100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:12,360You can start out with the Gospel of grace but end up living and sounding as if what you’re are really about200:00:12,360 –> 00:00:18,799is simply morality, law, and obedience. Now that can happen in a church300:00:18,799 –> 00:00:22,260and I think we’ve all seen it. Here’s the application today.400:00:22,260 –> 00:00:27,840It can also happen in Christian family life.500:00:28,600 –> 00:00:31,240Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:31,240 –> 00:00:33,779I’m David Pick, thanks for being with us today.700:00:33,779 –> 00:00:37,980And Colin, that’s an important truth, but how does that actually happen in a family?800:00:37,980 –> 00:00:42,540Yeah, well I’m sure there are multiple ways in which it can manifest itself,900:00:42,540 –> 00:00:47,020but it’s natural for all of us to be concerned that that things should appear well1000:00:47,020 –> 00:00:52,080and therefore when things are not well for us merely to have the objective1100:00:52,080 –> 00:00:55,419that as far as other people are concerned that will look well.1200:00:55,419 –> 00:01:00,660So, as long as things are kept within some kind of bounds and we show up at church1300:01:00,660 –> 00:01:02,459and so forth and so on,1400:01:02,459 –> 00:01:08,779that becomes the adjusted vision for family life and for the children that God has given to us.1500:01:08,779 –> 00:01:15,000And I think what I want to say into that is never, never, never trade1600:01:15,000 –> 00:01:19,879the passionate desire for the conversion of your children –1700:01:19,879 –> 00:01:25,400never, never trade that for the mere acceptance of the fact that they may conform1800:01:25,400 –> 00:01:28,779because the two are completely and utterly different,1900:01:28,779 –> 00:01:32,300and we must always distinguish that many children who conform2000:01:32,300 –> 00:01:35,980turn out, actually, to have very, very hard hearts at the end of the day2100:01:35,980 –> 00:01:37,620because they’ve never been converted,2200:01:37,620 –> 00:01:40,440and some who really kick against the traces.2300:01:40,440 –> 00:01:43,580And you say, oh, God, what in the world is happening here?2400:01:43,580 –> 00:01:45,099And your heart breaks.2500:01:45,160 –> 00:01:47,580And yet, what happens is, that in the course of time,2600:01:47,580 –> 00:01:49,099there’s a genuine conversion2700:01:49,239 –> 00:01:50,980and a life that’s on fire for the Lord.2800:01:50,980 –> 00:01:55,860So seeing beyond the immediate surface appearance is really important here,2900:01:55,860 –> 00:01:58,540and that’s why we’re talking about parenting in the flesh3000:01:58,540 –> 00:02:00,860as opposed to parenting in the Spirit,3100:02:00,860 –> 00:02:02,839which is what we really want to be about.3200:02:02,839 –> 00:02:05,739We see that in Galatians, in chapter 3,3300:02:05,739 –> 00:02:07,620as we begin a message called3400:02:07,620 –> 00:02:10,919Parenting in the Flesh vs. Parenting in the Spirit.3500:02:10,919 –> 00:02:11,960Here’s Colin.3600:02:11,960 –> 00:02:13,440Let me try and paint the picture.3700:02:14,960 –> 00:02:17,300There were a group of believers3800:02:17,380 –> 00:02:19,300in this area called Galatia,3900:02:19,300 –> 00:02:21,300they’d come to faith in Jesus Christ4000:02:21,300 –> 00:02:24,320through the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul.4100:02:24,320 –> 00:02:26,460You’ll notice from chapter 1 and verse 24200:02:26,460 –> 00:02:29,720that churches had been established.4300:02:30,940 –> 00:02:34,039Early on in the life of these churches,4400:02:34,039 –> 00:02:37,940it seems that there was some confusion over the gospel.4500:02:39,020 –> 00:02:43,559Some people placed such emphasis on obedience4600:02:43,559 –> 00:02:47,399that they actually undermined grace.4700:02:48,279 –> 00:02:51,839Now, this meant that in effect, they abandoned the gospel.4800:02:51,839 –> 00:02:54,259If you look at chapter 1 and verse 6,4900:02:54,259 –> 00:02:56,639you will find that Paul is astonished5000:02:56,639 –> 00:02:58,600that such a thing could happen5100:02:58,600 –> 00:03:03,020so quickly among sincere Christian people.5200:03:03,020 –> 00:03:04,960But this is precisely what happened,5300:03:04,960 –> 00:03:09,960that the strong, strong emphasis on obedience5400:03:10,440 –> 00:03:14,479had become so dominant in the life of the church5500:03:14,479 –> 00:03:17,139that they had actually lost sight5600:03:17,139 –> 00:03:21,160of the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ.5700:03:21,160 –> 00:03:23,619Now, that is what Galatians is all about.5800:03:23,619 –> 00:03:27,520Now, this has happened to some good Christian folk.5900:03:27,520 –> 00:03:30,940And this letter in the New Testament that is so important6000:03:30,940 –> 00:03:33,660reminds us that it can happen in a church.6100:03:34,520 –> 00:03:38,339You can start out with the gospel of grace,6200:03:38,360 –> 00:03:41,800but end up living and sounding6300:03:41,800 –> 00:03:43,300as if what you’re really about6400:03:43,300 –> 00:03:48,100is simply morality, law, and obedience.6500:03:48,100 –> 00:03:49,759Now, that can happen in a church,6600:03:49,759 –> 00:03:51,500and I think we’ve all seen it.6700:03:51,500 –> 00:03:53,779Here’s the application today.6800:03:53,779 –> 00:03:58,339It can also happen in Christian family life.6900:03:59,339 –> 00:04:01,059And in this last Sunday in our series,7000:04:01,059 –> 00:04:03,080I want us to think about that together7100:04:03,080 –> 00:04:06,059and how we can make sure that we avoid it.7200:04:06,059 –> 00:04:08,220Now, let’s focus in on Paul’s question7300:04:08,220 –> 00:04:10,539in Galatians chapter three and verse two7400:04:10,539 –> 00:04:13,059that really seems to me to be absolutely critical7500:04:13,059 –> 00:04:17,019for our thinking as parents about raising children.7600:04:17,019 –> 00:04:18,739Galatians chapter three and verse two,7700:04:18,739 –> 00:04:23,640Paul says, I would like to learn just one thing from you.7800:04:25,459 –> 00:04:29,519Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law7900:04:29,519 –> 00:04:32,140or by believing what you heard?8000:04:32,899 –> 00:04:36,480Now, this one verse brings together four themes8100:04:36,480 –> 00:04:37,720that are really central8200:04:37,720 –> 00:04:40,519to our whole understanding of the gospel,8300:04:40,519 –> 00:04:44,980receiving the Spirit, observing the law,8400:04:44,980 –> 00:04:49,579hearing the gospel, believing the gospel.8500:04:49,579 –> 00:04:50,880Let’s put them in this order,8600:04:50,880 –> 00:04:54,399hearing, believing, receiving, obeying.8700:04:55,619 –> 00:04:57,179Now, look at Paul’s question.8800:04:58,179 –> 00:05:03,179Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law?8900:05:04,299 –> 00:05:05,359Now, what’s he talking about?9000:05:05,359 –> 00:05:06,559What Spirit?9100:05:07,420 –> 00:05:09,700Well, Paul is clearly talking here9200:05:09,700 –> 00:05:13,299about the Holy Spirit of God.9300:05:13,299 –> 00:05:15,619And just to fill that in for us a little bit,9400:05:15,619 –> 00:05:18,820throughout the Old Testament, remember God had promised9500:05:18,820 –> 00:05:22,760that one day he would pour out his Holy Spirit9600:05:22,760 –> 00:05:25,000upon all of his people.9700:05:25,119 –> 00:05:28,480And you remember that that happened on the Day of Pentecost.9800:05:28,480 –> 00:05:31,000You can read about it in Acts chapter two.9900:05:31,000 –> 00:05:32,420And actually, I’m going to invite you10000:05:32,420 –> 00:05:34,480to turn to Acts and chapter two.10100:05:34,480 –> 00:05:36,420The story of the Day of Pentecost10200:05:36,420 –> 00:05:39,100that is so important for understanding10300:05:39,100 –> 00:05:40,480the book of Galatians.10400:05:40,480 –> 00:05:42,299So if you turn back to Acts and chapter two,10500:05:42,299 –> 00:05:43,959let’s just review the story10600:05:43,959 –> 00:05:46,760so that it’s fresh in our minds.10700:05:46,760 –> 00:05:48,559Now at this point in the story,10800:05:49,739 –> 00:05:51,600Jesus has ascended into heaven10900:05:51,660 –> 00:05:54,040and you have about 120 believers11000:05:54,040 –> 00:05:56,920who are gathered together in a small room.11100:05:56,920 –> 00:05:58,380And you remember it on the Day of Pentecost11200:05:58,380 –> 00:06:00,760that was the sound of the wind,11300:06:00,760 –> 00:06:03,440they saw this extraordinary fire11400:06:03,440 –> 00:06:06,700that separated into tongues and rested on all of them11500:06:06,700 –> 00:06:11,700and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.11600:06:12,519 –> 00:06:13,739Now with all this going on,11700:06:13,739 –> 00:06:15,260it’s not surprising that it wasn’t long11800:06:15,260 –> 00:06:16,920until a crowd gathered.11900:06:16,920 –> 00:06:19,480And in verse 14 of Acts chapter two,12000:06:19,480 –> 00:06:21,279Peter gets up to speak.12100:06:21,380 –> 00:06:22,779And notice what he says.12200:06:22,779 –> 00:06:26,179This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.12300:06:26,179 –> 00:06:28,119Indeed, it was spoken by all of the prophets,12400:06:28,119 –> 00:06:30,839but he quotes from Joel in particular.12500:06:30,839 –> 00:06:32,540In the last days, God says,12600:06:32,540 –> 00:06:34,959I will pour out my spirit.12700:06:34,959 –> 00:06:37,200This is what God has always planned to do,12800:06:37,200 –> 00:06:40,100Peter’s saying, to pour out his spirit12900:06:40,100 –> 00:06:42,820on all of his people.13000:06:42,820 –> 00:06:44,519When I watch Peter then did13100:06:44,519 –> 00:06:46,619is to go on and preach about Jesus13200:06:46,619 –> 00:06:48,440and you can read through the rest of these verses13300:06:48,440 –> 00:06:49,839from verse 22.13400:06:49,859 –> 00:06:53,040He tells the crowd of people who Jesus is,13500:06:53,040 –> 00:06:55,399why Jesus died,13600:06:55,399 –> 00:06:57,359how Jesus rose,13700:06:57,359 –> 00:06:59,359and then how Jesus ascended13800:06:59,359 –> 00:07:01,440to the right hand of the Father in heaven.13900:07:01,440 –> 00:07:03,980So, that in verse 36, he ends by saying14000:07:03,980 –> 00:07:06,040that God has made this Jesus14100:07:06,040 –> 00:07:08,660whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.14200:07:09,660 –> 00:07:14,059Now, by the way, this is what we mean by the gospel.14300:07:14,059 –> 00:07:17,679The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ,14400:07:17,720 –> 00:07:21,880the Son of God who was crucified and risen.14500:07:21,880 –> 00:07:24,779He is the savior who is able to forgive14600:07:24,779 –> 00:07:26,480all who will come to Him14700:07:26,480 –> 00:07:29,480and he is able to change your life.14800:07:29,480 –> 00:07:30,720That is the gospel.14900:07:32,000 –> 00:07:34,000As Peter lays this out before the folks,15000:07:34,000 –> 00:07:35,239notice what happens.15100:07:35,239 –> 00:07:36,579Verse 37.15200:07:36,579 –> 00:07:39,660They respond by asking, what shall we do?15300:07:40,980 –> 00:07:42,720Peter’s answer is very clear.15400:07:42,720 –> 00:07:44,839He says, repent and be baptized,15500:07:44,839 –> 00:07:47,339every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ,15600:07:47,339 –> 00:07:49,179for the forgiveness of your sins.15700:07:49,179 –> 00:07:50,220And then what will happen?15800:07:50,220 –> 00:07:54,579He says, and you, whoever you are in the crowd,15900:07:54,579 –> 00:07:57,420if you will come to respond to Jesus Christ in this way,16000:07:57,420 –> 00:07:58,700here’s what will happen.16100:07:58,700 –> 00:08:03,679You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.16200:08:03,679 –> 00:08:06,040Now notice what he says next.16300:08:06,040 –> 00:08:06,980Very significant.16400:08:06,980 –> 00:08:08,040Verse 39.16500:08:09,679 –> 00:08:12,920The promise is for you, he says to the crowd,16600:08:13,000 –> 00:08:16,040for you and for your children,16700:08:19,380 –> 00:08:21,260for all who are far off,16800:08:21,260 –> 00:08:26,100for all whom the Lord our God will call.16900:08:27,640 –> 00:08:30,059So, this is very clear, isn’t it?17000:08:30,059 –> 00:08:33,599God’s promise for my children17100:08:35,419 –> 00:08:39,080is that if they will turn in repentance and faith17200:08:39,080 –> 00:08:40,559to Jesus Christ,17300:08:40,559 –> 00:08:41,739what will happen?17400:08:41,760 –> 00:08:46,739They will receive the Holy Spirit of God.17500:08:47,880 –> 00:08:49,940And that’s what God wants for them.17600:08:49,940 –> 00:08:51,539That’s his promise.17700:08:51,539 –> 00:08:53,979It’s the promise to you, to your children,17800:08:53,979 –> 00:08:55,219to all who are far off,17900:08:55,219 –> 00:08:56,859to all whom the Lord our God will call,18000:08:56,859 –> 00:09:00,219to all who turn in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ,18100:09:00,219 –> 00:09:02,260this is the promise of God,18200:09:02,260 –> 00:09:03,859this is the purpose of God.18300:09:03,859 –> 00:09:06,460Nothing less than this is the purpose of God,18400:09:06,460 –> 00:09:10,440that you receive the Holy Spirit of God,18500:09:10,440 –> 00:09:12,760that God’s very presence should come18600:09:12,760 –> 00:09:16,059and live and dwell in you, filling you,18700:09:17,020 –> 00:09:22,020so that the life of God comes to live within you.18800:09:22,039 –> 00:09:24,580Now, let’s go back to Galatians in chapter three18900:09:24,580 –> 00:09:26,200because really acts two helps us19000:09:26,200 –> 00:09:28,239to understand Galatians three,19100:09:28,239 –> 00:09:29,919so let’s go back there, as it were,19200:09:29,919 –> 00:09:32,559where we started and we’ll stay there.19300:09:32,559 –> 00:09:34,440Galatians chapter three.19400:09:34,440 –> 00:09:37,479Now look at Paul’s question in verse two.19500:09:37,479 –> 00:09:41,099How did you receive the Spirit?19600:09:41,099 –> 00:09:42,559This is what I want to know, Paul says.19700:09:42,559 –> 00:09:43,900I’ve just got one question.19800:09:44,979 –> 00:09:48,080How did you receive the Spirit?19900:09:48,080 –> 00:09:50,659Was it by observing the law?20000:09:50,659 –> 00:09:53,020No, the answer of course is of course not.20100:09:53,020 –> 00:09:56,099Of course it wasn’t by observing the law.20200:09:56,099 –> 00:09:59,539Or was it by believing what you heard?20300:09:59,539 –> 00:10:00,979Yes, of course it was.20400:10:00,979 –> 00:10:02,880That’s how we received the Spirit,20500:10:02,880 –> 00:10:05,539by believing what we have heard, by believing the gospel.20600:10:05,539 –> 00:10:08,559This is precisely what happened on the day of Pentecost.20700:10:08,559 –> 00:10:11,140It is what happened everywhere that the gospel went20800:10:11,140 –> 00:10:12,340throughout the Early World20900:10:12,340 –> 00:10:14,700and everywhere it has gone ever since.21000:10:14,700 –> 00:10:17,700They heard the gospel, they received the Spirit21100:10:17,700 –> 00:10:21,619as they turned to Christ in repentance and in faith.21200:10:21,619 –> 00:10:25,260So the relationship between these four key elements21300:10:25,260 –> 00:10:27,340of understanding the Christian faith,21400:10:27,340 –> 00:10:30,059hearing leads to believing,21500:10:30,059 –> 00:10:33,760that leads to receiving, that leads to obeying21600:10:33,760 –> 00:10:36,440and that order is absolutely critical.21700:10:37,320 –> 00:10:38,919The relationship between these things21800:10:38,919 –> 00:10:41,280is critical to our understanding of the gospel.21900:10:42,260 –> 00:10:45,159You did not receive the Spirit by obeying the law,22000:10:45,159 –> 00:10:47,719no, just as it was on the day of Pentecost,22100:10:47,719 –> 00:10:50,640you received the Spirit as you believed the gospel22200:10:50,640 –> 00:10:55,280responding in repentance and in faith to Jesus.22300:10:55,280 –> 00:10:57,280So He’s teaching this very clear principle22400:10:57,280 –> 00:11:00,599that we need to take in and if we grasp it,22500:11:00,599 –> 00:11:03,359it will deeply affect our parenting.22600:11:04,380 –> 00:11:09,119You don’t receive the Spirit by obeying the law,22700:11:10,880 –> 00:11:15,880you do receive the Spirit by believing the gospel.22800:11:17,000 –> 00:11:18,340You’re listening to Open the Bible22900:11:18,340 –> 00:11:20,179with Pastor Colin Smith,23000:11:20,179 –> 00:11:22,640in a message called Parenting in the Flesh23100:11:22,640 –> 00:11:24,559Versus Parenting in the Spirit.23200:11:24,559 –> 00:11:27,760Part of our series, Unless the Lord Build a House.23300:11:27,760 –> 00:11:31,900All about the best way that you can parent your children.23400:11:32,059 –> 00:11:34,140If you’ve missed any of the broadcasts today23500:11:34,140 –> 00:11:36,900or if you’ve missed any of the previous broadcasts,23600:11:36,900 –> 00:11:39,500you can easily catch up or go back and listen again23700:11:39,500 –> 00:11:41,119online at our website23800:11:41,119 –> 00:11:44,020openthebible.org.uk23900:11:44,020 –> 00:11:47,780or find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites.24000:11:47,780 –> 00:11:50,159Search for openthebible.uk24100:11:50,159 –> 00:11:53,580and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates.24200:11:53,580 –> 00:11:57,020You can also find a link to the podcast on our website24300:11:57,020 –> 00:11:58,640and our website address again,24400:11:58,640 –> 00:12:01,719openthebible.org.uk.24500:12:02,419 –> 00:12:03,520Back to the message now.24600:12:03,520 –> 00:12:05,940We’re in Galatians chapter three,24700:12:05,940 –> 00:12:07,559here again is Colin.24800:12:07,559 –> 00:12:09,460Now, before we go any further,24900:12:09,460 –> 00:12:12,479I want us all to be clear about the relationship25000:12:12,479 –> 00:12:14,700between the law and the gospel25100:12:14,700 –> 00:12:16,119as it’s explained in the Bible.25200:12:16,119 –> 00:12:17,619Let me just say,25300:12:17,619 –> 00:12:20,719if you think this sounds a little bit theoretical,25400:12:20,719 –> 00:12:24,000I ask you to hang in with me for about three minutes25500:12:24,000 –> 00:12:26,400and I promise you, we’re going someplace with this,25600:12:26,400 –> 00:12:27,280All right?25700:12:27,280 –> 00:12:29,619And I promise you it’s someplace good.25800:12:30,419 –> 00:12:31,900There really is though,25900:12:31,900 –> 00:12:34,979a great deal of confusion on this point.26000:12:35,859 –> 00:12:39,080Some folks have the idea26100:12:39,080 –> 00:12:41,799that the law is bad26200:12:41,799 –> 00:12:43,580and the gospel is good.26300:12:44,419 –> 00:12:47,960And that is not the teaching of the Bible.26400:12:49,099 –> 00:12:51,140If you have the idea that the law is bad26500:12:51,140 –> 00:12:52,580and the gospel is good,26600:12:52,580 –> 00:12:54,640that is not the teaching of the Bible26700:12:54,640 –> 00:12:56,679and it’s important to make that clear26800:12:56,679 –> 00:12:57,679because if you think the law is bad26900:12:57,679 –> 00:12:58,719and the gospel is good,27000:12:58,739 –> 00:13:00,280you’ll have an idea of parenting27100:13:00,280 –> 00:13:02,140that includes no law.27200:13:02,140 –> 00:13:03,859You’ll say there should be no rules,27300:13:03,859 –> 00:13:05,280there should be no standards27400:13:06,539 –> 00:13:08,659and you will completely misunderstand27500:13:08,659 –> 00:13:10,299the pattern of parenting27600:13:10,299 –> 00:13:12,880that is laid out in the scripture.27700:13:12,880 –> 00:13:14,520Don’t say the law is bad.27800:13:15,760 –> 00:13:17,859That’s not scriptural.27900:13:17,859 –> 00:13:20,200Romans chapter 7 and verse 12,28000:13:20,200 –> 00:13:21,039Paul says,28100:13:21,039 –> 00:13:23,580the law is holy,28200:13:23,580 –> 00:13:25,479righteous,28300:13:25,479 –> 00:13:26,380good,28400:13:26,380 –> 00:13:27,799it is good.28500:13:27,799 –> 00:13:30,859Look at verse 21 of the same chapter that we’re in,28600:13:30,859 –> 00:13:33,219Galatians chapter 3 notice what he says there,28700:13:33,219 –> 00:13:35,960is the law opposed to the promises of God?28800:13:35,960 –> 00:13:37,260Are these two different things?28900:13:37,260 –> 00:13:38,400What’s his answer?29000:13:38,400 –> 00:13:40,500Absolutely not.29100:13:41,900 –> 00:13:45,960The law and the gospel both proceed from the mouth of God29200:13:46,780 –> 00:13:48,000and God never changes.29300:13:48,000 –> 00:13:50,219God is good.29400:13:50,219 –> 00:13:52,099So if the law comes from God,29500:13:52,099 –> 00:13:53,859how can the law be bad?29600:13:55,020 –> 00:13:57,280If your son or your daughter grows up29700:13:57,280 –> 00:14:01,140to be a person who is faithful to their spouse,29800:14:01,140 –> 00:14:05,500can be trusted with money, tells the truth,29900:14:05,500 –> 00:14:07,880honors their father and mother even into old age,30000:14:07,880 –> 00:14:09,580that is good, isn’t it?30100:14:09,580 –> 00:14:11,239That is really good.30200:14:11,239 –> 00:14:13,580That is not bad, that is good.30300:14:13,580 –> 00:14:16,119Thank God for the law.30400:14:18,059 –> 00:14:21,159So the relationship then between the law and the gospel30500:14:21,159 –> 00:14:23,440is not that the law is bad and that the gospel is good,30600:14:23,440 –> 00:14:24,340what is it?30700:14:24,340 –> 00:14:25,179It’s this.30800:14:26,099 –> 00:14:29,599The law is good, the gospel is better.30900:14:30,460 –> 00:14:34,400The law is good, the gospel is better.31000:14:34,400 –> 00:14:37,640And the reason that the gospel is better than the law31100:14:37,640 –> 00:14:41,080is that when you believe the gospel, what happens?31200:14:41,080 –> 00:14:44,179You receive the Spirit.31300:14:44,179 –> 00:14:47,239The Holy Spirit comes into you.31400:14:47,239 –> 00:14:50,200That’s something that the law can never bring you into.31500:14:50,200 –> 00:14:53,719The law is about living a model life, that’s good.31600:14:54,679 –> 00:14:58,340The law is about a disciplined life, that’s good.31700:14:58,340 –> 00:15:01,179We need to teach and train our children in that.31800:15:01,179 –> 00:15:03,960It’s good, but the gospel is better31900:15:03,960 –> 00:15:08,659because it is about God filling you with his own Spirit.32000:15:10,820 –> 00:15:14,099The law is black and white.32100:15:15,340 –> 00:15:17,719The gospel is color.32200:15:18,719 –> 00:15:22,719The law is like the little speaker in your cell phone.32300:15:24,140 –> 00:15:26,960The gospel is like surround sound.32400:15:28,919 –> 00:15:31,799The law is like dial up.32500:15:32,760 –> 00:15:36,520The gospel is comcastic.32600:15:38,119 –> 00:15:39,200For those of you who don’t know,32700:15:39,200 –> 00:15:42,200that was an internet connection analogy.32800:15:42,200 –> 00:15:46,979I want my kids to know that the law is good.32900:15:49,500 –> 00:15:52,219I also want them to know that the gospel is better.33000:15:53,359 –> 00:15:55,520I want them to learn morality.33100:15:56,419 –> 00:15:58,640I want them to see in me something33200:15:58,640 –> 00:16:01,200more attractive than morality.33300:16:02,179 –> 00:16:04,340I want to show them the life of the Spirit.33400:16:06,280 –> 00:16:08,280It seems to me, you know, there are many kids33500:16:08,280 –> 00:16:10,520who have rejected Christianity33600:16:11,520 –> 00:16:13,900because all they’ve ever seen is the law.33700:16:15,840 –> 00:16:19,760Imagine with me a family going on a long flight.33800:16:21,299 –> 00:16:25,479Picture them boarding a large 777 aircraft.33900:16:25,479 –> 00:16:26,919You know the kind where you get your own34000:16:26,919 –> 00:16:29,880entertainment center on the back of the seat in front?34100:16:29,880 –> 00:16:31,380Okay?34200:16:31,380 –> 00:16:33,679And can you imagine this family of four?34300:16:33,679 –> 00:16:36,239Mom and Dad and Susan and little Johnny34400:16:36,239 –> 00:16:38,140and for Johnny it’s the first time34500:16:38,140 –> 00:16:39,760he’s ever been in an airplane.34600:16:39,900 –> 00:16:41,219He’s never flown before.34700:16:41,219 –> 00:16:43,419And so they get into this large plane34800:16:43,419 –> 00:16:44,559and they find their seats.34900:16:44,559 –> 00:16:47,020Mom and Dad have the window and aisle in front35000:16:47,020 –> 00:16:50,299and Susan and Johnny have the window and aisle behind.35100:16:50,299 –> 00:16:52,460They all get in and they are settled35200:16:52,460 –> 00:16:53,299and when they do,35300:16:53,299 –> 00:16:54,780Mom gets out the little magazine35400:16:54,780 –> 00:16:57,200to see what entertainment is going to be provided35500:16:57,200 –> 00:16:59,020and to her great delight,35600:16:59,020 –> 00:17:02,419it is the latest film by Walt Disney.35700:17:02,419 –> 00:17:03,460Oh, it’s gonna be marvelous.35800:17:03,460 –> 00:17:04,819Gonna be a great flight.35900:17:04,819 –> 00:17:06,520So she turns over and she says to Johnny,36000:17:06,579 –> 00:17:09,180Hey, Johnny, there’s our great film on36100:17:10,560 –> 00:17:13,459and we can all watch it sitting right here in our seats.36200:17:15,199 –> 00:17:16,959Susan, show him how it works.36300:17:18,599 –> 00:17:21,680Well, the flight takes off and the film comes on36400:17:21,680 –> 00:17:23,599and mom and dad and Susan and Johnny36500:17:23,599 –> 00:17:26,979all have their headphones on as the film gets going.36600:17:26,979 –> 00:17:30,719Mom and dad in front are laughing too loud36700:17:30,719 –> 00:17:34,219as you do when you have headphones on.36800:17:34,219 –> 00:17:36,119Susan is laughing too.36900:17:37,400 –> 00:17:40,599But Johnny, through an oversight37000:17:40,599 –> 00:17:42,079that nobody has noticed,37100:17:43,119 –> 00:17:44,920is stuck on the wrong channel.37200:17:46,260 –> 00:17:49,079He’s on the flight information channel.37300:17:49,079 –> 00:17:52,020You know, the one where you see that map37400:17:52,020 –> 00:17:57,020and a little plane that moves impossibly slowly37500:17:57,819 –> 00:17:59,140across the ocean37600:18:00,400 –> 00:18:04,619and you have numbers showing the altitude37700:18:04,619 –> 00:18:08,839and the speed and the number of miles traveled37800:18:08,839 –> 00:18:10,920and they change and then occasionally37900:18:10,920 –> 00:18:13,939you see a flat view and then the vertical view38000:18:13,939 –> 00:18:17,199and Johnny waters it.38100:18:19,859 –> 00:18:21,400And after about half an hour38200:18:21,400 –> 00:18:23,420his eyes glaze over38300:18:24,680 –> 00:18:26,160because he’s completely bored.38400:18:27,479 –> 00:18:29,099He sees his mother and father in front38500:18:29,099 –> 00:18:31,180laughing and excited and38600:18:31,880 –> 00:18:32,640he calls his father.38700:18:32,640 –> 00:18:35,119What do they think’s so funny about this map38800:18:35,119 –> 00:18:36,560and the little numbers?38900:18:39,199 –> 00:18:42,099Eventually the family gets off the plane39000:18:42,099 –> 00:18:46,180and nobody knows that Johnny missed the film.39100:18:47,060 –> 00:18:48,579They all assume that he saw it.39200:18:50,400 –> 00:18:52,260So his dad says, hey Johnny,39300:18:52,260 –> 00:18:54,640I bet you enjoyed the film, wasn’t that great?39400:18:57,160 –> 00:18:58,560Johnny can’t really work out39500:18:58,560 –> 00:19:00,260why they thought it was so good.39600:19:01,359 –> 00:19:03,500But let’s face it, grownups are strange39700:19:04,439 –> 00:19:06,300and sometimes a little dull.39800:19:07,300 –> 00:19:09,219And perhaps they do think it was great,39900:19:09,219 –> 00:19:12,920but when I grow up I want to have more fun than that.40000:19:16,180 –> 00:19:18,780There are many kids who have rejected Christianity40100:19:18,780 –> 00:19:20,839because all they’ve ever seen is the law.40200:19:23,099 –> 00:19:27,380And I want to speak to you if that’s your position today.40300:19:27,380 –> 00:19:32,380If you think Christianity is boring.40400:19:32,420 –> 00:19:36,859You have not yet seen or grasped the gospel.40500:19:38,839 –> 00:19:41,000How in all the world,40600:19:42,660 –> 00:19:47,060could being filled with the spirit of the living God,40700:19:47,060 –> 00:19:50,420the creator of the universe, be boring?40800:19:52,020 –> 00:19:53,219How could it be?40900:19:53,420 –> 00:19:58,420I encourage you, if that’s where you are,41000:20:01,880 –> 00:20:04,119don’t reject the gospel,41100:20:05,300 –> 00:20:07,680because all you’ve been looking at is the law.41200:20:10,560 –> 00:20:13,699Now, I wanted to give some pastoral advice here,41300:20:14,640 –> 00:20:17,640and that’s all it is, it is pastoral advice.41400:20:17,780 –> 00:20:18,900Pastoral advice.41500:20:20,239 –> 00:20:23,300But it seems to me, that a child brought up41600:20:23,300 –> 00:20:24,719in a Christian home,41700:20:26,160 –> 00:20:29,579and brought regularly to a Christian church,41800:20:29,579 –> 00:20:33,260is frankly very likely to make a profession of faith41900:20:33,260 –> 00:20:35,420early on in life.42000:20:35,420 –> 00:20:36,680I did this myself.42100:20:38,560 –> 00:20:39,939My children did the same.42200:20:42,079 –> 00:20:45,560If that happens, parents should rejoice,42300:20:46,319 –> 00:20:50,359but be very careful not to affirm more42400:20:50,359 –> 00:20:52,520than the child has experienced.42500:20:53,420 –> 00:20:55,420Remember, that especially at an early age,42600:20:55,420 –> 00:20:57,660though indeed there may be a conversion,42700:20:57,660 –> 00:21:00,380I look back at my own commitment to Christ42800:21:00,380 –> 00:21:01,219at the age of six,42900:21:01,219 –> 00:21:04,219and see that there was indeed a work of grace at that time.43000:21:06,979 –> 00:21:10,339But, remember, that it is also possible43100:21:10,339 –> 00:21:12,859that a child may simply be conforming43200:21:12,859 –> 00:21:13,920to what you are teaching,43300:21:13,959 –> 00:21:15,920especially if you’ve taught it strongly.43400:21:18,000 –> 00:21:23,000And assuming that a child has received the Spirit43500:21:23,060 –> 00:21:25,439when all they’re really doing is obeying the law43600:21:25,439 –> 00:21:28,439and conforming to what you have taught them43700:21:28,439 –> 00:21:29,819creates some problems.43800:21:32,260 –> 00:21:34,199This is why we must be very careful43900:21:34,199 –> 00:21:35,719in the home and in the church44000:21:35,719 –> 00:21:40,719never to exert pressure for a child to make a decision,44100:21:41,280 –> 00:21:43,739which they may well do just to please us.44200:21:44,800 –> 00:21:46,839And then think that they have the gospel44300:21:46,839 –> 00:21:48,260when actually, all they have is the law.44400:21:48,260 –> 00:21:50,239They’re conforming to our expectations.44500:21:52,699 –> 00:21:53,859Here’s the exhortation.44600:21:53,859 –> 00:21:57,119Trust God to do His own work in His own time.44700:21:58,199 –> 00:22:00,459Don’t confuse the law with the gospel.44800:22:01,680 –> 00:22:05,500Never mistake conformity for conversion.44900:22:06,859 –> 00:22:09,439That’s a word of warning there from Colin today.45000:22:09,439 –> 00:22:12,859Not to confuse conformity with conversion.45100:22:12,900 –> 00:22:14,619I think all of us would want to be sure45200:22:14,619 –> 00:22:17,040that our children have an authentic experience45300:22:17,040 –> 00:22:19,699of the Christian life and a true understanding45400:22:19,699 –> 00:22:20,859of the gospel,45500:22:20,859 –> 00:22:23,520leading to a real relationship with Jesus.45600:22:23,520 –> 00:22:26,119And that’s what this message is all about.45700:22:26,119 –> 00:22:27,540It’s from our series,45800:22:27,540 –> 00:22:29,219Unless the Lord build a house.45900:22:29,219 –> 00:22:30,439And the message is called,46000:22:30,439 –> 00:22:34,339Parenting in the flesh versus parenting in the spirit.46100:22:34,339 –> 00:22:36,719If you’ve missed any part of the message,46200:22:36,719 –> 00:22:38,920today’s broadcast or yesterday’s,46300:22:38,920 –> 00:22:41,160or if you want to go back and listen again,46400:22:41,160 –> 00:22:43,839you can do that by coming online to our website.46500:22:43,839 –> 00:22:46,900Open thebible.org.uk46600:22:46,900 –> 00:22:50,060Or find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites.46700:22:50,060 –> 00:22:52,000Search for open thebible.uk46800:22:52,000 –> 00:22:54,800or follow the link from our website.46900:22:54,800 –> 00:22:58,040Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.47000:22:58,040 –> 00:23:01,160And we’re very grateful for the support we receive.47100:23:01,160 –> 00:23:03,859If that’s something you’d like to begin to do,47200:23:03,859 –> 00:23:06,280this month if you’re able to begin a new47300:23:06,280 –> 00:23:08,020direct debit of five pounds47400:23:08,020 –> 00:23:09,439per month or more,47500:23:09,439 –> 00:23:12,260or a one off gift of £50 or more,47600:23:12,260 –> 00:23:14,920we’d love to say thank you by sending you47700:23:14,920 –> 00:23:18,300two copies of Pastor Colin’s book, Christmas Stories47800:23:18,300 –> 00:23:20,780and also five beautiful Christmas cards47900:23:20,780 –> 00:23:23,380based on the illustrations from the book.48000:23:23,380 –> 00:23:26,680Colin, what are some of the ways we can use this book?48100:23:26,680 –> 00:23:28,819It’s designed really to be read48200:23:28,819 –> 00:23:31,180with family or friends at Christmas.48300:23:31,180 –> 00:23:34,640If you picture being with friends or family48400:23:34,640 –> 00:23:36,400and someone says,48500:23:36,439 –> 00:23:39,760why don’t we read one of the Christmas stories?48600:23:39,760 –> 00:23:44,060And here’s a short version of the Christmas story48700:23:44,060 –> 00:23:46,339seen through the eyes of the angel Gabriel48800:23:46,339 –> 00:23:49,199or Mary or Joseph or Simeon or Herod.48900:23:49,199 –> 00:23:52,479You could read one of these easily in 10 minutes49000:23:52,479 –> 00:23:55,699and all of them gets to the heart of the gospel.49100:23:55,699 –> 00:23:56,920That’s what we’ve wanted to do,49200:23:56,920 –> 00:23:59,000to give people a resource49300:23:59,000 –> 00:24:01,579that you could use with your family49400:24:01,579 –> 00:24:05,640or your friends to read part of the Christmas story49500:24:05,680 –> 00:24:08,819so that the gospel of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ49600:24:08,819 –> 00:24:11,219will be clear to your family and your friends.49700:24:11,219 –> 00:24:13,640Very simple and it’s beautifully presented.49800:24:13,640 –> 00:24:15,219The team has done a marvellous job49900:24:15,219 –> 00:24:17,520in putting these Christmas stories together.50000:24:17,520 –> 00:24:20,239Well, we’d love to send you two copies of this book50100:24:20,239 –> 00:24:23,000along with the five beautiful Christmas cards50200:24:23,000 –> 00:24:26,400if you are able to begin setting up a new direct debit50300:24:26,400 –> 00:24:27,719to the work of Open the Bible50400:24:27,719 –> 00:24:30,599for five pounds per month or more50500:24:30,599 –> 00:24:33,699or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or more.50600:24:33,739 –> 00:24:36,219Full terms and conditions are on out website50700:24:36,219 –> 00:24:40,939openthebible.org.uk, and you can give online.50800:24:40,939 –> 00:24:42,939If you want to receive this gift,50900:24:42,939 –> 00:24:45,079please don’t give anonymously51000:24:45,079 –> 00:24:49,160and do remember to leave your full name and address.51100:24:49,160 –> 00:24:52,260For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith.51200:24:52,260 –> 00:24:54,780I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again51300:24:54,780 –> 00:24:56,939next time on Open the Bible.51400:24:56,939 –> 00:25:09,439You feel that everything will be well with your children51500:25:09,439 –> 00:25:12,180as long as you get everything right.51600:25:12,180 –> 00:25:15,079Discover why this is an impossible burden51700:25:15,079 –> 00:25:16,719next time on Open the Bible