100:00:00,380 –> 00:00:08,160It really gets to the heart of what it means to200:00:08,160 –> 00:00:15,720be a Christian, it is a transformation of life that comes from a living union300:00:15,720 –> 00:00:24,400with Jesus Christ. And this is how it works all that happens to us is because400:00:24,400 –> 00:00:29,820of all that happened to him. Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor Colin500:00:29,820 –> 00:00:34,240Smith, I’m David Pick, and Colin I think many of us have an idea of what a600:00:34,240 –> 00:00:39,040relationship with Jesus is all about but the idea of having a living union with700:00:39,040 –> 00:00:44,299Jesus… I think some of us may struggle a bit with that. Yeah I think that’s800:00:44,299 –> 00:00:50,400right, that many people struggle to grasp what the Bible is saying here and yet to900:00:50,400 –> 00:00:55,240my mind it is the most important thing that is said about a Christian’s1000:00:55,240 –> 00:00:59,580relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Here’s the question, you’re a believer in1100:00:59,580 –> 00:01:06,279the Lord Jesus Christ, how close are you to him? What is the relationship that you1200:01:06,279 –> 00:01:08,980have with him? How is that to be described?1300:01:08,980 –> 00:01:16,139Well, the analogy that Jesus himself uses is of the vine and of the branches that1400:01:16,139 –> 00:01:23,980his life would actually flow into you or in Romans 7 where we’re looking in1500:01:23,980 –> 00:01:29,099the Bible at the moment that union with Christ it can be thought of as being1600:01:29,139 –> 00:01:34,379like a marriage in which two people actually become one, in which two lives1700:01:34,379 –> 00:01:40,720are actually brought together into a beautiful holy union. Now once you begin1800:01:40,720 –> 00:01:46,019to see that then you begin to understand why the Bible says Christ being in you1900:01:46,019 –> 00:01:50,680is your hope of glory your hope of becoming the person God calls you to be2000:01:50,680 –> 00:01:55,580and that’s what we’re going to explore together today what is Union with Christ2100:01:55,599 –> 00:02:01,760what does it mean for me to be in Christ and for Christ to be in me it really is2200:02:01,760 –> 00:02:05,959the very heart of what it means to be a Christian and I hope that it’s going to2300:02:05,959 –> 00:02:11,580be wonderfully encouraging for every believer who’s listening today to2400:02:11,580 –> 00:02:17,600understand that not only do you believe in Jesus but as a believer in Jesus2500:02:17,600 –> 00:02:23,300you’re in Jesus and Jesus is in you what a fantastic truth for us to think about2600:02:23,320 –> 00:02:29,339as we open our Bible together to Romans chapter 7 and continue the message life2700:02:29,339 –> 00:02:35,240through Jesus here’s Colin to be bound to the law is an unhappy marriage and2800:02:35,240 –> 00:02:48,360actually it’s worse it’s actually to be stuck in an abusive relationship the law2900:02:48,360 –> 00:02:56,179is always beating up on us and so coming back to Paul’s illustration do you see3000:02:56,179 –> 00:03:04,279the terrible position that by nature all of us were born into being married to3100:03:04,279 –> 00:03:15,979no mass married to no mass bound to this law constant demands impossible to3200:03:16,119 –> 00:03:21,699often beating up on you as long as you are married to no mas you can never be3300:03:21,699 –> 00:03:30,800at peace and you can never be at rest so then we ask the question well for how3400:03:30,800 –> 00:03:39,179long must we be bound to Norma’s how long is this miserable marriage going to3500:03:39,179 –> 00:03:47,899last look at verse one the law is binding on a person only as long as he3600:03:47,899 –> 00:03:58,020lives that’s all just your whole life only your whole life this marriage to3700:03:58,020 –> 00:04:06,320nomas this miserable marriage is till death us do part no getting out of this3800:04:06,520 –> 00:04:13,320obligation to the law of God for as long as you live you are bound by nature to3900:04:13,320 –> 00:04:19,279all of the requirements all of the demands and all of the penalties of the4000:04:19,279 –> 00:04:26,779law of God there is no way out of this there is no way to divorce nomos the4100:04:26,779 –> 00:04:34,220only way that this marriage ever ends is through death and nomos4200:04:34,220 –> 00:04:37,660never dies you know you might think I’m married4300:04:37,660 –> 00:04:42,480to this miserable beggar let’s hope that there’s something wrong with his health4400:04:42,480 –> 00:04:48,779or her health dies soon but nomos is in very good help was here4500:04:48,779 –> 00:04:54,899long before you were born actually we’ll be living long after you’re gone and so4600:04:55,619 –> 00:05:03,179since nomos ain’t gonna die the law will never pass away the only4700:05:03,179 –> 00:05:14,700way out of this miserable marriage is therefore that you should die4800:05:14,700 –> 00:05:22,380it’s the only way out and that is where we come to these marvelous words of4900:05:23,339 –> 00:05:28,899chapter 7 and verse 4 let’s take it phrase by phrase likewise my brothers5000:05:28,899 –> 00:05:34,380verse 4 so here now the Apostle is talking to Christians he’s telling us5100:05:34,380 –> 00:05:40,820what we need to know about ourselves and here it is likewise my brothers5200:05:40,820 –> 00:05:49,959you also have died to the law you are no longer bound to the law you are no5300:05:49,959 –> 00:05:56,779longer locked into this abusive relationship you are no longer married5400:05:56,779 –> 00:06:02,359to normal now that’s an Amen moment isn’t it the most marvelous good news5500:06:02,359 –> 00:06:08,279and the reason that you’re no longer bound to normal is not the law has died5600:06:08,279 –> 00:06:12,239the commandments of God stand forever Jesus said not one dot of an egg or5700:06:12,239 –> 00:06:15,260cross of a tea ever is going to pass away from all of the law of God from all5800:06:15,260 –> 00:06:18,799of the commandments the reason that you’re not born to the law is not that5900:06:18,820 –> 00:06:25,500the law has died it is that you have died you have now you see wait a minute6000:06:25,500 –> 00:06:29,720here we are we’re all sitting here healthy and breathing and smiling and6100:06:29,720 –> 00:06:33,260reading our Bibles how can it be said that we have died look at what he6200:06:33,260 –> 00:06:38,839explains it likewise my brothers you also have died to the law6300:06:38,839 –> 00:06:48,220here’s how through the body of Christ now here we come to this marvelous6400:06:48,420 –> 00:06:55,980central truth of the believers union with Jesus Christ in his death and in6500:06:55,980 –> 00:07:03,339his resurrection that we are made one with him through the bond of faith so6600:07:03,339 –> 00:07:09,019that all that happened to him in his death and in his resurrection actually6700:07:09,019 –> 00:07:15,140brings a complete and a radical change in regards to all who are in him6800:07:15,140 –> 00:07:20,980through this bond of faith and this is what Paul says in Galatians 2 20 a verse6900:07:20,980 –> 00:07:28,000that many of you know well I have been crucified with Christ in other words7000:07:28,000 –> 00:07:36,000when Jesus died all who are made one with him through faith died with him we7100:07:36,000 –> 00:07:40,600died to sin and that’s explained further in Romans7200:07:40,600 –> 00:07:46,559chapter 6 and we died to the law to normally and that’s what’s explained in7300:07:46,559 –> 00:07:53,079this marvelous chapter Romans chapter 7 and then when Jesus rose all who are7400:07:53,079 –> 00:07:57,480made one with him through this living union that’s forged with the bond of7500:07:57,480 –> 00:08:01,000faith we rose with him we really did we rose7600:08:01,000 –> 00:08:06,480to a new life we’re not the people that we were you are a new creation in Jesus7700:08:06,899 –> 00:08:13,760you are now in dwelt by the presence and by the power of the Holy Spirit so7800:08:13,760 –> 00:08:25,000Jesus died so that through his death we might also die in him so that we might7900:08:25,000 –> 00:08:29,559be released it was the only way we could be released from this miserable marriage8000:08:29,559 –> 00:08:37,940to NOMOS, our death was the only way out and our death was died in him if it had8100:08:37,940 –> 00:08:43,359not been for the man with the scars in his hand and the scars in his feet8200:08:43,359 –> 00:08:48,039NOMOS would have been the end of us we would have been bound to him for life8300:08:48,039 –> 00:08:53,619and his condemnation would have been bound to us forever but notice what8400:08:53,619 –> 00:09:01,359comes next God’s purpose for you is more than saving you from getting beaten up8500:09:01,359 –> 00:09:06,320by NOMOS it is that you should enter a second very different and wonderful8600:09:06,320 –> 00:09:14,000marriage likewise my brothers verse 4 you also have died to the law through8700:09:14,000 –> 00:09:20,539the body of Christ that’s how it happened but why so that you may belong8800:09:20,539 –> 00:09:30,820to another who him who has been raised from the dead do you see this you see8900:09:30,820 –> 00:09:36,340why it’s called the second marriage God’s purpose for you in Jesus Christ is9000:09:36,340 –> 00:09:43,900not only to deliver you from this miserable marriage to NOMOS but thereby9100:09:43,900 –> 00:09:50,320to free you to enter into this marvelous new second marriage to use Paul’s9200:09:50,320 –> 00:09:58,059analogy this new and wonderful union with Jesus Christ that you may belong to9300:09:58,059 –> 00:10:05,580another that you may belong to him who has been raised from the dead9400:10:05,580 –> 00:10:10,900now going back just for a moment to our objectives do you see now in clearer9500:10:10,960 –> 00:10:16,960focus what is the difference between being a Christian union with Jesus9600:10:16,960 –> 00:10:22,260Christ in this new and wonderful second marriage to use Paul’s analogy9700:10:22,260 –> 00:10:26,539do you see the difference between that and a sustained effort to live a moral9800:10:26,539 –> 00:10:33,260life because if you think about it by definition a sustained effort to live a9900:10:33,260 –> 00:10:39,619moral life is by definition an attempt to please10000:10:39,619 –> 00:10:44,479Nomos that’s what it is a sustained attempt to live a moral life what’s that10100:10:44,479 –> 00:10:51,119it’s an attempt to please Nomos and however hard you try that’s never gonna10200:10:51,119 –> 00:10:59,020work you cannot succeed with it because Nomas is never satisfied to be a10300:10:59,500 –> 00:11:04,859Christian is to be delivered from that miserable marriage it is to be brought10400:11:04,859 –> 00:11:10,479into this new and this entirely different relationship with a savior who10500:11:10,479 –> 00:11:16,280loves you in which you are able to flourish you’re listening to open the10600:11:16,280 –> 00:11:21,340Bible with pastor Colin Smith and our message life through Jesus it’s part of10700:11:21,340 –> 00:11:25,659our series how you can flourish and if you’ve missed any of the series or if10800:11:25,659 –> 00:11:29,179you want to go back and listen again you can do that by coming online to our10900:11:29,179 –> 00:11:33,719website openthebible.org. UK there you’ll find all the11000:11:33,719 –> 00:11:38,679broadcasts that already gone out on air you can also find them as a podcast and11100:11:38,679 –> 00:11:42,719those are on all the main podcast sites search for open the Bible UK and11200:11:42,719 –> 00:11:47,739subscribe if you want to receive regular updates we’re rapidly approaching the11300:11:47,739 –> 00:11:52,119end of the year and many of us consider making a generous gift at that time of11400:11:52,119 –> 00:11:57,039year we’d love it if you would consider supporting open the Bible in that way by11500:11:57,039 –> 00:12:01,380making a one-off payment if you’re able to do that in the amount of fifty pounds11600:12:01,380 –> 00:12:05,580or more we’d love to say thank you by sending you three beautifully bound11700:12:05,580 –> 00:12:10,119editions of John’s Gospel I’ll be talking to Colin more about that a11800:12:10,119 –> 00:12:13,960special offer you can find terms and conditions and you can also give online11900:12:13,960 –> 00:12:19,559at our website open the Bible dot org dot UK back to the message now here’s12000:12:19,559 –> 00:12:25,640Colin to be a Christian is to be delivered from that miserable marriage12100:12:25,640 –> 00:12:31,080it is to be brought into this new and this entirely different relationship12200:12:31,080 –> 00:12:36,840with a Savior who loves you in which you are able to flourish12300:12:38,500 –> 00:12:48,940Karin and I are very close to someone who made a really bad choice earlier in her life12400:12:49,380 –> 00:12:55,059and found herself in an abusive relationship12500:12:56,479 –> 00:13:01,799it was a miserable marriage and it lasted for some years12600:13:03,419 –> 00:13:05,799and then finally the12700:13:05,799 –> 00:13:13,119marriage ended and when it did, we were all so relieved12800:13:13,539 –> 00:13:15,219but then something12900:13:15,219 –> 00:13:21,679else happened, some years later she met13000:13:21,679 –> 00:13:26,400and she married a man who really loved13100:13:26,400 –> 00:13:31,299her and since then her entire life has13200:13:31,299 –> 00:13:34,500been completely and utterly different13300:13:34,500 –> 00:13:39,979there’s a light, there’s a joy, there’s a13400:13:39,979 –> 00:13:42,140peace and there’s a contentment about it13500:13:42,140 –> 00:13:45,200that she’s a different person13600:13:46,200 –> 00:13:49,000and she’s living an entirely different13700:13:49,000 –> 00:13:50,559life13800:13:50,559 –> 00:13:52,880Now, do you see that that’s the13900:13:52,880 –> 00:13:56,179illustration that the Apostle Paul is14000:13:56,179 –> 00:13:58,539using here and it really gets to the14100:13:58,539 –> 00:14:02,080heart of what it means to be a14200:14:02,080 –> 00:14:05,919Christian, it is a transformation of life14300:14:05,919 –> 00:14:09,359that comes from a living union with14400:14:09,359 –> 00:14:13,640Jesus Christ and this is how it works14500:14:13,640 –> 00:14:16,619All that happens to us14600:14:16,739 –> 00:14:20,520is because of all that happened to him14700:14:20,520 –> 00:14:23,159The reason that we are able to flourish14800:14:23,159 –> 00:14:26,299and to know peace and joy and hope and14900:14:26,299 –> 00:14:28,940contentment and all these good things in15000:14:28,940 –> 00:14:30,760the Christian life is because of our15100:14:30,760 –> 00:14:33,340union with Jesus Christ and therefore it15200:14:33,340 –> 00:14:35,359is our union with what happened to him15300:14:35,359 –> 00:14:37,119that brings this change it’s our15400:14:37,119 –> 00:14:40,219participation in his death and in his15500:14:40,219 –> 00:14:42,900resurrection think of it, all that has15600:14:43,020 –> 00:14:47,020happened to us, that means we’ve been15700:14:47,020 –> 00:14:50,380forgiven, we’ve died to sin, it’s always15800:14:50,380 –> 00:14:53,400our enemy but it’s no longer our master15900:14:53,400 –> 00:14:55,419we got free finally from this miserable16000:14:55,419 –> 00:14:57,900marriage to nommas, how did all these16100:14:57,900 –> 00:15:00,900things happen to us they happened to us16200:15:00,900 –> 00:15:04,219because of what happened to him he died16300:15:04,219 –> 00:15:06,539if he didn’t die none of this is ours16400:15:06,539 –> 00:15:09,340we’re married to nommas forever but he16500:15:09,340 –> 00:15:12,140died and what happened to him16600:15:12,179 –> 00:15:14,340is the reason for all the good that has16700:15:14,340 –> 00:15:16,960happened to us and then what else has16800:15:16,960 –> 00:15:18,979happened to us we have new life in jesus16900:15:18,979 –> 00:15:21,859christ we have the holy spirit his17000:15:21,859 –> 00:15:24,099presence and his power with us always we17100:15:24,099 –> 00:15:26,460have new hope we have the hope of a17200:15:26,460 –> 00:15:29,580future of unclouded joy in the presence17300:15:29,580 –> 00:15:31,739of God how did these things happen to us17400:15:31,739 –> 00:15:33,460they happened to us because of what17500:15:33,460 –> 00:15:35,479happened to him what happened to him he17600:15:35,479 –> 00:15:38,659rose if Jesus didn’t rise none of these17700:15:38,820 –> 00:15:41,299things are ours but he did he died and17800:15:41,299 –> 00:15:44,700he rose and we died in him and we rose17900:15:44,700 –> 00:15:47,059in him union with christ is the very18000:15:47,059 –> 00:15:51,340heart of all the good that comes to us18100:15:51,340 –> 00:15:53,619in the christian life marteloid jones18200:15:53,619 –> 00:15:55,900says this wonderfully well let me just18300:15:55,900 –> 00:15:58,840quote him here we are not saved he says18400:15:58,840 –> 00:16:04,659by teaching we are not saved by ideas18500:16:04,659 –> 00:16:05,940but where if oh you know this is a18600:16:05,940 –> 00:16:08,179wonderful idea that you know this is18700:16:08,260 –> 00:16:11,140something that happened so to resume the18800:16:11,140 –> 00:16:14,780quote lloyd jones says we are saved by18900:16:14,780 –> 00:16:18,719the fact that the eternal son of god19000:16:18,719 –> 00:16:22,419came into this world that he was born of19100:16:22,419 –> 00:16:25,760the virgin mary that he died on that19200:16:25,760 –> 00:16:28,700cross that he was buried in the grave19300:16:28,700 –> 00:16:30,820and he conquered death and he has19400:16:30,820 –> 00:16:33,739send it to the father and is now seated19500:16:33,739 –> 00:16:36,359at god’s right hand all that has19600:16:36,359 –> 00:16:38,979happened to us everything that is ours19700:16:38,979 –> 00:16:42,000in christ is because of what happened to19800:16:42,000 –> 00:16:45,539him in his coming and it is dying and is19900:16:45,539 –> 00:16:48,859rising and is sending its all hours in20000:16:48,859 –> 00:16:52,719jesus christ because of this new union20100:16:52,719 –> 00:16:55,539with christ to use Paul’s picture a new20200:16:55,539 –> 00:17:01,099and wonderful second marriage and then20300:17:01,099 –> 00:17:03,380just notice our verse ends here20400:17:04,180 –> 00:17:09,280likewise my brothers you also have died20500:17:09,280 –> 00:17:12,060to the law that so this is what is true20600:17:12,060 –> 00:17:13,979of you in Christ brothers sisters you20700:17:13,979 –> 00:17:15,219have died to the law20800:17:15,219 –> 00:17:17,339thank God for that here’s how it20900:17:17,339 –> 00:17:19,099happened through the body of Christ21000:17:19,099 –> 00:17:22,819through his death so that you may belong21100:17:22,819 –> 00:17:25,479to another new and wonderful21200:17:25,479 –> 00:17:27,680relationship in which you can flourish21300:17:27,680 –> 00:17:29,699him who has been raised from the dead21400:17:29,699 –> 00:17:31,160and what’s going to be the result of21500:17:31,160 –> 00:17:36,760that in order that we may beear fruit21600:17:36,760 –> 00:17:41,719for God here’s a very strange thought21700:17:41,719 –> 00:17:46,359for parents if you had married a21800:17:46,359 –> 00:17:51,000different person you would have had21900:17:51,000 –> 00:17:54,680different children isn’t that a very22000:17:54,680 –> 00:17:57,560strange thought it’s a really weird22100:17:57,760 –> 00:18:02,060thought for children as well but it’s22200:18:02,060 –> 00:18:06,219true now remember Paul is using an22300:18:06,219 –> 00:18:08,239illustration here so we mustn’t press it22400:18:08,239 –> 00:18:09,839too far but I think the general point22500:18:09,839 –> 00:18:11,920here is clear where he talks about the22600:18:11,920 –> 00:18:16,260fruit of the marriage being married to22700:18:16,260 –> 00:18:18,199the law and we’ll see this more next22800:18:18,199 –> 00:18:21,280week brings out the worst in us it22900:18:21,280 –> 00:18:25,459always does marriage to nomos never23000:18:25,579 –> 00:18:30,199produces good fruit but Paul says you’ve23100:18:30,199 –> 00:18:33,020died to the law so that you may belong23200:18:33,020 –> 00:18:35,739to Christ in order that we may bear good23300:18:35,739 –> 00:18:38,359fruit for God you see the good23400:18:38,359 –> 00:18:40,219fruit that comes from the union of a23500:18:40,219 –> 00:18:42,060believer in Jesus Christ this is what23600:18:42,060 –> 00:18:43,719Jesus is talking about when he says I23700:18:43,719 –> 00:18:45,739am the vine and you are the branches you23800:18:45,739 –> 00:18:48,479see the fruit comes because the life of23900:18:48,479 –> 00:18:51,699Christ really is in you that’s so24000:18:51,699 –> 00:18:54,260different from simply a sustained effort24100:18:54,420 –> 00:18:55,719and living a moral life all the24200:18:55,719 –> 00:18:59,319difference in the world the life of24300:18:59,319 –> 00:19:01,800Jesus Christ actually by His Holy Spirit24400:19:01,839 –> 00:19:05,479within you that’s the very heart of what24500:19:05,479 –> 00:19:09,500it means to be a Christian. So I want to24600:19:09,500 –> 00:19:12,680end here today what do you know of this24700:19:12,680 –> 00:19:15,599in your life. Here we are today we’re24800:19:15,599 –> 00:19:16,859going to end the service by coming24900:19:16,859 –> 00:19:18,239around the Lord’s table in just a25000:19:18,239 –> 00:19:21,939moment. And there may be some of us here25100:19:21,959 –> 00:19:23,719who feel that we, you know, I’m not sure25200:19:23,719 –> 00:19:25,459if I should take the bread or the wine25300:19:25,459 –> 00:19:27,660because I’m not sure if I’m really fit25400:19:27,660 –> 00:19:30,819to come and you know your own sin. You25500:19:30,819 –> 00:19:33,859feel your weakness in regards to even25600:19:33,859 –> 00:19:36,540your own faith and and you often feel25700:19:36,540 –> 00:19:39,819condemned. Listen, the voice that25800:19:39,819 –> 00:19:45,420condemns you is the voice of Namas. And25900:19:45,420 –> 00:19:47,599today the man with the scars in his26000:19:47,599 –> 00:19:50,719hands and in his feet commands Namas to26100:19:51,479 –> 00:19:55,079When you are in Christ you are no longer26200:19:55,079 –> 00:19:59,300married to Namas. There is no26300:19:59,300 –> 00:20:02,739condemnation for those who are in Christ26400:20:02,739 –> 00:20:05,900Jesus. And we don’t come to the table26500:20:05,900 –> 00:20:07,400because we think we’ve lived a good26600:20:07,400 –> 00:20:10,160enough life to merit the privilege of26700:20:10,160 –> 00:20:12,560coming. We come to the Lord’s table26800:20:12,560 –> 00:20:16,439because we know our need of a Savior. And26900:20:16,439 –> 00:20:20,439we find all that we need in Him who dies27000:20:20,479 –> 00:20:25,239and who rose for us and that we died and27100:20:25,239 –> 00:20:29,199rose to new life in Him. So believe that27200:20:29,199 –> 00:20:30,959today. And with joy and with humility27300:20:30,959 –> 00:20:34,420you come to the Lord’s table27400:20:34,420 –> 00:20:38,959trusting in Jesus Christ. And think of it27500:20:38,959 –> 00:20:44,280this way. Two thousand years ago the Son27600:20:44,280 –> 00:20:49,060of God was asked this question will you27700:20:49,979 –> 00:20:57,260take sinners and be their Savior? And on27800:20:57,260 –> 00:21:00,579the cross as it were, Jesus answered that27900:21:00,579 –> 00:21:05,199question, I will, I will, and today I28000:21:05,199 –> 00:21:07,119really have the privilege of saying to28100:21:07,119 –> 00:21:09,979each and every one of of us will you28200:21:09,979 –> 00:21:14,319take Jesus Christ? Will you forsake all28300:21:14,319 –> 00:21:17,420others and keep only to Him as long as28400:21:17,439 –> 00:21:21,040you shall live? Will you give yourself to28500:21:21,040 –> 00:21:24,000Jesus Christ? Will you bind yourself to28600:21:24,000 –> 00:21:27,140Him in the bond of a living union that28700:21:27,140 –> 00:21:29,400is forged by faith and the Son of God28800:21:29,400 –> 00:21:32,780who loved you and who gave Himself for28900:21:32,780 –> 00:21:34,939you? And I tell you, if you will have29000:21:34,939 –> 00:21:39,719Jesus, then your sins, though they be29100:21:39,719 –> 00:21:43,119many, will be forgiven. If you will have29200:21:43,119 –> 00:21:46,560Jesus, you will be released from the29300:21:46,739 –> 00:21:49,219oppression and the condemnation and the29400:21:49,219 –> 00:21:53,719miserable marriage to nomos. And if you29500:21:53,719 –> 00:21:56,780will have Jesus, you will be brought into29600:21:56,780 –> 00:22:00,359the freedom and the joy of this new and29700:22:00,359 –> 00:22:03,119second marriage in which the Holy Spirit29800:22:03,119 –> 00:22:06,079of Jesus Christ Himself takes up29900:22:06,079 –> 00:22:10,239residence and lives in you.30000:22:10,239 –> 00:22:11,599A reminder from Colin30100:22:11,599 –> 00:22:14,239of the amazing freedom we can experience30200:22:14,939 –> 00:22:17,319to Jesus and realize that we’re not bound30300:22:17,319 –> 00:22:19,160by the law anymore.30400:22:19,160 –> 00:22:20,359Maybe as you’ve been30500:22:20,359 –> 00:22:22,239listening to the message today, you’ve30600:22:22,239 –> 00:22:24,119heard God calling you into a30700:22:24,119 –> 00:22:26,800relationship with Jesus Christ. You’d30800:22:26,800 –> 00:22:28,800like to know more about how to enter30900:22:28,800 –> 00:22:30,859into that relationship by the saving31000:22:30,859 –> 00:22:33,239grace of God. And if so I hope you’ll31100:22:33,239 –> 00:22:35,319seek out a trusted Christian friend or31200:22:35,319 –> 00:22:37,280family member or maybe go along to a31300:22:37,280 –> 00:22:39,979Christian church fellowship. Take time to31400:22:39,979 –> 00:22:42,280speak with the folk there, the pastor or31500:22:42,640 –> 00:22:44,439members of that fellowship. Tell them31600:22:44,439 –> 00:22:46,300about your journey to discover faith31700:22:46,300 –> 00:22:48,359for yourself you’ll find they’ll be31800:22:48,359 –> 00:22:50,699ready to pray with you to help you make31900:22:50,699 –> 00:22:53,260that step. Or if you’re not yet ready to32000:22:53,260 –> 00:22:55,180make that step and still have questions32100:22:55,180 –> 00:22:57,459there may well be a Bible study course32200:22:57,459 –> 00:23:00,060or a home group or an alpha program that32300:23:00,060 –> 00:23:02,239you can join. Don’t forget if you have a32400:23:02,239 –> 00:23:03,959missed one of our broadcasts you can32500:23:03,959 –> 00:23:05,339always catch up or go back and listen32600:23:05,339 –> 00:23:07,359again online at our website32700:23:07,359 –> 00:23:11,520openthebible.org.uk you can also find us32800:23:11,619 –> 00:23:13,239as a podcast and those are on all the32900:23:13,239 –> 00:23:15,180main podcast sites search for33000:23:15,180 –> 00:23:18,959Open the Bible UK. Open the Bible is able33100:23:18,959 –> 00:23:20,640to stay on this station and on the33200:23:20,640 –> 00:23:22,420internet as a result of the generous33300:23:22,420 –> 00:23:25,819giving made by our many listeners and if33400:23:25,819 –> 00:23:26,939that’s something you’ve been thinking33500:23:26,939 –> 00:23:29,660about doing if you’re able to set up a33600:23:29,660 –> 00:23:31,859new direct debit to the work of Open the33700:23:31,859 –> 00:23:33,979Bible this month in the amount of five33800:23:33,979 –> 00:23:36,560pounds per month or more or a once-off33900:23:36,560 –> 00:23:39,459gift of 50 pounds or more we’d love to34000:23:39,459 –> 00:23:41,459say thank you by sending you three34100:23:41,500 –> 00:23:44,300copies of the gospel of John the three34200:23:44,300 –> 00:23:46,439copies are all about giving away the34300:23:46,439 –> 00:23:48,640good news of Jesus Christ to your34400:23:48,640 –> 00:23:51,339friends and family or maybe even sitting34500:23:51,339 –> 00:23:53,339down with them and reading it with them34600:23:53,339 –> 00:23:55,859Colin for listeners who may not know34700:23:55,859 –> 00:23:58,819tell us about John’s Gospel well there34800:23:58,819 –> 00:24:00,400are four books in the New Testament34900:24:00,400 –> 00:24:02,400about the life of Jesus and they’re35000:24:02,400 –> 00:24:05,199regularly referred to as Gospels they35100:24:05,199 –> 00:24:08,140are Matthew Mark Luke and John and John35200:24:08,140 –> 00:24:10,839was an apostle one of Jesus disciples35300:24:10,920 –> 00:24:13,540and he tells us why he wrote his gospel35400:24:13,560 –> 00:24:17,000these are written so that you may35500:24:17,000 –> 00:24:19,900believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son35600:24:19,900 –> 00:24:22,979of God and that by believing you may35700:24:22,979 –> 00:24:28,300have life in His name eternal life comes35800:24:28,300 –> 00:24:31,180to a person through believing in the35900:24:31,180 –> 00:24:34,739Lord Jesus Christ and faith in the Lord36000:24:34,739 –> 00:24:37,959Jesus Christ is formed through the Word36100:24:37,959 –> 00:24:40,560of God and there’s no better place to36200:24:40,660 –> 00:24:42,920begin than in the Gospel of John36300:24:42,920 –> 00:24:44,859so those three copies of the Gospel of36400:24:44,859 –> 00:24:46,660John are our gift to you if you are able36500:24:46,660 –> 00:24:49,000to set up a new direct debit to the36600:24:49,000 –> 00:24:51,040work of open the Bible this month in the36700:24:51,040 –> 00:24:53,540amount of five pounds per month or more36800:24:53,540 –> 00:24:56,400for a one-off gift of fifty pounds full36900:24:56,400 –> 00:24:59,219details terms and conditions are on our37000:24:59,219 –> 00:25:03,640website go to open the bible.org.uk37100:25:04,359 –> 00:25:06,500For Open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith37200:25:06,500 –> 00:25:08,880I’m David Pikk and I hope you’ll be37300:25:09,020 –> 00:25:12,280there to help to join us again next time37400:25:16,520 –> 00:25:19,640Once you’ve understood this you’ll wonder37500:25:19,640 –> 00:25:21,979whether God’s law is actually good or37600:25:21,979 –> 00:25:25,359bad find out what it is next time on37700:25:25,359 –> 00:25:30,859Open the Bible