100:00:00,860 –> 00:00:04,800You know, Colin, you might200:00:04,800 –> 00:00:09,680actually meet Jonah in heaven. And what if he says to you,300:00:09,680 –> 00:00:12,560I hear you had a series you went on for eight weeks,400:00:12,560 –> 00:00:14,820and the main point you told these folks seems to have been500:00:14,980 –> 00:00:19,260that you wanted everyone to be less like me. And then I thought,600:00:19,459 –> 00:00:23,639perhaps I might also meet the king of Nineveh, who might say,700:00:23,639 –> 00:00:26,160don’t you think you were a little bit hard on, Jonah? I mean,800:00:26,160 –> 00:00:28,260haven’t you met the 120,000900:00:28,260 –> 00:00:29,920folks from my city of Nineveh1000:00:29,920 –> 00:00:32,240who are all here and were saved through his ministry?1100:00:32,439 –> 00:00:34,380What were you thinking about?1200:00:34,380 –> 00:00:36,959Welcome to Open The Bible With Pastor Colin Smith.1300:00:36,959 –> 00:00:37,939I’m David Pick.1400:00:37,939 –> 00:00:40,840I’m glad you could be with us today and Colin,1500:00:41,080 –> 00:00:43,580today we begin the last message in our series.1600:00:44,080 –> 00:00:45,720So I want to put you on the spot.1700:00:45,720 –> 00:00:48,700What are you going to say to Jonah?1800:00:48,700 –> 00:00:49,759Well, you know,1900:00:49,759 –> 00:00:52,439I think Jonah’s going to be OK with this because2000:00:52,680 –> 00:00:55,200his book is actually a confession.2100:00:55,200 –> 00:00:56,299The fascination2200:00:56,299 –> 00:00:58,020to me of this book in the Bible,2300:00:58,020 –> 00:01:00,680that you have a man who’s opening up2400:01:00,680 –> 00:01:03,360his inner life and telling us honestly2500:01:03,560 –> 00:01:05,720what was going on under the surface2600:01:05,720 –> 00:01:08,120and what God had to deal with in him2700:01:08,400 –> 00:01:11,139as a believer and as a leader and as a prophet,2800:01:11,360 –> 00:01:14,120someone who did bring revival to a great city.2900:01:14,120 –> 00:01:16,879And yet what he wants to tell us about is not,3000:01:16,879 –> 00:01:17,580hey, look at me.3100:01:17,580 –> 00:01:19,660I brought revival to a great city.3200:01:19,660 –> 00:01:21,339When God used me greatly,3300:01:21,339 –> 00:01:22,699there was all kinds of stuff3400:01:22,699 –> 00:01:24,959that I still needed to deal with in my own soul.3500:01:25,239 –> 00:01:27,239That is so compelling because3600:01:27,480 –> 00:01:29,959we find ourselves saying, I find myself saying,3700:01:29,959 –> 00:01:32,000now here is someone I can relate to3800:01:32,339 –> 00:01:35,120because he has an ongoing need3900:01:35,120 –> 00:01:36,879of the grace of God in his life.4000:01:37,080 –> 00:01:39,180And that’s true for every one of us as Christians4100:01:39,180 –> 00:01:40,480until the day we enter heaven.4200:01:40,800 –> 00:01:42,839As you say, that should be an encouragement4300:01:42,839 –> 00:01:45,860to us who do struggle dealing with our sinful nature.4400:01:46,059 –> 00:01:48,139But at the same time, it also points out4500:01:48,139 –> 00:01:50,360that salvation doesn’t come through Jonah.4600:01:50,559 –> 00:01:52,019Salvation comes from God.4700:01:52,099 –> 00:01:53,099It’s coming from God,4800:01:53,120 –> 00:01:55,580and that’s the very center of the message today.4900:01:55,800 –> 00:01:57,739And isn’t it a good thing that the Bible5000:01:57,739 –> 00:02:00,239isn’t some kind of counsel of perfection5100:02:00,239 –> 00:02:00,680to say,5200:02:00,919 –> 00:02:03,519Oh, you’ve got to be some marvelous person like this.5300:02:03,839 –> 00:02:07,040It is the Book that reveals the grace of God5400:02:07,040 –> 00:02:08,300in Jesus Christ,5500:02:08,559 –> 00:02:11,979which is what people like us sinners need5600:02:12,339 –> 00:02:14,979and what always extends from Christ through the cross.5700:02:15,080 –> 00:02:18,539So join us if you can in Jonah chapter two.5800:02:18,779 –> 00:02:19,500But first,5900:02:19,500 –> 00:02:22,179here’s a quick review of the story of Jonah.6000:02:22,419 –> 00:02:23,139Here’s Colin.6100:02:23,339 –> 00:02:25,820We’ve been thinking throughout the series6200:02:25,820 –> 00:02:29,339of how a person might avoid a God centered life.6300:02:29,779 –> 00:02:31,899We’ve been saying that a large part of the book of Jonah6400:02:31,899 –> 00:02:33,539is really like a confession6500:02:33,740 –> 00:02:36,539in which a mature believer tells us honestly6600:02:36,539 –> 00:02:37,979that it’s possible even6700:02:38,100 –> 00:02:39,979after knowing the Lord for some time6800:02:40,139 –> 00:02:41,740to spend much of your life actually6900:02:41,740 –> 00:02:43,740avoiding the God that you serve.7000:02:44,380 –> 00:02:46,720And we have seen from Jonah’s confession7100:02:46,720 –> 00:02:48,839how that could happen in our own lives.7200:02:49,100 –> 00:02:49,940For example,7300:02:49,940 –> 00:02:51,979you could avoid a God centered life7400:02:51,979 –> 00:02:56,020if you resist God’s call to something new.7500:02:56,220 –> 00:02:58,059When God calls you to something new7600:02:58,059 –> 00:03:00,860you may find that your comfort is more important7700:03:00,860 –> 00:03:02,860and your obedience more conditional7800:03:02,940 –> 00:03:04,779than you had previously thought.7900:03:05,100 –> 00:03:08,899And so hold whatever He has put in your hands lightly8000:03:09,300 –> 00:03:11,500because it will help you then8100:03:11,500 –> 00:03:14,259to discover a God centered life.8200:03:15,020 –> 00:03:17,899Secondly, we saw that we avoid a God centered life8300:03:17,899 –> 00:03:21,460if we refuse God’s provision through someone else.8400:03:21,779 –> 00:03:24,820The ships crew, remember, were told by Jonah,8500:03:24,820 –> 00:03:26,380the only way for you to be saved8600:03:26,380 –> 00:03:28,500is through the sacrifice of another.8700:03:28,500 –> 00:03:30,380They didn’t want to accept that.8800:03:31,380 –> 00:03:32,979And we saw how important it is8900:03:32,979 –> 00:03:36,419that we give up being the captain of our own soul9000:03:36,500 –> 00:03:38,779and trust life, death and eternity9100:03:38,779 –> 00:03:41,979on Jesus Christ who loved us and gave himself for us.9200:03:41,979 –> 00:03:44,380That leads to a God centered life.9300:03:45,100 –> 00:03:46,220Another way in which a person9400:03:46,220 –> 00:03:47,779could avoid a God centered life9500:03:48,380 –> 00:03:49,699is simply to quit God’s work9600:03:49,699 –> 00:03:51,779in the light of experience.9700:03:51,779 –> 00:03:53,699Remember after all that Jonah had gone through9800:03:53,699 –> 00:03:55,539God called him a second time9900:03:55,539 –> 00:03:57,419and it would have been very easy for him to say,10000:03:57,419 –> 00:03:59,500boy, I’ve been through very traumatic times,10100:03:59,500 –> 00:04:02,539there’s nothing useful that I can do for the Lord.10200:04:02,539 –> 00:04:04,820But he moved forward in obedience.10300:04:04,820 –> 00:04:08,779He did not wallow in his past failures.10400:04:08,779 –> 00:04:09,940And that’s an encouragement,10500:04:09,940 –> 00:04:12,580press forward in what God calls you to do10600:04:13,259 –> 00:04:15,339and you will grow in a God centered life.10700:04:16,339 –> 00:04:18,500You can avoid a God centered life fourthly10800:04:18,500 –> 00:04:23,100simply by resenting God’s providence in ruling the world.10900:04:23,100 –> 00:04:26,299We saw how Jonah felt that God was too slow11000:04:26,299 –> 00:04:29,700in judging evil and he became angry with God.11100:04:29,700 –> 00:04:32,260And really as he opens up that theme,11200:04:32,260 –> 00:04:33,660he’s saying to us don’t go there,11300:04:33,660 –> 00:04:35,940don’t become a person who’s angry with God.11400:04:35,940 –> 00:04:39,140Let God’s grace lead you into worship.11500:04:40,140 –> 00:04:43,540That will strengthen you in a God centered life.11600:04:44,500 –> 00:04:48,079And then we saw a fifth way to avoid a God centered life11700:04:48,079 –> 00:04:52,799would be to rejoice in God’s gifts as if they were rights.11800:04:52,799 –> 00:04:55,160We thought about the vine, and the worm, and the wind,11900:04:55,160 –> 00:04:57,500and the danger when God gives us good gifts,12000:04:57,500 –> 00:04:59,459that’s what the vine’s about.12100:04:59,459 –> 00:05:01,559That we live a vine centered life12200:05:01,559 –> 00:05:03,739and so God sent the worm and the wind12300:05:03,739 –> 00:05:06,839to make sure that didn’t happen to Jonah.12400:05:06,839 –> 00:05:08,100So we saw a lesson there,12500:05:08,100 –> 00:05:10,019don’t live for the things of this world12600:05:10,019 –> 00:05:13,220because all of them will pass away.12700:05:13,239 –> 00:05:16,220The reason for living lies not in God’s gifts,12800:05:16,220 –> 00:05:19,179but rather in the one who gives them.12900:05:19,179 –> 00:05:23,920Grasping that will help us to pursue a God centered life.13000:05:23,920 –> 00:05:25,220And then sixthly we saw13100:05:25,220 –> 00:05:27,559that you can avoid a God centered life13200:05:27,559 –> 00:05:29,200by receiving God’s mercy13300:05:29,200 –> 00:05:32,519but being very reluctant about sharing it with others.13400:05:32,519 –> 00:05:35,660It’s great for us to rejoice in being saved,13500:05:35,660 –> 00:05:37,220but what about our heart13600:05:37,220 –> 00:05:39,339for those who are not yet saved?13700:05:39,339 –> 00:05:41,899What about the heart of God for the lost?13800:05:41,980 –> 00:05:44,260Catching God’s passion for lost people13900:05:44,260 –> 00:05:45,820and engaging in his work14000:05:45,820 –> 00:05:49,739will help us to pursue a God-centered life.14100:05:51,019 –> 00:05:52,380Now these are some of the ways14200:05:52,380 –> 00:05:55,820in which Jonah avoided a God-centered life14300:05:55,820 –> 00:05:57,579and we’ve been learning from his example.14400:05:57,579 –> 00:05:59,100We formed this prayer,14500:05:59,100 –> 00:06:04,100Lord make me less like Jonah and more like Jesus14600:06:04,299 –> 00:06:05,739and that’s become a theme I think14700:06:05,739 –> 00:06:08,519that resonated in our hearts.14800:06:08,519 –> 00:06:11,220It’s just occurred to me thinking about this,14900:06:11,440 –> 00:06:14,500Colin, you might actually meet Jonah in heaven15000:06:15,600 –> 00:06:17,279and what if he says to you,15100:06:17,279 –> 00:06:20,239I hear you had a series you went on for eight weeks15200:06:20,239 –> 00:06:21,839and the main point you told these folks15300:06:21,839 –> 00:06:23,600seems to have been that you wanted everyone15400:06:23,600 –> 00:06:25,720to be less like me15500:06:25,720 –> 00:06:28,839and then I thought perhaps I might also meet15600:06:28,839 –> 00:06:31,359the King of Nineveh who might say,15700:06:31,359 –> 00:06:33,880don’t you think you were a little bit hard on Jonah?15800:06:33,880 –> 00:06:37,640Haven’t you made the 120,000 folks from my city of Nineveh15900:06:37,640 –> 00:06:40,160who are all here and were saved through his ministry?16000:06:40,160 –> 00:06:42,359What were you thinking about?16100:06:42,359 –> 00:06:45,239And so I want us to see that actually,16200:06:45,239 –> 00:06:48,440Jonah becomes for us a model,16300:06:48,440 –> 00:06:49,980especially in chapter two16400:06:49,980 –> 00:06:52,000and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to end16500:06:52,000 –> 00:06:54,359with the second chapter16600:06:54,359 –> 00:06:57,160because here we see him really being a model16700:06:57,160 –> 00:06:58,519of God-centeredness.16800:06:58,519 –> 00:07:00,420He becomes more like Jesus16900:07:00,420 –> 00:07:04,079and therefore we want to become more like him also.17000:07:04,079 –> 00:07:06,420If I had been in a storm,17100:07:06,420 –> 00:07:08,399if I had been thrown overboard from a ship,17200:07:08,540 –> 00:07:09,980if I’d been three days and three nights17300:07:09,980 –> 00:07:11,079in the belly of a fish,17400:07:11,079 –> 00:07:13,239I’m not very sure that I would be17500:07:13,239 –> 00:07:15,899singing songs of praise and thanksgiving.17600:07:15,899 –> 00:07:19,480I might have been someone who was restraining praise,17700:07:19,480 –> 00:07:23,579holding it back on account of my own pain and experience17800:07:23,579 –> 00:07:26,399but Jonah gives thanks to God17900:07:26,399 –> 00:07:28,799in the middle of this great darkness18000:07:28,799 –> 00:07:30,079because he knows that the God18100:07:30,079 –> 00:07:32,239who has begun a saving work in his life18200:07:32,239 –> 00:07:35,359will bring it to completion.18300:07:35,359 –> 00:07:38,380And so that brings us to our last title today.18400:07:38,380 –> 00:07:42,459To reduce God’s salvation by crediting your response.18500:07:42,459 –> 00:07:46,279And again, Jonah is a wonderful model for us here.18600:07:46,279 –> 00:07:49,119We wanted to see in Jonah chapter two in verse nine18700:07:49,119 –> 00:07:52,140that he gives God all the glory,18800:07:52,140 –> 00:07:56,000all the glory for his salvation.18900:07:56,000 –> 00:08:01,000Salvation comes from the Lord.19000:08:03,179 –> 00:08:04,339Now I got to quote Spurgeon,19100:08:04,339 –> 00:08:06,880especially for all the guys who are at seminary.19200:08:06,940 –> 00:08:09,679This is a good one for the seminary guys.19300:08:09,679 –> 00:08:11,679This is Spurgeon’s comment on salvation19400:08:11,679 –> 00:08:13,100comes from the Lord.19500:08:14,320 –> 00:08:19,320Jonah learned this sentence of good theology19600:08:19,600 –> 00:08:22,799in a very strange college.19700:08:22,799 –> 00:08:24,000I love that.19800:08:24,000 –> 00:08:25,399Where did you go to seminary?19900:08:25,399 –> 00:08:28,480Well it was the Seminary of the Deep.20000:08:29,519 –> 00:08:31,640And Spurgeon says,20100:08:31,640 –> 00:08:36,500most of the grand truths of God are learned by trouble.20200:08:36,520 –> 00:08:40,320They must be burned into us by the hot iron of affliction,20300:08:40,320 –> 00:08:44,099otherwise we shall not truly receive them.20400:08:45,200 –> 00:08:49,140We’ve been talking about avoiding a God-centered life.20500:08:49,140 –> 00:08:51,700And so I want us to see in this last message today20600:08:51,700 –> 00:08:54,700how utterly God-centered Jonah became.20700:08:56,020 –> 00:08:59,859Jonah 2, the whole of it is a song of praise20800:08:59,859 –> 00:09:04,859in which God gets all the glory for his salvation.20900:09:04,979 –> 00:09:07,119Or that God would get all the glory21000:09:07,119 –> 00:09:12,119for our salvation today and forever.21100:09:12,419 –> 00:09:13,739Now, I want you to look at Jonah 2,21200:09:13,739 –> 00:09:15,380and I hope you have it open in front of you.21300:09:15,380 –> 00:09:18,820And I want you to see how utterly God-centered21400:09:18,820 –> 00:09:22,059Jonah has become inside the fish,21500:09:22,059 –> 00:09:25,539how God’s grace has triumphed in his life.21600:09:25,539 –> 00:09:27,700From inside the fish Jonah prayed,21700:09:27,700 –> 00:09:31,059notice how it’s all about God, to the Lord his God.21800:09:31,059 –> 00:09:34,239He said in my distress I called on the Lord,21900:09:34,239 –> 00:09:35,780and he answered me.22000:09:35,780 –> 00:09:37,979From the depths of the grave I called for help,22100:09:37,979 –> 00:09:41,880and you listened to my cry.22200:09:41,880 –> 00:09:44,200So, now Jonah is speaking directly to God,22300:09:44,200 –> 00:09:47,140and I want you to see how he focuses on the Lord22400:09:47,140 –> 00:09:51,640all the way through this marvelous prayer of praise.22500:09:51,640 –> 00:09:56,219In fact, every time we come to the word you, or you’re,22600:09:56,219 –> 00:09:58,119I’m gonna read through the chapter here.22700:09:58,119 –> 00:10:01,359I want you to help me by giving me a strong you,22800:10:01,479 –> 00:10:04,919or your, so that we see just how this runs22900:10:04,919 –> 00:10:07,960all the way through the chapter.23000:10:07,960 –> 00:10:10,020So we’re beginning at verse three,23100:10:10,020 –> 00:10:12,500and we’re right there on the first word.23200:10:12,500 –> 00:10:13,340You ready?23300:10:13,340 –> 00:10:14,559You with me, okay.23400:10:14,559 –> 00:10:17,320You hurled me into the deep,23500:10:17,320 –> 00:10:18,559into the very heart of the seas23600:10:18,559 –> 00:10:22,599and all your waves and breakers swept over me.23700:10:22,599 –> 00:10:25,940I said, I have been banished from your sight,23800:10:25,940 –> 00:10:28,619yet I will look again to your holy temple.23900:10:28,619 –> 00:10:30,940Then he goes into his own problems,24000:10:30,940 –> 00:10:32,500the engulfing waters threatened me,24100:10:32,500 –> 00:10:33,559the deeps surrounded me,24200:10:33,559 –> 00:10:34,979seaweed was wrapped around my head24300:10:34,979 –> 00:10:35,900to the roots of the mountains,24400:10:35,900 –> 00:10:38,440I sank down, the earth beneath borrowed me in forever.24500:10:38,440 –> 00:10:41,900But you brought me up from the pit,24600:10:41,900 –> 00:10:43,080oh Lord my God,24700:10:43,080 –> 00:10:44,580when my life was ebbing away,24800:10:44,580 –> 00:10:46,820I remembered you, oh Lord,24900:10:46,820 –> 00:10:51,000and my prayer rose to you and to your holy temple.25000:10:51,000 –> 00:10:53,580Then he says those who cling to worthless idols25100:10:53,580 –> 00:10:55,820forfeit the grace that could be theirs,25200:10:55,820 –> 00:10:59,479but I with a song of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you25300:10:59,559 –> 00:11:01,659what I have vowed I will make good.25400:11:01,659 –> 00:11:03,400Salvation, I’ll say it with me.25500:11:03,400 –> 00:11:05,900Salvation comes from the Lord.25600:11:06,940 –> 00:11:08,460And just in case we haven’t got the point,25700:11:08,460 –> 00:11:11,419the very next verse says and the Lord commanded the fish25800:11:11,419 –> 00:11:14,780and it vomited Jonah out onto dry land.25900:11:14,780 –> 00:11:16,380Now what does chapter two say then?26000:11:16,380 –> 00:11:18,880It says this, God saves.26100:11:18,880 –> 00:11:20,179That’s the message.26200:11:20,179 –> 00:11:21,020God saves.26300:11:22,539 –> 00:11:23,359God saves.26400:11:24,619 –> 00:11:27,919And Jonah is concerned that God gets all the glory26500:11:27,919 –> 00:11:30,419for his salvation and we are concerned26600:11:30,419 –> 00:11:34,260that God gets all the glory for ours as well.26700:11:35,780 –> 00:11:36,780You’re listening to Open the Bible26800:11:36,780 –> 00:11:38,260with Pastor Colin Smith26900:11:38,260 –> 00:11:41,080and a message called Restrain God’s Praise.27000:11:41,080 –> 00:11:42,840It’s the final part in our series27100:11:42,840 –> 00:11:45,539how to avoid a God-centered life27200:11:45,539 –> 00:11:47,479based on the book of Jonah.27300:11:47,479 –> 00:11:50,760We’ll be back very shortly with the rest of the message.27400:11:50,760 –> 00:11:53,059Open the Bible is supported by our listeners,27500:11:53,059 –> 00:11:54,539that’s people just like you.27600:11:54,539 –> 00:11:57,280And if you already give to support the work,27700:11:57,280 –> 00:11:59,039thank you so much.27800:11:59,039 –> 00:12:01,559If that’s something you’re considering doing,27900:12:01,559 –> 00:12:03,880if you’re able to begin a new direct debit28000:12:03,880 –> 00:12:05,299to the work of Open the Bible28100:12:05,299 –> 00:12:08,000in the amount of five pounds per month or more28200:12:08,000 –> 00:12:10,400or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,28300:12:10,400 –> 00:12:12,700we’d be delighted to say thank you28400:12:12,700 –> 00:12:15,419by sending you a special gift.28500:12:15,419 –> 00:12:19,260It’s a book called Gospel Stories by Andrew Wilson.28600:12:19,260 –> 00:12:22,479The book explores real encounters with Jesus,28700:12:22,479 –> 00:12:25,580conversations and moments that revealed who he is28800:12:25,739 –> 00:12:29,799and why he came and the kind of love that he offers,28900:12:29,799 –> 00:12:33,140a love that pursues, forgives and restores29000:12:33,140 –> 00:12:35,059and never lets go,29100:12:35,059 –> 00:12:37,539that’s Gospel Stories by Andrew Wilson29200:12:37,539 –> 00:12:39,460and it’s our free gift to you29300:12:39,460 –> 00:12:41,799when you begin supporting Open the Bible29400:12:41,799 –> 00:12:44,979with a direct debit or a one-off gift.29500:12:44,979 –> 00:12:47,299Full terms and conditions are on our website,29600:12:47,299 –> 00:12:50,559that’s at openthebible.org.uk29700:12:50,559 –> 00:12:52,400and you can give online.29800:12:52,400 –> 00:12:53,500Back to the message now.29900:12:53,500 –> 00:12:55,140Here again is Colin.30000:12:55,159 –> 00:12:57,919Now, it’s worth thinking when we are looking30100:12:57,919 –> 00:13:00,599at salvation comes from the Lord.30200:13:01,719 –> 00:13:03,159I find it helpful to see30300:13:03,159 –> 00:13:07,679that the Bible speaks about salvation in three tenses.30400:13:07,679 –> 00:13:09,820I hope you will find this helpful.30500:13:09,820 –> 00:13:12,739The Bible speaks about salvation first30600:13:12,739 –> 00:13:15,880as a completed transaction,30700:13:15,880 –> 00:13:17,280Ephesians 2, eight,30800:13:17,280 –> 00:13:20,659it is by grace that you have been saved,30900:13:20,659 –> 00:13:22,859completed transaction through faith31000:13:22,859 –> 00:13:24,739and this is not from yourselves,31100:13:24,739 –> 00:13:27,140it is the gift of God.31200:13:27,140 –> 00:13:28,799Now the Bible is full of language31300:13:28,799 –> 00:13:30,900of a completed transaction,31400:13:31,900 –> 00:13:33,539Romans 5, one,31500:13:33,539 –> 00:13:35,900since we have been justified by faith31600:13:35,900 –> 00:13:38,219we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ,31700:13:38,219 –> 00:13:41,719we have been justified by faith31800:13:41,719 –> 00:13:42,700or Romans 8, one,31900:13:42,700 –> 00:13:44,419there is now no condemnation32000:13:44,419 –> 00:13:46,840for those who are in the Lord Jesus Christ.32100:13:47,719 –> 00:13:51,280How have I been saved?32200:13:51,280 –> 00:13:52,419I have been saved32300:13:52,419 –> 00:13:55,140because Christ died for my sins32400:13:55,140 –> 00:13:58,059and he rose for my justification32500:13:58,059 –> 00:14:00,580and being made one with Jesus Christ32600:14:00,580 –> 00:14:02,400through the bond of faith,32700:14:02,400 –> 00:14:05,979God counts all my sins as if they were Christ’s32800:14:05,979 –> 00:14:08,140and all Christ’s righteousness,32900:14:08,140 –> 00:14:10,619as if it were mine.33000:14:10,619 –> 00:14:14,380And that completed transaction of justification,33100:14:14,380 –> 00:14:17,020justification in the perfect tense,33200:14:17,020 –> 00:14:18,940the completed action,33300:14:18,940 –> 00:14:23,460the Bible often refers to as justification,33400:14:23,460 –> 00:14:26,059that is the completed33500:14:26,059 –> 00:14:29,599transaction of salvation,33600:14:29,599 –> 00:14:31,859salvation if you like, in the past tense.33700:14:31,859 –> 00:14:33,919But the Bible speaks about salvation also33800:14:33,919 –> 00:14:37,280as a continuing process.33900:14:37,280 –> 00:14:40,419For example, first Corinthians 1.18,34000:14:40,419 –> 00:14:42,840the message of the cross is foolishness34100:14:42,840 –> 00:14:44,739to those who are perishing34200:14:44,739 –> 00:14:48,719but to us who are being saved,34300:14:48,719 –> 00:14:50,700it is the power of God.34400:14:50,700 –> 00:14:55,700So clearly here, salvation is a continuing process.34500:14:55,719 –> 00:14:59,520My salvation has begun but it is not yet complete.34600:14:59,520 –> 00:15:03,059I am not yet, you are not yet what we will be.34700:15:03,059 –> 00:15:06,080We struggle with the flesh, we fail in many ways34800:15:06,080 –> 00:15:07,840yet we are not who we where.34900:15:09,200 –> 00:15:12,239God has not left us in defeat,35000:15:12,239 –> 00:15:14,000we are being saved.35100:15:14,000 –> 00:15:16,080And that process comes from the Lord35200:15:16,080 –> 00:15:18,159who continually is at work in our lives.35300:15:18,219 –> 00:15:19,440And we’ve seen this in Jonah,35400:15:19,440 –> 00:15:21,799he had known the Lord for many years,35500:15:21,799 –> 00:15:23,419a prophet in Gethsemane.35600:15:24,320 –> 00:15:27,140Then he gets himself into a particular sin35700:15:27,140 –> 00:15:31,039and God intervenes in his life graciously35800:15:31,039 –> 00:15:33,239through the storm and then through the fish, why?35900:15:33,239 –> 00:15:35,700Because God is still saving him.36000:15:35,700 –> 00:15:37,780And then he goes on and has wonderful ministry36100:15:37,780 –> 00:15:39,599and then of a many people come to the Lord36200:15:39,599 –> 00:15:43,320and then he gets into a, a strange funk36300:15:43,320 –> 00:15:46,020can I put it that way and God has to intervene again36400:15:46,020 –> 00:15:47,799because he’s angry and he’s out of sorts36500:15:47,799 –> 00:15:49,919in chapter four, what is God doing?36600:15:49,919 –> 00:15:53,940God is still saving him, it’s a continuing process.36700:15:54,940 –> 00:15:58,099And that continuing work of our salvation,36800:15:58,099 –> 00:15:59,979salvation in the present tense,36900:15:59,979 –> 00:16:04,460the Bible often refers to as sanctification.37000:16:04,460 –> 00:16:08,580Salvation’s the big word that embraces our justification37100:16:08,580 –> 00:16:11,140our sanctification and something else.37200:16:12,020 –> 00:16:15,340Because salvation, thirdly, is a future hope.37300:16:15,340 –> 00:16:17,840First Peter, chapter one in verse five.37400:16:18,780 –> 00:16:21,659You who, through faith, are shielded by God’s power37500:16:21,659 –> 00:16:24,320until the coming of the salvation37600:16:24,320 –> 00:16:28,219that is ready to be revealed in the last time.37700:16:28,219 –> 00:16:30,739So now salvation is something that’s still to happen,37800:16:30,739 –> 00:16:33,380it’s future, it’s for the last time.37900:16:33,380 –> 00:16:36,179And again our hope of future salvation38000:16:36,179 –> 00:16:38,400comes from the Lord.38100:16:38,400 –> 00:16:40,799Because our future salvation lies here,38200:16:40,799 –> 00:16:43,659Paul says, the Lord himself will come down38300:16:43,659 –> 00:16:45,739from heaven with a loud command38400:16:45,739 –> 00:16:47,500and with the voice of the Archangel38500:16:47,500 –> 00:16:48,940and the trumpet call of God,38600:16:48,940 –> 00:16:51,219the dead in Christ will rise first.38700:16:52,440 –> 00:16:54,559And when we are brought into the presence of the Lord,38800:16:54,559 –> 00:16:56,739we are caught up to meet him in the air38900:16:56,739 –> 00:16:58,679and then will be with him forever.39000:16:58,679 –> 00:17:01,659Revelation tells us what happens.39100:17:01,659 –> 00:17:04,380God will make his dwelling with men.39200:17:05,500 –> 00:17:09,339God will wipe all tears from our eyes.39300:17:09,339 –> 00:17:12,459There will be no more death or mourning or sorrow or pain.39400:17:12,500 –> 00:17:16,280Why, because God says I am making everything new.39500:17:16,280 –> 00:17:18,619So our future salvation comes from where?39600:17:18,619 –> 00:17:20,300It comes from the Lord,39700:17:20,300 –> 00:17:23,459from his coming and from his new creation.39800:17:25,780 –> 00:17:28,040And the future tense of our salvation,39900:17:28,040 –> 00:17:30,880the Bible often calls glorification.40000:17:30,880 –> 00:17:33,780So if you wanna think how to relate these words together,40100:17:33,780 –> 00:17:36,020salvation comes from the Lord,40200:17:36,020 –> 00:17:38,359past, present, future, justification, sanctification,40300:17:38,359 –> 00:17:41,719glorification, salvation in three tenses40400:17:41,739 –> 00:17:46,719and it all comes from the Lord.40500:17:48,180 –> 00:17:53,020Now that’s the teaching of Jonah, chapter two and verse nine.40600:17:55,020 –> 00:17:57,020Now I want for the rest of our time to focus in40700:17:57,020 –> 00:18:00,819on just one very critical and most important question40800:18:00,819 –> 00:18:04,560and it’s this, how does this help us?40900:18:07,020 –> 00:18:09,719What difference does it make41000:18:09,719 –> 00:18:13,920to know that salvation comes from the Lord?41100:18:16,439 –> 00:18:19,599And I want to speak for a few moments41200:18:19,599 –> 00:18:22,880perhaps a little more personally than I do at other times41300:18:22,880 –> 00:18:25,680and I hope that that will be helpful.41400:18:27,319 –> 00:18:28,800But the reason for doing that41500:18:28,800 –> 00:18:33,800is that I was a Christian for about 20 years41600:18:33,800 –> 00:18:38,800before I really came to appreciate the truth41700:18:39,800 –> 00:18:41,699that Jonah saw so clearly.41800:18:43,359 –> 00:18:45,020And I have to tell you honestly41900:18:45,020 –> 00:18:46,199that it has been for me42000:18:46,199 –> 00:18:50,560one of the most life-transforming truths42100:18:51,959 –> 00:18:54,719since about 20, 25 years ago42200:18:54,719 –> 00:18:59,239it donned into my own soul in a fresh way42300:18:59,239 –> 00:19:01,900and it has helped me so much42400:19:02,739 –> 00:19:07,739that I covet that many would share the same help and joy42500:19:08,500 –> 00:19:10,619and know already that many do.42600:19:12,400 –> 00:19:14,400But here is how it has helped me42700:19:14,400 –> 00:19:17,079to know that salvation comes from the Lord.42800:19:18,000 –> 00:19:20,680And I’ve isolated three ways42900:19:20,680 –> 00:19:22,099and they run very deep43000:19:22,099 –> 00:19:25,560because they go to core issues in a Christian’s life.43100:19:25,579 –> 00:19:28,339Now, number one,43200:19:30,560 –> 00:19:35,020grasping more clearly that salvation comes from the Lord43300:19:35,020 –> 00:19:39,420more than anything else has helped in my experience43400:19:39,420 –> 00:19:44,420to deepen my own worship, it really has.43500:19:45,199 –> 00:19:48,300And I hope that this might help you in the same way.43600:19:49,699 –> 00:19:51,599Let me try and put it to you this way.43700:19:52,280 –> 00:19:57,280It is a good thing to know that God is love.43800:19:59,520 –> 00:20:04,520It is a greater thing to know that God loves me.43900:20:06,339 –> 00:20:07,300Big difference.44000:20:08,800 –> 00:20:12,900I am moved to know that Jesus died on the cross for sinners.44100:20:13,959 –> 00:20:17,560I am more deeply moved to know that Jesus died44200:20:17,619 –> 00:20:20,540on the cross for me.44300:20:22,180 –> 00:20:24,459And that is the language of the Bible.44400:20:24,459 –> 00:20:27,219If you think about Galatians Chapter 2, and verse 20,44500:20:27,219 –> 00:20:31,160the Apostle Paul says, Help me here,44600:20:31,160 –> 00:20:36,160the son of God loved me and gave himself for me.44700:20:37,280 –> 00:20:39,119Very, very personal.44800:20:39,119 –> 00:20:40,439That’s the language of the Bible.44900:20:40,439 –> 00:20:43,719He died generically out there for people45000:20:43,719 –> 00:20:44,920in a general sense.45100:20:44,920 –> 00:20:46,500Paul says, no, I’ve understood this,45200:20:46,500 –> 00:20:49,599that the Lord Jesus died specifically,45300:20:49,599 –> 00:20:53,219pointedly for me.45400:20:54,619 –> 00:20:57,119In other words, when Jesus came into the world,45500:20:57,119 –> 00:20:58,540and when he died on the cross,45600:20:58,540 –> 00:21:02,400he did more than provide a way of salvation45700:21:02,400 –> 00:21:03,780for people in general.45800:21:04,959 –> 00:21:06,760I find it helpful to think of it this way,45900:21:06,760 –> 00:21:08,300that when Jesus came into the world,46000:21:08,300 –> 00:21:10,420and when he died on the cross,46100:21:10,420 –> 00:21:14,859he came to save people with names and faces,46200:21:15,400 –> 00:21:19,859and here’s where my own heart just gets lifted46300:21:19,859 –> 00:21:20,880in amazement,46400:21:20,880 –> 00:21:24,400and one of them was me.46500:21:26,699 –> 00:21:30,099I tell you, the more I think about the mystery46600:21:30,099 –> 00:21:32,280of God’s saving work in my life,46700:21:32,280 –> 00:21:34,280the more staggering it gets,46800:21:35,920 –> 00:21:38,180and I find just an increasing sense46900:21:38,180 –> 00:21:40,300as I think about these things of worship47000:21:40,300 –> 00:21:42,400welling up inside and saying,47100:21:42,959 –> 00:21:47,660Salvation comes from the Lord.47200:21:48,719 –> 00:21:50,439That’s a great thought to be left with47300:21:50,439 –> 00:21:52,359at the end of today’s program,47400:21:52,359 –> 00:21:54,900that salvation comes from the Lord.47500:21:54,900 –> 00:21:56,500You’ve been listening to Open the Bible47600:21:56,500 –> 00:21:58,459with Pastor Colin Smith,47700:21:58,459 –> 00:22:01,400and a message called Restrain God’s Praise,47800:22:01,400 –> 00:22:05,319part of our series, how to avoid a God-centered life.47900:22:05,319 –> 00:22:07,760Don’t forget, if you ever miss one of our broadcasts,48000:22:07,760 –> 00:22:10,280it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again48100:22:10,280 –> 00:22:15,160by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk48200:22:15,160 –> 00:22:17,479or you can find us as a podcast.48300:22:17,479 –> 00:22:19,359All the main podcast sites carry it,48400:22:19,359 –> 00:22:23,859and that’s available by searching for Open the Bible UK.48500:22:24,800 –> 00:22:28,000At Open the Bible, we welcome contact with our listeners.48600:22:28,000 –> 00:22:31,040If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching48700:22:31,040 –> 00:22:33,079and you’d like to reach out to us,48800:22:33,079 –> 00:22:35,839you can write to us at Openthebible,48900:22:35,839 –> 00:22:37,319P.O. Box 1420, Cheltnham,49000:22:38,300 –> 00:22:43,119GL50, 9PG, that’s Open the Bible,49100:22:44,239 –> 00:22:49,239P.O. Box 1420, Cheltnham, GL50, 9PG.49200:22:51,000 –> 00:22:54,359Our address and telephone number and email address49300:22:54,359 –> 00:22:59,359are available on our website, Openthebible.org.uk.49400:22:59,959 –> 00:23:02,319Colin, I’m sure many people listening today49500:23:02,319 –> 00:23:04,739will appreciate you telling them that,49600:23:04,739 –> 00:23:07,900God is saving desperate, repentant sinners,49700:23:07,900 –> 00:23:09,060people who feel as though49800:23:09,060 –> 00:23:11,219they are at the end of their tether.49900:23:11,219 –> 00:23:14,020This great, great statement in the Bible,50000:23:14,020 –> 00:23:16,540and I know some folks are afraid50100:23:16,540 –> 00:23:17,699that if we were to believe50200:23:17,699 –> 00:23:19,439that salvation comes from the Lord,50300:23:19,439 –> 00:23:21,560that somehow that would make us passive,50400:23:21,560 –> 00:23:23,459that we wouldn’t be engaged in evangelism50500:23:23,459 –> 00:23:26,060and witnessing and praying and so forth and so on,50600:23:26,060 –> 00:23:28,500hey, let’s just leave it up to the Lord.50700:23:28,500 –> 00:23:29,880I’ve found in my own life50800:23:29,880 –> 00:23:32,420precisely the opposite is the case,50900:23:32,420 –> 00:23:34,380the fact that God is at work51000:23:34,739 –> 00:23:37,660at saving people is to me the motivation51100:23:37,660 –> 00:23:40,900for engaging in prayer because there’s hope51200:23:40,900 –> 00:23:43,579and engaging in sharing the gospel51300:23:43,579 –> 00:23:44,939because it’s through the sharing51400:23:44,939 –> 00:23:47,540of the gospel that God does the work of saving.51500:23:47,540 –> 00:23:49,119If it all depended on me,51600:23:49,119 –> 00:23:50,739I’d be crushed by the whole thing.51700:23:50,739 –> 00:23:52,880But knowing that God is at work51800:23:52,880 –> 00:23:55,160and that he works through the gospel,51900:23:55,160 –> 00:23:57,619that is to me the greatest motivation.52000:23:57,619 –> 00:24:00,579So we’re going to look at a marvelous truth next time52100:24:00,579 –> 00:24:03,140that I think inspires evangelism.52200:24:03,140 –> 00:24:05,300It certainly lifts my heart in worship.52300:24:05,300 –> 00:24:07,180I hope we’re going to learn a little bit more52400:24:07,180 –> 00:24:09,479as to how powerful a motive that is.52500:24:09,479 –> 00:24:11,699Not only does it lift your heart in worship,52600:24:11,699 –> 00:24:15,300but for me, it also leads to a great sense of assurance.52700:24:15,300 –> 00:24:18,140If I played no part in my salvation,52800:24:18,140 –> 00:24:20,140I also can’t lose my salvation52900:24:20,140 –> 00:24:22,819because I did nothing to earn it, it was a gift.53000:24:22,819 –> 00:24:24,579I was talking to someone just the other day53100:24:24,579 –> 00:24:26,099who was really struggling with,53200:24:26,099 –> 00:24:28,500okay, justification by faith does that mean53300:24:28,500 –> 00:24:30,540that I’m saved by the strength of my faith53400:24:30,540 –> 00:24:32,339because my faith is not very strong.53500:24:32,339 –> 00:24:33,800Of course, he was in difficulties53600:24:33,800 –> 00:24:35,719and needed this great truth,53700:24:35,719 –> 00:24:38,339salvation comes from the Lord.53800:24:38,339 –> 00:24:41,020And the reason that you will ultimately be saved53900:24:41,020 –> 00:24:43,900is not because of the strength of your grip on God,54000:24:43,900 –> 00:24:46,020but because of the strength of God’s grip on you.54100:24:46,020 –> 00:24:48,260That’s where Christian assurance comes from.54200:24:48,260 –> 00:24:50,180It does, so I hope you’ll join us again54300:24:50,180 –> 00:24:51,900for the next program.54400:24:52,839 –> 00:24:54,180You’ve been listening to Open the Bible54500:24:54,180 –> 00:24:55,640with Pastor Colin Smith.54600:24:55,640 –> 00:24:56,880I’m David Pick,54700:24:56,880 –> 00:24:59,400and I look forward to being with you again next time.54800:24:59,560 –> 00:25:00,439What if salvation belongs to the Lord54900:25:00,439 –> 00:25:09,819means more than just God makes salvation possible?55000:25:16,500 –> 00:25:18,579Discover what the Bible teaches55100:25:18,579 –> 00:25:20,380next time on Open the Bible.