100:00:00,160 –> 00:00:03,460INTRO200:00:03,500 –> 00:00:05,000The commandment promises life.300:00:05,500 –> 00:00:09,800It reveals sin, it promises life, it tells us what God requires of us,400:00:09,820 –> 00:00:13,220It has this marvelous promise that is attached to it.500:00:13,240 –> 00:00:17,620The law is not the problem, so what is the problem?600:00:18,780 –> 00:00:21,459The real problem is sin.700:00:21,980 –> 00:00:25,540Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.800:00:25,559 –> 00:00:26,959Glad you could be with us today.900:00:27,000 –> 00:00:29,320And Colin, today we’ll be looking at the relationship1000:00:29,440 –> 00:00:32,080between the Christian and the laws.1100:00:32,560 –> 00:00:35,340Yes, that’s right it is a really, really important issue.1200:00:35,540 –> 00:00:39,419I think a lot of folks in our culture have the idea that a Christian1300:00:39,740 –> 00:00:43,279is a person who’s simply committed to keeping the law of God.1400:00:43,360 –> 00:00:47,020So a sustained effort to live a moral life.1500:00:47,400 –> 00:00:50,959And when we get to the New Testament, what we discover is that being1600:00:50,959 –> 00:00:54,599a Christian, being in Christ is something very, very different.1700:00:54,680 –> 00:00:58,680You know, if we were all little mortal paragons of virtue, then being1800:00:58,740 –> 00:01:03,200bound to the law and seeking to live a life that conformed to the law,1900:01:03,400 –> 00:01:04,360that would be just fine.2000:01:04,360 –> 00:01:05,559The problem is we’re not.2100:01:05,559 –> 00:01:07,440We are not little paragons of virtue.2200:01:07,440 –> 00:01:10,019We have this impulse of sin that is within us.2300:01:10,019 –> 00:01:12,080And so we can never live up to the law of God.2400:01:12,239 –> 00:01:15,540We can never live the kind of life that God calls us to.2500:01:15,800 –> 00:01:18,019And that gets us to the heart of the gospel.2600:01:18,480 –> 00:01:24,339We need to die to the law and find new life in Jesus Christ.2700:01:24,559 –> 00:01:28,480And that’s what this great truth of union with Christ2800:01:28,680 –> 00:01:31,500that I think is one of the most important truths in the New Testament2900:01:31,660 –> 00:01:34,800and the least understood, even among Christian believers.3000:01:35,000 –> 00:01:37,480Really want us to get into this in Romans 7 today.3100:01:37,580 –> 00:01:38,639Well, let’s do that.3200:01:38,639 –> 00:01:41,739As Colin said in chapter seven of Romans3300:01:41,739 –> 00:01:46,779and verses seven to 13 today, as we begin the message life before Jesus.3400:01:47,019 –> 00:01:48,000Here’s Colin.3500:01:48,000 –> 00:01:50,839This is week two of our three week series3600:01:51,360 –> 00:01:54,760on what Christians believe with regards to the law3700:01:55,000 –> 00:01:58,680and with regards to grace and with regards to the Christian life.3800:01:58,720 –> 00:02:01,040And we’re looking together at Romans, chapter seven,3900:02:01,559 –> 00:02:03,860which is actually one of the most important4000:02:03,879 –> 00:02:08,720and I believe also one of the least understood chapters of the Bible.4100:02:08,720 –> 00:02:10,960And as the message unfolds today4200:02:10,960 –> 00:02:15,979and as we go further into this chapter, I want to explain to you why that is.4300:02:16,500 –> 00:02:19,880We laid out last week three objectives for this series,4400:02:19,880 –> 00:02:22,580the first of which was our focus last week,4500:02:22,580 –> 00:02:25,800was to better grasp the great and central truth4600:02:25,820 –> 00:02:29,399of our union with Jesus Christ.4700:02:29,800 –> 00:02:33,919Now, today, we’re going to focus particularly on the second objective,4800:02:33,919 –> 00:02:37,979which is to better understand our own human condition4900:02:38,800 –> 00:02:41,100in order that we will see more clearly5000:02:41,100 –> 00:02:44,740why a sustained attempt at a moral life cannot be the answer.5100:02:45,380 –> 00:02:47,740We want to better understand the human condition5200:02:47,740 –> 00:02:52,000so that we will be quite clear in our own minds as Christian believers5300:02:52,000 –> 00:02:57,559as to why it is that a sustained effort at a moral life5400:02:57,559 –> 00:02:59,899is not the answer.5500:03:00,320 –> 00:03:04,339So we begin that here today, at Romans seven, and verse seven,5600:03:04,339 –> 00:03:05,880where you have a question,5700:03:05,880 –> 00:03:07,960what then shall we say,5800:03:07,960 –> 00:03:12,179that the law is sin by no means?5900:03:12,820 –> 00:03:16,279Now, that is the question that naturally arises6000:03:16,300 –> 00:03:18,339in the mind of any thoughtful person6100:03:18,339 –> 00:03:22,639who has understood verses one to six that we looked at last week.6200:03:23,839 –> 00:03:28,679So marriage to nomos, marriage to law is a miserable marriage.6300:03:29,619 –> 00:03:33,279We were talking last week about the law beating up on you.6400:03:33,279 –> 00:03:36,660Sounds like you’re saying, then, that the law is bad, right,6500:03:36,660 –> 00:03:39,520the law is not good, is that what you’re saying?6600:03:40,139 –> 00:03:45,559That is the question any thinking person would ask6700:03:45,679 –> 00:03:50,279after considering Romans 7, verses one to six.6800:03:50,279 –> 00:03:52,839And I was so encouraged last week,6900:03:52,839 –> 00:03:54,940because several of you in this congregation7000:03:54,940 –> 00:03:58,059came up and asked me exactly that question.7100:03:58,059 –> 00:03:59,520So you’re saying the law’s beating up on us.7200:03:59,520 –> 00:04:01,240You must be saying the law’s a bad thing,7300:04:01,240 –> 00:04:04,800and I said wait till next week because that is exactly.7400:04:04,800 –> 00:04:08,440You know that you have understood the scripture correctly7500:04:08,440 –> 00:04:12,940if you’re asking the question that Paul answers next.7600:04:12,940 –> 00:04:15,179And you find this again and again in the book of Romans,7700:04:15,360 –> 00:04:16,920and especially here.7800:04:16,920 –> 00:04:19,000So you were tracking rightly7900:04:19,000 –> 00:04:21,540if you asked this question last week,8000:04:21,540 –> 00:04:24,000because it’s precisely where he goes next.8100:04:24,000 –> 00:04:25,559Romans chapter seven, in verse seven.8200:04:25,559 –> 00:04:27,160So what’s the conclusion?8300:04:27,160 –> 00:04:28,880What shall we say then,8400:04:28,880 –> 00:04:31,140Is the law sin, is the law a bad thing,8500:04:31,140 –> 00:04:32,940is the law the problem?8600:04:34,239 –> 00:04:35,859And you notice his answer.8700:04:36,880 –> 00:04:40,299By no means, by no means.8800:04:41,720 –> 00:04:45,040So what then is a proper Christian view8900:04:45,059 –> 00:04:46,739of the law?9000:04:46,739 –> 00:04:48,899Well look at verse 12.9100:04:48,899 –> 00:04:53,619The law is holy, and the commandment is holy,9200:04:53,619 –> 00:04:57,540and it is righteous, and it is good.9300:04:58,959 –> 00:05:00,920The law is holy and righteous and good,9400:05:00,920 –> 00:05:02,739of course, because it is God’s law.9500:05:02,739 –> 00:05:05,700It was given by God himself.9600:05:05,700 –> 00:05:08,899The commandments reflect the very character of God.9700:05:08,899 –> 00:05:12,260They lay out for us the way to live a life9800:05:12,260 –> 00:05:14,859that is holy, and is righteous, and is good.9900:05:15,700 –> 00:05:17,260And when God gave His law to His people,10000:05:17,260 –> 00:05:19,040He did not give to us a bad thing,10100:05:19,040 –> 00:05:22,779He gave to us something that is wonderfully good.10200:05:22,779 –> 00:05:24,540You only need to reflect for a moment10300:05:24,540 –> 00:05:26,779on what a wonderful world this would be10400:05:26,779 –> 00:05:30,500if everyone kept the law of God10500:05:30,500 –> 00:05:33,279to see what a good law it is.10600:05:33,279 –> 00:05:38,019What a marvelous city Chicago would be10700:05:38,019 –> 00:05:42,420if everyone upheld the law, thou shalt not kill.10800:05:42,420 –> 00:05:46,040If there were no murders in Chicago this summer,10900:05:46,040 –> 00:05:47,859what a wonderful city this would be.11000:05:48,640 –> 00:05:52,320And God says in the commandments, you’re not to steal,11100:05:52,320 –> 00:05:55,279you are not to bear false witness against your neighbor,11200:05:55,279 –> 00:05:57,399You are not to tell the truth, you’re not to tell lies.11300:05:57,399 –> 00:06:02,019How marvelous it would be to do business in this city11400:06:02,019 –> 00:06:04,420if everyone that you did business with11500:06:04,420 –> 00:06:07,100spoke the truth, no one ever deceived you,11600:06:07,100 –> 00:06:08,940no one ever laid claim to anything11700:06:08,940 –> 00:06:11,559unless it was rightly hers or his.11800:06:11,559 –> 00:06:13,899What a marvelous city, what a marvelous world11900:06:13,899 –> 00:06:16,959this would be, God’s law is wonderfully good.12000:06:18,679 –> 00:06:21,459Now, Paul identifies two particular ways12100:06:21,459 –> 00:06:23,519in which the law is good and I want to draw12200:06:23,519 –> 00:06:24,540your attention to them.12300:06:24,540 –> 00:06:26,279The first is in verse seven.12400:06:26,279 –> 00:06:31,279The law is good, first he says, because it reveals sin.12500:06:31,279 –> 00:06:34,320If it had not been for the law,12600:06:34,320 –> 00:06:37,820I would not have known sin.12700:06:38,660 –> 00:06:43,660Now I think 20 years on, of all the questions12800:06:43,660 –> 00:06:47,839I’m asked about what it’s like to have moved12900:06:47,839 –> 00:06:52,339from Britain to America, the one that I’m still asked13000:06:52,339 –> 00:06:55,679most often in casual conversation is13100:06:55,679 –> 00:07:00,679how do you get on driving on the right side of the roads?13200:07:01,119 –> 00:07:03,959Amazing how many times that question gets asked13300:07:03,959 –> 00:07:06,279and I suppose one answer might be you know,13400:07:06,279 –> 00:07:08,100it’s okay so long as someone tells you13500:07:08,100 –> 00:07:09,899and I’m really glad that someone told me13600:07:09,899 –> 00:07:13,000that you’re supposed in this marvelous country13700:07:13,000 –> 00:07:15,899to drive on the right hand side of the road.13800:07:15,899 –> 00:07:18,200If you go across to Britain or Australia,13900:07:18,200 –> 00:07:20,239several other countries for that matter,14000:07:20,239 –> 00:07:23,200you’ll be very grateful that someone tells you14100:07:23,200 –> 00:07:25,200that the law is that you actually14200:07:25,200 –> 00:07:26,980drive on the left side of the road.14300:07:26,980 –> 00:07:28,779You would be grateful to see a sign14400:07:28,779 –> 00:07:32,160like the one that we’ll probably see on the screen here14500:07:32,160 –> 00:07:34,940that tells you what is required of you.14600:07:34,940 –> 00:07:37,279Otherwise, you’re gonna be in trouble if you don’t know.14700:07:37,279 –> 00:07:40,859It’s a good thing that the law reveals14800:07:40,859 –> 00:07:44,059what the right way is and tells us this14900:07:44,059 –> 00:07:45,500because if you’re not told,15000:07:45,500 –> 00:07:47,260you’re obviously gonna be in trouble.15100:07:47,260 –> 00:07:50,299I am very thankful for the Illinois Rules of the Road15200:07:50,299 –> 00:07:53,119in which I find several things that are quite different15300:07:53,119 –> 00:07:56,459from what I had previously experienced in the UK.15400:07:56,459 –> 00:07:59,779I’m also, by the way, very, very, very thankful15500:08:00,459 –> 00:08:05,459that God’s Law was written on tablets of stone15600:08:05,820 –> 00:08:10,179indicating to us that it never changes15700:08:10,179 –> 00:08:12,220because if God’s Law were to change15800:08:12,220 –> 00:08:13,260we would be in trouble.15900:08:13,260 –> 00:08:15,459I mean, going back to driving,16000:08:15,459 –> 00:08:19,940there’s a sign coming up here that you do not want to see.16100:08:19,940 –> 00:08:22,980Drive on the left on Monday,16200:08:22,980 –> 00:08:26,339drive on the right on Tuesday,16300:08:26,339 –> 00:08:28,660that is really gonna have you in trouble.16400:08:29,019 –> 00:08:32,320So it’s a marvelous thing that God’s Law never changes16500:08:32,320 –> 00:08:34,380that He’s told us exactly what it is,16600:08:34,380 –> 00:08:36,140this is what is required of you,16700:08:36,140 –> 00:08:37,700this is what you are to do.16800:08:37,700 –> 00:08:39,900Very, very thankful for that.16900:08:39,900 –> 00:08:42,340The law is good because it tells us17000:08:42,340 –> 00:08:44,260what a righteous life looks like.17100:08:45,179 –> 00:08:47,840And nobody wants to go through life17200:08:47,840 –> 00:08:49,900thinking that we’re getting it right17300:08:50,940 –> 00:08:53,739and then at the end to stand before Almighty God17400:08:53,739 –> 00:08:55,820and find out that actually we got it wrong17500:08:55,820 –> 00:08:57,679because we didn’t know what right was.17600:08:58,940 –> 00:09:00,960And so the law is a very good thing17700:09:00,960 –> 00:09:03,299because it reveals sin,17800:09:03,299 –> 00:09:05,820it tells us what right and wrong actually is.17900:09:05,820 –> 00:09:08,700Thank God that He’s told us that and not left us guessing.18000:09:10,140 –> 00:09:12,419Second, Paul says here the law is good18100:09:12,419 –> 00:09:15,179actually because it promises life.18200:09:15,179 –> 00:09:19,500The commandment verse 10, that promised life.18300:09:20,780 –> 00:09:23,640Now remember the story of the rich young ruler,18400:09:23,640 –> 00:09:25,219he came to Jesus and he asked,18500:09:25,219 –> 00:09:27,539what must I do to inherit eternal life?18600:09:27,539 –> 00:09:30,580And Jesus said, well, you know the commandments.18700:09:30,580 –> 00:09:32,700And he recites all of the commandments to Jesus18800:09:32,700 –> 00:09:35,400and then Jesus says to him these words,18900:09:35,400 –> 00:09:38,859do this and you shall live,19000:09:38,859 –> 00:09:40,559do this and you shall live.19100:09:41,500 –> 00:09:45,000So fullness of life,19200:09:45,000 –> 00:09:49,179lies ahead for those who live according19300:09:49,179 –> 00:09:53,020to all the commandments of God.19400:09:53,020 –> 00:09:54,859And the point that Paul makes here is19500:09:54,979 –> 00:09:58,140that the problem is not with the commandment.19600:09:58,140 –> 00:10:00,179The problem is with my failure to keep it.19700:10:00,179 –> 00:10:01,380That’s what he’s saying.19800:10:02,340 –> 00:10:04,059Do not criticize the commandment for that.19900:10:04,059 –> 00:10:06,099The commandment promise life.20000:10:06,099 –> 00:10:08,219It reveals sin, it promises life.20100:10:08,219 –> 00:10:10,359It tells us what God requires of us.20200:10:10,359 –> 00:10:13,820It has this marvelous promise that is attached to it.20300:10:13,820 –> 00:10:16,700The law is not the problem.20400:10:16,700 –> 00:10:18,539That’s what he’s saying,20500:10:18,539 –> 00:10:20,080which leads to where we’re going today.20600:10:20,080 –> 00:10:21,919So what is the problem?20700:10:22,780 –> 00:10:26,080The real problem is sin.20800:10:27,500 –> 00:10:29,400Law is not problem.20900:10:29,400 –> 00:10:31,679Sin is.21000:10:32,799 –> 00:10:35,080Now Mark Lloyd-Jones says of this chapter,21100:10:35,080 –> 00:10:37,659Romans 7, he says, and I quote,21200:10:37,659 –> 00:10:42,659it is beyond any doubt the profoundest analysis of sin21300:10:42,760 –> 00:10:45,000and of its ways and of its results21400:10:45,000 –> 00:10:49,479that is to be found anywhere in the whole of scripture.21500:10:51,000 –> 00:10:53,640There isn’t any place in the bible21600:10:53,640 –> 00:10:58,440that will more clearly give you a grasp21700:10:58,440 –> 00:11:00,419of the human problem than this.21800:11:01,419 –> 00:11:03,619And that’s why I say it’s one of the most important chapters21900:11:03,619 –> 00:11:05,440of the bible, because if we don’t understand22000:11:05,440 –> 00:11:07,119the problem of sin, we’ll never understand22100:11:07,119 –> 00:11:08,919why we need a savior, we’ll never get22200:11:08,919 –> 00:11:12,080to the heart of Christianity unless we grasp22300:11:12,080 –> 00:11:13,419the teaching of Romans 7.22400:11:13,419 –> 00:11:15,859So what we’re going to learn today22500:11:15,859 –> 00:11:19,200is gonna help each of us to understand22600:11:19,880 –> 00:11:21,080why the world is as it is.22700:11:22,159 –> 00:11:23,780It’s going to help us to understand22800:11:23,780 –> 00:11:25,460what’s going on in our children,22900:11:26,460 –> 00:11:27,719and it’s gonna help us to better23000:11:27,719 –> 00:11:30,000understand what’s going on in ourselves.23100:11:30,859 –> 00:11:32,719And because it is little understood,23200:11:32,719 –> 00:11:36,979we actually miss the very heart23300:11:36,979 –> 00:11:39,820of what we most need to grasp23400:11:39,820 –> 00:11:42,359in regards to the Christian faith23500:11:42,359 –> 00:11:44,260and in regards to the Christian life.23600:11:45,260 –> 00:11:46,679You’re listening to Open the Bible23700:11:46,679 –> 00:11:48,580with Pastor Colin Smith and a message23800:11:48,619 –> 00:11:50,940called Life Before Jesus.23900:11:50,940 –> 00:11:54,299It’s part of a series called How You Can Flourish.24000:11:54,299 –> 00:11:55,979And if you ever miss one of the series,24100:11:55,979 –> 00:11:57,539don’t forget, you can always catch up24200:11:57,539 –> 00:11:59,940or go back and listen again online24300:11:59,940 –> 00:12:03,900at our website OpenTheBible.org.uk.24400:12:03,900 –> 00:12:06,179Also, you can find us as a podcast,24500:12:06,179 –> 00:12:08,599and those are on all the regular podcast sites.24600:12:08,599 –> 00:12:10,619Search for Open the Bible UK24700:12:10,619 –> 00:12:14,059and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates.24800:12:14,059 –> 00:12:17,280Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners.24900:12:17,559 –> 00:12:20,440And if you’re considering making a one-off gift25000:12:20,440 –> 00:12:22,239to a charity of your choice,25100:12:22,239 –> 00:12:23,979can I encourage you to think about25200:12:23,979 –> 00:12:26,559giving a gift to Open the Bible.25300:12:26,559 –> 00:12:28,460If you are able to make a donation25400:12:28,460 –> 00:12:30,000to the work of Open the Bible25500:12:30,000 –> 00:12:32,200in the amount of 50 pounds or more,25600:12:32,200 –> 00:12:34,059we’d love to thank you by sending you25700:12:34,059 –> 00:12:36,679three copies of a beautifully bound edition25800:12:36,679 –> 00:12:38,419of John’s Gospel.25900:12:38,419 –> 00:12:39,739More information about this26000:12:39,739 –> 00:12:41,679and full terms and conditions26100:12:41,679 –> 00:12:46,320online at our website OpenTheBible.org.uk.26200:12:46,380 –> 00:12:47,460Back to the message now.26300:12:47,460 –> 00:12:49,440We’re in Romans Chapter seven.26400:12:49,440 –> 00:12:50,479Here’s Colin.26500:12:50,479 –> 00:12:53,159I want very simply to draw from these verses26600:12:53,159 –> 00:12:55,039first, what sin is.26700:12:55,039 –> 00:12:57,159Second, what sin does.26800:12:57,159 –> 00:13:00,559And then thirdly, where sin leads.26900:13:00,559 –> 00:13:03,679So first of all, then what sin is.27000:13:04,840 –> 00:13:06,380Now, if you were to do kinda27100:13:06,380 –> 00:13:07,900Man in the Street interviews27200:13:07,900 –> 00:13:09,640and ask the question, what is sin?27300:13:09,640 –> 00:13:12,159You’d get all kinds of answers these days, of course.27400:13:12,159 –> 00:13:13,400But I think one that you would get27500:13:13,400 –> 00:13:15,580quite commonly would still be27600:13:15,599 –> 00:13:18,599that sin is doing bad things,27700:13:18,599 –> 00:13:21,640like lying and stealing and cheating27800:13:21,640 –> 00:13:23,179and so forth and so on.27900:13:24,619 –> 00:13:27,599But I want you to see, from Romans Chapter seven today,28000:13:27,599 –> 00:13:30,780that sin is much more than doing bad things.28100:13:31,780 –> 00:13:36,020If you have understood sin only in terms of actions,28200:13:36,020 –> 00:13:39,400you have not yet understood its nature.28300:13:39,400 –> 00:13:42,500What we learn most clearly from Romans in chapter seven28400:13:42,500 –> 00:13:45,000is that sin is a power,28500:13:45,000 –> 00:13:46,880that it is an impulse,28600:13:46,880 –> 00:13:51,640that by nature resides in our hearts.28700:13:51,640 –> 00:13:53,719And this of course was the big truth28800:13:53,719 –> 00:13:56,679that was missed by the Pharisees28900:13:56,679 –> 00:13:59,000and it is the big truth, candidly,29000:13:59,000 –> 00:14:03,580that is missed by many, many people in church today.29100:14:03,580 –> 00:14:05,460Remember this, that the Pharisees29200:14:05,460 –> 00:14:08,179were committed to a moral life.29300:14:08,179 –> 00:14:12,000They were very serious about avoiding sin.29400:14:12,000 –> 00:14:15,719The problem was that the Pharisee’s definition29500:14:15,719 –> 00:14:20,419of sin was limited to evil actions29600:14:20,419 –> 00:14:22,799and that’s why when Jesus told a story29700:14:22,799 –> 00:14:25,919about a Pharisee who came into the temple to pray,29800:14:25,919 –> 00:14:28,460you remember, he could honestly say to God,29900:14:28,460 –> 00:14:31,219I don’t steal, I don’t.30000:14:32,140 –> 00:14:36,820And I do pray, in fact, I fast twice a week30100:14:36,820 –> 00:14:37,979which is probably more than,30200:14:37,979 –> 00:14:39,380that’s more than I do,30300:14:39,380 –> 00:14:41,299probably more than most of us do.30400:14:42,219 –> 00:14:45,460I give 10% of everything that I get,30500:14:45,460 –> 00:14:47,140not just my salary, everything.30600:14:48,380 –> 00:14:49,859Here’s what I don’t do,30700:14:50,820 –> 00:14:52,960here’s what I do.30800:14:54,299 –> 00:14:56,320And the rich young ruler, of course,30900:14:56,320 –> 00:14:59,520was working with the same definition of sin.31000:14:59,520 –> 00:15:03,419He thought of it simply in terms of actions.31100:15:03,419 –> 00:15:05,500So remember, when he comes, as we said a moment ago,31200:15:05,500 –> 00:15:07,140and he says to Jesus,31300:15:07,140 –> 00:15:09,320now what must I do to inherit a eternal life?31400:15:09,320 –> 00:15:11,280Jesus says, you know the commandments.31500:15:11,280 –> 00:15:12,960Yes, he says I do, and he reels them off,31600:15:12,960 –> 00:15:16,320honor your father, mother, and so forth, right through.31700:15:16,320 –> 00:15:20,239And then, he says to Jesus, I’ve done all that.31800:15:20,239 –> 00:15:21,919I’ve done it!31900:15:21,919 –> 00:15:24,900All these things, I have done since my youth.32000:15:26,760 –> 00:15:28,520Now, you see what he’s saying to Jesus?32100:15:28,520 –> 00:15:31,520I am committed to living a moral life,32200:15:32,520 –> 00:15:34,239and he felt that he was doing it32300:15:34,239 –> 00:15:37,200because he was working, like the Pharisees,32400:15:37,239 –> 00:15:39,960with a limited definition of sin32500:15:39,960 –> 00:15:42,799that restricted it to certain evil actions.32600:15:42,799 –> 00:15:45,039I’ve never killed anyone, I’ve never robbed a bank32700:15:45,039 –> 00:15:46,359and so forth, and so on.32800:15:48,119 –> 00:15:49,559Now, here’s what a fascinating to me.32900:15:49,559 –> 00:15:54,140When the apostle Paul, after his conversion,33000:15:54,140 –> 00:15:57,400looked back on his earlier life,33100:15:57,400 –> 00:16:00,840he saw exactly the same pattern.33200:16:00,840 –> 00:16:04,500He tells us about it in Philippians, in Chapter Three.33300:16:04,520 –> 00:16:07,340He says, if anyone else thinks that they had reason33400:16:07,340 –> 00:16:10,580for confidence in the flesh, I have more.33500:16:10,580 –> 00:16:15,580As to righteousness under the law, he says, I was blameless.33600:16:15,820 –> 00:16:19,000If you ask, was I the kind of person33700:16:19,000 –> 00:16:22,859who lied, and cheated, and stole?33800:16:22,859 –> 00:16:25,580The answer, Paul says, looking back on his earlier life,33900:16:25,580 –> 00:16:28,140is no, I lived a moral life.34000:16:29,700 –> 00:16:31,380But then the next thing that he says34100:16:31,380 –> 00:16:32,960is very, very significant.34200:16:33,919 –> 00:16:36,280He says in Philippians, chapter three,34300:16:36,280 –> 00:16:38,039but whatever it was to my gain, in other words,34400:16:38,039 –> 00:16:41,099I thought a lot about how moral I was.34500:16:41,099 –> 00:16:42,739I thought that was to my gain.34600:16:43,840 –> 00:16:48,419Actually, it was to my loss, for the sake of Christ.34700:16:48,419 –> 00:16:49,260What’s he saying?34800:16:49,260 –> 00:16:53,679He’s saying this, being a moral person34900:16:54,760 –> 00:16:57,719actually kept me, he’s saying,35000:16:57,719 –> 00:17:01,640from seeing my need of Jesus Christ.35100:17:01,640 –> 00:17:06,219His morality was the very thing that blinded him35200:17:06,219 –> 00:17:08,859to his need of a Savior.35300:17:10,260 –> 00:17:14,619Now friends, this is really, really, really important for us35400:17:15,520 –> 00:17:18,599because as a congregation, this would be a fair description,35500:17:18,599 –> 00:17:22,979we are in large measure people who are seriously committed35600:17:22,979 –> 00:17:24,520to living a moral life,35700:17:25,459 –> 00:17:28,540and we’re very committed to raising our children35800:17:28,540 –> 00:17:31,420to live moral lives.35900:17:31,439 –> 00:17:33,119And what we’re seeing here is actually,36000:17:33,119 –> 00:17:38,119it is very, very difficult for a moral person to grasp36100:17:38,500 –> 00:17:42,359that he or she really is a sinner.36200:17:43,380 –> 00:17:45,459And if you are a moral person,36300:17:45,459 –> 00:17:48,880actually it will take a miracle of grace36400:17:48,880 –> 00:17:51,339for you to actually see the extent36500:17:51,339 –> 00:17:52,979of your own need before God,36600:17:52,979 –> 00:17:55,719and I’m praying that that miracle of grace36700:17:55,719 –> 00:17:58,780is gonna happen for some of us in this congregation36800:17:58,780 –> 00:18:00,780right here this morning.36900:18:00,819 –> 00:18:03,239And here’s where it will begin.37000:18:03,239 –> 00:18:07,660It begins with getting into your mind this truth37100:18:07,660 –> 00:18:09,859from Romans and chapter seven,37200:18:09,859 –> 00:18:14,180that sin is more than wrong actions.37300:18:14,180 –> 00:18:15,540That’s where it begins.37400:18:16,579 –> 00:18:19,880Now, Paul tells us that this was actually crucial37500:18:19,880 –> 00:18:22,300in his own experience.37600:18:22,300 –> 00:18:23,839Look at verse seven again.37700:18:24,939 –> 00:18:28,339If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin,37800:18:28,439 –> 00:18:33,439for I would not have known what it is to covet37900:18:35,520 –> 00:18:40,520if the law had not said you shall not covet.38000:18:42,640 –> 00:18:44,140Now, he says here,38100:18:44,140 –> 00:18:45,859the thing that got me,38200:18:46,760 –> 00:18:50,859the thing that changed my whole view about myself38300:18:50,859 –> 00:18:52,800from my previous view that was38400:18:52,800 –> 00:18:55,640I’m a moral person doing quite well.38500:18:55,640 –> 00:18:58,439The thing that got me was the 10th commandment.38600:18:58,439 –> 00:19:00,800The 10th commandment is the one that says38700:19:00,800 –> 00:19:01,920you shall not covet.38800:19:03,000 –> 00:19:04,640Why the 10th commandment?38900:19:04,640 –> 00:19:06,119Why was that the one that got him39000:19:06,119 –> 00:19:07,599rather than any of the other nine?39100:19:07,599 –> 00:19:11,680Answer, because the 10th commandment is the one39200:19:11,680 –> 00:19:16,680that speaks not to actions but to desires.39300:19:17,160 –> 00:19:18,800It is about a condition of the heart.39400:19:18,800 –> 00:19:20,400Coveting is a desire.39500:19:20,400 –> 00:19:21,400It’s inward.39600:19:21,400 –> 00:19:22,239It’s hidden.39700:19:22,479 –> 00:19:25,479Not something that someone, see, it’s not an outward action39800:19:26,839 –> 00:19:30,040but you see, the 10th commandment, therefore,39900:19:30,040 –> 00:19:34,920actually anticipates the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ40000:19:34,920 –> 00:19:37,319in the Sermon on the Mount when he tells us40100:19:37,319 –> 00:19:41,040that actually all of the commandments go to the heart.40200:19:41,040 –> 00:19:43,420Remember how he says of the sixth commandment,40300:19:43,420 –> 00:19:45,920you’ve heard it, it said, do not murder40400:19:45,920 –> 00:19:49,180but I say to you, don’t even be angry40500:19:49,180 –> 00:19:52,060with your brother in your heart.40600:19:52,459 –> 00:19:55,939Because the root of what eventually can become murder40700:19:55,939 –> 00:20:00,939actually lies in anger that is nurtured within the heart.40800:20:01,400 –> 00:20:03,219So Jesus says, don’t think that you’ve kept40900:20:03,219 –> 00:20:05,579the sixth commandment simply41000:20:05,579 –> 00:20:08,060because you never murdered anybody.41100:20:08,060 –> 00:20:10,040The sixth commandment actually tells you41200:20:10,040 –> 00:20:12,060about dealing with anger in your heart,41300:20:12,060 –> 00:20:13,180God calls you to that.41400:20:13,180 –> 00:20:14,719Well, see, that puts the thing41500:20:14,719 –> 00:20:16,459in an altogether different position41600:20:16,459 –> 00:20:18,339and then on the seventh commandment he says,41700:20:18,380 –> 00:20:22,619now you’ve heard it said, do not commit adultery.41800:20:22,619 –> 00:20:25,939But remember how Jesus traces that back41900:20:25,939 –> 00:20:29,500to its roots of looking with lust in your heart.42000:20:29,500 –> 00:20:32,380He says, God’s not simply looking at actions,42100:20:32,380 –> 00:20:34,420he’s looking at what’s going on inside of you42200:20:34,420 –> 00:20:37,660when he regards the intent of anger.42300:20:37,660 –> 00:20:41,859He regards the impulse of lust in the same way42400:20:41,859 –> 00:20:45,359as if the whole of the commandment42500:20:45,359 –> 00:20:47,380as it was originally stated was broken.42600:20:49,040 –> 00:20:49,880Wow!42700:20:49,880 –> 00:20:51,979That completely changes everything, doesn’t it?42800:20:53,479 –> 00:20:55,199So Paul says, this is where42900:20:55,199 –> 00:20:57,079the big transformation happened for me.43000:20:57,079 –> 00:20:58,520It was the 10th commandment.43100:20:59,319 –> 00:21:00,839That was the one that got me.43200:21:00,839 –> 00:21:02,800He says it came, it killed me.43300:21:02,800 –> 00:21:03,959It slew me.43400:21:05,079 –> 00:21:07,640Because I then saw that I had been working43500:21:07,640 –> 00:21:10,000all these years with a wrong definition of sin.43600:21:10,000 –> 00:21:12,040I had limited it to certain actions43700:21:12,040 –> 00:21:13,619that I did not do.43800:21:14,520 –> 00:21:16,660And so, there I was with my moral checklist43900:21:16,660 –> 00:21:18,119and I’m thinking I’m doing quite well.44000:21:18,540 –> 00:21:20,140I never murdered anyone, I never robbed a bank44100:21:20,140 –> 00:21:21,260and all of that stuff.44200:21:21,260 –> 00:21:22,979I don’t kill, I don’t steal.44300:21:22,979 –> 00:21:26,239Then one day I came face to face with the 10th commandment.44400:21:27,540 –> 00:21:29,459And that was when I saw that sin44500:21:29,459 –> 00:21:32,739actually includes the impulses of the heart44600:21:34,280 –> 00:21:36,079and when I saw that, I could no longer44700:21:36,079 –> 00:21:38,280regard myself as the moral person44800:21:38,280 –> 00:21:39,939that I had for all these years44900:21:39,939 –> 00:21:41,619imagined myself to be.45000:21:42,859 –> 00:21:44,500And that’s a huge transformation.45100:21:46,040 –> 00:21:47,199Sin is a power.45200:21:48,160 –> 00:21:50,680That’s what we’re learning from the Bible here.45300:21:50,680 –> 00:21:53,040That’s what God’s telling us so that we’ll know.45400:21:54,040 –> 00:21:57,800It is an impulse of the heart in all of us45500:21:57,800 –> 00:22:01,739that gravitates towards what God forbids.45600:22:01,739 –> 00:22:03,359It’s in all of us by nature45700:22:04,300 –> 00:22:08,020and it is this that we need saving from.45800:22:09,540 –> 00:22:13,780That’s what sin is, really important to understand it.45900:22:14,959 –> 00:22:17,219That’s one of the reasons I say Romans chapter seven46000:22:17,339 –> 00:22:19,739is one of the most important chapters in the Bible.46100:22:20,859 –> 00:22:23,199You’re not likely to come to Jesus46200:22:23,199 –> 00:22:24,739anymore than the Pharisees did46300:22:25,900 –> 00:22:26,839so long as you’re working46400:22:26,839 –> 00:22:30,119with such a limited definition of sin.46500:22:31,040 –> 00:22:33,939Pastor Colin Smith there talking about what sin is46600:22:33,939 –> 00:22:35,599and next time we’ll continue46700:22:35,599 –> 00:22:39,520by looking at what sin does and where sin leads.46800:22:39,520 –> 00:22:41,520Don’t forget, if you ever miss one of the messages46900:22:41,520 –> 00:22:44,180you can always catch up or go back and listen again47000:22:44,180 –> 00:22:48,520online at our website, openthebible.org.uk47100:22:48,520 –> 00:22:51,560or as a podcast on all the main podcast sites47200:22:51,560 –> 00:22:53,500search for Open the Bible UK.47300:22:54,380 –> 00:22:56,140Also on our website and available47400:22:56,140 –> 00:22:58,959as a podcast is Open the Bible daily47500:22:58,959 –> 00:23:00,939and that’s a series of short two47600:23:00,939 –> 00:23:03,479to three minute daily reflections based47700:23:03,479 –> 00:23:05,380on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read47800:23:05,380 –> 00:23:07,219in the UK by Sue Macleish.47900:23:07,219 –> 00:23:08,900There’s a fresh one on our website48000:23:08,900 –> 00:23:11,359and as a podcast every day.48100:23:12,359 –> 00:23:13,780Well, we’re rapidly approaching the end48200:23:13,780 –> 00:23:16,400of the year and many people do think48300:23:16,400 –> 00:23:19,020about making a generous one-off gift48400:23:19,020 –> 00:23:21,780to a charity of their choice at this time of year48500:23:21,780 –> 00:23:23,800and Colin, if people have been blessed48600:23:23,800 –> 00:23:27,380by hearing your teaching, why should they consider48700:23:27,380 –> 00:23:29,839giving a gift to Open the Bible?48800:23:29,839 –> 00:23:31,760One of the greatest joys and encouragements48900:23:31,760 –> 00:23:34,359to me is just to hear from people49000:23:34,359 –> 00:23:36,839how the Lord is using the Ministry49100:23:36,839 –> 00:23:38,819of Open the Bible in their lives49200:23:38,819 –> 00:23:41,300and if that has been your experience49300:23:41,339 –> 00:23:43,760that God has blessed you through the Ministry,49400:23:43,760 –> 00:23:46,219then praise God for that.49500:23:46,219 –> 00:23:50,660His word accomplishes the purpose for which He sends it49600:23:50,660 –> 00:23:52,459and if He’s doing that in your life,49700:23:52,459 –> 00:23:54,599that to me is just the greatest joy49800:23:54,599 –> 00:23:56,439and if you’re experiencing God’s blessing49900:23:56,439 –> 00:24:00,020in that way, then it would be a great blessing50000:24:00,020 –> 00:24:02,599to the Ministry of Open the Bible50100:24:02,599 –> 00:24:04,459if you are able to help us with a gift50200:24:04,459 –> 00:24:07,160as we come towards this year end,50300:24:07,160 –> 00:24:10,140give where God has brought blessing to you50400:24:10,599 –> 00:24:12,880and if that has been your experience50500:24:12,880 –> 00:24:14,439then it would be a blessing to us50600:24:14,439 –> 00:24:16,239if you were able to support the Ministry.50700:24:16,239 –> 00:24:17,660Thank you so much.50800:24:17,660 –> 00:24:20,040The encouragement and the testimony50900:24:20,040 –> 00:24:22,280of all who are partners with this ministry51000:24:22,280 –> 00:24:25,680sustains the work and brings joy to all of our hearts51100:24:25,680 –> 00:24:27,119as we serve together51200:24:27,119 –> 00:24:30,160to advance the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.51300:24:30,160 –> 00:24:32,599Well, if you are able to make a one-off gift51400:24:32,599 –> 00:24:34,000to the work of Open the Bible51500:24:34,000 –> 00:24:36,439in the amount of 50 pounds or more51600:24:36,439 –> 00:24:38,459or indeed a monthly donation51700:24:38,560 –> 00:24:41,859to the work of five pounds per month or more51800:24:41,859 –> 00:24:43,000we’d love to say thank you51900:24:43,000 –> 00:24:45,079by sending you three copies52000:24:45,079 –> 00:24:48,579of a beautifully bound edition of John’s gospel.52100:24:48,579 –> 00:24:51,040Full terms and conditions on our website52200:24:51,040 –> 00:24:53,219and you can give online.52300:24:53,219 –> 00:24:55,859For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,52400:24:55,859 –> 00:24:56,839I’m David Pick52500:24:56,839 –> 00:24:58,900and I hope you’ll join us again next time.52600:24:59,619 –> 00:25:02,439The Church’s message to the world52700:25:02,439 –> 00:25:05,699must be more than simply a call to morality.52800:25:05,699 –> 00:25:08,660Find out why next time on Open the Bible.