100:00:00,260 –> 00:00:12,020If all you have is a sustained effort to pursue a more life and you’ve just attached the tag Christian to that,200:00:12,280 –> 00:00:18,719what you’ve missed out on is all of the joy, all of the love, all of the peace, the power,300:00:18,719 –> 00:00:24,100the motivation, the energy that comes from union with Jesus Christ.400:00:24,100 –> 00:00:27,020Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.500:00:27,020 –> 00:00:28,020I’m David Pick.600:00:28,020 –> 00:00:31,680Tell me if you could be with us today and Colin, there may be some listening today700:00:31,680 –> 00:00:39,080who would say I’m Christian but I don’t feel much of that joy, love and power you’re talking about.800:00:39,080 –> 00:00:45,040You know, I think a lot of folks grasp onto the name Christian and what they really mean by that is900:00:45,259 –> 00:00:48,299a sustained attempt to live a moral life.1000:00:48,299 –> 00:00:50,919I find it helpful actually to ask the question, Steve.1100:00:50,919 –> 00:00:57,619Can you explain clearly what is the difference between being a Christian and a sustained effort at a moral life?1200:00:57,680 –> 00:01:02,439After all, an atheist can make a sustained effort at living a moral life.1300:01:02,439 –> 00:01:05,639These are not the same thing. I’m trying to be a good person.1400:01:05,639 –> 00:01:10,480That does not equal Christian, at the heart of being Christian is the word Christ1500:01:10,480 –> 00:01:14,900and we’re going to be looking in this series at union with Jesus Christ.1600:01:14,900 –> 00:01:20,559What it means for you to be in Christ and for Jesus Christ to be in you1700:01:20,559 –> 00:01:26,519by the power and presence of his Holy Spirit and that gets to the heart of what it really means to be a Christian.1800:01:26,800 –> 00:01:32,360We’re going to go into that today from Romans chapter 7 and verses one to six1900:01:32,360 –> 00:01:36,040as we begin the message Life Through Jesus. Here’s Colin.2000:01:36,339 –> 00:01:39,199It’s really good to be beginning a new series.2100:01:39,199 –> 00:01:47,059One of the responsibilities of a pastor is to make sure that God’s people have a balanced diet2200:01:47,059 –> 00:01:53,300in relation to God’s words. Just think about our diet in terms of what we eat,2300:01:53,300 –> 00:02:00,260five basic food groups. You have your vegetables, your fruits, your grains, your dairy, your protein and so forth.2400:02:00,260 –> 00:02:05,620And a balanced diet is basically one in which you absorb, in proper proportion,2500:02:05,620 –> 00:02:12,779the distinct value and contribution that comes to health from each of these different food groups.2600:02:12,779 –> 00:02:17,759Now what is true in relation to the nourishing of the body2700:02:17,759 –> 00:02:22,520is also true in relation to the nourishing of the soul.2800:02:22,520 –> 00:02:25,399Remember Jesus used this analogy, he said,2900:02:25,399 –> 00:02:33,160Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.3000:02:33,160 –> 00:02:38,020So, all that we are seeking to learn together, comes from the Word of God.3100:02:38,020 –> 00:02:41,419But clearly the Word of God itself has different parts3200:02:41,419 –> 00:02:46,179and just as the different food groups each contribute in a distinct way3300:02:46,179 –> 00:02:48,460to the overall health of the body,3400:02:48,460 –> 00:02:55,720so the different parts of scripture contribute to the health of our own spiritual life.3500:02:55,720 –> 00:02:59,380Now, earlier this year, we did a series on contentment.3600:02:59,380 –> 00:03:02,380That was a series about Christian character.3700:03:02,380 –> 00:03:07,860It was a series about what Christians experience.3800:03:07,860 –> 00:03:09,300This series is quite different.3900:03:09,500 –> 00:03:12,619This is a series on Christian doctrine.4000:03:12,619 –> 00:03:16,860It is about what Christians believe,4100:03:16,860 –> 00:03:21,380and especially, we’re going to focus in on what Christians believe4200:03:21,380 –> 00:03:26,220about the law, about grace and about the Christian life.4300:03:26,220 –> 00:03:32,619So I invite you to turn with me to Romans chapter 7.4400:03:32,619 –> 00:03:36,259Over these three weeks that we have together here,4500:03:36,279 –> 00:03:41,660we’re going to read through the whole of this very important chapter, Romans chapter 7.4600:03:41,660 –> 00:03:46,940But the messages themselves will focus just on the first six verses4700:03:46,940 –> 00:03:51,380and particularly verses four, five, and six.4800:03:51,380 –> 00:03:55,360Now, a good place to begin I think with any series4900:03:55,360 –> 00:03:58,479is to have a clear sense of what our objectives are,5000:03:58,479 –> 00:04:02,660what we’re seeking to gain from this particular part of the word of God5100:04:02,660 –> 00:04:05,380and how we hope to grow through it.5200:04:05,399 –> 00:04:08,080So let me set out for you three objectives,5300:04:08,080 –> 00:04:11,339I hope to encourage your interest and your engagement,5400:04:11,339 –> 00:04:14,160and these three objectives more or less correspond5500:04:14,160 –> 00:04:17,359with the three weeks that we have together.5600:04:17,359 –> 00:04:19,839The first of these is, that through this series5700:04:19,839 –> 00:04:24,820we should better grasp the doctrine of union with Christ,5800:04:24,820 –> 00:04:29,679which is central to the whole of the Christian life.5900:04:29,679 –> 00:04:32,920I think this is one of the least well-understood6000:04:32,920 –> 00:04:36,380of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith,6100:04:36,380 –> 00:04:39,779that is the doctrine of union with Jesus Christ,6200:04:39,779 –> 00:04:42,079what does it mean for you to be one with Christ,6300:04:42,079 –> 00:04:46,220for Christ to be in you and for you to be in him.6400:04:46,220 –> 00:04:48,799And that’s why we’ll look today particularly6500:04:48,799 –> 00:04:51,160at Romans chapter seven and verse four,6600:04:51,160 –> 00:04:53,500where we have this wonderful statement6700:04:53,500 –> 00:04:58,500that we belong to Him who has been raised from the dead6800:04:58,820 –> 00:05:03,220in order that we may bear fruit for God.6900:05:03,220 –> 00:05:07,540So question, how can I bear fruit for God?7000:05:07,540 –> 00:05:11,100Answer, by union with Jesus Christ7100:05:11,100 –> 00:05:13,119because of belonging to Him.7200:05:13,119 –> 00:05:16,059It’s the fruit of this living relationship7300:05:16,059 –> 00:05:21,059of being in Christ that’s going to produce fruit from God.7400:05:21,059 –> 00:05:23,779That’s Romans chapter seven and verse four.7500:05:23,779 –> 00:05:27,959Second objective, that we would better understand7600:05:28,100 –> 00:05:32,279why Christianity is more7700:05:32,279 –> 00:05:35,619than a sustained effort at living a moral life.7800:05:36,640 –> 00:05:39,119See, there are many folks in our congregation7900:05:39,119 –> 00:05:42,399who are up for a sustained effort at living a moral life.8000:05:42,399 –> 00:05:44,480That’s why you come to church.8100:05:44,480 –> 00:05:47,519I want you to know, and to see from the Bible,8200:05:47,519 –> 00:05:50,119that Christianity is a whole lot more8300:05:50,119 –> 00:05:54,339than a sustained effort at living a moral life.8400:05:54,339 –> 00:05:55,320Now, if you’re a believer,8500:05:55,320 –> 00:05:56,760I challenge you with this question.8600:05:56,859 –> 00:05:59,579Can you explain clearly and compellingly8700:05:59,579 –> 00:06:01,459to someone who didn’t know the difference8800:06:01,459 –> 00:06:03,540what that difference is?8900:06:03,540 –> 00:06:06,079Because it is a vast difference9000:06:06,079 –> 00:06:08,440that we need to understand ourselves9100:06:08,440 –> 00:06:13,239and that we need to be able to communicate to others.9200:06:13,239 –> 00:06:17,339Please understand that an atheist9300:06:17,339 –> 00:06:21,299can make a sustained attempt to live a moral life.9400:06:22,380 –> 00:06:24,500By definition, to attempt a moral life,9500:06:24,500 –> 00:06:26,040you do not need Jesus Christ9600:06:26,040 –> 00:06:28,279to make that attempt.9700:06:28,279 –> 00:06:32,880Christians for sure are committed to a moral life9800:06:32,880 –> 00:06:34,179and to the pursuit of it.9900:06:34,179 –> 00:06:35,359But what I want you to see10000:06:35,359 –> 00:06:38,619is that there’s nothing uniquely Christian10100:06:38,619 –> 00:06:41,660about attempting a moral life.10200:06:41,660 –> 00:06:45,640So if all you have is a sustained effort10300:06:45,640 –> 00:06:47,459to pursue a moral life10400:06:47,459 –> 00:06:50,459and you’ve just attached the tag Christian to that,10500:06:50,459 –> 00:06:54,239what you’ve missed out on is all of the joy,10600:06:54,239 –> 00:06:55,059all of the love,10700:06:55,279 –> 00:06:57,000all of the peace, the power,10800:06:57,000 –> 00:06:58,440the motivation, the energy10900:06:58,440 –> 00:07:02,220that comes from union with Jesus Christ.11000:07:02,220 –> 00:07:05,480And that’s what I want us to get hold of in this series.11100:07:05,480 –> 00:07:06,940And that leads to the third thing,11200:07:06,940 –> 00:07:09,820which is to taste and to savor11300:07:09,820 –> 00:07:12,559the freedom and the joy11400:07:12,559 –> 00:07:16,839of an authentic Christian life.11500:07:16,839 –> 00:07:19,679And I think that Romans 711600:07:19,679 –> 00:07:21,839that brings us into this11700:07:21,839 –> 00:07:23,359is one of the most important11800:07:23,399 –> 00:07:24,739and also one of the least11900:07:24,739 –> 00:07:26,679well understood chapters12000:07:26,679 –> 00:07:27,820of the Bible.12100:07:28,839 –> 00:07:30,160In fact, growing up,12200:07:31,200 –> 00:07:34,679I heard on a number of occasions12300:07:34,679 –> 00:07:37,679teaching that said this,12400:07:37,679 –> 00:07:41,480what you need to do as a Christian12500:07:41,480 –> 00:07:45,579is to get out of Romans chapter seven12600:07:45,579 –> 00:07:48,140and get into Romans and chapter eight.12700:07:48,140 –> 00:07:49,679I’m curious to know how many people12800:07:49,679 –> 00:07:50,739have heard that line.12900:07:51,540 –> 00:07:54,059Oh thank goodness that America13000:07:54,059 –> 00:07:56,260has been preserved from such things.13100:07:56,260 –> 00:07:57,100Well,13200:08:01,459 –> 00:08:04,559for the sake of the one who has heard it.13300:08:04,559 –> 00:08:09,100I want just to dispense with that13400:08:09,100 –> 00:08:10,760because otherwise you and I might be saying13500:08:10,760 –> 00:08:12,480you know why in the world are we spending13600:08:12,480 –> 00:08:14,079three weeks in Romans chapter seven13700:08:14,079 –> 00:08:15,619if the objective is to get out of it13800:08:15,619 –> 00:08:17,839and get into chapter eight?13900:08:17,839 –> 00:08:20,399I want us to taste and to savor14000:08:20,399 –> 00:08:23,279the joy of the Christian life14100:08:23,279 –> 00:08:26,540right here in Romans and chapter seven.14200:08:26,540 –> 00:08:28,579And for all of the rest of you14300:08:28,579 –> 00:08:29,880who have never heard that line before14400:08:29,880 –> 00:08:31,500let me just tell you this.14500:08:31,500 –> 00:08:34,280There are scores of books14600:08:34,280 –> 00:08:36,679that talk about the carnal Christian14700:08:36,679 –> 00:08:38,799and then the higher spiritual life14800:08:38,799 –> 00:08:41,359that are awash in Christian bookshops14900:08:41,359 –> 00:08:43,380that are full of that theology15000:08:43,380 –> 00:08:44,359that basically says,15100:08:44,359 –> 00:08:46,119you have to get out of Roman seven15200:08:46,140 –> 00:08:48,359to get into Romans and chapter eight.15300:08:48,359 –> 00:08:50,419And I want your eyes to be open15400:08:50,419 –> 00:08:51,640to the errors of that15500:08:51,640 –> 00:08:52,880because you’ve seen15600:08:52,880 –> 00:08:54,580the riches of the gospel15700:08:54,580 –> 00:08:59,320in this chapter that is before us today.15800:08:59,320 –> 00:09:01,320I hope then that that helps you15900:09:01,320 –> 00:09:02,640to open your mind16000:09:02,640 –> 00:09:04,960and to open your heart.16100:09:04,960 –> 00:09:06,820And also I hope now16200:09:06,820 –> 00:09:07,880to open your Bible16300:09:07,880 –> 00:09:10,679at Romans and chapter seven.16400:09:10,679 –> 00:09:12,359And we’ll get back to Romans 716500:09:12,359 –> 00:09:13,640in just a moment.16600:09:13,640 –> 00:09:14,880You are listening to open the Bible16700:09:14,880 –> 00:09:16,340with Pastor Colin Smith16800:09:16,340 –> 00:09:17,400and a message called16900:09:17,400 –> 00:09:19,159Life through Jesus17000:09:19,159 –> 00:09:20,659it’s part of our series17100:09:20,659 –> 00:09:22,880called How You Can Flourish.17200:09:22,880 –> 00:09:24,419And if you ever miss one of the series17300:09:24,419 –> 00:09:25,280or if you want to go back17400:09:25,280 –> 00:09:26,239and listen again,17500:09:26,239 –> 00:09:27,080you can do that by17600:09:27,080 –> 00:09:28,559coming online to our website17700:09:28,559 –> 00:09:32,000openthebible.org.uk17800:09:32,000 –> 00:09:32,919Open the Bible17900:09:32,919 –> 00:09:34,080is entirely supported18000:09:34,080 –> 00:09:35,320by our listeners18100:09:35,320 –> 00:09:36,799and if you’re considering18200:09:36,799 –> 00:09:37,900a one-offs gift18300:09:37,900 –> 00:09:39,580at the end 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message now20300:10:08,460 –> 00:10:09,479here’s Colin.20400:10:09,479 –> 00:10:10,380Now just a word about20500:10:10,380 –> 00:10:11,580the title of the series20600:10:12,179 –> 00:10:13,580A Second Marriage.20700:10:13,919 –> 00:10:14,960It comes of course20800:10:14,960 –> 00:10:16,260from the analogy20900:10:16,260 –> 00:10:18,320or the illustration21000:10:18,320 –> 00:10:19,700that Paul uses here21100:10:19,700 –> 00:10:21,039in these first six verses.21200:10:21,039 –> 00:10:22,919Let me draw your attention21300:10:22,919 –> 00:10:23,559to verse 1.21400:10:23,559 –> 00:10:25,700Do you not know, brothers,21500:10:25,700 –> 00:10:27,039for I am speaking to those21600:10:27,039 –> 00:10:28,580who know the law,21700:10:28,580 –> 00:10:29,419that the law is21800:10:29,419 –> 00:10:31,419binding on a person only21900:10:31,419 –> 00:10:33,299as long as he lives.22000:10:33,840 –> 00:10:35,820For a married woman22100:10:35,820 –> 00:10:38,039is bound by law22200:10:38,039 –> 00:10:39,739to her husband22300:10:39,739 –> 00:10:42,140while he lives.22400:10:42,400 –> 00:10:45,059But if her husband dies,22500:10:45,059 –> 00:10:47,000she is released22600:10:47,000 –> 00:10:48,299from the law22700:10:48,299 –> 00:10:49,919of marriage.22800:10:50,200 –> 00:10:51,659Now Paul is using here22900:10:51,659 –> 00:10:53,440an illustration23000:10:53,739 –> 00:10:54,559and obviously23100:10:54,559 –> 00:10:56,140any illustration23200:10:56,140 –> 00:10:58,119has its limitations.23300:10:58,380 –> 00:11:00,099And if an illustration23400:11:00,099 –> 00:11:01,400is pressed23500:11:01,400 –> 00:11:02,700too far,23600:11:02,700 –> 00:11:04,119then it becomes confusing.23700:11:04,119 –> 00:11:04,799You can’t kind of23800:11:04,799 –> 00:11:06,840work it out in regards to23900:11:06,840 –> 00:11:07,799everywhere that24000:11:07,799 –> 00:11:09,940someone might want to go with it.24100:11:10,119 –> 00:11:11,700But the point of an illustration24200:11:11,700 –> 00:11:13,179and surely we all understand this24300:11:13,179 –> 00:11:14,500is that a good illustration24400:11:14,500 –> 00:11:15,080really is like24500:11:15,080 –> 00:11:16,960a window that lets light24600:11:16,960 –> 00:11:18,080into the mind24700:11:18,080 –> 00:11:19,419and into the heart.24800:11:19,679 –> 00:11:21,940And this is a marvelous illustration24900:11:21,940 –> 00:11:23,460that helps us to understand25000:11:23,460 –> 00:11:24,840a really important truth25100:11:24,840 –> 00:11:26,280that I hope we are going to grasp25200:11:26,280 –> 00:11:27,500together today.25300:11:27,880 –> 00:11:28,880Now the point25400:11:28,880 –> 00:11:30,020that Paul is25500:11:30,020 –> 00:11:32,140seeking to illustrate25600:11:32,140 –> 00:11:33,760with this marriage analogy25700:11:33,760 –> 00:11:35,119is in verse 1.25800:11:35,119 –> 00:11:36,039The point is25900:11:36,039 –> 00:11:37,219the law26000:11:37,559 –> 00:11:40,159is binding on a person26100:11:40,500 –> 00:11:41,760only26200:11:41,760 –> 00:11:42,760as long26300:11:43,020 –> 00:11:44,400as he lives.26400:11:45,020 –> 00:11:45,760In other words26500:11:45,760 –> 00:11:46,520Paul is saying26600:11:46,520 –> 00:11:48,320for the sake of illustration26700:11:48,320 –> 00:11:50,280so that we can understand this26800:11:50,960 –> 00:11:53,299think of your relationship26900:11:53,299 –> 00:11:54,559with the law27000:11:54,659 –> 00:11:57,219as if it were a marriage.27100:11:58,039 –> 00:12:00,280So for the purpose of this illustration27200:12:00,280 –> 00:12:02,599Paul is speaking of the law27300:12:02,599 –> 00:12:05,479as if the law was a person27400:12:05,479 –> 00:12:07,000and you were married27500:12:07,059 –> 00:12:08,320to that person27600:12:08,440 –> 00:12:09,520and so for that reason27700:12:09,520 –> 00:12:11,960I’m going to give that person a name27800:12:12,239 –> 00:12:14,500will be a gender neutral name27900:12:14,500 –> 00:12:15,559so that28000:12:15,679 –> 00:12:18,179both women and men can relate to it28100:12:18,179 –> 00:12:19,739as we think of what it would be28200:12:19,739 –> 00:12:21,760to be married to this person.28300:12:21,960 –> 00:12:24,119I’m going to call this person28400:12:24,119 –> 00:12:25,239nomos28500:12:25,239 –> 00:12:27,380which of course is the Greek word28600:12:27,640 –> 00:12:28,719for law.28700:12:28,719 –> 00:12:29,260Now28800:12:29,260 –> 00:12:32,099what is it like for you28900:12:32,599 –> 00:12:34,400to be married29000:12:34,760 –> 00:12:36,159to nomos29100:12:36,599 –> 00:12:38,440or as Paul puts it here in verse 129200:12:38,440 –> 00:12:41,979to be bound to the law.29300:12:42,739 –> 00:12:44,599What is that like?29400:12:45,580 –> 00:12:48,640Well the law makes demands29500:12:49,280 –> 00:12:51,280so if you are married to nomos29600:12:51,280 –> 00:12:55,380you are married to a very demanding person.29700:12:56,460 –> 00:12:58,239However hard you try29800:12:59,039 –> 00:13:01,500you can never quite live up to29900:13:01,500 –> 00:13:04,599nomos expectations of you30000:13:05,440 –> 00:13:07,599To be married to nomos30100:13:07,599 –> 00:13:08,780what would you say?30200:13:08,780 –> 00:13:12,520I’m gonna say it is an unhappy marriage30300:13:12,520 –> 00:13:13,020right?30400:13:13,020 –> 00:13:13,840You’re with me?30500:13:13,840 –> 00:13:17,760Not gonna be easy to be married to nomos.30600:13:18,380 –> 00:13:19,820Think about what this is like30700:13:19,820 –> 00:13:22,299you can never get to the place30800:13:22,299 –> 00:13:25,619where nomos your spouse is pleased with you.30900:13:26,099 –> 00:13:28,099Even when you have done your best31000:13:28,099 –> 00:13:30,780in regards to one thing that nomos asked of you31100:13:30,780 –> 00:13:32,419nomos has something else31200:13:32,479 –> 00:13:34,400that still is asked for you31300:13:34,400 –> 00:13:35,940that you have not yet done.31400:13:35,940 –> 00:13:37,900To be bound to the law31500:13:37,900 –> 00:13:39,659is an unhappy marriage31600:13:39,659 –> 00:13:42,020and actually it’s worse.31700:13:43,739 –> 00:13:47,280It’s actually to be stuck31800:13:47,280 –> 00:13:50,919in an abusive relationship.31900:13:52,700 –> 00:13:54,700Now another quick show of hands32000:13:54,700 –> 00:13:56,880how many of you have read Pilgrims Progress?32100:13:57,440 –> 00:13:58,919Oh that’s good32200:13:58,919 –> 00:14:01,640we’re reading the right things in this congregation.32300:14:01,739 –> 00:14:03,880I’m so encouraged, Tom.32400:14:03,880 –> 00:14:05,859For anyone who’s not read Pilgrims Progress32500:14:05,859 –> 00:14:07,179really gotta read it32600:14:07,179 –> 00:14:08,880and here’s what it is,32700:14:08,880 –> 00:14:10,059it is an allegory,32800:14:10,059 –> 00:14:12,200in other words, it’s a presentation32900:14:12,200 –> 00:14:13,340of the Christian life33000:14:13,340 –> 00:14:16,719with illustrations, analogies, and pictures.33100:14:16,719 –> 00:14:18,039And so it’s really the story33200:14:18,039 –> 00:14:20,479of a person called Christian33300:14:20,479 –> 00:14:22,299who leaves his home33400:14:22,299 –> 00:14:24,640which is in the City of Destruction33500:14:24,640 –> 00:14:25,559and begins a journey33600:14:25,559 –> 00:14:27,340that’s going to take him all the way33700:14:27,340 –> 00:14:28,859to the Celestial City.33800:14:28,859 –> 00:14:30,359So it is a picture,33900:14:30,359 –> 00:14:31,359an analogy34000:14:31,979 –> 00:14:33,679of the Christian life.34100:14:33,679 –> 00:14:36,159Now, at one point in the journey,34200:14:36,159 –> 00:14:38,619Christian meets another believer34300:14:38,619 –> 00:14:40,460whose name is Faithful34400:14:41,320 –> 00:14:43,020and the two of them being to talk34500:14:43,020 –> 00:14:44,280as Christians do34600:14:44,280 –> 00:14:46,580about their battles with temptation34700:14:46,580 –> 00:14:48,659and the various difficulties34800:14:48,659 –> 00:14:51,400and challenges that they faced.34900:14:51,400 –> 00:14:54,159And Faithful tells Christian35000:14:54,159 –> 00:14:56,659about how he came to the house35100:14:57,679 –> 00:14:58,679of an old man35200:14:59,380 –> 00:15:01,799whose name was Adam the first.35300:15:03,140 –> 00:15:06,900He lived in a town that was called Deceit.35400:15:06,900 –> 00:15:08,520And Adam the first35500:15:08,520 –> 00:15:11,219lived in a luxurious home.35600:15:11,219 –> 00:15:13,460I mean this place was absolutely fabulous35700:15:13,460 –> 00:15:17,460and he had three strikingly beautiful daughters.35800:15:21,020 –> 00:15:23,640And he said to Faithful,35900:15:23,640 –> 00:15:26,679if you will come and if you will work for me,36000:15:27,280 –> 00:15:30,419you can marry any one of my daughters.36100:15:30,419 –> 00:15:31,260And then he said,36200:15:31,260 –> 00:15:34,219or you can marry all three of them if you’d like to.36300:15:34,219 –> 00:15:36,159That’s what he said.36400:15:36,159 –> 00:15:37,020And what’s more,36500:15:37,020 –> 00:15:41,099because you work for me and marry into my family,36600:15:42,059 –> 00:15:44,299you will inherit this great mansion36700:15:44,299 –> 00:15:45,719and everything that I have.36800:15:45,719 –> 00:15:48,440Everything that I have, said Adam the first,36900:15:48,440 –> 00:15:50,299will be yours if you will come37000:15:50,299 –> 00:15:51,380and if you will work for me37100:15:51,380 –> 00:15:54,460and if you will marry into my family.37200:15:55,440 –> 00:16:00,099Now Faithful said when he heard this enticing offer,37300:16:01,419 –> 00:16:06,419he said at first I was inclined to accept his offer.37400:16:09,559 –> 00:16:13,359My first instinct was, I’d like to do that.37500:16:14,859 –> 00:16:17,940But then he says the thought came to me37600:16:17,940 –> 00:16:21,039that the old man actually wanted to make me a slave.37700:16:21,960 –> 00:16:25,260And so Faithful said no,37800:16:25,260 –> 00:16:28,739to what at first had attracted him.37900:16:29,799 –> 00:16:32,640And when he did that of course the old man suddenly changed38000:16:32,640 –> 00:16:34,119and became very angry indeed.38100:16:34,119 –> 00:16:37,799And he said, I’m gonna send someone after you38200:16:37,799 –> 00:16:40,380who’s gonna make your life miserable.38300:16:41,599 –> 00:16:44,280Well Faithful rightly realized I gotta get outta here.38400:16:44,280 –> 00:16:46,799So he leaves the town that was called Deceit,38500:16:46,799 –> 00:16:49,200and as he gets out on to the road again,38600:16:49,200 –> 00:16:51,679sure enough someone he has not seen before38700:16:51,679 –> 00:16:54,159comes running up behind him.38800:16:54,159 –> 00:16:57,320And when this man caught up with Faithful38900:16:57,320 –> 00:16:58,599without any warning,39000:16:58,599 –> 00:17:00,479he took such a swipe at him,39100:17:00,479 –> 00:17:01,919hit him right in the stomach,39200:17:01,919 –> 00:17:04,739taking his breath away, doubling him up.39300:17:04,739 –> 00:17:07,640When Faithful catches his breath he says to the man39400:17:09,280 –> 00:17:11,060Why did you do that?39500:17:12,459 –> 00:17:15,339Your first inclination39600:17:16,140 –> 00:17:19,979was to go with Adam the first.39700:17:21,359 –> 00:17:23,239Then he hit Faithful again,39800:17:23,239 –> 00:17:24,520this time right across the head,39900:17:24,520 –> 00:17:26,199knocking him to the ground.40000:17:27,760 –> 00:17:30,219Faithful begged for mercy,40100:17:31,439 –> 00:17:32,500but the man said40200:17:32,500 –> 00:17:37,500the law knows no mercy,40300:17:39,180 –> 00:17:41,239and then the man kicked him on the ground.40400:17:42,719 –> 00:17:44,400Now this point,40500:17:44,699 –> 00:17:47,280Faithful realized he was really in trouble.40600:17:47,280 –> 00:17:49,339This guy’s going to kill me,40700:17:49,339 –> 00:17:51,540and here I am lying on the ground.40800:17:51,540 –> 00:17:54,520And as he’s telling his story to Christian,40900:17:54,520 –> 00:17:56,520he says at that point41000:17:56,520 –> 00:17:58,520there was a man, another man,41100:17:58,520 –> 00:18:01,660a second man who came along,41200:18:01,660 –> 00:18:05,760and he commanded this first man to stop.41300:18:05,760 –> 00:18:06,599And he did.41400:18:08,819 –> 00:18:10,459Well Christian said to Faithful,41500:18:10,459 –> 00:18:12,619do you know who that second man was,41600:18:12,680 –> 00:18:14,680the man who saved you41700:18:14,680 –> 00:18:17,099by commanding the first one to stop?41800:18:18,520 –> 00:18:21,119He said, well I didn’t know at the time,41900:18:22,239 –> 00:18:24,099but when he moved on,42000:18:24,099 –> 00:18:28,060I saw that the second man had scars in his hands42100:18:29,540 –> 00:18:30,599and in his feet.42200:18:32,079 –> 00:18:34,099And Christian said to Faithful,42300:18:34,099 –> 00:18:36,180do you know then who the first man was?42400:18:36,180 –> 00:18:36,979I’ll tell you,42500:18:36,979 –> 00:18:41,079his name was Moses.42600:18:41,959 –> 00:18:45,520The law spares no one42700:18:45,520 –> 00:18:49,060and it never shows mercy.42800:18:50,719 –> 00:18:52,319Now I tell you that story42900:18:52,319 –> 00:18:54,060because when you reflect on it,43000:18:54,060 –> 00:18:55,800I think that this is a story43100:18:55,800 –> 00:18:58,319that every Christian can relate to.43200:18:59,459 –> 00:19:04,459The inclination towards sin is in us all.43300:19:04,459 –> 00:19:08,380And even if as Faithful did,43400:19:08,380 –> 00:19:10,739we get to the point of saying no43500:19:11,079 –> 00:19:12,699to a particular temptation,43600:19:12,699 –> 00:19:15,380and moving away from it,43700:19:15,380 –> 00:19:18,380the law still sneaks up on us43800:19:18,380 –> 00:19:20,439and condemns us for the very fact43900:19:20,439 –> 00:19:21,839that our first inclination44000:19:21,839 –> 00:19:24,819was to be drawn to it in the first place.44100:19:26,180 –> 00:19:29,979The law is always beating up on us.44200:19:31,380 –> 00:19:32,920And if it were not for the man44300:19:32,920 –> 00:19:35,099with the scars in his hands44400:19:35,099 –> 00:19:36,699and on his feet,44500:19:36,699 –> 00:19:40,099the law would surely leave us all for dead.44600:19:41,719 –> 00:19:44,060And so coming back to Paul’s illustration,44700:19:44,060 –> 00:19:48,000do you see the terrible position44800:19:48,000 –> 00:19:49,500that by nature all of us44900:19:49,500 –> 00:19:54,500were born into being married to nomos?45000:19:54,699 –> 00:19:57,020Married to nomos,45100:19:57,020 –> 00:20:01,020bound to this law,45200:20:02,040 –> 00:20:03,420constant demands,45300:20:03,420 –> 00:20:05,060impossible to please,45400:20:05,060 –> 00:20:06,619often beating up on you.45500:20:06,619 –> 00:20:09,140As long as you are married to nomos,45600:20:09,140 –> 00:20:11,219you can never be at peace45700:20:12,680 –> 00:20:15,319and you can never be at rest.45800:20:16,859 –> 00:20:18,339So then we asked the question,45900:20:18,339 –> 00:20:23,339well for how long must we be bound to nomos?46000:20:23,939 –> 00:20:28,359How long is this miserable marriage going to last?46100:20:28,359 –> 00:20:29,819Look at verse one.46200:20:29,819 –> 00:20:34,540The law is binding on a person46300:20:35,359 –> 00:20:37,339only as long as he lives.46400:20:37,339 –> 00:20:42,339That’s all, just your whole life only.46500:20:43,400 –> 00:20:47,199Your whole life, this marriage to nomos,46600:20:47,199 –> 00:20:51,540this miserable marriage is till death us do part.46700:20:52,579 –> 00:20:57,579No getting out of this obligation to the law of God,46800:20:58,439 –> 00:21:00,800for as long as you live you are bound46900:21:00,800 –> 00:21:03,040by nature to all of the requirements,47000:21:03,040 –> 00:21:06,140all of the demands and all of the penalties.47100:21:06,760 –> 00:21:10,520Of the law of God, there is no way out of this,47200:21:10,520 –> 00:21:14,239there is no way to divorce nomos.47300:21:15,199 –> 00:21:19,719The only way that this marriage ever ends47400:21:19,719 –> 00:21:24,400is through death, and nomos never dies.47500:21:24,400 –> 00:21:25,819You know, you might think,47600:21:25,819 –> 00:21:28,219I’m married to this miserable beggar.47700:21:29,119 –> 00:21:32,199Let’s hope that there’s something wrong with his health,47800:21:32,199 –> 00:21:34,599or her health, she dies soon.47900:21:35,099 –> 00:21:36,959But nomos is in very good health,48000:21:36,959 –> 00:21:38,439was here long before you were born,48100:21:38,439 –> 00:21:40,800actually will be living long after you’re gone.48200:21:42,079 –> 00:21:46,099And so, since nomos isn’t gonna die,48300:21:47,439 –> 00:21:48,959the law will never pass away,48400:21:50,060 –> 00:21:54,560the only way out of this miserable marriage48500:21:54,560 –> 00:21:59,560is therefore that you should die.48600:22:01,920 –> 00:22:03,719It’s the only way out.48700:22:03,760 –> 00:22:05,239You’ve been listening to Open the Bible48800:22:05,239 –> 00:22:06,400with Pastor Colin Smith48900:22:06,400 –> 00:22:09,319and a message called Life Through Jesus.49000:22:09,319 –> 00:22:12,119It’s part of our series How You Can Flourish49100:22:12,119 –> 00:22:13,420and in our next broadcast,49200:22:13,420 –> 00:22:16,959we’ll look at the words of Romans seven verse four,49300:22:16,959 –> 00:22:18,479the good news of what it means49400:22:18,479 –> 00:22:20,119to have died to the law.49500:22:20,119 –> 00:22:22,640So I hope you’ll be able to join us for that.49600:22:22,640 –> 00:22:25,099Don’t forget, if you ever miss one of our broadcast,49700:22:25,099 –> 00:22:26,599you can always catch up or go back49800:22:26,599 –> 00:22:29,339and listen again online at our website,49900:22:29,339 –> 00:22:32,000that’s openthebible.org.uk,50000:22:32,000 –> 00:22:33,359there you’ll find all the messages50100:22:33,800 –> 00:22:35,599which have already been broadcast.50200:22:35,599 –> 00:22:38,800Also on our website, you’ll find Open the Bible daily50300:22:38,800 –> 00:22:40,540and that’s a series of short,50400:22:40,540 –> 00:22:43,140two to three minute daily reflections50500:22:43,140 –> 00:22:45,160based on Pastor Colin’s teaching50600:22:45,160 –> 00:22:47,699and read in the UK by Sue McLeish50700:22:47,699 –> 00:22:49,839and both Open the Bible,50800:22:49,839 –> 00:22:52,199broadcast and Open the Bible Daily50900:22:52,199 –> 00:22:53,959are available as a podcast51000:22:53,959 –> 00:22:56,180and those are on all the main podcast sites.51100:22:56,180 –> 00:22:59,319You can find them by searching for Open The Bible UK51200:22:59,319 –> 00:23:02,000and you can also follow a link from our website,51300:23:02,000 –> 00:23:05,839the address again Openthebible.org.uk.51400:23:05,839 –> 00:23:08,640Open the Bible is able to stay on this station51500:23:08,640 –> 00:23:11,319and on our website and as a podcast51600:23:11,319 –> 00:23:14,040because of the generous gifts of our listeners.51700:23:14,040 –> 00:23:17,800So thank you if you already give to support our work.51800:23:17,800 –> 00:23:19,300If you’re thinking about beginning51900:23:19,300 –> 00:23:21,880to support us in that way in the future52000:23:21,880 –> 00:23:24,699and you’re able to set up a new direct debit52100:23:24,699 –> 00:23:27,859in the amount of five pounds per month or more52200:23:27,859 –> 00:23:30,780or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,52300:23:30,780 –> 00:23:34,079we’d love to say thank you by sending you three copies52400:23:34,079 –> 00:23:35,939of the Gospel of John to give away52500:23:35,939 –> 00:23:39,119to your family and friends and perhaps to read with them.52600:23:39,119 –> 00:23:40,920Colin, what’s behind the idea52700:23:40,920 –> 00:23:43,199of offering a book of the Bible?52800:23:43,199 –> 00:23:45,420Well I’m assuming that the vast number52900:23:45,420 –> 00:23:47,239of people listening to us right now53000:23:47,239 –> 00:23:49,699already have a copy of the Bible.53100:23:49,699 –> 00:23:52,839But you know you have someone in your life53200:23:52,839 –> 00:23:55,000who needs to know the God of the Bible53300:23:55,000 –> 00:23:58,579and probably has read very little of the word of God.53400:23:58,660 –> 00:24:01,260And if that’s the case the best place53500:24:01,260 –> 00:24:04,819for them to start may be the Gospel of John.53600:24:04,819 –> 00:24:06,819Why shouldn’t you be the person53700:24:06,819 –> 00:24:09,300to give a copy of John’s Gospel53800:24:09,300 –> 00:24:11,439to someone you know and love53900:24:11,439 –> 00:24:13,280who needs to know the God of the Bible?54000:24:13,280 –> 00:24:14,979And that’s why we’re offering not one54100:24:14,979 –> 00:24:17,180but three copies of John’s Gospel.54200:24:17,180 –> 00:24:19,959Here’s the challenge, can you think and pray54300:24:19,959 –> 00:24:23,660over the season about who in your life54400:24:23,660 –> 00:24:25,359needs to know the God of the Bible54500:24:25,459 –> 00:24:28,859and then ask that God would open an opportunity54600:24:28,859 –> 00:24:31,760for you to give them a copy of John’s Gospel54700:24:31,760 –> 00:24:34,319and offer to read it with them.54800:24:34,319 –> 00:24:36,560If you can open up a conversation54900:24:36,560 –> 00:24:38,760around the Word of God55000:24:38,760 –> 00:24:43,280you’re getting the living seed into a person’s life.55100:24:43,280 –> 00:24:45,239And when the living seed of the Word of God55200:24:45,239 –> 00:24:46,979gets into a person’s life55300:24:46,979 –> 00:24:48,560you’ve got hope of seeing something55400:24:48,560 –> 00:24:49,939very wonderful happening.55500:24:49,939 –> 00:24:51,760Well, we want to help you to get55600:24:51,760 –> 00:24:54,359that living Word of God into your life55700:24:54,359 –> 00:24:55,800and into the lives of those55800:24:55,800 –> 00:24:57,339you come into contact with55900:24:57,339 –> 00:24:59,000your family and friends.56000:24:59,000 –> 00:25:00,640Full details of this offer56100:25:00,640 –> 00:25:01,900are on our website56200:25:01,900 –> 00:25:04,800openthebible.org.uk56300:25:04,800 –> 00:25:07,439And you can also give online.56400:25:07,439 –> 00:25:09,699For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith56500:25:09,699 –> 00:25:10,739I’m David Pick56600:25:10,739 –> 00:25:13,300and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time!56700:25:19,640 –> 00:25:22,339You’re serious about living a moral life?56800:25:22,339 –> 00:25:23,640That’s good!56900:25:23,680 –> 00:25:26,280Find out how a Christian approaches that57000:25:26,280 –> 00:25:27,280next time57100:25:27,280 –> 00:25:29,540on Open The Bible.