160 –> 00:04:15,500because you know, and I’m not gonna go into details here,6900:04:15,600 –> 00:04:20,059you know that terrible, terrible things happen7000:04:20,059 –> 00:04:22,239in this world, especially to children.7100:04:24,100 –> 00:04:28,260And a large part of what is done7200:04:28,260 –> 00:04:31,179will never be brought to justice here in this world7300:04:32,899 –> 00:04:34,779and Jesus is saying quite clearly here,7400:04:34,779 –> 00:04:38,779you need to know that God will bring it to justice.7500:04:40,320 –> 00:04:45,320Nobody hurts a child and gets away with it.7600:04:46,459 –> 00:04:50,519God’s justice is perfect.7700:04:52,420 –> 00:04:55,920Now Jesus statement here in verse 427800:04:55,920 –> 00:04:59,420about causing one of these little ones to sin,7900:04:59,420 –> 00:05:02,339what exactly is he referring to here?8000:05:02,339 –> 00:05:04,859Let me quote to you from CFD Moll,8100:05:04,859 –> 00:05:06,339the finest scholar of all the ones8200:05:06,339 –> 00:05:08,119that I could read this week8300:05:08,119 –> 00:05:10,299and let me quote to you what he says8400:05:10,299 –> 00:05:13,140is the meaning of Jesus’ word here.8500:05:13,179 –> 00:05:14,019He says,8600:05:14,019 –> 00:05:15,260to cause one of these little ones to sin8700:05:15,260 –> 00:05:20,260means quote to cause someone to stumble in his faith,8800:05:21,859 –> 00:05:24,640to destroy someone’s faith8900:05:25,579 –> 00:05:29,839or to cause someone to fall away from God.9000:05:31,019 –> 00:05:32,940And Jesus is saying because God9100:05:32,940 –> 00:05:34,260is the God of perfect justice,9200:05:34,260 –> 00:05:35,100you do that,9300:05:35,100 –> 00:05:36,399it would be better for you9400:05:36,399 –> 00:05:38,959to have a millstone hung around your neck9500:05:38,959 –> 00:05:41,359and for you to be thrown into the sea,9600:05:41,359 –> 00:05:42,640that’s what he says.9700:05:43,839 –> 00:05:45,200Now let’s think about this,9800:05:47,200 –> 00:05:50,019God will bring his perfect justice9900:05:52,619 –> 00:05:56,440to all who have opposed and subverted10000:05:57,600 –> 00:06:01,480the faith of younger and weaker people.10100:06:02,420 –> 00:06:04,399And it is shuddering to think about the list10200:06:04,399 –> 00:06:06,299and the responsibility that is involved.10300:06:06,299 –> 00:06:08,239Let me just give some.10400:06:09,239 –> 00:06:14,239Rulers who have persecuted people for their faith in Christ.10500:06:16,179 –> 00:06:20,359Teachers in school and in university10600:06:21,940 –> 00:06:25,339who have undermined the faith of their students10700:06:25,339 –> 00:06:27,140by their own unbelief,10800:06:27,140 –> 00:06:28,720by their choice of teaching.10900:06:30,420 –> 00:06:32,820Religious leaders whose hypocrisy11000:06:32,820 –> 00:06:35,720has undermined the faith of many.11100:06:36,600 –> 00:06:39,299Ordinary people who simply led a friend11200:06:39,299 –> 00:06:41,179down the wrong path,11300:06:41,179 –> 00:06:42,600away from Christ.11400:06:44,579 –> 00:06:48,119Parents who, by their own unbelief11500:06:48,980 –> 00:06:50,700or their own double life,11600:06:51,559 –> 00:06:54,100led their children away from faith in Christ11700:06:54,100 –> 00:06:56,279and away from the truth of the gospel.11800:06:58,459 –> 00:07:02,600God’s justice is perfect.11900:07:02,839 –> 00:07:03,679Right?12000:07:06,519 –> 00:07:09,000And in a world in which many endure things12100:07:09,000 –> 00:07:10,359that are never put right,12200:07:11,640 –> 00:07:13,940this side of eternity, you need to know that.12300:07:15,440 –> 00:07:18,959His justice is perfect.12400:07:20,420 –> 00:07:23,720Now here’s the third observation from Jesus teaching here.12500:07:23,720 –> 00:07:25,040Your influence matters.12600:07:25,040 –> 00:07:26,820God’s justice is perfect.12700:07:26,820 –> 00:07:27,660Third,12800:07:27,660 –> 00:07:32,559there are degrees of punishment in hell.12900:07:32,600 –> 00:07:34,179And we’ve learned this from a number of places13000:07:34,179 –> 00:07:37,339in the New Testament, but especially from verse 42.13100:07:38,760 –> 00:07:41,100If anyone causes one of these little ones13200:07:41,100 –> 00:07:43,380who believe in me to sin,13300:07:43,380 –> 00:07:44,839it would be better for him,13400:07:44,839 –> 00:07:48,959better for him to be thrown into the sea13500:07:48,959 –> 00:07:51,519with a large millstone tied around his neck.13600:07:51,519 –> 00:07:52,600So what he’s saying is13700:07:52,600 –> 00:07:55,399if you were to cause one of these little ones to sin,13800:07:55,399 –> 00:07:58,320it would have been better for you to have died13900:07:58,320 –> 00:07:59,839before you did that.14000:08:01,299 –> 00:08:02,459That’s what Jesus is saying.14100:08:03,359 –> 00:08:04,940Why would it be better?14200:08:06,040 –> 00:08:08,160Why would it have been better14300:08:08,160 –> 00:08:10,100for a person who does this thing14400:08:10,100 –> 00:08:12,059to have died before they did it?14500:08:13,519 –> 00:08:17,059And the answer is because the punishment14600:08:17,059 –> 00:08:20,040experienced by a person in hell14700:08:20,040 –> 00:08:24,279will be a direct reflection of the particular sins14800:08:24,279 –> 00:08:26,059that they have committed.14900:08:27,260 –> 00:08:29,779See, you can be absolutely certain about this,15000:08:29,859 –> 00:08:31,799that nobody in hell will be punished15100:08:31,799 –> 00:08:35,119for even one sin that they did not commit.15200:08:36,859 –> 00:08:39,179God is the god of perfect justice.15300:08:40,419 –> 00:08:44,380And if the person Jesus is speaking about here in verse 4215400:08:44,380 –> 00:08:46,380had been drowned in the sea15500:08:46,380 –> 00:08:50,179before they caused one of these little ones to sin,15600:08:50,179 –> 00:08:52,619it would be better for him or her15700:08:52,619 –> 00:08:55,239because he or she would have one less sin15800:08:55,239 –> 00:08:57,400to deal with in hell.15900:08:57,400 –> 00:08:58,559That’s the point.16000:09:00,640 –> 00:09:03,020And a person in hell would do anything16100:09:03,020 –> 00:09:07,500to have one less sin to deal with there.16200:09:09,880 –> 00:09:12,119See, this makes us sit up and take notice,16300:09:13,520 –> 00:09:15,640because suddenly we realize that Jesus16400:09:15,640 –> 00:09:20,640is talking about real punishment for real sins16500:09:22,859 –> 00:09:27,859by real people, named, dated, and remembered16600:09:28,619 –> 00:09:30,619by God.16700:09:32,460 –> 00:09:34,020That’s why you see in the book of revelation16800:09:34,020 –> 00:09:36,760when we read about the awesome last day,16900:09:36,760 –> 00:09:37,580what do we find?17000:09:37,580 –> 00:09:40,340We read that the books are opened.17100:09:40,340 –> 00:09:41,880What’s in the books?17200:09:42,739 –> 00:09:45,159What you have done and what you’ve not done.17300:09:46,580 –> 00:09:51,580What I’ve done and what I’ve not done.17400:09:52,299 –> 00:09:54,119See, there’s nothing arbitrary about this.17500:09:54,119 –> 00:09:56,340God kind of making arbitrary decisions17600:09:56,500 –> 00:09:58,260that are fundamentally unjust.17700:09:58,260 –> 00:10:00,159There is perfect justice17800:10:01,780 –> 00:10:06,619and degrees of punishment in hell.17900:10:06,619 –> 00:10:07,940That’s specific you see.18000:10:09,340 –> 00:10:10,479Fourth observation.18100:10:12,260 –> 00:10:17,260Hell is eternal, conscious punishment.18200:10:20,580 –> 00:10:23,039Verse 48, Jesus gives us perhaps18300:10:23,039 –> 00:10:24,580the clearest of descriptions.18400:10:24,700 –> 00:10:26,219This is I think more clear than anything18500:10:26,219 –> 00:10:27,979else in the New Testament.18600:10:27,979 –> 00:10:31,039Verse 48 he describes hell as the place18700:10:31,039 –> 00:10:35,559where their worm does not die18800:10:35,559 –> 00:10:40,239and thee fire is not quenched.18900:10:41,260 –> 00:10:44,099Now notice their worm.19000:10:44,099 –> 00:10:46,739Not the worm, but their worm.19100:10:46,739 –> 00:10:48,380The personal pronoun because19200:10:48,380 –> 00:10:51,280what Jesus is talking about here is personal.19300:10:52,179 –> 00:10:53,020Think about it.19400:10:53,020 –> 00:10:57,380A worm is destroys by eating away from the inside.19500:10:58,239 –> 00:11:02,479And Jesus here is speaking about something personal19600:11:02,479 –> 00:11:07,479and internal to every person in hell.19700:11:07,719 –> 00:11:12,580The thing that eats away at the inside of a person19800:11:12,580 –> 00:11:16,940is, of course, conscience if it is activated19900:11:17,960 –> 00:11:22,960and conscience will be fully activated in hell.20000:11:23,780 –> 00:11:25,599A person who has drifted through life20100:11:25,599 –> 00:11:28,919taking no responsibility having no real realization20200:11:28,919 –> 00:11:30,559of the effects of their decisions,20300:11:30,559 –> 00:11:31,760their words, and their actions20400:11:31,760 –> 00:11:33,719on other people will find in hell20500:11:33,719 –> 00:11:35,760that they live with a full awareness20600:11:35,760 –> 00:11:38,520of what they have done and of all of its effect20700:11:38,520 –> 00:11:40,200they will have a full awareness of20800:11:40,200 –> 00:11:41,640their own responsibility.20900:11:41,640 –> 00:11:42,700And Jesus is saying here,21000:11:42,700 –> 00:11:43,919it will never diminish.21100:11:43,919 –> 00:11:45,539It will never end.21200:11:45,539 –> 00:11:49,260Their worm does not die.21300:11:50,099 –> 00:11:55,099The full knowledge of what the person21400:11:56,219 –> 00:11:59,059has done and failed to do.21500:12:01,780 –> 00:12:04,020And then Jesus says, note this, verse 48,21600:12:04,020 –> 00:12:08,960the fire is not quenched.21700:12:08,960 –> 00:12:11,659In other words, a person in hell21800:12:11,659 –> 00:12:14,960lives under the judgment of God21900:12:14,960 –> 00:12:18,460who is a consuming fire.22000:12:20,239 –> 00:12:24,039Now folks, these are terrible words.22100:12:24,039 –> 00:12:29,039But they are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.22200:12:32,239 –> 00:12:34,099And that is what I believe.22300:12:34,099 –> 00:12:35,919And that is what this church believes, right.22400:12:35,919 –> 00:12:37,440That is what we believe.22500:12:37,440 –> 00:12:42,440Painful as it is, that is what we believe.22600:12:45,400 –> 00:12:48,239And that leads me to the fifth observation.22700:12:48,239 –> 00:12:53,239It is, therefore, worth going to any length to avoid hell.22800:12:55,419 –> 00:12:58,020You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith22900:12:58,020 –> 00:13:02,260on a message called Jesus Warns His People About Hell.23000:13:02,260 –> 00:13:05,059We’re coming up to the end of the month on Open the Bible.23100:13:05,059 –> 00:13:08,760And it’s the last opportunity to receive five copies23200:13:08,760 –> 00:13:13,039of Pastor Colin’s new booklet, What Jesus Says to Skeptics.23300:13:13,039 –> 00:13:15,380If you’re considering supporting Open the Bible23400:13:15,380 –> 00:13:17,479financially for the first time,23500:13:17,479 –> 00:13:20,719with a direct debit of five pounds per month or more,23600:13:20,719 –> 00:13:23,059or a one-off gift of 50 pounds,23700:13:23,059 –> 00:13:26,760we’d love to send you five copies of this booklet.23800:13:26,760 –> 00:13:29,320Colin, there may be someone who’s listening today23900:13:29,320 –> 00:13:32,320who is a skeptic when it comes to the Christian faith.24000:13:32,320 –> 00:13:35,359How would this booklet be helpful to them?24100:13:35,359 –> 00:13:36,700Well, I think the first thing is24200:13:36,700 –> 00:13:37,960that a skeptic might think,24300:13:37,960 –> 00:13:40,960well, because I don’t yet believe,24400:13:40,960 –> 00:13:43,840Jesus Christ is not gonna have very much time for me.24500:13:43,840 –> 00:13:45,659But what we find in the gospels24600:13:45,700 –> 00:13:49,419is that Jesus cared very, very deeply about skeptics.24700:13:49,419 –> 00:13:53,380He spent time with people who had honest questions24800:13:53,380 –> 00:13:56,260and engaged with them at a very deep level.24900:13:56,260 –> 00:13:59,700And he offered them a pathway to faith.25000:13:59,700 –> 00:14:02,820So, if you of someone you know is a skeptic,25100:14:02,820 –> 00:14:04,219this is an opportunity25200:14:04,219 –> 00:14:07,419for you to hear what Jesus has to say to you.25300:14:07,419 –> 00:14:08,580Well, we’d love to send you25400:14:08,580 –> 00:14:10,760five copies of Pastor Colin’s booklet,25500:14:10,760 –> 00:14:13,020”What Jesus Says to Skeptics,”25600:14:13,020 –> 00:14:14,500as our way of saying thank you25700:14:14,500 –> 00:14:16,440for your financial support.25800:14:16,440 –> 00:14:18,500One copy for you and four copies25900:14:18,500 –> 00:14:20,619to give away to friends and family.26000:14:20,619 –> 00:14:21,619You can find out more,26100:14:21,619 –> 00:14:23,700including Full Terms and Conditions,26200:14:23,700 –> 00:14:24,979and give online,26300:14:24,979 –> 00:14:28,500at openthebible.org.uk.26400:14:28,500 –> 00:14:29,780Back to the message now.26500:14:29,780 –> 00:14:31,059Here’s Colin.26600:14:31,059 –> 00:14:34,099It is therefore worth going to any length26700:14:35,179 –> 00:14:37,859to avoid hell.26800:14:37,859 –> 00:14:39,039If you’ve followed me so far,26900:14:39,039 –> 00:14:40,380you will see that quite clearly.27000:14:40,380 –> 00:14:43,039And Jesus makes this point three times27100:14:43,059 –> 00:14:45,419in verses 43 to 47.27200:14:45,419 –> 00:14:48,380He talks about the hand and the eye and the foot.27300:14:48,380 –> 00:14:51,400He says, obviously using the language of pictures,27400:14:51,400 –> 00:14:53,840he said it would be better to cut your hand off27500:14:53,840 –> 00:14:56,599than to enter hell with two hands.27600:14:56,599 –> 00:14:58,400If your hand is leading you into sin,27700:14:58,400 –> 00:14:59,679better pluck your eye out,27800:14:59,679 –> 00:15:02,400better cut your foot off.27900:15:02,400 –> 00:15:03,960And he’s obviously not saying28000:15:03,960 –> 00:15:06,820that we should literally dismember ourselves28100:15:06,820 –> 00:15:09,919but what he’s saying here is this.28200:15:09,919 –> 00:15:12,200Look, your eye and your hand and your feet,28300:15:12,239 –> 00:15:14,820they’re wonderful servants but terrible masters.28400:15:16,419 –> 00:15:18,479And it would be better for you to be blind28500:15:18,479 –> 00:15:21,179than for you to go on multiplying sin28600:15:21,179 –> 00:15:22,460by what you’re looking at.28700:15:24,099 –> 00:15:28,039And honestly, it would be better for you to have no arms28800:15:28,039 –> 00:15:29,919than for you to be violent in the way28900:15:29,919 –> 00:15:31,640that you are behind closed doors29000:15:31,640 –> 00:15:33,960in your home or in other places.29100:15:33,960 –> 00:15:35,599Better for you to have no arms29200:15:35,599 –> 00:15:36,900than for that to continue.29300:15:38,479 –> 00:15:40,799Better for you to be in a wheelchair29400:15:40,799 –> 00:15:43,700than for you to be going with these friends29500:15:43,700 –> 00:15:46,039who are leading you away from Christ29600:15:46,039 –> 00:15:49,400and away from all that is good and all that is true.29700:15:51,239 –> 00:15:54,479Hell, Jesus is saying is a reality so terrible29800:15:55,679 –> 00:15:57,859that you should be ready to do anything,29900:15:57,859 –> 00:16:00,679whatever it takes to avoid it.30000:16:00,679 –> 00:16:05,400Make any change, accept any discipline,30100:16:05,400 –> 00:16:07,880any restriction, change any habit,30200:16:07,919 –> 00:16:12,640flee any temptation, to make sure that you do not sin.30300:16:12,640 –> 00:16:17,280Nothing should be too hard, too costly for you in this.30400:16:17,280 –> 00:16:20,460Make any sacrifice that you have to30500:16:20,460 –> 00:16:24,479in order to avoid this.30600:16:26,340 –> 00:16:28,280Now folks, I’m sure by this point,30700:16:29,260 –> 00:16:31,659there must be at least some of us who are saying30800:16:32,559 –> 00:16:34,359this is the 9th of December30900:16:34,359 –> 00:16:36,760and I came here for a Christmas sermon.31000:16:37,880 –> 00:16:42,880My freinds, this is the Christmas sermon.31100:16:45,000 –> 00:16:47,080What did the angels say on the night31200:16:47,080 –> 00:16:50,239that Jesus Christ was born into the world?31300:16:50,239 –> 00:16:54,940To you, a savior is born.31400:16:54,940 –> 00:16:57,440A savior from what?31500:16:58,780 –> 00:17:00,119This.31600:17:01,340 –> 00:17:04,359And you’ll never see the glory of Christmas31700:17:04,359 –> 00:17:09,119unless you see what the Savior came to save you from.31800:17:09,119 –> 00:17:10,560If you don’t see this,31900:17:10,560 –> 00:17:14,319you’ll just drown in Christmas sentimentalism.32000:17:14,319 –> 00:17:15,599That’s what’ll happen to you32100:17:15,599 –> 00:17:18,479and it’s happening to people all around us.32200:17:18,479 –> 00:17:20,260They have no idea that this is why32300:17:20,260 –> 00:17:25,160Jesus Christ came into the world.32400:17:25,160 –> 00:17:28,020The whole point of Christmas is that God32500:17:28,020 –> 00:17:31,560was ready to go to any lengths, any lengths,32600:17:31,560 –> 00:17:33,439in order to save you from this,32700:17:33,479 –> 00:17:36,979even to the length of taking human flesh in Jesus Christ,32800:17:36,979 –> 00:17:39,119even to the length of that flesh32900:17:39,119 –> 00:17:42,660being torn and ripped and nailed to a cross33000:17:42,660 –> 00:17:44,579as he bears the wrath of God33100:17:44,579 –> 00:17:46,660so that you as a believer33200:17:46,660 –> 00:17:49,400may never know what this hell is like.33300:17:49,400 –> 00:17:54,040Do you really think that God would have gone to these33400:17:54,040 –> 00:17:57,920lengths if hell was no big deal?33500:17:58,880 –> 00:18:01,880Measure how serious hell is33600:18:01,880 –> 00:18:04,839by what it took for Christ33700:18:04,839 –> 00:18:09,939to make a way out of it for us.33800:18:10,819 –> 00:18:13,079So here are the five observations.33900:18:13,079 –> 00:18:16,119They carry their own weight from the words of Jesus.34000:18:16,119 –> 00:18:18,859Your influence matters.34100:18:20,319 –> 00:18:23,420God’s justice is perfect.34200:18:23,959 –> 00:18:27,619There are degrees of punishment in hell.34300:18:28,599 –> 00:18:32,099Hell is eternal conscious punishment,34400:18:32,099 –> 00:18:36,079therefore it is worth going to any lengths34500:18:36,079 –> 00:18:38,180to avoid hell,34600:18:38,180 –> 00:18:40,880and that is what Jesus Christ has done for you,34700:18:40,880 –> 00:18:43,839and that is what Christmas is all about.34800:18:43,839 –> 00:18:47,599A savior from this.34900:18:47,599 –> 00:18:50,119That’s how glorious it is.35000:18:50,119 –> 00:18:51,579Now here’s the very last thing,35100:18:51,579 –> 00:18:52,839and then we’re through.35200:18:52,839 –> 00:18:54,420Maybe there is someone here,35300:18:54,420 –> 00:18:55,459maybe a number of us35400:18:55,459 –> 00:18:55,920who are saying,35500:18:55,920 –> 00:18:57,300boy, I hear what you are saying,35600:18:57,660 –> 00:18:59,500and I feel the weight of it,35700:18:59,500 –> 00:19:00,680but here’s my problem.35800:19:02,560 –> 00:19:04,979I have caused another person to sin.35900:19:06,380 –> 00:19:10,300I have deeply damaged the lives of other people.36000:19:11,699 –> 00:19:13,560What am I to do?36100:19:16,599 –> 00:19:17,439Two things.36200:19:18,339 –> 00:19:19,180First,36300:19:20,939 –> 00:19:24,099you need to feel36400:19:24,099 –> 00:19:26,579the weight of what you have done.36500:19:28,140 –> 00:19:33,140You need to turn to Christ in repentance that is real36600:19:35,699 –> 00:19:39,660without diminishing, without excusing in any degree36700:19:40,900 –> 00:19:45,000your full responsibility for what it is that you have done.36800:19:47,020 –> 00:19:49,800And you must ask him to cleanse you36900:19:50,719 –> 00:19:53,060because your guilt is real.37000:19:54,719 –> 00:19:57,140And the only way that your guilt can be cleansed37100:19:57,959 –> 00:20:00,920is through the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for you.37200:20:02,420 –> 00:20:05,479But then you must also ask that he will change you37300:20:06,900 –> 00:20:08,500because if he does not change you,37400:20:08,500 –> 00:20:10,280you will end up doing something similar37500:20:10,280 –> 00:20:11,619perhaps in a different sphere,37600:20:11,619 –> 00:20:14,500perhaps morphed in another kind of a way37700:20:14,500 –> 00:20:16,540and you’ll probably end up doing it soon.37800:20:18,900 –> 00:20:21,800You need to feel the weight of what you have done37900:20:21,800 –> 00:20:26,800so that you may come to God in repentance.38000:20:28,119 –> 00:20:29,520And here’s the second thing,38100:20:29,520 –> 00:20:33,880you need to see the weight of what you have done38200:20:33,880 –> 00:20:38,859being carried by the Lord Jesus Christ.38300:20:39,060 –> 00:20:42,619And that’s what faith is about, right here.38400:20:43,680 –> 00:20:45,819You see, when Jesus Christ died on the cross,38500:20:45,819 –> 00:20:50,400he carried the sins of all the people in the world38600:20:50,400 –> 00:20:52,420who would repent and believe.38700:20:52,619 –> 00:20:56,339And that includes you.38800:20:56,339 –> 00:21:00,119If you will come to Him in repentance and faith today.38900:21:01,219 –> 00:21:04,719He carried that cross, he was nailed to that cross39000:21:04,719 –> 00:21:09,579and he bore our sins in his body on the tree.39100:21:11,079 –> 00:21:15,900And his sacrifice is big enough, strong enough,39200:21:15,900 –> 00:21:20,900great enough to cover, to carry your guilt39300:21:22,699 –> 00:21:24,140and your sin.39400:21:24,140 –> 00:21:25,400So here’s what you have to do.39500:21:25,400 –> 00:21:30,400You have to roll the burden and the weight of that guilt39600:21:30,520 –> 00:21:35,020that you feel onto him by trusting39700:21:35,020 –> 00:21:36,619what he has done for you39800:21:38,040 –> 00:21:41,020and trusting what he has done for you,39900:21:41,020 –> 00:21:44,160you receive his forgiveness.40000:21:45,540 –> 00:21:48,739And with his forgiveness, he promises the power40100:21:48,739 –> 00:21:51,859of his Holy spirit so that you will40200:21:51,859 –> 00:21:56,859be able to move forward in a new and different life.40300:21:59,859 –> 00:22:02,839Well, this is Pastor Colin and this has been40400:22:02,839 –> 00:22:06,300about the most serious message you could ever hear.40500:22:06,300 –> 00:22:10,380And I wonder, are you ready to roll your burden of guilt40600:22:10,380 –> 00:22:12,579onto Jesus Christ right now?40700:22:12,579 –> 00:22:16,380What better time to do that than now?40800:22:16,380 –> 00:22:19,140I mean, we’re talking eternity here40900:22:19,140 –> 00:22:23,819and Jesus Christ came into the world to save you.41000:22:23,819 –> 00:22:25,739Now, if you’re believing these things,41100:22:25,739 –> 00:22:28,420I want to invite you to pray with me right now.41200:22:29,300 –> 00:22:34,300Lord Jesus Christ, I see my guilt.41300:22:34,540 –> 00:22:37,900I see that I need forgiveness.41400:22:37,900 –> 00:22:41,900I need to be changed, and I thank You that You,41500:22:41,900 –> 00:22:45,680the Son of God, have come into the world41600:22:45,699 –> 00:22:48,819so that I may be cleansed and forgiven41700:22:48,819 –> 00:22:52,000and so that I may live a new life.41800:22:52,000 –> 00:22:55,500Lord Jesus, today I put my trust in You.41900:22:55,500 –> 00:22:59,780Today I ask You to be my Saviour, my Lord.42000:22:59,780 –> 00:23:04,000Today I commit myself to follow after You.42100:23:04,000 –> 00:23:07,180Today I ask that You will give me the power42200:23:07,180 –> 00:23:11,420of Your Holy Spirit to live a new and different life.42300:23:11,420 –> 00:23:15,439Today I ask You to save me.42400:23:15,459 –> 00:23:18,140Now let me give you this promise, my friend.42500:23:18,140 –> 00:23:20,680As you call on the Lord Jesus Christ42600:23:20,680 –> 00:23:22,640and ask Him to save you,42700:23:22,640 –> 00:23:26,180His promise is that He will not turn you away.42800:23:26,180 –> 00:23:27,599He will welcome you.42900:23:27,599 –> 00:23:30,199He has come to be your Saviour,43000:23:30,199 –> 00:23:33,239Your Saviour He is.43100:23:33,239 –> 00:23:34,939What a marvellous thing it is43200:23:34,939 –> 00:23:38,160to put our trust in Jesus Christ,43300:23:38,160 –> 00:23:43,160the Son of God came to deliver us from hell to heaven.43400:23:43,619 –> 00:23:44,599Thank you, Colin.43500:23:44,599 –> 00:23:48,060And if you have been able to pray that prayer with Colin,43600:23:48,060 –> 00:23:50,140then don’t keep it to yourself,43700:23:50,140 –> 00:23:52,119tell someone about it.43800:23:52,119 –> 00:23:55,579As you begin to confess Jesus with your mouth,43900:23:55,579 –> 00:23:59,420His life will become evident in your life.44000:23:59,420 –> 00:24:01,060You’ve heard God calling you44100:24:01,060 –> 00:24:04,020into a relationship with Jesus Christ.44200:24:04,020 –> 00:24:05,040You’d like to know more44300:24:05,040 –> 00:24:07,099about how to enter into that relationship44400:24:07,099 –> 00:24:09,660by the saving grace of God,44500:24:09,660 –> 00:24:11,119and if so I hope you’ll seek out44600:24:11,119 –> 00:24:13,640a trusted Christian friend or family member,44700:24:13,680 –> 00:24:16,599or maybe go along to a Christian church fellowship,44800:24:16,599 –> 00:24:18,880take time to speak with the folk there,44900:24:18,880 –> 00:24:21,359the pastor, or simply members of that fellowship.45000:24:21,359 –> 00:24:22,680Tell them about your journey45100:24:22,680 –> 00:24:24,839to discover faith for yourself.45200:24:24,839 –> 00:24:27,199You’ll find they’ll be ready to pray with you45300:24:27,199 –> 00:24:29,180to help you make that step.45400:24:29,180 –> 00:24:31,400Or if you’re not yet ready to make that step45500:24:31,400 –> 00:24:33,140and still have questions,45600:24:33,140 –> 00:24:34,739and we all have questions,45700:24:34,739 –> 00:24:36,880there may well be a Bible study course45800:24:36,880 –> 00:24:37,760or a home group,45900:24:37,760 –> 00:24:41,020or an Alpha programme that you can join.46000:24:41,020 –> 00:24:42,800You’ve been listening to Open The Bible46100:24:42,800 –> 00:24:44,660with Pastor Colin Smith.46200:24:44,660 –> 00:24:47,400This programme is also obtainable on our website46300:24:47,400 –> 00:24:50,199openthebible.org.uk46400:24:50,199 –> 00:24:52,339and on all the major podcast sites46500:24:52,339 –> 00:24:55,500by searching Open The Bible UK.46600:24:55,500 –> 00:24:58,339For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,46700:24:58,339 –> 00:25:01,579I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.46800:25:05,579 –> 00:25:08,560The Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God,46900:25:08,560 –> 00:25:10,920most Christians affirm that.47000:25:10,939 –> 00:25:14,319But what does Son of God actually mean?47100:25:14,319 –> 00:25:16,880Find out next time on Open The Bible.