100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:05,180The message of the church to the world must be more than a call to morality.200:00:05,180 –> 00:00:10,000The message of the Church to the world must be more than a call to morality.300:00:10,680 –> 00:00:14,080Calling lost people to morality-400:00:14,660 –> 00:00:20,360It’s like telling a man who is dying of lung cancer to stop smoking.500:00:20,879 –> 00:00:22,660The damage is already done.600:00:23,020 –> 00:00:25,440It’s not addressing the issue.700:00:26,500 –> 00:00:29,139Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.800:00:29,400 –> 00:00:33,060I’m David Pick, and Colin, if living a moral life isn’t the answer,900:00:33,520 –> 00:00:34,660what is the answer?1000:00:35,439 –> 00:00:40,180Well, the real issue is the issue of sin in our hearts.1100:00:40,180 –> 00:00:43,259Not sins, so much as sin.1200:00:43,259 –> 00:00:45,119Sin is the thing that produces our sins.1300:00:45,119 –> 00:00:47,419See, it’s very easy to get the idea,1400:00:47,419 –> 00:00:50,919OK, well, if a person’s sin is I lose my temper,1500:00:50,919 –> 00:00:54,740if only I could stop losing my temper, then everything would be all right.1600:00:54,740 –> 00:00:56,520Or he’s another person who drinks.1700:00:56,779 –> 00:00:59,360Oh, if only I could get my drinking under control,1800:00:59,360 –> 00:01:02,759I could stop this impulse, then things would be all right.1900:01:02,759 –> 00:01:06,919But actually, the root problem of sin,2000:01:06,919 –> 00:01:10,419the impulse to that which displeases God,2100:01:10,419 –> 00:01:12,139that lies within the human heart,2200:01:12,139 –> 00:01:16,599that’s like the fountain that gives rise to all of the other sins.2300:01:16,599 –> 00:01:18,519And so, what we often find is, you know,2400:01:18,519 –> 00:01:19,820you get one thing under control,2500:01:19,820 –> 00:01:21,820and then you find something else breaks out of control.2600:01:21,820 –> 00:01:24,739And Dr. Lloyd-Jones, who’s had a huge influence in my life,2700:01:24,739 –> 00:01:27,419he was a medical doctor before he was a preacher,2800:01:27,419 –> 00:01:29,239and he used to make this point,2900:01:29,239 –> 00:01:34,120it’s not the symptoms that kill a patient, it’s the disease.3000:01:34,120 –> 00:01:38,279And our sins are the symptoms of a deeper disease3100:01:38,279 –> 00:01:41,739that is called sin, that harbors in the human heart,3200:01:41,739 –> 00:01:44,480that can only be addressed by Christ3300:01:44,480 –> 00:01:47,000and by the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit.3400:01:47,000 –> 00:01:48,580So, that’s what we’re on about today3500:01:48,580 –> 00:01:50,279is very important distinction.3600:01:50,279 –> 00:01:52,160And once we begin to see it,3700:01:52,160 –> 00:01:54,540we’re not merely treating symptoms,3800:01:54,540 –> 00:01:57,160but we’re actually getting to the heart of the disease.3900:01:57,160 –> 00:02:00,440So, we’re going to get into that in Romans 74000:02:00,440 –> 00:02:04,019as we continue the message, Life Before Jesus.4100:02:04,019 –> 00:02:05,260Here’s Colin.4200:02:05,260 –> 00:02:07,300Sin is a power,4300:02:07,300 –> 00:02:10,179it is an impulse of the heart,4400:02:10,179 –> 00:02:15,100in all of us, that gravitates towards what God forbids,4500:02:15,100 –> 00:02:17,660it’s in all of us by nature,4600:02:17,660 –> 00:02:21,339and it is this that we need saving from,4700:02:22,899 –> 00:02:23,979that’s what sin is.4800:02:25,160 –> 00:02:27,179Really important to understand it.4900:02:28,339 –> 00:02:30,580That’s one of the reasons I say Romans Chapter Seven5000:02:30,580 –> 00:02:33,080is one of the most important chapters in the Bible.5100:02:34,100 –> 00:02:36,500You’re not likely to come to Jesus5200:02:36,500 –> 00:02:38,179anymore than the Pharisees did,5300:02:39,179 –> 00:02:40,139so long as you’re working5400:02:40,139 –> 00:02:43,440with such a limited definition of sin.5500:02:44,740 –> 00:02:46,460Second, what sin does.5600:02:47,940 –> 00:02:50,839Paul identifies three activities of sin.5700:02:50,839 –> 00:02:52,619It produces,5800:02:52,619 –> 00:02:54,520it deceives,5900:02:54,520 –> 00:02:56,279and it kills.6000:02:56,279 –> 00:02:57,699Number one then, sin produces.6100:02:57,699 –> 00:02:59,500That’s in Verse Eight.6200:02:59,500 –> 00:03:02,600Sin, seizing an opportunity6300:03:02,600 –> 00:03:04,919through the commandment,6400:03:04,919 –> 00:03:06,919produced,6500:03:06,919 –> 00:03:08,059in me,6600:03:08,919 –> 00:03:12,360all kinds of covetousness,6700:03:12,360 –> 00:03:14,259all kinds of desire.6800:03:15,600 –> 00:03:19,080Now, the word produced is really important here.6900:03:19,080 –> 00:03:21,960Think about a fire that is throwing up flames7000:03:21,960 –> 00:03:23,759and throwing up sparks.7100:03:23,759 –> 00:03:27,080Think about a fountain that is throwing up water.7200:03:27,080 –> 00:03:29,960Produced, produced.7300:03:31,160 –> 00:03:31,820Now,7400:03:32,800 –> 00:03:36,720sin lies within us by nature.7500:03:36,720 –> 00:03:39,559That’s what we’re learning here.7600:03:39,559 –> 00:03:42,960It produces, from within,7700:03:42,960 –> 00:03:46,039all kinds of desires.7800:03:46,039 –> 00:03:49,320It is always throwing up new impulses,7900:03:49,320 –> 00:03:52,240new inclinations towards sin.8000:03:52,279 –> 00:03:54,440We have a word for this.8100:03:54,440 –> 00:03:56,899We call it temptation.8200:03:56,899 –> 00:03:59,940And of course, it comes from within.8300:03:59,940 –> 00:04:03,279Each person, James says, is tempted when he is lured8400:04:03,279 –> 00:04:08,020and when he is enticed by his own evil desire.8500:04:08,020 –> 00:04:10,080And our Lord Jesus makes this very clear.8600:04:10,080 –> 00:04:12,619He says it’s from within,8700:04:12,619 –> 00:04:15,000out of the heart of man,8800:04:15,000 –> 00:04:17,579that come, and then there’s a long list.8900:04:17,579 –> 00:04:19,480Evil thoughts, sexual immorality,9000:04:19,480 –> 00:04:20,880theft, murder, adultery,9100:04:21,119 –> 00:04:23,820coverings, wickedness, deceit, sensuality,9200:04:23,820 –> 00:04:27,619envy, slander, pride, foolishness.9300:04:27,619 –> 00:04:31,179Jesus says all these evils come from within.9400:04:32,100 –> 00:04:34,059And they’re what defiles a person.9500:04:35,940 –> 00:04:36,920Now think about this.9600:04:36,920 –> 00:04:41,920As parents, we rightly want to protect our children9700:04:42,179 –> 00:04:45,820from all of these evils that are out there in the world.9800:04:45,820 –> 00:04:49,339But if you grasp what the scripture is saying here,9900:04:49,339 –> 00:04:51,820you will see that actually the bigger problem10000:04:51,820 –> 00:04:54,500is the impulse towards sin10100:04:54,500 –> 00:04:58,079that actually resides within your children’s hearts10200:04:58,079 –> 00:05:00,459as it resides in yours.10300:05:02,660 –> 00:05:07,420These moods, these tempers, these hurtful things10400:05:08,339 –> 00:05:10,760that suddenly get blurted out and you say,10500:05:10,760 –> 00:05:12,899where did that come from?10600:05:14,299 –> 00:05:16,220The answer is they came from within.10700:05:17,059 –> 00:05:21,200The impulse to sin just produced this10800:05:22,760 –> 00:05:24,000out of your heart.10900:05:25,579 –> 00:05:30,220Sin produces, it’s like a fountain.11000:05:31,940 –> 00:05:33,200Gotta understand that.11100:05:33,200 –> 00:05:34,859It’s a different world from thinking11200:05:34,859 –> 00:05:36,959that’s it’s a few odd actions given there.11300:05:38,440 –> 00:05:41,359Secondly, sin deceives, that’s verse 11.11400:05:41,359 –> 00:05:44,500Sin seizing an opportunity through the commandment11500:05:45,140 –> 00:05:50,140deceived me and through it, it killed me.11600:05:50,299 –> 00:05:51,700Now, of course, this word deceived11700:05:51,700 –> 00:05:53,940immediately takes us back to the Garden of Eden11800:05:53,940 –> 00:05:56,339and to the first sin, and to the first temptation.11900:05:56,339 –> 00:06:00,899Remember how Eve said the serpent deceived me.12000:06:01,820 –> 00:06:03,000That sin has an allure.12100:06:03,000 –> 00:06:04,339It has an attraction.12200:06:04,339 –> 00:06:09,179Every temptation holds a promise of happiness,12300:06:09,179 –> 00:06:11,420but sin deceives.12400:06:11,440 –> 00:06:14,820It makes promises, but it can’t keep them.12500:06:15,899 –> 00:06:17,899And sin deceives in two ways.12600:06:17,899 –> 00:06:22,899It deceives both in the prospect and in the outcome.12700:06:23,820 –> 00:06:27,579Remember the prospect that was offered to Eve was,12800:06:27,579 –> 00:06:29,779you shall be as God.12900:06:30,859 –> 00:06:33,299Now isn’t that something you would want,13000:06:33,299 –> 00:06:36,579the serpent is saying to Eve?13100:06:36,579 –> 00:06:38,779Wouldn’t you want just to be the Lord of your own life?13200:06:38,779 –> 00:06:39,899I mean, it’s your life.13300:06:39,899 –> 00:06:42,119Why would you want God running it for you?13400:06:42,119 –> 00:06:44,540Wouldn’t you like rather to be your own God?13500:06:44,540 –> 00:06:45,619You shall be his God.13600:06:45,619 –> 00:06:46,980Here’s the prospect.13700:06:48,540 –> 00:06:51,200Taste the evil as well as the good,13800:06:51,200 –> 00:06:52,739and then you can make your own choice13900:06:52,739 –> 00:06:54,820as to which one you like the best.14000:06:55,980 –> 00:06:57,899Now, that was the very first temptation.14100:06:57,899 –> 00:06:59,640So, and Eve was deceived.14200:06:59,640 –> 00:07:02,980And so she tasted the evil.14300:07:02,980 –> 00:07:06,040She already knew the good, so evil was all that was gained.14400:07:07,160 –> 00:07:09,279And what she found was that she had been deceived14500:07:09,739 –> 00:07:11,899because she did not become God.14600:07:11,899 –> 00:07:14,480What she became was a sinner and Adam withered.14700:07:16,000 –> 00:07:19,220So, sin deceives us in the prospect that it offers,14800:07:19,220 –> 00:07:24,220and it deceives us in the outcome that it conceals.14900:07:25,480 –> 00:07:27,940Remember the woman said to the serpent,15000:07:27,940 –> 00:07:31,200well, God said, you shall not eat from the fruit15100:07:31,200 –> 00:07:34,420of the tree in the midst of the garden lest you die.15200:07:35,420 –> 00:07:38,760And the serpent said, you’re not gonna die.15300:07:39,679 –> 00:07:41,559You shall not surely die.15400:07:42,459 –> 00:07:45,579So sin conceals the outcome.15500:07:46,459 –> 00:07:48,880It lies to us about the prospect15600:07:48,880 –> 00:07:52,619and it lies to us about the outcome.15700:07:54,519 –> 00:07:59,160The impulse and inclination in15800:07:59,959 –> 00:08:03,380your heart towards sin.15900:08:03,399 –> 00:08:06,179If I do this, I will be happy.16000:08:07,100 –> 00:08:13,100And if I do this, nothing bad will happen to me.16100:08:14,500 –> 00:08:21,799So sin is a powerful impulse that resides within.16200:08:22,239 –> 00:08:28,799Its power is so great that it can draw you16300:08:29,220 –> 00:08:33,739to do again something that made you miserable16400:08:33,739 –> 00:08:34,760last time you did it.16500:08:34,760 –> 00:08:36,479How can you explain that?16600:08:37,659 –> 00:08:40,260Why would you ever be drawn to do again16700:08:40,260 –> 00:08:41,739something that made you miserable16800:08:41,739 –> 00:08:43,320last time you did it?16900:08:44,340 –> 00:08:45,739And we all experience that.17000:08:47,000 –> 00:08:48,219I’m never going to do that again17100:08:48,219 –> 00:08:49,719because I saw the consequences of it17200:08:49,719 –> 00:08:50,739and the pain of it17300:08:50,739 –> 00:08:51,659and all the rest of it.17400:08:51,659 –> 00:08:52,739I never gonna do it again.17500:08:52,739 –> 00:08:55,119And then sin draws you to do it even.17600:08:55,119 –> 00:08:58,159This is how powerful the deception of sin is.17700:08:59,340 –> 00:09:02,419And we all know it from our own experience.17800:09:02,419 –> 00:09:04,539And Romans in chapter seven is saying,17900:09:04,539 –> 00:09:06,859yeah, that’s exactly what it is.18000:09:06,859 –> 00:09:09,299That’s exactly why we need a savior.18100:09:09,299 –> 00:09:10,140Exactly.18200:09:11,559 –> 00:09:14,219Thirdly, sin kills.18300:09:14,219 –> 00:09:15,119Look at verse 11.18400:09:15,119 –> 00:09:17,419Sin seizing an opportunity through the commandment,18500:09:17,419 –> 00:09:18,700it deceived me18600:09:20,380 –> 00:09:21,659and through it, it killed me.18700:09:21,659 –> 00:09:24,979So sin produces it deceives and it kills.18800:09:24,979 –> 00:09:25,820In other words,18900:09:25,820 –> 00:09:28,179it sucks the life out of you.19000:09:28,179 –> 00:09:29,900It kills your ability to love it.19100:09:29,900 –> 00:09:32,500It deadens responsiveness towards God.19200:09:33,900 –> 00:09:35,099It puts you in a position.19300:09:35,099 –> 00:09:38,979Jesus used this word in which your heart becomes dull.19400:09:39,940 –> 00:09:42,940In which you are always hearing and never understanding.19500:09:42,940 –> 00:09:46,500In which you could come to a church for 1000 Sundays19600:09:46,500 –> 00:09:48,640and never be any different.19700:09:48,640 –> 00:09:49,739That’s what sin does.19800:09:51,179 –> 00:09:53,219Deadens you.19900:09:53,219 –> 00:09:54,239It all just goes off,20000:09:55,099 –> 00:09:56,059never changed.20100:09:56,979 –> 00:09:58,200You end up in this position,20200:09:58,200 –> 00:10:00,119again I’m quoting the words of Jesus.20300:10:00,119 –> 00:10:02,799You honor God with your lips.20400:10:02,799 –> 00:10:05,179That is you say all the right things about God.20500:10:06,000 –> 00:10:08,460But in your heart you are far from him.20600:10:08,460 –> 00:10:09,780You do not really love him.20700:10:11,000 –> 00:10:13,159You’re not really in living relationship with him.20800:10:13,159 –> 00:10:15,719And Jesus said these things about the people20900:10:15,719 –> 00:10:19,099who were custodians of the law, committed to a moral life.21000:10:20,979 –> 00:10:24,460So sin is an impulse of rebellion21100:10:25,059 –> 00:10:28,520that resides within each and every one of us21200:10:28,520 –> 00:10:32,000that veers towards that which God forbids,21300:10:32,000 –> 00:10:37,000it deceives, it produces, and it kills,21400:10:39,380 –> 00:10:43,239sucks the life out of you.21500:10:43,239 –> 00:10:44,239That’s what it is.21600:10:44,239 –> 00:10:46,580This is what we’re up against.21700:10:48,239 –> 00:10:50,179Now friends this isn’t the funnest doctrine21800:10:50,179 –> 00:10:52,080in the scripture, right?21900:10:52,080 –> 00:10:53,619I mean frankly it’s not gonna be preached22000:10:53,619 –> 00:10:56,500in a lot of churches, really,22100:10:56,500 –> 00:10:59,260that’s why Romans 7’s not very well understood.22200:10:59,260 –> 00:11:01,780I suppose it’s not very often actually addressed22300:11:02,739 –> 00:11:04,580and a lot of people in church world22400:11:04,580 –> 00:11:07,039live with a moralistic definition of sin22500:11:07,039 –> 00:11:08,419which is it’s wrong actions22600:11:08,419 –> 00:11:10,039and never actually see what the depth22700:11:10,039 –> 00:11:11,260of the real issue is.22800:11:13,059 –> 00:11:14,599But once we grasp this teaching22900:11:14,599 –> 00:11:16,500it’s gonna help us in some profound ways.23000:11:16,500 –> 00:11:20,020I mean one is, you’re gonna better understand23100:11:20,020 –> 00:11:21,700the world in which we live.23200:11:22,599 –> 00:11:24,099Why is the world as it is?23300:11:25,659 –> 00:11:28,780Because every human being born into this world23400:11:28,780 –> 00:11:33,780lives with a fountain in his or her heart23500:11:34,020 –> 00:11:36,880that produces all manner of desires.23600:11:38,140 –> 00:11:40,500So it should never surprise Christians23700:11:40,500 –> 00:11:43,380that sinners are always finding new ways of sinning.23800:11:44,599 –> 00:11:45,599I don’t know why we’re so shocked23900:11:45,599 –> 00:11:46,979when we listen to the news,24000:11:46,979 –> 00:11:49,500why we’re so amazed that there’s violence in the world,24100:11:49,500 –> 00:11:51,260why we’re surprised that sinners24200:11:51,580 –> 00:11:53,200are always moving from one thing24300:11:53,200 –> 00:11:54,940to the next to the next to next,24400:11:54,940 –> 00:11:56,559always finding new ways of sinning,24500:11:56,559 –> 00:11:58,239always finding new ways of offending24600:11:58,239 –> 00:11:59,239against the law of God,24700:11:59,239 –> 00:12:01,400that’s just the nature of what sin is.24800:12:02,559 –> 00:12:05,039And the reason that so often Christian people24900:12:05,039 –> 00:12:06,979end up being so shocked about all of this25000:12:06,979 –> 00:12:08,940is that we don’t understand Romans seven,25100:12:08,940 –> 00:12:10,820therefore we don’t understand the very nature25200:12:10,820 –> 00:12:12,200of the world in which we live,25300:12:12,200 –> 00:12:14,299and the primary problem that it has25400:12:14,299 –> 00:12:16,500that can only be addressed by Jesus Christ.25500:12:18,000 –> 00:12:20,020It’ll help you understand your children.25600:12:21,020 –> 00:12:23,479And what they’re up against,25700:12:23,479 –> 00:12:25,520if you actually have settled in your mind,25800:12:25,520 –> 00:12:27,400what’s in them, and the reason it’s in them25900:12:27,400 –> 00:12:28,580is they got it from you,26000:12:29,799 –> 00:12:31,039and apart from the grace of God,26100:12:31,039 –> 00:12:33,599you’d be worse than they are, right?26200:12:33,599 –> 00:12:35,599It’s only the restraining grace of God26300:12:35,599 –> 00:12:37,960that keeps us from all the worst excesses26400:12:37,960 –> 00:12:39,239that this fountain within26500:12:40,380 –> 00:12:41,820might actually produce.26600:12:42,979 –> 00:12:45,239Will really help us to understand26700:12:45,239 –> 00:12:47,940that little Johnny in all of his sweetness26800:12:47,940 –> 00:12:49,320when he’s born into the world26900:12:49,719 –> 00:12:51,900and he’s brought up here, and we pray over him,27000:12:51,900 –> 00:12:55,419and actually, we gotta know what he’s up against.27100:12:55,419 –> 00:12:57,479There’s this fountain within him27200:12:58,919 –> 00:13:00,380and within his little sister.27300:13:01,559 –> 00:13:03,940And that’s the reality that’s brought to us here27400:13:03,940 –> 00:13:05,719and that will help us.27500:13:05,719 –> 00:13:07,700And we’re gonna look more at that, again,27600:13:07,700 –> 00:13:10,640in What Lies Ahead in the short series.27700:13:10,640 –> 00:13:13,080More than that, it’s gonna help you understand27800:13:13,080 –> 00:13:15,320what you’re up against, what I’m up against.27900:13:16,440 –> 00:13:18,039And when you get it, you’re gonna say,28000:13:18,159 –> 00:13:20,460I really need a savior.28100:13:20,460 –> 00:13:22,619And I need a savior, not just someone28200:13:22,619 –> 00:13:24,659I believe in from afar.28300:13:25,919 –> 00:13:30,059I need a savior who’s with me and in me28400:13:30,059 –> 00:13:32,719to help me stand in the battle28500:13:32,719 –> 00:13:35,159against all of the stuff that I’m up against.28600:13:36,219 –> 00:13:38,719Now, we’re never gonna get to real Christianity28700:13:38,719 –> 00:13:43,200unless we come to terms with a biblical doctrine of sin.28800:13:44,419 –> 00:13:47,280And that’s why we’re spending some time28900:13:48,080 –> 00:13:50,059in Romans chapter 7.29000:13:50,059 –> 00:13:51,320You’re listening to Open the Bible29100:13:51,320 –> 00:13:52,659with Pastor Colin Smith29200:13:52,659 –> 00:13:55,280and a message called Life Before Jesus.29300:13:55,280 –> 00:13:58,320It’s part of our series, How You Can Flourish.29400:13:58,320 –> 00:14:00,000And if you’ve missed any of the series29500:14:00,000 –> 00:14:02,039or if you want to go back and listen again,29600:14:02,039 –> 00:14:03,640why not come to our website,29700:14:03,640 –> 00:14:07,000openthebible.org.uk.29800:14:07,000 –> 00:14:08,719If you’ve found yourself being blessed29900:14:08,719 –> 00:14:11,919by Pastor Colin’s teaching over the past few months,30000:14:11,919 –> 00:14:14,039why not consider making a one-off gift30100:14:14,039 –> 00:14:15,479to the work of Open the Bible,30200:14:15,479 –> 00:14:17,400which will enable Pastor Colin30300:14:17,440 –> 00:14:19,960to remain on air and on the internet.30400:14:19,960 –> 00:14:22,119There’s just one more day of our offer30500:14:22,119 –> 00:14:26,359of three beautifully bound additions of John’s Gospel.30600:14:26,359 –> 00:14:27,799And that’s our gift to you30700:14:27,799 –> 00:14:32,080if you are able to make a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more30800:14:32,080 –> 00:14:36,200to the work of Open the Bible before the end of 2024.30900:14:36,200 –> 00:14:37,960More information and full terms31000:14:37,960 –> 00:14:39,919and conditions are on our website,31100:14:39,919 –> 00:14:42,960openthebible.org.uk.31200:14:42,960 –> 00:14:44,280Back to the message now.31300:14:44,280 –> 00:14:45,440Here’s Colin.31400:14:45,440 –> 00:14:47,320Okay, so what sin is,31500:14:47,320 –> 00:14:49,119what sin does,31600:14:49,119 –> 00:14:52,419and briefly here where sin leads,31700:14:52,419 –> 00:14:54,619look at where it leads.31800:14:54,619 –> 00:14:56,099First it leads to confusion.31900:14:56,099 –> 00:15:00,000Verse 15, I do not understand my own actions.32000:15:01,940 –> 00:15:04,559If all you have is the law32100:15:04,559 –> 00:15:06,359and an attempt to live a moral life,32200:15:06,359 –> 00:15:08,280you will never understand yourself.32300:15:08,280 –> 00:15:10,020You will always be a mystery to yourself.32400:15:10,020 –> 00:15:13,419You won’t be able to make sense of what you do32500:15:13,419 –> 00:15:14,440or why you do it.32600:15:14,479 –> 00:15:16,460If all you have is a sustained attempt32700:15:16,460 –> 00:15:17,460to live a moral life,32800:15:17,460 –> 00:15:19,859you will never be able to make sense of yourself.32900:15:20,880 –> 00:15:22,780Not only does it lead to confusion,33000:15:22,780 –> 00:15:24,280it leads to frustration.33100:15:24,280 –> 00:15:25,960The very famous verse 24,33200:15:25,960 –> 00:15:28,159wretched man that I am,33300:15:28,159 –> 00:15:32,239who will deliver me from this body of death.33400:15:32,239 –> 00:15:35,260Again, I say, if all you have is the law,33500:15:35,260 –> 00:15:37,239which is the focus of this chapter,33600:15:38,080 –> 00:15:40,260if all you have is a sustained attempt33700:15:40,260 –> 00:15:42,520to live a moral life,33800:15:42,520 –> 00:15:44,200the best you can hope for,33900:15:44,559 –> 00:15:48,359is a continuing experience of confusion34000:15:48,359 –> 00:15:50,359and of frustration.34100:15:51,400 –> 00:15:55,159Because a sustained attempt at living a moral life,34200:15:55,159 –> 00:15:58,460which is what is often found in church circles.34300:15:59,380 –> 00:16:01,760A sustained attempt at living a moral life34400:16:01,760 –> 00:16:03,239cannot change who you are,34500:16:04,280 –> 00:16:07,280cannot affect what is within you.34600:16:07,280 –> 00:16:10,200More than that, even becoming religious34700:16:10,200 –> 00:16:12,359cannot change what you are34800:16:12,359 –> 00:16:14,919and what is at work within you.34900:16:14,919 –> 00:16:17,960See, praying, and fasting, and solitude,35000:16:17,960 –> 00:16:21,159and serving, and giving back to the community.35100:16:21,159 –> 00:16:24,039None of these things has the power35200:16:24,039 –> 00:16:27,619to deal with this impulse of sin that is within you35300:16:27,619 –> 00:16:31,940that produces, and deceives, and kills.35400:16:31,940 –> 00:16:35,599That is why morality cannot be the answer.35500:16:35,599 –> 00:16:37,200It cannot address the problem.35600:16:37,200 –> 00:16:38,599It just doesn’t do it.35700:16:39,359 –> 00:16:43,880If we call people to morality,35800:16:43,880 –> 00:16:47,599and do not lead them to Jesus Christ,35900:16:47,599 –> 00:16:50,179all we do is bring them into confusion,36000:16:50,179 –> 00:16:53,239and into frustration.36100:16:53,239 –> 00:16:55,840So the message of the church to the world36200:16:55,840 –> 00:17:00,840must be more than a call to morality.36300:17:00,880 –> 00:17:04,920Calling lost people to morality,36400:17:05,300 –> 00:17:09,819it’s like telling a man who is dying of lung cancer36500:17:09,819 –> 00:17:13,540to stop smoking, the damage is already done,36600:17:13,540 –> 00:17:16,540it’s not addressing the issue.36700:17:16,540 –> 00:17:17,380Just isn’t.36800:17:19,300 –> 00:17:22,900A call to morality on its own36900:17:22,900 –> 00:17:26,380will only lead people to the place of verse 24 saying,37000:17:26,380 –> 00:17:28,180The wretched man that I am,37100:17:28,180 –> 00:17:31,079who will deliver me from this body of death.37200:17:31,939 –> 00:17:35,319And if the message of parents to our children37300:17:35,319 –> 00:17:37,500is simply, live a good life, son,37400:17:37,500 –> 00:17:40,699live a moral life, daughter,37500:17:40,699 –> 00:17:42,660what we’re doing is we’re actually setting them up37600:17:42,660 –> 00:17:45,180for confusion, we’re setting them up for frustration,37700:17:45,180 –> 00:17:47,780we’re actually watering the seeds of rebellion37800:17:47,780 –> 00:17:50,199that are already there within them.37900:17:51,079 –> 00:17:53,839We have to explain to our children38000:17:53,839 –> 00:17:56,680the doctrine of indwelling sin,38100:17:56,680 –> 00:17:58,020what we’ve looked at today,38200:17:58,020 –> 00:18:00,619how sin is in us, how it produces,38300:18:00,619 –> 00:18:02,599how it deceives and how it kills38400:18:02,599 –> 00:18:05,619and how the only answer to it is in Jesus Christ.38500:18:06,780 –> 00:18:10,099We must tell them that there is only one way38600:18:11,280 –> 00:18:13,640to deal with the impulse of sin.38700:18:15,359 –> 00:18:18,020You have to become a new creation.38800:18:19,619 –> 00:18:24,099You have to die and to rise with Jesus Christ38900:18:25,099 –> 00:18:27,760and that happens through what we’re calling here,39000:18:27,760 –> 00:18:31,699using Paul’s analogy, a second marriage39100:18:33,099 –> 00:18:38,099in which by faith you are made one with Jesus Christ39200:18:38,339 –> 00:18:41,060in this new and living union39300:18:42,380 –> 00:18:43,839and that’s were Paul goes with it.39400:18:43,839 –> 00:18:47,959Thank God that Romans 7 doesn’t end on verse 2439500:18:47,959 –> 00:18:50,300when he says wretched man that I am39600:18:50,300 –> 00:18:53,359who shall deliver me from this body of death.39700:18:53,479 –> 00:18:55,280He then says verse 25,39800:18:55,280 –> 00:18:58,800thanks be to God through Jesus Christ.39900:19:00,020 –> 00:19:03,180Thank God that being a Christian40000:19:03,180 –> 00:19:06,800is more than a sustained attempt to living a moral life.40100:19:08,359 –> 00:19:09,959Thank God that being a Christian40200:19:09,959 –> 00:19:12,859is much more than vaguely believing in Jesus40300:19:12,859 –> 00:19:14,959and then going out to try harder.40400:19:16,000 –> 00:19:19,520Thank God that being a Christian is a living union40500:19:19,520 –> 00:19:23,280in which the presence and the power of Jesus Christ40600:19:23,280 –> 00:19:26,640comes to indwell you by the Holy Spirit40700:19:26,640 –> 00:19:29,819to enable you as we’re going to see God willing next week40800:19:29,819 –> 00:19:32,719to stand in this battle that you have40900:19:32,719 –> 00:19:34,540with sin that resides within you.41000:19:36,079 –> 00:19:38,020Well, we look at this further next week41100:19:38,939 –> 00:19:41,599but I want simply to end today with this appeal.41200:19:43,819 –> 00:19:44,660Friends,41300:19:45,859 –> 00:19:47,719one of the things about staying as a pastor41400:19:47,719 –> 00:19:49,680for a long place is some convictions41500:19:49,680 –> 00:19:51,880get more deep in you and some burdens41600:19:51,880 –> 00:19:53,959get heavier on you over time.41700:19:56,520 –> 00:20:00,079And I am increasingly burdened41800:20:01,800 –> 00:20:02,640for,41900:20:03,920 –> 00:20:05,000I think, the many42000:20:06,359 –> 00:20:08,800in our congregation whose best understanding42100:20:08,800 –> 00:20:11,400of Christianity is that it is a sustained attempt42200:20:11,400 –> 00:20:12,500to live a moral life.42300:20:14,160 –> 00:20:15,359I’m burdened about that.42400:20:16,640 –> 00:20:18,479You have seen that Jesus can forgive42500:20:20,119 –> 00:20:21,439when you do bad things.42600:20:22,800 –> 00:20:26,540But you have not yet seen that he can change who you are.42700:20:28,640 –> 00:20:31,459So you come to church faithfully and bless you.42800:20:31,459 –> 00:20:34,199You go out sort of white knuckled in an attempt42900:20:34,199 –> 00:20:37,060to live a better life next week than you lived last week.43000:20:38,699 –> 00:20:41,180And what you experience is exactly what Paul says here.43100:20:41,180 –> 00:20:44,040A great deal of confusion and a great deal of frustration.43200:20:45,859 –> 00:20:47,839And I’m praying that this series, for some,43300:20:47,839 –> 00:20:50,160will be the place where God will shine the light43400:20:50,160 –> 00:20:51,000into your heart,43500:20:51,359 –> 00:20:53,079and you’ll begin to say, ah,43600:20:54,800 –> 00:20:57,319I see in a way that I just never saw before.43700:20:57,319 –> 00:20:58,920I need a savior.43800:21:00,540 –> 00:21:04,199And not a savior that I vaguely believe in from afar.43900:21:04,199 –> 00:21:06,520A Jesus that I’ve always said I believe in.44000:21:07,880 –> 00:21:10,439But a savior who is actually with me44100:21:10,439 –> 00:21:12,979and a savior who, by the power of his Holy Spirit,44200:21:12,979 –> 00:21:14,680will work in me.44300:21:17,040 –> 00:21:18,760And I want to say to you today,44400:21:18,760 –> 00:21:20,359to give you encouragement and hope,44500:21:20,359 –> 00:21:23,160that Jesus Christ truly can do for you44600:21:23,160 –> 00:21:25,699what you are not able to do for yourself.44700:21:27,040 –> 00:21:28,920So come to Jesus Christ today.44800:21:28,920 –> 00:21:31,619Confess that your best attempts to change yourself44900:21:31,619 –> 00:21:33,599on the outside can’t cut it45000:21:33,599 –> 00:21:36,439because they don’t change you on the inside.45100:21:37,579 –> 00:21:41,719Cast yourself upon the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.45200:21:41,719 –> 00:21:46,719Ask him to bind himself to you in this new and living union45300:21:48,099 –> 00:21:50,119that’s at the heart of what we’re learning here.45400:21:50,319 –> 00:21:52,000In Romans, in chapter seven.45500:21:52,000 –> 00:21:53,500To make you a new creation.45600:21:53,500 –> 00:21:57,739Someone who has died and risen in him and with him.45700:21:57,739 –> 00:22:02,619And hope will begin for you in Jesus Christ.45800:22:04,560 –> 00:22:06,359You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith45900:22:06,359 –> 00:22:10,540on Open the Bible and a message called Life Before Jesus.46000:22:10,540 –> 00:22:13,319It’s part of our series, How You Can Flourish46100:22:13,319 –> 00:22:15,300and if you ever miss one of our programs46200:22:15,300 –> 00:22:18,640you can always catch up or go back and listen again online46300:22:18,680 –> 00:22:22,599at our website, openthebible.org.uk46400:22:22,599 –> 00:22:24,959or on your favorite podcast site.46500:22:24,959 –> 00:22:28,160Simply search for Open the Bible UK.46600:22:28,160 –> 00:22:30,599Also on our website is Open the Bible Daily46700:22:30,599 –> 00:22:34,560and that a series of two to three minute daily reflections46800:22:34,560 –> 00:22:36,439based on Pastor Colin’s teaching46900:22:36,439 –> 00:22:39,020and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.47000:22:39,020 –> 00:22:41,660Maybe as you’ve been listening to the message today47100:22:41,660 –> 00:22:43,319you’ve heard God calling you47200:22:43,319 –> 00:22:46,300into a relationship with Jesus Christ.47300:22:46,300 –> 00:22:48,459You’d like to know more about how to enter47400:22:48,459 –> 00:22:51,939into that relationship by the saving grace of God.47500:22:51,939 –> 00:22:53,380And if so, I hope you’ll seek out47600:22:53,380 –> 00:22:55,900a trusted Christian friend or family member47700:22:55,900 –> 00:22:58,859or maybe go along to a Christian Church fellowship.47800:22:58,859 –> 00:23:01,180Take time to speak with the folk there,47900:23:01,180 –> 00:23:03,660the pastor or simply members of that fellowship.48000:23:03,660 –> 00:23:07,119Tell them about your journey to discover faith for yourself.48100:23:07,119 –> 00:23:09,459You’ll find they’ll be ready to pray with you48200:23:09,459 –> 00:23:11,459to help you make that step,48300:23:11,459 –> 00:23:13,660or if you’re not yet ready to make that step48400:23:13,660 –> 00:23:15,400and still have questions48500:23:15,400 –> 00:23:17,000and we all have questions,48600:23:17,000 –> 00:23:19,160there may well be a Bible study course48700:23:19,160 –> 00:23:23,040or a home group or an alpha programme that you can join.48800:23:23,040 –> 00:23:25,479Well, we’re rapidly approaching the end of the year48900:23:25,479 –> 00:23:27,699and many people do think about49000:23:27,699 –> 00:23:29,699making a generous one-off gift49100:23:29,699 –> 00:23:32,459to a charity of their choice at this time of year.49200:23:32,459 –> 00:23:34,479And Colin, if people have been blessed49300:23:34,479 –> 00:23:36,859by hearing your teaching,49400:23:36,859 –> 00:23:40,520why should they consider giving a gift to Open the Bible?49500:23:40,520 –> 00:23:43,339One of the greatest joys and encouragements to me49600:23:43,359 –> 00:23:46,060is just to hear from people how the Lord49700:23:46,060 –> 00:23:49,500is using the ministry of Open the Bible in their lives.49800:23:49,500 –> 00:23:51,959And if that has been your experience,49900:23:51,959 –> 00:23:54,739that God has blessed you through the ministry,50000:23:54,739 –> 00:23:56,859then praise God for that.50100:23:56,859 –> 00:24:01,300His Word accomplishments the purpose for which He sends it.50200:24:01,300 –> 00:24:03,060And if He’s doing that in your life,50300:24:03,060 –> 00:24:05,219that to me is just the greatest joy.50400:24:05,219 –> 00:24:08,920And if you’re experiencing God’s blessing in that way,50500:24:08,920 –> 00:24:11,140then it would be a great blessing50600:24:11,160 –> 00:24:13,199to the ministry of Open the Bible50700:24:13,199 –> 00:24:15,439if you are able to help us with a gift50800:24:15,439 –> 00:24:18,040as we come towards this year end.50900:24:18,040 –> 00:24:21,199Give where God has brought blessing to you,51000:24:21,199 –> 00:24:23,500and if that has been your experience,51100:24:23,500 –> 00:24:25,060then it would be a blessing to us51200:24:25,060 –> 00:24:26,839if you were able to support the ministry.51300:24:26,839 –> 00:24:28,280Thank you so much.51400:24:28,280 –> 00:24:30,660The encouragement and the testimony51500:24:30,660 –> 00:24:32,900of all who are partners with this ministry51600:24:32,900 –> 00:24:35,219sustains the work and brings joy51700:24:35,219 –> 00:24:37,719to all of our hearts as we serve together51800:24:37,719 –> 00:24:40,959to advance the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.51900:24:40,959 –> 00:24:43,439Well, if you’re able to make a one-off gift52000:24:43,439 –> 00:24:44,880to the work of Open the Bible52100:24:44,880 –> 00:24:47,239in the amount of 50 pounds or more52200:24:47,239 –> 00:24:50,199or indeed, a monthly donations to the work52300:24:50,199 –> 00:24:52,640of five pounds per month or more,52400:24:52,640 –> 00:24:54,920we’d love to say thank you by sending you52500:24:54,920 –> 00:24:57,719three copies of a Beautifully Bound Edition52600:24:57,719 –> 00:24:59,339of John’s Gospel.52700:24:59,339 –> 00:25:01,839Full terms and conditions on our website52800:25:01,839 –> 00:25:04,000and you can give online.52900:25:04,000 –> 00:25:06,640For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,53000:25:06,640 –> 00:25:09,939I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.53100:25:10,239 –> 00:25:14,239The Bread comedian53200:25:17,260 –> 00:25:19,959Christians often talk about the need of a Saviour.53300:25:19,959 –> 00:25:23,420But what do we need saving from?53400:25:23,420 –> 00:25:25,939Find out next time on Open the Bible.