100:00:00,500 –> 00:00:09,020You need to understand that no one is good except God alone. So when you ask Jesus’s200:00:09,020 –> 00:00:13,160saying and effect this question, what must I do to inherit eternal life? The answer is300:00:13,160 –> 00:00:17,180fairly straightforward. You must be good like God.400:00:17,180 –> 00:00:21,780Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Glad you could be with500:00:21,860 –> 00:00:26,120us today. And Colin, today we’re going to look at a story in the new Testament which600:00:26,120 –> 00:00:29,020we’re very familiar with, the story of the rich young ruler.700:00:29,160 –> 00:00:35,860And what an important question he asked. What must I do to inherit eternal life? And every800:00:35,860 –> 00:00:39,900person needs to know the answer to that question. What do I have to do to have eternal life?900:00:39,900 –> 00:00:45,119And Jesus is going to answer this question. And this is one of these stories that gives1000:00:45,119 –> 00:00:50,880us in a snapshot what it means to become a Christian. And I want us to get hold of that1100:00:50,880 –> 00:00:56,459five very simple headings. To get a hold of today to answer the question, what must I1200:00:56,459 –> 00:00:58,400do to inherit eternal life?1300:00:58,419 –> 00:01:02,240So join us today if you can in Mark chapter 10 where Jesus1400:01:02,240 –> 00:01:06,739lays claim to all of the rich young rulers’ possessions. Here’s Colin.1500:01:07,339 –> 00:01:13,400Mark’s gospel chapter 10 and verse 17. And we read there that as Jesus started on his1600:01:13,400 –> 00:01:19,180way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. I want you to picture the scene.1700:01:19,180 –> 00:01:24,080Jesus is moving out of this area of Judea where he’s been for a while and he’s continuing1800:01:24,180 –> 00:01:26,440his journey to Jerusalem, and as he and the disciples1900:01:26,440 –> 00:01:33,440move out of town, this man comes running to catch him before he leaves the area. And this2000:01:33,440 –> 00:01:40,040person who came to Jesus—we know him as the rich young ruler—he had much that was2100:01:40,040 –> 00:01:47,660going for him. He was obviously very successful. Verse 22, he had great wealth so he’s financially2200:01:47,660 –> 00:01:52,459prosperous. Luke tells us in his version of the story that the man was a ruler and so2300:01:52,459 –> 00:01:57,739he had a position of great responsibility and influence. Matthew tells us in his version2400:01:57,739 –> 00:02:02,379of the story, Matthew chapter 19, that he was young and so all of this has been achieved2500:02:02,379 –> 00:02:06,379early in his life, and there must have been a great deal of talent and discipline and2600:02:06,379 –> 00:02:11,979sheer hard work that went into this success, for which he should be credited. Not only2700:02:11,979 –> 00:02:17,559was he successful, he was clearly a very moral young person. When he speaks about keeping2800:02:17,559 –> 00:02:23,320the commandments I’ve no reason to doubt his sincerity in what he says. He has never2900:02:23,320 –> 00:02:28,559committed a murder or committed adultery or been involved in a robbery or been guilty3000:02:28,559 –> 00:02:35,199of fraud. He took good care of his mother and father, so again, this is the kind of3100:02:35,199 –> 00:02:40,000person that folks would look up to and mothers would say to their children, I hope that you3200:02:40,000 –> 00:02:44,220grow up and be a nice young man like that fellow there, and look how well he’s doing3300:02:44,220 –> 00:02:45,960in his life.3400:02:45,960 –> 00:02:50,979Not only is he successful and moral, but he’s also spiritual. He has an intense desire to3500:02:50,979 –> 00:02:56,059meet Jesus, and so he comes running. There’s urgency. He really wants to meet Jesus, and3600:02:56,059 –> 00:03:00,240he knows that the opportunity might slip away. Doesn’t want that to happen. And he has great3700:03:00,240 –> 00:03:07,179respect for Jesus. He falls at his feet. You wouldn’t find any of the Pharisees doing something3800:03:07,380 –> 00:03:17,039like that. And he’s concerned about eternal issues.3900:03:17,039 –> 00:03:24,020Honestly, if even half the folks who are professionally and financially successful in our city today,4000:03:24,020 –> 00:03:30,960if even half of them were clearly committed to Biblical morality, seriously interested4100:03:31,619 –> 00:03:37,580in spiritual things concerned about a relationship with Jesus and preparing for eternal life.4200:03:37,580 –> 00:03:41,979If half of all the people who are successful in our city had these kind of values, we would4300:03:41,979 –> 00:03:48,779be very, very glad indeed. And not only that, this man is loved by Jesus Christ, verse 21,4400:03:48,779 –> 00:03:54,460Jesus looked at him and loved him. So it seems that this man has everything going for him,4500:03:54,460 –> 00:04:02,220successful model, spiritual, loved by Jesus Christ. What more is that? And yet the story4600:04:02,240 –> 00:04:10,240does not end well. Verse 22. The man went away from Jesus sad. It comes to Jesus with4700:04:10,240 –> 00:04:16,339great enthusiasm, but he departs with great sadness. And he does not become a follower4800:04:16,339 –> 00:04:21,820of Jesus Christ. And in verse 23, as you follow the story, there you’ll see that Jesus makes4900:04:21,820 –> 00:04:27,859it clear that this successful model and spiritually minded man who was loved by Jesus Christ5000:04:27,859 –> 00:04:33,519was not part of God’s kingdom. Jesus says it three times. Verse 23, how hard it is for5100:04:33,519 –> 00:04:38,820the rich to enter the kingdom of God. Verse 24, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of5200:04:38,820 –> 00:04:43,820God and verse 25, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for5300:04:43,820 –> 00:04:49,700a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Now Jesus says that three times therefore with5400:04:49,739 –> 00:04:56,619such emphasis that the disciples respond, verse 26, by being amazed. They say, well,5500:04:56,619 –> 00:05:02,119if a successful moral, spiritually minded man who wants to meet Jesus and is serious5600:05:02,119 –> 00:05:09,119about preparing for eternity if he can’t be saved who can be saved? Good question. And5700:05:10,980 –> 00:05:15,579it leads Jesus to some very important teaching which the rich young ruler missed because5800:05:15,600 –> 00:05:21,380he went away sad. But we’re here, and so we have the privilege of learning from Jesus5900:05:21,380 –> 00:05:26,279what the disciples learned. And there are five ways in which we learn from the teaching6000:05:26,279 –> 00:05:33,279of Jesus that are of great importance for us today. Here’s the first, Jesus teaches6100:05:33,640 –> 00:05:40,640us here that to enter heaven, you must be good, like God. Now look at verse 17 with6200:05:41,500 –> 00:05:48,500me, please. The man comes up to Jesus and he says, good teacher, what must I do to inherit6300:05:49,660 –> 00:05:56,660eternal life? And straightaway Jesus interrupts the flow of his conversation. Wait a minute,6400:05:57,019 –> 00:06:01,700hold on, hold on, you said good. Now let’s just clarify exactly what we’re talking about6500:06:01,700 –> 00:06:06,380here when we’re talking about good. He says, verse 18, why do you call me good? Because6600:06:06,380 –> 00:06:13,380no one is good except God alone. Now how do you measure goodness? All measurements are6700:06:18,779 –> 00:06:25,779made against a particular standard. When we arrived in our new home nearly 12 years ago,6800:06:28,339 –> 00:06:34,079there were a number of things, helpfully left in the garage for us. You’ll notice that becoming6900:06:34,079 –> 00:06:39,220a citizen does not automatically change a person’s accent. I apologize for that. One7000:06:39,220 –> 00:06:43,179of the things that was left there was this yardstick. Which I found very useful from7100:06:43,179 –> 00:06:50,179time to time. How do you know that this yardstick actually measures a yard, 3 feet? How do you7200:06:53,000 –> 00:06:58,380know that? This is a kind of 5th grader question isn’t it? Kids are at school with a ruler7300:06:58,720 –> 00:07:02,700on their desk, how do you know that your ruler is 12 inches? How do you know that 12 inches7400:07:02,700 –> 00:07:07,339is 12 inches and that your ruler that you’re measuring things by is actually accurate?7500:07:07,339 –> 00:07:14,339Well there is an answer to that question. In the 12th century, King Henry the first7600:07:15,140 –> 00:07:22,140decreed that a lawful yard was the distance between the tip of his tongue and the end7700:07:22,359 –> 00:07:28,239of his thumb when his arm was extended. 12th century. By the way, for those of you that7800:07:28,579 –> 00:07:37,440don’t know this, Henry was king of a country from which we gained independence in 17767900:07:37,440 –> 00:07:47,440on the 4th of July. Now, unfortunately, King Henry is not around8000:07:47,519 –> 00:07:53,359for us to measure a true imperial yard against his nose, but if you’re particularly concerned8100:07:53,359 –> 00:08:00,239about accuracy, help is at hand, if you go to Greenwich in London, you can measure your8200:08:00,239 –> 00:08:08,920own ruler against the ancient length of bronze which is marked off in feet and inches and8300:08:08,920 –> 00:08:14,519defines the imperial yard. Children go on school trips there every day8400:08:14,519 –> 00:08:18,399and they take their rulers and they measure their rulers against the imperial yard just8500:08:18,440 –> 00:08:23,040to make sure that their rulers are actually accurate and so forth.8600:08:23,040 –> 00:08:27,359Now, all measurements are made against some standard. The question at stake here is how8700:08:27,359 –> 00:08:33,440do you measure goodness? If we measure goodness, say, by Adolf Hitler,8800:08:33,440 –> 00:08:42,260then all of us here come out looking pretty good. If we measure goodness by Mother Teresa,8900:08:42,419 –> 00:08:48,419all of us here come out not looking very good. So which one do you choose?9000:08:50,020 –> 00:08:54,500Or rather, which one does God choose? Because that is clearly the issue that really matters.9100:08:54,500 –> 00:08:58,340How do you measure goodness? Well, Jesus gives us the answer right here.9200:08:58,900 –> 00:09:04,820Good means good like God. He’s saying to this person,9300:09:04,820 –> 00:09:10,580look, you’re talking to me about goodness. Let’s be absolutely clear that there’s only9400:09:10,580 –> 00:09:14,820one definition of goodness, one standard of goodness that is worth talking about.9500:09:14,820 –> 00:09:18,820Only one that really counts or that really matters. Good means good like God.9600:09:20,179 –> 00:09:24,500And you need to understand that no one is good except God alone.9700:09:25,299 –> 00:09:28,020So when you ask Jesus at saying, in effect this question,9800:09:28,020 –> 00:09:32,020what must I do to inherit eternal life, the answer is fairly straightforward.9900:09:32,020 –> 00:09:36,659You must be good like God. Another way that Jesus said this10000:09:36,659 –> 00:09:39,859in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter five in verse 48,10100:09:39,859 –> 00:09:45,460was, be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.10200:09:45,460 –> 00:09:46,500That’s what Jesus said.10300:09:48,099 –> 00:09:51,299Another way to say the same thing is keep the commandments.10400:09:51,299 –> 00:09:54,900The only problem with seeing it that way is that10500:09:54,900 –> 00:09:58,580if you say keep the commandments, there are a whole lot of people today10600:09:58,580 –> 00:10:02,340as there were a whole lot of people then who actually thought they’d done that.10700:10:02,340 –> 00:10:04,580They didn’t get it.10800:10:06,820 –> 00:10:09,299And this man is one of them because in verse 2010900:10:09,299 –> 00:10:12,820he says, well, these commandments, I’ve kept them all since I was a boy.11000:10:12,820 –> 00:10:16,340And he completely misses the points that Jesus is making here,11100:10:16,340 –> 00:10:19,380which is that to be in heaven, you must be good like God.11200:10:19,380 –> 00:10:23,780That’s the real standard by which we are all measured.11300:10:23,780 –> 00:10:25,299And it makes sense, of course,11400:10:25,299 –> 00:10:29,539because if your goodness were anything less than being good like God,11500:10:29,539 –> 00:10:33,539then that would make heaven less good for you to be there.11600:10:34,099 –> 00:10:37,140And God’s not going to allow that to happen.11700:10:38,260 –> 00:10:41,299So, here’s the first thing that we’ve learned from the teaching of Jesus11800:10:41,299 –> 00:10:45,140as he straight away identifies the crucial issue11900:10:45,140 –> 00:10:49,299with this man, to enter heaven, you must be good like God.12000:11:00,099 –> 00:11:03,859which are some of the most requested programs of the last 12 months.12100:11:03,859 –> 00:11:07,219If you’ve missed any of the series or if you want to go back and listen again,12200:11:07,219 –> 00:11:12,659you can listen online at our website, openthebible.org.uk.12300:11:12,659 –> 00:11:16,020We’re also on all the main podcast sites and you can find those12400:11:16,020 –> 00:11:19,219by searching for openthebible.uk.12500:11:19,219 –> 00:11:21,460There’s also a link on our website.12600:11:21,940 –> 00:11:25,299Whether you listen on our website or to a podcast,12700:11:25,299 –> 00:11:28,659it’s all made possible because of your generous donations.12800:11:28,659 –> 00:11:32,020So thank you very much for supporting Open the Bible.12900:11:32,020 –> 00:11:35,859And later in the programme we’ll hear a lot more about this month’s special offer13000:11:35,859 –> 00:11:39,059for those who are able to set up a new Direct Debit13100:11:39,059 –> 00:11:41,380to the work of Open the Bible this month.13200:11:41,380 –> 00:11:42,739Back to the message now.13300:11:42,739 –> 00:11:44,419We’re in Mark Chapter 10.13400:11:44,419 –> 00:11:45,219Here’s Colin.13500:11:59,619 –> 00:12:01,299as we learn the teaching of Jesus.13600:12:12,260 –> 00:12:17,780Now, I want you to notice here that the Bible uses different language to express13700:12:17,780 –> 00:12:22,099the different dimensions of our salvation.13800:12:22,099 –> 00:12:24,099The man, in verse 17, asks about inheriting eternal life.13900:12:24,099 –> 00:12:27,859Jesus speaks about inheriting eternal life.14000:12:27,940 –> 00:12:32,659Jesus speaks, verse 23, 4 and 5 about entering the Kingdom.14100:12:33,780 –> 00:12:38,260Verse 26 the disciples ask the question who then can be saved.14200:12:39,460 –> 00:12:44,179Now, these three are all essentially different ways of speaking about the same reality.14300:12:45,299 –> 00:12:47,539Being saved means entering the Kingdom,14400:12:48,260 –> 00:12:51,859entering the kingdom God’s kingdom means that you have eternal life.14500:12:51,859 –> 00:12:56,340Having eternal life involves coming under the blessing of Christ’s rule14600:12:56,900 –> 00:12:59,619and that is what happens when you are saved.14700:13:01,059 –> 00:13:05,539Now, a major problem that we have in evangelical churches today14800:13:06,500 –> 00:13:10,419is that we have separated what God has joined together.14900:13:11,380 –> 00:13:16,419Too often, salvation has been reduced to a kind of formula or even a decision,15000:13:17,219 –> 00:13:21,539something that is believed without making a difference in a person’s life.15100:13:22,500 –> 00:13:26,020So that many people have the idea that there can be a change in your destiny15200:13:26,020 –> 00:13:32,260without there being any corresponding change in your identity, your soul, or your behavior.15300:13:33,299 –> 00:13:36,739And it needs to be said clearly that you don’t find that anywhere in the Bible.15400:13:37,700 –> 00:13:41,380Though it is common to hear it today, conversation goes like this,15500:13:42,739 –> 00:13:49,219I became a Christian, you know? I was saved at a Bible conference 10 years ago.15600:13:49,219 –> 00:13:56,260Oh, really? Wonderful. So you received the gift of eternal life 10 years ago,15700:13:56,260 –> 00:14:04,500yeah, marvelous. So your life came under the rule of King Jesus 10 years ago.15800:14:04,500 –> 00:14:07,460Oh, no, no, no, that happened much later.15900:14:09,059 –> 00:14:14,340Now that is to separate what God has joined together. By what authority do we think we can do16000:14:14,340 –> 00:14:25,299that? One reason why the word evangelical is held in such disrepute in our time16100:14:27,299 –> 00:14:33,059is that to many people an evangelical is someone who thinks that they’re saved by16200:14:33,059 –> 00:14:37,059holding certain beliefs even though these beliefs make no difference to their actual life.16300:14:38,820 –> 00:14:42,179And you won’t find that in the Bible, and that is not what we believe.16400:14:43,140 –> 00:14:48,979We need both to say that and to demonstrate it by lives that are genuinely good reflecting16500:14:48,979 –> 00:14:57,619the character of God. So, beware of distorting the gospel and taking something beautiful and16600:14:57,619 –> 00:15:05,460making it something ugly. To enter heaven you must be good like God, and salvation involves16700:15:05,460 –> 00:15:14,340a real change in which a person becomes good like God. Third, and we’re building truth from16800:15:14,340 –> 00:15:21,940the text of scripture here, the teaching of Jesus together, third, this change is impossible16900:15:22,820 –> 00:15:28,099with man. Look at that very clearly in verse 26, the disciples say who can be saved,17000:15:28,900 –> 00:15:34,340and Jesus answers with man, this is impossible, verse 27.17100:15:35,780 –> 00:15:43,700I want us to pause here. With man, this is impossible. It’s impossible.17200:15:44,580 –> 00:15:48,659Now here’s the nub of the issue between Jesus and the rich young ruler,17300:15:50,580 –> 00:15:56,500young fellow, very successful and very moral feels that he can produce the goodness17400:15:56,500 –> 00:16:02,020that is needed for him to enter heaven. He feels he can do that and Jesus knows that he can’t.17500:16:02,179 –> 00:16:04,340Well, here’s the big fact.17600:16:06,659 –> 00:16:15,619Let’s come at it this way. What is it that the rich young ruler needs to be saved from17700:16:16,419 –> 00:16:18,739in order to become good?17800:16:20,900 –> 00:16:24,820Now you say, well, he needs to be saved from hell, he needs to be saved from guilt,17900:16:24,820 –> 00:16:28,179he needs to be saved from condemnation. Well, all these things are true.18000:16:28,659 –> 00:16:32,099Hell won’t make him good, will it? That won’t make him good.18100:16:33,619 –> 00:16:36,659What does he need to be saved from in order to be good?18200:16:38,820 –> 00:16:46,260And the answer is himself because this man’s life is all about himself.18300:16:46,260 –> 00:16:50,419It’s all about his success and his morality and his desire for a relationship with Jesus18400:16:50,580 –> 00:16:57,539and his concern about eternity, he needs to be saved from the power of a self-centered life.18500:16:59,299 –> 00:17:03,200And Jesus exposes this in verse 21.18600:17:04,339 –> 00:17:09,459One thing you lack, he says, go sell everything that you have and give to the poor18700:17:10,660 –> 00:17:16,439and then you will have treasure in heaven. And then come and follow me.18800:17:17,420 –> 00:17:19,319See what he is saying?18900:17:20,859 –> 00:17:24,160My friend, if you want to be good like God,19000:17:25,339 –> 00:17:29,459here’s a really God-like thing that you could do.19100:17:31,060 –> 00:17:34,060You could be like God19200:17:35,040 –> 00:17:39,319by taking everything that you have and selling it and giving it to the poor.19300:17:39,319 –> 00:17:40,420You say how’s that like God?19400:17:40,420 –> 00:17:44,199Well, God is the creator of all wealth.19500:17:45,199 –> 00:17:48,400He owns the cattle on 1,000 hills.19600:17:49,420 –> 00:17:53,319All the resources of the world are God’s.19700:17:54,719 –> 00:17:58,219And what does God do with all this wealth?19800:17:58,219 –> 00:18:04,000Well, He gives it into the hands of folks like you and me.19900:18:06,060 –> 00:18:09,359And so Jesus said to this, man, you want to be good like God?20000:18:09,359 –> 00:18:12,260Well, why don’t you go and do the same?20100:18:12,839 –> 00:18:17,160You could easily sell all that you have and give to the poor20200:18:17,160 –> 00:18:20,199and then you will be reflecting the kind of thing20300:18:20,199 –> 00:18:21,560that God does.20400:18:23,339 –> 00:18:25,160And the guy says, that’s exactly what I’ve20500:18:25,160 –> 00:18:27,319always wanted to do, I’ll go and do it right away.20600:18:27,319 –> 00:18:28,959No, of course he doesn’t do that.20700:18:28,959 –> 00:18:31,459His face falls a mile.20800:18:33,280 –> 00:18:37,819Because suddenly he realizes that this, this is beyond him.20900:18:39,000 –> 00:18:42,219Because he is actually captivated by the power21000:18:42,280 –> 00:18:46,939of self, which is why he isn’t half as good21100:18:46,939 –> 00:18:50,459as he thinks he is, and certainly his goodness21200:18:50,459 –> 00:18:52,599is nothing like the goodness of God.21300:18:55,099 –> 00:18:57,640He cannot do what Jesus has just asked him to do21400:18:57,640 –> 00:18:59,900because his love for himself is way too strong21500:18:59,900 –> 00:19:03,099and his love for God and for others is way too weak21600:19:03,099 –> 00:19:07,959and he just doesn’t have it in him to be good like God,21700:19:07,959 –> 00:19:09,079neither do you,21800:19:09,579 –> 00:19:12,300and neither do I.21900:19:14,859 –> 00:19:18,459Now let’s be clear about what Jesus is not saying22000:19:18,459 –> 00:19:20,619and then what he is saying.22100:19:20,619 –> 00:19:24,020First, what he’s not saying, Jesus is not saying22200:19:24,020 –> 00:19:25,719that we all have to go and sell everything22300:19:25,719 –> 00:19:28,060that we have in order to enter Heaven.22400:19:28,060 –> 00:19:31,339Someone has said, I think rather perspectively,22500:19:31,339 –> 00:19:34,660that if that were what Jesus was saying,22600:19:34,660 –> 00:19:37,619there would always be one person in the world22700:19:37,660 –> 00:19:40,680who could not be saved because he would be the guy22800:19:40,680 –> 00:19:41,979that would have all the stuff.22900:19:41,979 –> 00:19:44,459Right?23000:19:44,459 –> 00:19:46,400That is not what Jesus is saying.23100:19:46,400 –> 00:19:47,560What is he saying?23200:19:48,619 –> 00:19:49,780What he is saying is simply this23300:19:49,780 –> 00:19:52,380and it is very powerful.23400:19:52,380 –> 00:19:55,780Selfishness will keep you out of Heaven.23500:19:57,219 –> 00:19:58,459That’s what he is saying.23600:19:59,780 –> 00:20:04,579Selfishness keeps thousands, millions of people23700:20:06,060 –> 00:20:06,900out of Heaven.23800:20:08,619 –> 00:20:10,819And the reason that it is so hard23900:20:10,819 –> 00:20:13,339for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,24000:20:13,339 –> 00:20:16,060notice how Jesus says that very clearly here,24100:20:16,060 –> 00:20:19,119why is it so difficult for people who have a lot24200:20:19,119 –> 00:20:20,300to enter the kingdom of God?24300:20:20,300 –> 00:20:22,900Simply because we have more to be selfish about.24400:20:23,859 –> 00:20:25,780More to be selfish with.24500:20:28,140 –> 00:20:30,439But Jesus doesn’t limit the difficulty24600:20:30,439 –> 00:20:33,099of entering the kingdom of God to those who have much.24700:20:33,099 –> 00:20:35,420You notice that he broadens it out24800:20:36,239 –> 00:20:38,459and he states that it is hard for anyone24900:20:38,459 –> 00:20:40,339to enter the kingdom of God25000:20:40,339 –> 00:20:44,780because selfishness is in all of us.25100:20:46,319 –> 00:20:47,459When the disciples say,25200:20:47,459 –> 00:20:49,260well then who can be saved,25300:20:49,260 –> 00:20:51,819notice that Jesus does not say,25400:20:51,819 –> 00:20:54,060well of course it’s much easier for the poor25500:20:55,979 –> 00:20:58,380because it’s not selfishness is in the poor25600:20:58,380 –> 00:20:59,719as well as in the rich.25700:21:01,260 –> 00:21:02,219Nor does he say,25800:21:02,219 –> 00:21:03,619well of course it’s much easier25900:21:03,619 –> 00:21:06,920for those who have a stable Christian family background.26000:21:09,119 –> 00:21:10,839We work with that assumption26100:21:10,839 –> 00:21:12,859that somehow that gets you this close26200:21:12,859 –> 00:21:13,920as opposed to this close26300:21:13,920 –> 00:21:16,599and that it’s sort of easier.26400:21:17,900 –> 00:21:20,859When the disciples say who then can be saved,26500:21:20,859 –> 00:21:25,500Jesus says, with man this is impossible.26600:21:27,020 –> 00:21:28,359However much money you have,26700:21:28,359 –> 00:21:30,020however little money you have,26800:21:30,020 –> 00:21:32,479however good a background you have,26900:21:32,660 –> 00:21:34,400or however bad a background you have,27000:21:34,400 –> 00:21:36,760really all these distinctions don’t make any difference27100:21:36,760 –> 00:21:40,160because when you boil it down with man,27200:21:40,160 –> 00:21:43,760this is impossible.27300:21:43,760 –> 00:21:44,819It’s what he says.27400:21:45,660 –> 00:21:47,119You’ve been listening to Open the Bible27500:21:47,119 –> 00:21:48,920with Pastor Colin Smith,27600:21:48,920 –> 00:21:50,640and we don’t want to have to wait27700:21:50,640 –> 00:21:52,959for the answers to those three points27800:21:52,959 –> 00:21:54,699which we just heard from Colin,27900:21:54,699 –> 00:21:56,800that we must be good like God,28000:21:56,800 –> 00:21:59,339that salvation involves real change,28100:21:59,339 –> 00:22:01,319and that change is impossible with man,28200:22:01,339 –> 00:22:02,660we can’t stop there,28300:22:02,660 –> 00:22:04,739that change is impossible with man.28400:22:04,739 –> 00:22:06,260So here’s points four and five,28500:22:06,260 –> 00:22:08,660the change that is impossible for us28600:22:08,660 –> 00:22:10,439is possible with God.28700:22:10,439 –> 00:22:11,280You know, Jesus says,28800:22:11,280 –> 00:22:13,140with man, this is impossible,28900:22:13,140 –> 00:22:15,660but all things are possible with God.29000:22:15,660 –> 00:22:17,900God is able to do what we cannot.29100:22:17,900 –> 00:22:20,040And you know what Christian faith is?29200:22:20,040 –> 00:22:24,479Christian faith is counting on God to do for you29300:22:24,479 –> 00:22:26,319what you cannot do for yourself.29400:22:26,319 –> 00:22:27,339That’s what faith is.29500:22:27,339 –> 00:22:28,900And that’s why Christ is given to us.29600:22:28,900 –> 00:22:30,319That’s why we need him.29700:22:30,380 –> 00:22:32,000Because we can’t do29800:22:32,000 –> 00:22:34,239what needs to be done to inherit eternal life.29900:22:34,239 –> 00:22:35,260He has done it,30000:22:35,260 –> 00:22:36,640and he’s able to do30100:22:36,640 –> 00:22:37,900what is impossible for us.30200:22:37,900 –> 00:22:38,859That’s where we’re going.30300:22:38,859 –> 00:22:40,479It’s a very simple outline30400:22:40,479 –> 00:22:42,239of what it means to become a Christian.30500:22:42,239 –> 00:22:44,040I found that really helpful.30600:22:44,040 –> 00:22:46,479The biggest questions Jesus brings down30700:22:46,479 –> 00:22:49,420to the very clear answers,30800:22:49,420 –> 00:22:52,400and how important for us to say,30900:22:52,400 –> 00:22:53,739Lord Jesus Christ,31000:22:53,739 –> 00:22:57,400I recognise that I can’t do31100:22:57,400 –> 00:22:59,800what it takes to inherit eternal life.31200:22:59,819 –> 00:23:01,640I need to cast myself on you.31300:23:01,640 –> 00:23:03,599I need you to do for me31400:23:03,599 –> 00:23:04,880what I cannot do for myself.31500:23:04,880 –> 00:23:06,479Make me a new person,31600:23:06,479 –> 00:23:07,880grant me your forgiveness,31700:23:07,880 –> 00:23:08,719give me the gift31800:23:08,719 –> 00:23:10,660that’s in your hand, not mine.31900:23:10,660 –> 00:23:11,959That would be a great response32000:23:11,959 –> 00:23:13,319to the message today.32100:23:13,319 –> 00:23:14,280It certainly would.32200:23:14,280 –> 00:23:16,359And I hope that’s your response.32300:23:16,359 –> 00:23:17,199And if so,32400:23:17,199 –> 00:23:19,599why not let us know at Open the Bible.32500:23:19,599 –> 00:23:21,479You can find contact details32600:23:21,479 –> 00:23:22,400at our website,32700:23:22,400 –> 00:23:25,760OpenTheBible.org.uk.32800:23:25,760 –> 00:23:27,280Open the Bible is supported32900:23:27,280 –> 00:23:28,560entirely by our listeners.33000:23:28,560 –> 00:23:30,400That’s people just like you.33100:23:30,400 –> 00:23:32,160And if supporting Open the Bible33200:23:32,160 –> 00:23:34,319is something you’ve been considering doing33300:23:34,319 –> 00:23:35,900this month we have an offer for you33400:23:35,900 –> 00:23:37,400which I hope you’ll like.33500:23:37,400 –> 00:23:38,680If you’re able to set up33600:23:38,680 –> 00:23:41,079a new donation to the work of Open the Bible33700:23:41,079 –> 00:23:43,560in the amount of five pounds per month or more,33800:23:43,560 –> 00:23:46,119or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,33900:23:46,119 –> 00:23:47,140we’d love to thank you34000:23:47,140 –> 00:23:48,599by sending you a copy34100:23:48,599 –> 00:23:49,959of Pastor Colin’s new book,34200:23:49,959 –> 00:23:51,380Flight Through the Bible.34300:23:51,380 –> 00:23:53,020And Colin, I think you’re keen34400:23:53,020 –> 00:23:55,199for us not to just read this book ourselves34500:23:55,199 –> 00:23:57,119but to pass it on to someone else.34600:23:57,119 –> 00:23:59,020So, what I’m hoping34700:23:59,020 –> 00:24:01,400is that folks will ask the question,34800:24:01,400 –> 00:24:03,359who is there in my life34900:24:03,359 –> 00:24:06,359who really needs to know the God of the Bible?35000:24:06,359 –> 00:24:08,239Someone who’s not yet a believer35100:24:08,239 –> 00:24:10,199but just might be open35200:24:10,199 –> 00:24:14,359to discover what God’s word actually says.35300:24:14,359 –> 00:24:16,579What I’ve found over the years35400:24:16,579 –> 00:24:19,140is that the best way to introduce35500:24:19,140 –> 00:24:22,119someone who does not yet believe to the truth35600:24:22,119 –> 00:24:24,959is to start with an overview of the Bible.35700:24:25,000 –> 00:24:26,599The Bible actually35800:24:26,599 –> 00:24:28,959is God’s way of disclosing35900:24:28,959 –> 00:24:31,640the building blocks that we need36000:24:31,640 –> 00:24:34,300in order to understand who Jesus is,36100:24:34,300 –> 00:24:35,339what he’s accomplished,36200:24:35,339 –> 00:24:37,380and what he’s able to offer to us.36300:24:37,380 –> 00:24:40,939So, this is a very simple introduction to the Bible36400:24:40,939 –> 00:24:42,439that you could give to someone36500:24:42,439 –> 00:24:44,239who does not yet believe36600:24:44,239 –> 00:24:46,739or to someone who’s a new believer36700:24:46,739 –> 00:24:48,680and really needs to be discipled36800:24:48,680 –> 00:24:50,459and established in the faith.36900:24:50,459 –> 00:24:51,520Well, we’d love to send you37000:24:51,520 –> 00:24:53,099a copy of Colin’s book,37100:24:53,099 –> 00:24:54,359Fly Through the Bible,37200:24:54,359 –> 00:24:56,599if you’re able to set up a new donation37300:24:56,599 –> 00:24:58,459to the work of Open The Bible37400:24:58,459 –> 00:25:02,140in the amount of £5 per month or more this month.37500:25:02,140 –> 00:25:03,339You can give online37600:25:03,339 –> 00:25:05,599and there are full details of this offer37700:25:05,599 –> 00:25:06,760on our website,37800:25:06,760 –> 00:25:10,000openthebible.org.uk.37900:25:10,000 –> 00:25:10,819For Open The Bible38000:25:10,819 –> 00:25:12,300and Pastor Colin Smith,38100:25:12,300 –> 00:25:13,380I’m David Pig38200:25:13,380 –> 00:25:16,060and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time.38300:25:20,939 –> 00:25:21,780You say you’ve done38400:25:21,780 –> 00:25:24,099everything God has asked of you.38500:25:24,099 –> 00:25:27,020Discover the challenge that Jesus has for you38600:25:27,020 –> 00:25:29,239next time on Open The Bible.