100:00:00,820 –> 00:00:13,700You have been set free from sin – look at these words and try to take them in.200:00:13,700 –> 00:00:19,180Many Christians don’t grasp this. They immediately say oh well you obviously300:00:19,180 –> 00:00:22,620don’t know me. You don’t understand. You see actually I sin and I fail in many400:00:22,620 –> 00:00:26,660ways and I’ve obviously not been set free from sin yet. Paul says wait a500:00:26,660 –> 00:00:32,880minute. You have been set free from sin – that’s what he says.600:00:45,259 –> 00:00:48,740Well it’s not me that says it, it’s the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 6 and700:00:48,740 –> 00:00:53,619verse 22. He says to Christian believers you have been set free from sin. Now he800:00:53,619 –> 00:00:57,200obviously doesn’t mean that there’s no sin in your life – we’re all in that900:00:57,200 –> 00:01:00,919journey – but what he is saying is that while sin is your enemy1000:01:00,919 –> 00:01:05,260it is no longer your master. Big difference between being a prisoner to1100:01:05,260 –> 00:01:08,680sin and being set free so you’re able to take it on in the fight.1200:01:11,760 –> 00:01:15,720If I always tell myself that I’m sin’s prisoner then I’m never going1300:01:15,720 –> 00:01:19,239to put up a fight because prisoners can’t fight, but when you’re set free1400:01:19,239 –> 00:01:23,080then you’re in a position to engage in the battle. Understanding that is1500:01:23,419 –> 00:01:26,139crucial to making progress in the Christian life.1600:01:26,839 –> 00:01:31,120So, join us today if you can in 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 as we begin1700:01:31,120 –> 00:01:34,220a message, Knowing Who You Are. Here is Pastor Colin.1800:01:35,120 –> 00:01:38,680Now, we began last time by framing a question like this.1900:01:40,019 –> 00:01:43,680The Bible says that the sinful mind is hostile to God.2000:01:44,879 –> 00:01:48,379The Bible says that men love darkness rather than light because their2100:01:48,379 –> 00:01:52,720deeds are evil – that by nature we are dead in trespasses and sins.2200:01:53,080 –> 00:01:57,260Since the Bible says these things, how come that you or anybody else,2300:01:57,260 –> 00:02:03,120how is it that anybody could be here today loving Christ, believing the gospel,2400:02:03,120 –> 00:02:05,160and wanting to be more holy than you are?2500:02:05,419 –> 00:02:09,279How could that happen, when by nature we’re hostile to God,2600:02:09,279 –> 00:02:12,779we love darkness rather than light, and we are dead in trespasses and sins?2700:02:12,779 –> 00:02:16,720And we saw that the Bible’s marvelous answer to that question2800:02:16,720 –> 00:02:19,919is this wonderful truth of regeneration.2900:02:20,160 –> 00:02:24,779That behind all believing, behind all loving the Lord Jesus Christ,3000:02:24,779 –> 00:02:28,419behind all desires to be more holy than we are,3100:02:28,419 –> 00:02:32,619is a miracle of God’s regenerating grace.3200:02:32,979 –> 00:02:38,419And we’re exploring this miracle, this marvelous work of the Holy Spirit3300:02:38,419 –> 00:02:42,979to change us from the inside that the Bible calls regeneration.3400:02:42,979 –> 00:02:48,380We saw that it is so great that the only other way in which the Bible uses3500:02:48,479 –> 00:02:54,740this particular word in the New Testament is to describe the new heavens and the new earth.3600:02:54,740 –> 00:03:01,080That’s how great it is, and that is what God has done in you if you are a believer.3700:03:01,639 –> 00:03:05,339So, regeneration, then, if you’re coming new into the series,3800:03:05,339 –> 00:03:10,119what we’re talking about is the miracle of God’s grace in which he gives you new birth,3900:03:10,119 –> 00:03:15,679new life, makes you a new creation, gives you spiritual life from the dead4000:03:15,740 –> 00:03:19,100as you become raised with Jesus Christ.4100:03:19,100 –> 00:03:24,000It is a change that happens in you by the Holy Spirit.4200:03:24,000 –> 00:03:26,380It’s not a change in what is happening to you.4300:03:26,380 –> 00:03:29,940It is a change in the you to whom things are happening,4400:03:29,940 –> 00:03:32,059and we give this simple definition,4500:03:32,059 –> 00:03:38,179that regeneration is the work of God by which he changes your soul4600:03:38,179 –> 00:03:45,160so that with a new mind and a new heart you love him and trust him and follow him freely.4700:03:45,179 –> 00:03:50,039It’s a very heart therefore of what it means to become a Christian.4800:03:50,039 –> 00:03:53,860And we took the first step on this journey last time4900:03:53,860 –> 00:03:58,339when we saw that regeneration is God’s work in us5000:03:58,339 –> 00:04:01,979that births our work in him.5100:04:01,979 –> 00:04:04,559So that if you love God, if you believe the gospel,5200:04:04,559 –> 00:04:07,279if you want to be more holy than you are,5300:04:07,279 –> 00:04:10,580the explanation is that you have been born again,5400:04:10,580 –> 00:04:13,539you are regenerated by the Spirit of God,5500:04:13,539 –> 00:04:16,820it is a miracle of His grace that is so great5600:04:16,820 –> 00:04:19,160that it could only be compared to what will happen5700:04:19,160 –> 00:04:23,880on the last day in the new heavens and in the new earth.5800:04:23,880 –> 00:04:26,500Now, today we’re going to take a second step5900:04:26,500 –> 00:04:30,019and moving further into this great subject6000:04:30,019 –> 00:04:32,700learn together that regeneration6100:04:32,700 –> 00:04:35,799is a complete transformation6200:04:35,799 –> 00:04:39,839that begins a continuing process.6300:04:39,839 –> 00:04:42,799It is a complete transformation6400:04:42,799 –> 00:04:45,540that begins a continuing process.6500:04:45,540 –> 00:04:48,320I love getting feedback from the life groups6600:04:48,320 –> 00:04:50,899and already in some of the life groups6700:04:50,899 –> 00:04:53,500as we’re talking about these truths from the Bible6800:04:53,500 –> 00:04:55,019people are wanting to move on6900:04:55,019 –> 00:04:57,339to talk about the continuing process.7000:04:57,339 –> 00:05:00,760You want to talk about how I’m changing in an ongoing way?7100:05:00,760 –> 00:05:03,220That’s not what we’re talking about here.7200:05:03,220 –> 00:05:04,420What we’re talking about here7300:05:04,420 –> 00:05:06,820is the change that has happened7400:05:06,820 –> 00:05:09,179in your becoming a Christian,7500:05:09,179 –> 00:05:10,899that’s what regeneration is7600:05:10,940 –> 00:05:14,000and I hope that that will become very, very clear for us7700:05:14,000 –> 00:05:16,799as we look into the Bible today.7800:05:16,799 –> 00:05:19,779See your salvation involves both7900:05:19,779 –> 00:05:23,160something that Christ has done8000:05:23,160 –> 00:05:26,179and something that Christ is still doing.8100:05:26,179 –> 00:05:29,839A completed work and a continuing work.8200:05:29,839 –> 00:05:34,339What He has done is to give you new life,8300:05:34,339 –> 00:05:37,320new birth and we call that regeneration.8400:05:38,160 –> 00:05:41,519What He is still doing is to make you increasingly8500:05:41,519 –> 00:05:43,679like the Lord Jesus Christ.8600:05:43,679 –> 00:05:44,720And we call that,8700:05:44,720 –> 00:05:48,160we usually refer to that as sanctification.8800:05:48,160 –> 00:05:49,779Probably just worth noting for a moment8900:05:49,779 –> 00:05:52,260that sanctification is sometimes used9000:05:52,260 –> 00:05:55,100in the New Testament of a completed work,9100:05:55,100 –> 00:05:58,799First Corintians chapter six verse 11 you were sanctified,9200:05:58,799 –> 00:06:02,239but usually sanctification is used in the Bible9300:06:02,239 –> 00:06:05,239to speak of a continuing process9400:06:05,260 –> 00:06:08,579in which God is making us more like Jesus9500:06:08,579 –> 00:06:11,480by the Holy Spirit.9600:06:11,480 –> 00:06:13,079Now, I want us to see9700:06:13,079 –> 00:06:16,119how these wonderful gifts that are ours in Christ9800:06:16,119 –> 00:06:17,839relate together,9900:06:17,839 –> 00:06:20,980so that we understand just how great10000:06:20,980 –> 00:06:24,679our salvation in Christ really is.10100:06:24,679 –> 00:06:26,380So just to get you thinking here,10200:06:26,380 –> 00:06:30,140let me give you a simple, even trivial analogy.10300:06:31,079 –> 00:06:35,959Kam and I enjoyed a wonderful day last Monday.10400:06:35,959 –> 00:06:40,380It was my birthday, and so we celebrated in style.10500:06:40,380 –> 00:06:41,920Now, I could simply tell you,10600:06:41,920 –> 00:06:45,820hey, we had a wonderful day last Monday,10700:06:46,720 –> 00:06:49,959or I could unpack that10800:06:49,959 –> 00:06:51,679and I could tell you what it was10900:06:51,679 –> 00:06:54,880that made it a wonderful day,11000:06:54,880 –> 00:06:57,140so I’ll do that since I started.11100:06:57,160 –> 00:07:00,299We went to the inn at Lake Geneva.11200:07:00,299 –> 00:07:03,559We sat on a little balcony looking out over the lake,11300:07:03,559 –> 00:07:05,339which was remarkable, really,11400:07:05,339 –> 00:07:07,079because it was cold and wet,11500:07:07,079 –> 00:07:09,899and we sat on this little balcony in our overcoats.11600:07:09,899 –> 00:07:12,299Only a British couple would do this kind of a thing,11700:07:12,299 –> 00:07:13,980you have to understand,11800:07:13,980 –> 00:07:15,899and we enjoyed every minute of it.11900:07:16,779 –> 00:07:18,140We had a marvelous dinner.12000:07:18,140 –> 00:07:20,339We opened a pile of cards and of gifts.12100:07:20,339 –> 00:07:23,600Our sons called on the phone and remembered,12200:07:23,600 –> 00:07:25,019and when we got home,12300:07:25,019 –> 00:07:28,040there was a vouicemail from the pastoral staff12400:07:28,040 –> 00:07:29,739singing, happy birthday.12500:07:29,739 –> 00:07:31,140That’s a great day.12600:07:31,140 –> 00:07:32,440That really is.12700:07:32,440 –> 00:07:35,720And there were many things that made it great.12800:07:36,720 –> 00:07:41,200Now, the Bible says that God has given us a great salvation.12900:07:42,320 –> 00:07:45,019What is it that makes it great?13000:07:45,959 –> 00:07:47,679Well, I want you to think of it this way,13100:07:47,679 –> 00:07:51,119there’s what He has done for us,13200:07:51,119 –> 00:07:54,420and there’s what He has done in us.13300:07:54,500 –> 00:07:57,700There’s what He has already done,13400:07:57,700 –> 00:08:00,779and there is what He continues to do.13500:08:00,779 –> 00:08:03,679And as you think of the extent of the greatness13600:08:03,679 –> 00:08:05,720of the salvation that is ours in Christ,13700:08:05,720 –> 00:08:08,980all the pieces that make it great,13800:08:08,980 –> 00:08:11,299you’ll begin to have a clearer view13900:08:11,299 –> 00:08:13,980of just how wonderful everything14000:08:13,980 –> 00:08:17,640that is yours in Christ really is.14100:08:17,640 –> 00:08:18,559Think of it this way,14200:08:18,559 –> 00:08:23,559Christ’s completed work for us, we call justification.14300:08:24,079 –> 00:08:27,399It is the marvelous gift by which He forgives us freely14400:08:27,399 –> 00:08:30,679so that we can say, having been justified by faith,14500:08:30,679 –> 00:08:33,440we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ,14600:08:33,440 –> 00:08:35,599Romans, chapter five, and verse one.14700:08:35,599 –> 00:08:40,000You contribute nothing to that, and it is not a process.14800:08:40,000 –> 00:08:41,359It is a gift.14900:08:41,359 –> 00:08:45,659His blood was shed, and you are justified completely15000:08:45,659 –> 00:08:48,840through Jesus Christ by His shed blood.15100:08:48,840 –> 00:08:50,919It’s a done deal.15200:08:50,940 –> 00:08:53,239Christ’s continuing work for us,15300:08:53,239 –> 00:08:55,760the work He’s still doing for us,15400:08:55,760 –> 00:08:59,460we usually refer to as His intercession.15500:08:59,460 –> 00:09:02,919Christ is for you, not only on the cross 2,000 years ago,15600:09:02,919 –> 00:09:06,599He’s for you now, at the right hand of the Father.15700:09:06,599 –> 00:09:10,039He always lives to make intercession for us,15800:09:10,039 –> 00:09:12,580that’s Hebrews 7 and verse 25.15900:09:12,580 –> 00:09:14,039That’s why you can have confidence16000:09:14,039 –> 00:09:16,440to live the Christian life, whatever you’re facing.16100:09:16,440 –> 00:09:18,400Cause the Lord Jesus Christ is alive,16200:09:18,719 –> 00:09:21,000and right now, He’s for you.16300:09:21,000 –> 00:09:22,260That is how you can be sure,16400:09:22,260 –> 00:09:24,559since your life is in His hands,16500:09:24,559 –> 00:09:27,000that His purpose for you will be worked out16600:09:27,000 –> 00:09:29,799and that you will have everything that you need.16700:09:29,799 –> 00:09:33,359Thank God for His completed work of justification16800:09:33,359 –> 00:09:36,239and His continuing work of intercession16900:09:36,239 –> 00:09:39,280for you in Jesus Christ.17000:09:41,200 –> 00:09:42,400But then beside that,17100:09:42,400 –> 00:09:44,880the Bible speaks not only of what17200:09:44,880 –> 00:09:47,739God has done for us in Jesus Christ,17300:09:47,780 –> 00:09:52,780but what God does in us by His Holy Spirit.17400:09:53,520 –> 00:09:57,299And Christ’s completed work in you,17500:09:57,299 –> 00:09:59,739His work in you that’s complete,17600:09:59,739 –> 00:10:00,979is called regeneration.17700:10:00,979 –> 00:10:03,380That’s what this series is all about.17800:10:03,380 –> 00:10:07,659His continuing work in you is called sanctification.17900:10:07,659 –> 00:10:09,880Now I want us to understand the difference18000:10:09,880 –> 00:10:14,219between these two and to see how they relate together.18100:10:14,219 –> 00:10:17,119It’s very important in how we live the Christian life.18200:10:17,119 –> 00:10:19,200And the truth is folks that most Christians18300:10:19,200 –> 00:10:22,799are much more familiar with the continuing process18400:10:22,799 –> 00:10:25,659than they are with the complete transformation.18500:10:25,659 –> 00:10:28,640So many of us are very comfortable saying in the life groups18600:10:28,640 –> 00:10:30,599God is changing me.18700:10:31,599 –> 00:10:33,940But some of us are very uncomfortable,18800:10:33,940 –> 00:10:38,119very hesitant and very fuzzy when it comes to saying18900:10:38,119 –> 00:10:39,359God has changed me.19000:10:39,359 –> 00:10:41,200We’re not sure we can say that.19100:10:41,200 –> 00:10:43,919And that’s why we’re studying regeneration.19200:10:44,840 –> 00:10:47,619Your first instinct is to say,19300:10:47,619 –> 00:10:49,960well, you know, I’ve surely got a lot more changing to do,19400:10:49,960 –> 00:10:53,400I’m a work in process and I haven’t arrived yet.19500:10:53,400 –> 00:10:55,539What that means is, you’re talking about sanctification.19600:10:55,539 –> 00:10:59,260You’ve tuned into the continuing work of change19700:10:59,260 –> 00:11:00,359that the Holy Spirit does.19800:11:00,359 –> 00:11:01,960You understand that well.19900:11:01,960 –> 00:11:02,799You see it.20000:11:02,799 –> 00:11:05,380I’ve got a long way still to go.20100:11:05,380 –> 00:11:07,380But what many of us have not grasped well20200:11:07,380 –> 00:11:08,799is the completed work20300:11:08,799 –> 00:11:12,159that the Holy Spirit has done in us, regeneration.20400:11:12,599 –> 00:11:14,719You’re listening to Open the Bible20500:11:14,719 –> 00:11:15,960with pastor Colin Smith20600:11:15,960 –> 00:11:18,960and a message from two Corinthians chapter five20700:11:18,960 –> 00:11:21,359entitled Knowing Who You Are.20800:11:21,359 –> 00:11:25,080It’s part of our series listener favorites 2026,20900:11:25,080 –> 00:11:27,760bundling together all of the most downloaded21000:11:27,760 –> 00:11:32,039and most requested programs from the last 12 months.21100:11:32,039 –> 00:11:33,960If you ever miss one of our messages,21200:11:33,960 –> 00:11:36,440you can catch up by coming to our website,21300:11:36,440 –> 00:11:39,599that’s at openthebible.org.uk21400:11:39,599 –> 00:11:41,799or by going to your favorite podcast site21500:11:41,820 –> 00:11:45,159and there searching for Open the Bible UK.21600:11:45,159 –> 00:11:48,059Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.21700:11:48,059 –> 00:11:51,679Today, I want to give you seven scriptures21800:11:51,679 –> 00:11:56,299that clearly speak of the completed work of Christ21900:11:56,299 –> 00:11:59,400in a Christian believer.22000:11:59,400 –> 00:12:02,799And you may like to note these and to ponder them.22100:12:02,799 –> 00:12:05,200What I want you to know is that in every case,22200:12:05,200 –> 00:12:08,520the language is of a completed change.22300:12:08,520 –> 00:12:11,479Something that has happened.22400:12:11,479 –> 00:12:12,760You’re ready to go, then?22500:12:12,760 –> 00:12:14,619Seven scriptures, here we go.22600:12:14,619 –> 00:12:18,659Number one 2 Corinthians 5-17,22700:12:18,659 –> 00:12:20,520the verse that we read earlier.22800:12:20,520 –> 00:12:25,520If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.22900:12:26,840 –> 00:12:30,260The old has gone and the new has come.23000:12:30,260 –> 00:12:32,239Now notice the language.23100:12:32,239 –> 00:12:34,200He doesn’t say if anyone is in Christ,23200:12:34,200 –> 00:12:35,880he’s becoming a new creation.23300:12:36,840 –> 00:12:39,039It’s not the old is going away23400:12:39,039 –> 00:12:41,700and the new is gradually forming in me.23500:12:42,700 –> 00:12:47,000If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.23600:12:47,000 –> 00:12:49,520The old has gone.23700:12:49,520 –> 00:12:51,640The new has come.23800:12:51,640 –> 00:12:55,239There is no process here, no process.23900:12:55,239 –> 00:12:56,739It’s a done deal.24000:12:56,739 –> 00:12:59,640It is something that is happened in its entirety24100:12:59,640 –> 00:13:03,119and it’s true of you if you are in Jesus Christ.24200:13:03,119 –> 00:13:04,520It’s true of every Christian.24300:13:04,520 –> 00:13:08,520If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.24400:13:08,520 –> 00:13:10,679This amazing transformation has happened to you.24500:13:10,679 –> 00:13:15,200The old has gone in you, the new has come.24600:13:15,200 –> 00:13:18,619Now, this is what we’re trying to understand from the Bible.24700:13:18,619 –> 00:13:22,119Second verse, Galatians chapter two and verse 20.24800:13:22,119 –> 00:13:24,780Again, notice the definitive language.24900:13:25,739 –> 00:13:30,239I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,25000:13:30,239 –> 00:13:32,520but Christ lives in me.25100:13:32,520 –> 00:13:35,200Paul speaking, he says this is what has happened.25200:13:35,200 –> 00:13:36,260Didn’t just happen to him,25300:13:36,299 –> 00:13:39,239it’s what’s happened to every Christian believer.25400:13:39,239 –> 00:13:42,000This is the truth about you as a Christian believer.25500:13:42,000 –> 00:13:46,400If you’re in Christ you have been crucified with Christ25600:13:46,400 –> 00:13:48,419and you no longer live but Christ lives in you.25700:13:48,419 –> 00:13:50,039That’s what the Bible says about you.25800:13:50,039 –> 00:13:52,640That’s what we’re trying to understand in this series25900:13:52,640 –> 00:13:55,659and get a better grasp of what has happened.26000:13:55,659 –> 00:13:58,979Not what’s still to happen, what has happened already.26100:13:58,979 –> 00:14:00,500Number three.26200:14:00,500 –> 00:14:03,179Colossians chapter three and verses one to three.26300:14:03,179 –> 00:14:04,700Colossians 3, one to three.26400:14:05,520 –> 00:14:10,520Since you have been raised with Christ,26500:14:10,799 –> 00:14:13,559notice not since you hope to be one day raised with Christ,26600:14:13,559 –> 00:14:16,479since you have been raised with Christ,26700:14:16,479 –> 00:14:17,940set your hearts on things above26800:14:17,940 –> 00:14:21,059where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.26900:14:21,059 –> 00:14:22,460Again, notice the language.27000:14:22,460 –> 00:14:24,460This is what has happened to you.27100:14:24,460 –> 00:14:27,599If you’re a believer, you have been raised with Christ.27200:14:27,599 –> 00:14:28,760That’s why you love Christ.27300:14:28,760 –> 00:14:30,340That’s why you believe the gospel27400:14:30,340 –> 00:14:32,559because you were dead in your trespasses and sins27500:14:32,679 –> 00:14:33,520but you’re not now.27600:14:33,520 –> 00:14:35,219Something’s changed.27700:14:35,219 –> 00:14:36,400New life from the dead.27800:14:36,400 –> 00:14:38,940This is what the Holy Spirit has done for you.27900:14:38,940 –> 00:14:40,539And later he says, you died.28000:14:40,539 –> 00:14:44,419Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.28100:14:44,419 –> 00:14:46,359Now, of course, there’s something for us to do here28200:14:46,359 –> 00:14:48,380as there is in fact, in all of these texts,28300:14:48,380 –> 00:14:50,099setting your hearts on things above.28400:14:50,099 –> 00:14:52,500We’ll come back to that in a few moments.28500:14:52,500 –> 00:14:55,000But the way that you do that is first by taking in28600:14:55,000 –> 00:14:59,580the miracle of what God has already done in your life.28700:14:59,580 –> 00:15:01,219You have been raised28800:15:01,219 –> 00:15:02,219with28900:15:02,359 –> 00:15:03,200Christ.29000:15:03,200 –> 00:15:04,239It’s happened.29100:15:04,239 –> 00:15:08,200Number four, 1 Corinthians 6, verse 19.29200:15:08,200 –> 00:15:10,520Do you not know Paul says.29300:15:10,520 –> 00:15:12,859So there were some Corinthians who also struggled29400:15:12,859 –> 00:15:15,619to understand regeneration and needed to be taught29500:15:15,619 –> 00:15:16,580this doctrine.29600:15:16,580 –> 00:15:20,739He says, do you not know that your body is29700:15:20,739 –> 00:15:23,059a temple of the Holy Spirit?29800:15:24,020 –> 00:15:25,900There’s so many Christians who are talking about,29900:15:25,900 –> 00:15:28,900well, I want to receive the Holy Spirit,30000:15:28,900 –> 00:15:31,219and Paul is saying, don’t you understand30100:15:31,280 –> 00:15:32,119that if you’re in Christ,30200:15:32,119 –> 00:15:34,700your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.30300:15:34,700 –> 00:15:36,619He lives within you.30400:15:36,619 –> 00:15:41,539Lives within you, and you have received Him from God.30500:15:41,539 –> 00:15:44,820If you’re in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in you.30600:15:44,820 –> 00:15:49,640He is with you, and His presence is what gives power30700:15:49,640 –> 00:15:51,539that makes the Christian life possible.30800:15:51,539 –> 00:15:53,799That’s why it’s so important to know this.30900:15:55,200 –> 00:15:58,940Number five, Ephesians, chapter five, and verse eight.31000:15:58,960 –> 00:16:02,099Again, we’re noticing the definitive language each time.31100:16:02,099 –> 00:16:03,200No process.31200:16:04,359 –> 00:16:07,979For you were once darkness,31300:16:07,979 –> 00:16:12,719but now you are light in the Lord.31400:16:12,719 –> 00:16:14,039Wonderful statement.31500:16:14,039 –> 00:16:16,200He doesn’t say you have light.31600:16:16,200 –> 00:16:18,200He says you are light.31700:16:18,200 –> 00:16:20,719Your very nature was dark.31800:16:20,719 –> 00:16:23,400The men love darkness rather than light.31900:16:23,400 –> 00:16:25,500But your very nature has changed.32000:16:25,539 –> 00:16:28,700You are light, because Christ now lives within you.32100:16:30,299 –> 00:16:32,760You are light, that’s regeneration.32200:16:32,760 –> 00:16:35,280So live as light, that’s sanctification.32300:16:35,280 –> 00:16:37,159You see, the continuing process.32400:16:37,159 –> 00:16:40,099You can’t live as light unless you are light.32500:16:40,099 –> 00:16:44,119Regeneration, the completed change32600:16:44,119 –> 00:16:46,900that gives rise to a continuing process.32700:16:48,260 –> 00:16:49,580Number six.32800:16:49,580 –> 00:16:53,280You have been set free from sin,32900:16:53,299 –> 00:16:56,039Romans chapter six and verse 22.33000:16:56,039 –> 00:16:58,719And you have become slaves to God,33100:16:58,719 –> 00:17:01,200the benefit you reap leads to holiness33200:17:01,200 –> 00:17:03,859and the result is eternal life.33300:17:03,859 –> 00:17:06,599Now boy, for many of us, this is a great text.33400:17:06,599 –> 00:17:08,760In fact, for all of us, a great text to underline,33500:17:08,760 –> 00:17:12,459these words, you have been set free from sin.33600:17:12,459 –> 00:17:14,800That’s what Paul says about you as a Christian believer.33700:17:14,800 –> 00:17:19,800You have been set free from sin.33800:17:19,959 –> 00:17:22,239Haven’t you been set free from sin?33900:17:22,239 –> 00:17:25,099Look at these words and try to take them in.34000:17:26,099 –> 00:17:28,280Many Christians don’t grasp this.34100:17:29,660 –> 00:17:31,079They immediately say, oh, oh, well,34200:17:31,079 –> 00:17:32,880you obviously don’t know me, you don’t understand.34300:17:32,880 –> 00:17:35,680You see, actually, I sin and I fail in many ways34400:17:35,680 –> 00:17:38,459and I’ve obviously not been set free from sin yet.34500:17:38,459 –> 00:17:40,000Pause it, wait a minute.34600:17:40,000 –> 00:17:44,579You have been set free from sin, that’s what he says.34700:17:45,739 –> 00:17:49,020He’s writing to Christians, to ordinary Christians like us,34800:17:50,400 –> 00:17:51,979sin is still your enemy.34900:17:51,979 –> 00:17:54,319Sure you fail in many ways as I do,35000:17:55,680 –> 00:17:59,239but what he’s saying is that sin is no longer your master.35100:18:00,400 –> 00:18:02,640You are no longer sin’s prisoner.35200:18:02,640 –> 00:18:04,920You are no longer chained.35300:18:04,920 –> 00:18:07,099You are no longer under the authority35400:18:07,099 –> 00:18:09,000of this old slave master.35500:18:09,000 –> 00:18:11,280Because you are set free by Christ,35600:18:11,280 –> 00:18:14,420you can put up a fight against temptation35700:18:14,420 –> 00:18:16,660and that is why there is hope for you,35800:18:17,359 –> 00:18:19,699that is why there is hope.35900:18:20,640 –> 00:18:22,439Because you’re in a new position.36000:18:22,439 –> 00:18:25,680You’re not a prisoner, you’ve been set free,36100:18:26,520 –> 00:18:29,319you’re able to put up a fight when temptation comes.36200:18:30,319 –> 00:18:33,979Number seven, 1 Peter 1 and verse 23.36300:18:33,979 –> 00:18:38,719You have been born again, not of perishable seeds,36400:18:38,719 –> 00:18:40,239but of imperishable through the living36500:18:40,239 –> 00:18:41,640and enduring word of God.36600:18:41,640 –> 00:18:45,640Here’s what’s happened, you have been born again.36700:18:45,640 –> 00:18:47,359Now think of the language here.36800:18:47,359 –> 00:18:50,239You can’t be a little born, can you?36900:18:50,239 –> 00:18:51,839You can’t be half born, you’re either born37000:18:51,839 –> 00:18:53,359or you’re not born.37100:18:53,359 –> 00:18:56,079The language is of completed transaction.37200:18:56,079 –> 00:18:58,839Either this has happened or it has not happened.37300:18:58,839 –> 00:19:00,780And to Christian believers he says,37400:19:00,780 –> 00:19:02,939hear what is true of you.37500:19:02,939 –> 00:19:07,939In Christ, you have been born again, it’s happened.37600:19:08,479 –> 00:19:10,900So drawing this truth together37700:19:10,900 –> 00:19:13,920that runs all the way through the New Testament,37800:19:13,979 –> 00:19:18,979regeneration is Christ’s completed work in you.37900:19:20,560 –> 00:19:22,520It is not a process.38000:19:23,959 –> 00:19:26,260It does not happen in stages.38100:19:27,439 –> 00:19:30,199That is what makes it different from sanctification,38200:19:30,199 –> 00:19:32,920which is a process and does happen in stages.38300:19:33,859 –> 00:19:35,599Think of it this way.38400:19:35,599 –> 00:19:37,800You can be a little in love.38500:19:37,800 –> 00:19:40,459Anyone ever been a little in love?38600:19:40,459 –> 00:19:43,160But you cannot be a little married.38700:19:43,199 –> 00:19:45,380You’re either married or you’re not, right?38800:19:46,500 –> 00:19:48,939Now, sanctification’s like being a little in love.38900:19:48,939 –> 00:19:51,219It kinda grows, progresses.39000:19:51,219 –> 00:19:53,020Regeneration’s like being married.39100:19:53,020 –> 00:19:54,660You either are or you’re not.39200:19:54,660 –> 00:19:55,819Does that help to make it clear39300:19:55,819 –> 00:19:57,540what the distinction is here?39400:19:57,540 –> 00:20:00,780A completed transaction that gives rise39500:20:00,780 –> 00:20:02,380to a continuing process.39600:20:02,380 –> 00:20:04,500So I want us to get this in our minds39700:20:04,500 –> 00:20:06,719because it’s critical to our understanding39800:20:06,719 –> 00:20:08,979of the Christian life, and I do want to show you39900:20:08,979 –> 00:20:12,339how it is in just a moment’s time.40000:20:12,359 –> 00:20:16,079Regeneration is the completed transformation,40100:20:16,079 –> 00:20:17,680the work of God’s spirit that begins40200:20:17,680 –> 00:20:21,280the continuing process that we call sanctification.40300:20:21,280 –> 00:20:23,160The great truth of sanctification40400:20:23,160 –> 00:20:25,520that many Christians understand well40500:20:25,520 –> 00:20:28,160is that God is changing me.40600:20:28,160 –> 00:20:29,920Thank God for that.40700:20:29,920 –> 00:20:31,680The great truth of regeneration40800:20:31,680 –> 00:20:34,959that most Christians do not understand well40900:20:34,959 –> 00:20:39,280is that Christ has changed me,41000:20:39,280 –> 00:20:41,719and we need both these truths.41100:20:41,719 –> 00:20:43,160And I want to show you in just a moment41200:20:43,160 –> 00:20:45,839what happens if you grasp the one and not the other.41300:20:45,839 –> 00:20:49,400And the answer is you become spiritually exhausted.41400:20:50,800 –> 00:20:51,599We’ll see how.41500:20:52,719 –> 00:20:55,319Now that’s the learning bit.41600:20:55,319 –> 00:20:58,000Now we’ve gotta get down to some practice.41700:20:58,000 –> 00:21:01,239I want you to see how the wonderful truth41800:21:01,239 –> 00:21:05,439of regeneration functions41900:21:05,439 –> 00:21:08,119in the life of a Christian believer.42000:21:08,119 –> 00:21:09,540You say, okay, we spent nearly 20 minutes42100:21:09,540 –> 00:21:10,959thinking about this.42200:21:10,959 –> 00:21:12,420What’s the point, what’s the use?42300:21:12,420 –> 00:21:14,180What’s the value of me knowing this?42400:21:15,119 –> 00:21:18,479How does this truth work in the life42500:21:18,479 –> 00:21:20,920of an ordinary Christian person like me?42600:21:22,280 –> 00:21:26,040Well, I want to point you to three ways42700:21:26,040 –> 00:21:28,380in which this wonderful truth functions42800:21:28,380 –> 00:21:29,459in the life of a believer.42900:21:29,459 –> 00:21:33,000Three ways in which it’s really useful to you.43000:21:33,000 –> 00:21:34,719Here’s the first.43100:21:34,719 –> 00:21:39,119Regeneration is the root43200:21:39,119 –> 00:21:44,119of all growth in your Christian life.43300:21:45,000 –> 00:21:50,000It is the root of all growth in your Christian life.43400:21:52,000 –> 00:21:54,859Very simply, if you want to grow,43500:21:55,719 –> 00:21:57,500you have to start with life.43600:21:58,479 –> 00:22:00,900Dead things don’t grow.43700:22:00,900 –> 00:22:04,699Put a stone in the ground, it’s a stone in the ground.43800:22:04,699 –> 00:22:06,959Put a seed in the ground, different thing.43900:22:07,939 –> 00:22:10,459So regeneration, because it is God bringing us44000:22:10,459 –> 00:22:13,020to spiritual life by the Holy Spirit,44100:22:13,020 –> 00:22:16,979is the root of all growth in the Christian life.44200:22:16,979 –> 00:22:21,979Regeneration is the life that grows in sanctification,44300:22:22,699 –> 00:22:25,219or to use a different kind of analogy,44400:22:25,219 –> 00:22:29,880regeneration is the engine that drives44500:22:30,780 –> 00:22:33,560all progress in the Christian life.44600:22:34,400 –> 00:22:37,939Pastor Colin Smith there, talking about some passages44700:22:37,939 –> 00:22:42,579which talk about Christ’s completed work in us.44800:22:42,579 –> 00:22:43,979You’ve been listening to Open The Bible44900:22:43,979 –> 00:22:45,699with Pastor Colin Smith,45000:22:45,699 –> 00:22:48,599and a message called Knowing who you are.45100:22:48,599 –> 00:22:52,300It’s part of our series, listener favourites 2026.45200:22:52,300 –> 00:22:54,880We’ve bundled all of the most popular messages45300:22:54,880 –> 00:22:57,800from the past 12 months into this series.45400:22:57,800 –> 00:22:59,920And if you ever miss one of the series,45500:22:59,920 –> 00:23:02,800you can easily catch up or go back and listen again45600:23:02,800 –> 00:23:07,560by coming to our website, that’s at openthebible.org.uk.45700:23:07,560 –> 00:23:10,040You can also find Pastor Colin’s messages45800:23:10,040 –> 00:23:12,199on your favourite podcast site,45900:23:12,199 –> 00:23:15,479search there for Open The Bible UK.46000:23:15,479 –> 00:23:17,920Well, as regular listeners will know,46100:23:17,920 –> 00:23:21,400Open The Bible is supported by our listeners financially.46200:23:21,400 –> 00:23:23,079If that’s something you already do,46300:23:23,079 –> 00:23:25,880then thank you so much for your support.46400:23:25,880 –> 00:23:27,359If you’re considering beginning46500:23:27,359 –> 00:23:29,760to support Open The Bible in the future,46600:23:29,760 –> 00:23:32,119this month we’d love to say thank you46700:23:32,199 –> 00:23:34,560by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin’s46800:23:34,560 –> 00:23:37,400brand new 30 day devotional book,46900:23:37,400 –> 00:23:38,719Grow in Love.47000:23:38,719 –> 00:23:40,479Colin what’s one thing you’d like47100:23:40,479 –> 00:23:42,560people to take away from this book?47200:23:42,560 –> 00:23:43,839Well, I think that most of us47300:23:43,839 –> 00:23:45,359feel that we need to grow in love,47400:23:45,359 –> 00:23:47,119especially when it comes to loving47500:23:47,119 –> 00:23:49,680those with whom we deeply disagree.47600:23:49,680 –> 00:23:51,439But here’s the question, do you think47700:23:51,439 –> 00:23:53,079it’s possible for you to become47800:23:53,079 –> 00:23:56,400a more loving person than you are right now?47900:23:56,400 –> 00:23:59,119See the thing is, if it simply depended48000:23:59,119 –> 00:24:01,839on what you can generate from within yourself,48100:24:01,839 –> 00:24:03,760the answer would have to be no.48200:24:03,760 –> 00:24:06,839Our love would depend on our experience48300:24:06,839 –> 00:24:09,280and if we hadn’t been well-loved by others,48400:24:09,280 –> 00:24:12,760well we wouldn’t be able to give love to others.48500:24:12,760 –> 00:24:17,760But the good news is that love really can be learned.48600:24:17,760 –> 00:24:20,640It’s possible to grow in love48700:24:20,640 –> 00:24:23,040and God’s holy spirit is given48800:24:23,040 –> 00:24:25,599to every Christian believer for this purpose.48900:24:25,599 –> 00:24:27,819So the thing I’d want people to take away49000:24:27,819 –> 00:24:29,839from this is the wonderful hope49100:24:29,859 –> 00:24:32,640that as you experience the love of God49200:24:32,640 –> 00:24:37,439poured into your own heart by the power of the holy spirit,49300:24:37,439 –> 00:24:41,300so you will be better able to love others really well.49400:24:41,300 –> 00:24:44,319We’d love to send you a copy of Pastor Colin’s book,49500:24:44,319 –> 00:24:47,520Grow in Love, when you set up a new direct debit49600:24:47,520 –> 00:24:49,040to the work of Open the Bible49700:24:49,040 –> 00:24:51,880in the amount of £5 per month or more49800:24:51,880 –> 00:24:55,599or a one-off gift of £60 or more this month.49900:24:55,599 –> 00:24:58,380Full terms and conditions, and to give online,50000:24:58,380 –> 00:25:02,619come to our website, openthebible.org.uk,50100:25:02,619 –> 00:25:05,180and don’t forget to leave your full name and address50200:25:05,180 –> 00:25:07,739so we can send you your free gift.50300:25:07,739 –> 00:25:10,180For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,50400:25:10,180 –> 00:25:11,459I am David Pick,50500:25:11,459 –> 00:25:13,699and I hope you’ll join us again next time.50600:25:20,760 –> 00:25:24,859The Christian life is about learning to be who you are.50700:25:24,859 –> 00:25:27,199Discover who you are in Christ50800:25:27,199 –> 00:25:29,719That’s next time on Open the Bible.