100:00:00,880 –> 00:00:06,180Christian Faith is not a matter200:00:06,180 –> 00:00:09,560of personal interpretation.300:00:09,560 –> 00:00:12,580It does not rest on an individual’s400:00:12,580 –> 00:00:16,520feelings or impulses or experiences.500:00:16,520 –> 00:00:20,240At it’s heart, Christian faith is a matter600:00:20,240 –> 00:00:24,480of believing God’s own explanation of700:00:24,480 –> 00:00:27,760events as revealed to us in the scripture.800:00:28,480 –> 00:00:30,959Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith,900:00:30,959 –> 00:00:33,200I’m David Pick, glad you could be with us today.1000:00:33,200 –> 00:00:36,320And Colin, many people will say something like1100:00:36,320 –> 00:00:38,619this is the way I see the Christian faith1200:00:38,619 –> 00:00:40,820or that’s what I believe,1300:00:40,820 –> 00:00:43,560but what you’re saying is that faith isn’t based1400:00:43,560 –> 00:00:47,119on what we like to believe, but on what God says.1500:00:47,119 –> 00:00:48,299That’s exactly right,1600:00:48,299 –> 00:00:50,599and of course, people often say1700:00:50,599 –> 00:00:52,680well now, that’s just your interpretation1800:00:52,680 –> 00:00:54,160and every Christian has heard that1900:00:54,160 –> 00:00:56,959phrase many, many times, that’s just your interpretation.2000:00:57,320 –> 00:01:01,500However, actually, what the scriptures give to us2100:01:01,500 –> 00:01:04,260is God’s interpretation.2200:01:04,260 –> 00:01:06,080We don’t just have events in the Bible,2300:01:06,080 –> 00:01:09,279we have God explaining the meaning of the events.2400:01:09,279 –> 00:01:11,540Now, I mean, take the Christmas story.2500:01:11,540 –> 00:01:15,720If Mary had simply known herself2600:01:15,720 –> 00:01:17,680to be with child,2700:01:17,680 –> 00:01:20,919how could she possibly have understood what was happening?2800:01:20,919 –> 00:01:23,300God explained what was happening.2900:01:23,300 –> 00:01:25,900Here’s how you’re to understand what is happening.3000:01:25,919 –> 00:01:28,379The Holy Spirit has come upon you3100:01:28,379 –> 00:01:31,059and the power of the Most High overshadowing you3200:01:31,059 –> 00:01:36,059so that the one to be born is the Holy One of God.3300:01:36,139 –> 00:01:38,320I mean, Mary couldn’t have worked that out for herself.3400:01:38,320 –> 00:01:41,279It had to be revealed, God had to explain it.3500:01:41,279 –> 00:01:43,699It’s the same when Jesus rises from the dead.3600:01:43,699 –> 00:01:46,260The women who go to the tomb have no idea3700:01:46,260 –> 00:01:48,099as to why the tomb is empty.3800:01:48,099 –> 00:01:50,180They don’t say, oh, he must be risen.3900:01:50,180 –> 00:01:52,580It takes the angel to come and say,4000:01:52,620 –> 00:01:55,860he’s not here, he is risen.4100:01:55,860 –> 00:01:58,400And so our faith is not based simply4200:01:58,400 –> 00:02:01,080on a personal interpretation.4300:02:01,080 –> 00:02:04,660It’s based on God giving us in his Word4400:02:04,660 –> 00:02:08,380the explanation of what he has done.4500:02:08,380 –> 00:02:11,059There was not just a man on a cross.4600:02:11,059 –> 00:02:13,860The man on the cross bore our sins.4700:02:13,860 –> 00:02:14,740How do we know that?4800:02:14,740 –> 00:02:16,940God tells us that that was what he was doing4900:02:16,940 –> 00:02:18,119when he was there.5000:02:18,119 –> 00:02:20,380Now that gets to the heart of what Christian faith5100:02:20,380 –> 00:02:21,199really is.5200:02:21,199 –> 00:02:24,919It’s believing God’s own explanation of events5300:02:24,919 –> 00:02:26,779as they’re given to us in the Scripture.5400:02:26,779 –> 00:02:28,300So I hope that the programme today5500:02:28,300 –> 00:02:30,880will really help people to establish5600:02:30,880 –> 00:02:33,119a firm foundation of faith.5700:02:33,119 –> 00:02:35,899And it’s found not in our own interpretations,5800:02:35,899 –> 00:02:37,839it’s found in the Word of God5900:02:37,839 –> 00:02:40,639and what God tells us by way of explanation6000:02:40,639 –> 00:02:41,759of what he’s done.6100:02:41,759 –> 00:02:43,360Let’s get into his Word, then.6200:02:43,360 –> 00:02:45,440We’re in Romans and chapter 10,6300:02:45,440 –> 00:02:48,779as we continue the message seen and proclaimed.6400:02:48,779 –> 00:02:50,119Here’s Colin.6500:02:50,119 –> 00:02:52,279The angels were messengers6600:02:53,500 –> 00:02:56,600and they were sent to announce, first,6700:02:56,600 –> 00:03:01,600the birth of Jesus that he was manifested in the flesh.6800:03:01,759 –> 00:03:04,220They were the heralds.6900:03:04,220 –> 00:03:05,960Hark the angels sing.7000:03:08,059 –> 00:03:10,639Notice how the angels announced7100:03:12,059 –> 00:03:16,619the coming of Jesus Christ in the world to Mary.7200:03:16,619 –> 00:03:18,160The angel appeared7300:03:18,880 –> 00:03:22,059and announced the coming of the son of God.7400:03:22,059 –> 00:03:26,860Mary said, how can this be seeing that I am a virgin?7500:03:26,860 –> 00:03:29,039And the angel said to her,7600:03:30,360 –> 00:03:33,119the Holy Spirit shall come upon you.7700:03:33,119 –> 00:03:35,639The power of the most high shall overshadow you7800:03:35,639 –> 00:03:37,720and therefore the child to be born7900:03:37,720 –> 00:03:40,720will be called holy, the son of God.8000:03:41,960 –> 00:03:44,179And then it was the angels who announced8100:03:44,179 –> 00:03:46,360the birth of Jesus Christ to the shepherds.8200:03:46,399 –> 00:03:49,039The angel said to them,8300:03:49,039 –> 00:03:52,119fear not for behold I bring you good news of great joy8400:03:52,119 –> 00:03:55,080that will be to all the people8500:03:55,080 –> 00:03:57,240for to you this day in the city of David,8600:03:57,240 –> 00:03:58,919a savior is born.8700:03:58,919 –> 00:04:03,259He is Christ the Lord.8800:04:03,259 –> 00:04:05,759Now notice the ministry of angels here,8900:04:05,759 –> 00:04:06,979this is very important.9000:04:06,979 –> 00:04:11,979They explain the meaning of the birth of Jesus.9100:04:13,860 –> 00:04:15,440A baby was born9200:04:15,460 –> 00:04:19,739in a small town called Bethlehem many years ago.9300:04:20,899 –> 00:04:25,079What is the significance of that for us today?9400:04:26,260 –> 00:04:31,260Well, the angels tell us what it means and why it matters.9500:04:32,899 –> 00:04:37,899The one who is born they announce is the Lord.9600:04:37,980 –> 00:04:42,980And the reason that he has come is to be our savior.9700:04:43,200 –> 00:04:46,179If we ask savior from what,9800:04:46,179 –> 00:04:48,519again, the angels give us the answer.9900:04:48,519 –> 00:04:50,899The angel appeared to Joseph and said,10000:04:50,899 –> 00:04:54,279call him Jesus because he will save his people10100:04:54,279 –> 00:04:56,760from their sins.10200:04:58,239 –> 00:05:00,399Now, friends, here is why this matters10300:05:00,399 –> 00:05:02,519especially for us today.10400:05:03,540 –> 00:05:08,200We live in a culture where people dismiss10500:05:08,220 –> 00:05:13,179any claim to truth with a single phrase.10600:05:13,179 –> 00:05:15,239And we’ve all heard it.10700:05:15,239 –> 00:05:18,059That’s just your interpretation.10800:05:19,399 –> 00:05:22,179You speak about the Lord Jesus Christ10900:05:22,179 –> 00:05:23,640and you will find time and again11000:05:23,640 –> 00:05:25,880that what you say is dismissed,11100:05:25,880 –> 00:05:27,899that’s just your opinion.11200:05:27,899 –> 00:05:31,320That’s just your interpretation.11300:05:31,320 –> 00:05:33,640And so, we end up in a postmodern world11400:05:33,640 –> 00:05:35,440with, you know, there’s this marvelous story11500:05:35,440 –> 00:05:37,079about a baby being born in a manger.11600:05:37,079 –> 00:05:38,320What does it mean to you?11700:05:38,320 –> 00:05:39,320Really, at the end of the day,11800:05:39,320 –> 00:05:41,579it’s all a matter of personal opinion.11900:05:42,760 –> 00:05:47,760No, God sent the Angel to tell us12000:05:48,600 –> 00:05:51,200what the birth of Jesus means.12100:05:51,200 –> 00:05:53,440What it means for you.12200:05:53,440 –> 00:05:54,799Here’s what it means for you.12300:05:54,799 –> 00:05:59,799A Savior is born and He came because you need saving.12400:06:00,160 –> 00:06:04,640And the Savior who is born is Jesus Christ the Lord.12500:06:05,619 –> 00:06:10,619How could the shepherds have possibly known12600:06:11,179 –> 00:06:12,760that this baby lying in a manger12700:06:12,760 –> 00:06:15,359was actually God manifested in the flesh?12800:06:16,799 –> 00:06:18,359There’s only one way they could ever of known.12900:06:18,359 –> 00:06:20,799God has to tell them.13000:06:20,799 –> 00:06:22,399They’d never have worked it out.13100:06:23,839 –> 00:06:26,500And so God tells us, sends the Angel.13200:06:27,799 –> 00:06:29,179The Angel tells them.13300:06:29,579 –> 00:06:31,619Don’t do anything for no reason.13400:06:31,619 –> 00:06:33,660Now, to underline that,13500:06:33,660 –> 00:06:35,500I want you to notice13600:06:35,500 –> 00:06:37,959that when you come to the resurrection of Jesus,13700:06:37,959 –> 00:06:39,299the Easter story,13800:06:39,299 –> 00:06:41,839you ad exactly the same pattern.13900:06:43,440 –> 00:06:45,359Angels were God’s messengers14000:06:45,359 –> 00:06:48,339not only to announce his birth,14100:06:48,339 –> 00:06:50,720but also to announce his resurrection.14200:06:50,720 –> 00:06:53,779Not only to announce that he was manifested in the flesh,14300:06:53,779 –> 00:06:57,459but also to announce he was vindicated by the spirit.14400:06:58,359 –> 00:07:00,079Now, remember that story.14500:07:01,420 –> 00:07:03,739On the Easter morning,14600:07:03,739 –> 00:07:05,399the women came.14700:07:05,399 –> 00:07:07,320They arrived at the tomb14800:07:07,320 –> 00:07:09,320and they found that it was empty.14900:07:10,399 –> 00:07:13,220The stone was rolled away.15000:07:15,059 –> 00:07:16,739But what did that mean?15100:07:19,079 –> 00:07:21,859I mean, it wasn’t that the women turned to each other15200:07:21,859 –> 00:07:23,359and said, oh look,15300:07:24,399 –> 00:07:26,040the stone’s rolled away.15400:07:27,579 –> 00:07:29,619The tomb is empty.15500:07:29,619 –> 00:07:31,459He’s risen from the dead.15600:07:31,459 –> 00:07:35,100That would have been a matter of personal interpretation.15700:07:35,100 –> 00:07:36,459That is not what happened.15800:07:37,859 –> 00:07:39,100If that had been what happened,15900:07:39,100 –> 00:07:40,600then of course other people would have come16000:07:40,600 –> 00:07:42,519and said, ah, look, the tomb is empty.16100:07:42,519 –> 00:07:44,420That must mean that the disciples stole the body.16200:07:44,420 –> 00:07:46,459That would have been a matter of interpretation too.16300:07:46,459 –> 00:07:47,859And then for the next 2,000 years,16400:07:47,859 –> 00:07:49,320we just say, well, there’s one interpretations.16500:07:49,320 –> 00:07:50,220There’s another interpretation.16600:07:50,220 –> 00:07:51,859What do you think?16700:07:51,859 –> 00:07:55,019It’s exactly what the postmodern world is.16800:07:55,019 –> 00:07:56,200That is not what happened.16900:07:57,519 –> 00:08:00,160The resurrection was not a matter of private interpretation17000:08:00,160 –> 00:08:02,059for the women or everyone else.17100:08:03,000 –> 00:08:03,899What happened?17200:08:06,399 –> 00:08:11,339We’re told in Matthew chapter 28 and verses five and six.17300:08:12,640 –> 00:08:15,980But to the women who were perplexed,17400:08:15,980 –> 00:08:19,019that’s the word that’s used in Luke’s gospel in chapter 24.17500:08:20,260 –> 00:08:21,779The women looked at the empty tomb17600:08:21,779 –> 00:08:23,679and rather than drawing a conclusion,17700:08:23,679 –> 00:08:26,920they didn’t have the faintest idea what it meant.17800:08:26,920 –> 00:08:28,000They’re perplexed.17900:08:29,019 –> 00:08:30,820What’s this?18000:08:30,820 –> 00:08:32,179What’s going on?18100:08:34,219 –> 00:08:35,840So how did they know what had really happened?18200:08:35,840 –> 00:08:38,659The answer is God sent an angel to tell them.18300:08:39,719 –> 00:08:43,500Matthew 28, the angel said to the women,18400:08:43,500 –> 00:08:46,719do not be afraid but I know that you seek Jesus18500:08:46,719 –> 00:08:47,640who was crucified.18600:08:47,640 –> 00:08:50,359He is not here for he has risen as he said,18700:08:50,359 –> 00:08:54,919come and see the place where he lay.18800:08:54,940 –> 00:08:58,020So please understand this is very important.18900:08:58,020 –> 00:09:03,020The resurrection of Jesus was not an inference19000:09:03,219 –> 00:09:06,599drawn by the women from the empty tomb.19100:09:07,440 –> 00:09:11,099It was announced by the angel19200:09:11,099 –> 00:09:14,359and then it was confirmed to the apostles19300:09:14,359 –> 00:09:18,020by the subsequent resurrection appearances19400:09:18,020 –> 00:09:19,880of our Lord Jesus Christ.19500:09:19,880 –> 00:09:21,940Here’s what that means.19600:09:21,960 –> 00:09:26,940Christian faith is not a matter of personal interpretation.19700:09:28,799 –> 00:09:32,000It does not rest on an individual’s feelings19800:09:32,000 –> 00:09:35,760or impulses or experiences.19900:09:35,760 –> 00:09:38,760At its heart, Christian faith is a matter20000:09:38,760 –> 00:09:43,640of believing God’s own explanation of events20100:09:43,640 –> 00:09:46,260as revealed to us in the scripture.20200:09:46,260 –> 00:09:50,679A Savior has been born, he is Christ, the Lord.20300:09:51,580 –> 00:09:56,059He is manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit.20400:09:56,059 –> 00:10:01,059He’s died for our sins and he rose from the dead.20500:10:03,919 –> 00:10:06,840Now, this ministry of angels,20600:10:06,840 –> 00:10:11,840this bringing of God’s revelation to people20700:10:12,140 –> 00:10:14,500becomes the pattern for the ministry of the apostles20800:10:14,500 –> 00:10:18,820and the pattern for our ministry today,20900:10:18,820 –> 00:10:21,239that what they did we are now in this world to do.21000:10:21,239 –> 00:10:23,919We are to communicate this revelation that is speaking21100:10:23,919 –> 00:10:27,400now once for all time for every person on the planet.21200:10:27,400 –> 00:10:30,559That’s why what follows from seen by angels21300:10:30,559 –> 00:10:33,719is declared among the nations.21400:10:33,719 –> 00:10:37,520What can we learn then from the ministry of angels?21500:10:38,500 –> 00:10:41,059Well, surely the most obvious thing is this,21600:10:42,039 –> 00:10:46,580that the ministry of angels focused entirely21700:10:46,599 –> 00:10:49,820and exclusively on Jesus Christ.21800:10:51,099 –> 00:10:52,320You’re listening to Open The Bible21900:10:52,320 –> 00:10:54,159with Pastor Colin Smith and a message22000:10:54,159 –> 00:10:57,179called Jesus, Seen and Proclaimed22100:10:57,179 –> 00:10:59,320from Romans chapter 10.22200:10:59,320 –> 00:11:01,340And we’ll get back to the message shortly.22300:11:01,340 –> 00:11:04,440The message is part of our series Simply Called Jesus22400:11:04,440 –> 00:11:06,479and if you’ve missed any of the series to date22500:11:06,479 –> 00:11:08,299or if you want to go back and listen again,22600:11:08,299 –> 00:11:11,299you can always do that by coming online to our website22700:11:11,299 –> 00:11:14,700and that’s at openthebible.org.uk.22800:11:14,700 –> 00:11:16,059There you’ll find all the messages22900:11:16,700 –> 00:11:18,039which have already gone out on air.23000:11:18,039 –> 00:11:21,000Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners23100:11:21,000 –> 00:11:24,460and if you’re considering making an end of year gift,23200:11:24,460 –> 00:11:26,580we’d ask you to consider giving to23300:11:26,580 –> 00:11:28,299the work of Open The Bible.23400:11:28,299 –> 00:11:31,400If you’re able to make a gift of £50 or more,23500:11:31,400 –> 00:11:32,940we’d love to say thank you23600:11:32,940 –> 00:11:37,219by sending you five copies of the Gospel of John.23700:11:37,219 –> 00:11:38,900Further information and full terms23800:11:38,900 –> 00:11:42,960and conditions are on our website, openthebible.org.uk23900:11:42,960 –> 00:11:45,000and I’ll be talking to Colin more about24000:11:45,340 –> 00:11:47,440this special offer later in the program.24100:11:47,440 –> 00:11:48,539Back to The Message now,24200:11:48,539 –> 00:11:50,479we’re in Romans in chapter 10.24300:11:50,479 –> 00:11:51,479Here’s Colin.24400:11:51,479 –> 00:11:55,739The ministry of angels focused entirely24500:11:55,739 –> 00:11:59,960and exclusively on Jesus Christ.24600:11:59,960 –> 00:12:02,580And that must be true for us today as well.24700:12:02,580 –> 00:12:04,440They declared his birth,24800:12:04,440 –> 00:12:06,760they declared his resurrection,24900:12:06,760 –> 00:12:08,479they declared in the acts of the apostles25000:12:08,479 –> 00:12:10,799his glorious second coming,25100:12:11,780 –> 00:12:14,880and because that was the model for the apostles25200:12:14,880 –> 00:12:16,000when they then went out25300:12:16,000 –> 00:12:17,859to proclaim Christ among the nations,25400:12:17,859 –> 00:12:18,859they did the same thing.25500:12:18,859 –> 00:12:20,440Paul says to the Corinthians,25600:12:20,440 –> 00:12:22,679I determined when I came to your town,25700:12:22,679 –> 00:12:24,159when I came among you,25800:12:24,159 –> 00:12:27,140to know nothing except Jesus Christ.25900:12:28,320 –> 00:12:32,580We proclaim him, he says to the Colossians.26000:12:32,580 –> 00:12:35,539Christ was seen by angels26100:12:35,539 –> 00:12:39,239and proclaimed amongst the nations.26200:12:39,239 –> 00:12:40,719And that is our calling26300:12:40,719 –> 00:12:42,619and that is our ministry today.26400:12:42,619 –> 00:12:46,900We are trusted with what angels saw26500:12:46,900 –> 00:12:49,780and what apostles proclaimed,26600:12:49,780 –> 00:12:52,000the good news of Jesus Christ,26700:12:52,000 –> 00:12:53,739who he is, what he has done26800:12:53,739 –> 00:12:55,419and what he offers to people26900:12:55,419 –> 00:12:56,580from every nation,27000:12:56,580 –> 00:12:59,419from every background in the world.27100:13:01,260 –> 00:13:03,659Now, what does all of this27200:13:03,659 –> 00:13:05,340have to do with godliness?27300:13:05,340 –> 00:13:06,320Remember this verse,27400:13:06,320 –> 00:13:08,380this whole chapter is about godliness.27500:13:08,380 –> 00:13:10,380This is the chapter that lays out27600:13:10,380 –> 00:13:12,859the qualifications for Christian leadership.27700:13:12,859 –> 00:13:14,820It gives us a pattern, if you like,27800:13:14,820 –> 00:13:17,039for what a godly life looks like.27900:13:17,039 –> 00:13:18,539And it ends with the question,28000:13:18,539 –> 00:13:21,119how then are we to live such a life?28100:13:21,119 –> 00:13:23,580How are you to become a godly person?28200:13:23,580 –> 00:13:25,099Are you to become God’s man,28300:13:25,099 –> 00:13:27,820God’s woman who manifests the character28400:13:27,820 –> 00:13:31,979of a person who walks closely with God?28500:13:31,979 –> 00:13:33,400And the answer to that question28600:13:33,400 –> 00:13:36,119is that Jesus Christ himself28700:13:36,119 –> 00:13:38,179is the mystery of godliness.28800:13:38,179 –> 00:13:39,700The secret that God has revealed,28900:13:39,700 –> 00:13:42,460though it’s full wonder is still to be made known29000:13:42,460 –> 00:13:45,119is that the life for which he made you29100:13:45,119 –> 00:13:47,340and the life to which he calls you29200:13:47,340 –> 00:13:52,340is made possible for you in and through Jesus Christ.29300:13:55,020 –> 00:13:59,659In other words, becoming a godly person29400:13:59,659 –> 00:14:04,659does not at its heart lie in you trying harder29500:14:06,099 –> 00:14:08,059to live a more disciplined life.29600:14:09,059 –> 00:14:11,239It does not lie at its heart29700:14:11,239 –> 00:14:14,640in more focused and concentrated effort.29800:14:15,859 –> 00:14:17,960Godliness, we are being told here,29900:14:17,960 –> 00:14:22,919flows from a heart and life that is gripped30000:14:22,919 –> 00:14:27,919by the grace and the glory that are in Jesus Christ.30100:14:29,359 –> 00:14:33,320Paul on one occasion wrote to a young colleague,30200:14:33,320 –> 00:14:37,760a man by the name of Titus who he had mentored.30300:14:37,799 –> 00:14:42,260Titus, a young man and he is called to be a pastor30400:14:44,159 –> 00:14:48,479and he faces all the same temptations as anybody else,30500:14:49,640 –> 00:14:53,400and so Paul writes to him about how he is30600:14:53,400 –> 00:14:56,599to pursue the godly life to which he is called30700:14:56,599 –> 00:14:58,700and for which he was made.30800:14:58,700 –> 00:15:01,979He writes this in Titus 2 in verse 11.30900:15:01,979 –> 00:15:05,659The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation31000:15:05,679 –> 00:15:10,659to all people, training us to renounce godliness31100:15:10,799 –> 00:15:11,919and worldly passions.31200:15:11,919 –> 00:15:14,219So this is, how do you learn31300:15:14,219 –> 00:15:18,659to say no to temptation and to live31400:15:18,659 –> 00:15:21,859self-controlled, upright, and godly lives31500:15:21,859 –> 00:15:22,820in the present age.31600:15:22,820 –> 00:15:25,820How do you learn, how are you trained31700:15:25,820 –> 00:15:29,599to say no to powerful temptations31800:15:29,599 –> 00:15:31,500and to live the life for which you were made,31900:15:31,559 –> 00:15:36,059the life to which you are called in this present age?32000:15:37,260 –> 00:15:39,640And you might think that the way we learn32100:15:39,640 –> 00:15:41,719to be godly is through the law of God.32200:15:41,719 –> 00:15:43,239Isn’t it the law of God that tells us32300:15:43,239 –> 00:15:44,700what a godly life looks like?32400:15:46,320 –> 00:15:47,780But you see the law of God doesn’t have32500:15:47,780 –> 00:15:49,280the power to get you there.32600:15:50,679 –> 00:15:53,000And so what he says here is very significant.32700:15:53,000 –> 00:15:57,919He says the grace of God has appeared.32800:15:58,059 –> 00:16:03,059And it’s the grace of God that teaches us,32900:16:03,239 –> 00:16:08,059trains us, equips us to say no33000:16:08,059 –> 00:16:10,739to the most powerful temptations we face33100:16:10,739 –> 00:16:15,739and to press forward in a life of genuine godliness.33200:16:16,340 –> 00:16:17,960Why the grace of God?33300:16:18,820 –> 00:16:21,900Because grace produces…33400:16:21,900 –> 00:16:25,020When you see the love of God in Jesus Christ33500:16:25,020 –> 00:16:27,859and the richness of his gift in Jesus Christ33600:16:27,859 –> 00:16:31,039and all that he holds out for you and all that is in him,33700:16:32,219 –> 00:16:36,059that begets in the heart a love for Christ,33800:16:36,059 –> 00:16:40,619a desire for Christ, a gratitude to Christ.33900:16:40,619 –> 00:16:44,080And that, brothers and sisters, is the motive.34000:16:44,080 –> 00:16:45,799It’s the mainspring, it’s the energy,34100:16:45,799 –> 00:16:50,739it’s the driving force of a godly life.34200:16:50,739 –> 00:16:54,500The more you see the grace and glory of Jesus, your savior,34300:16:54,500 –> 00:16:56,539the greater will be your ability34400:16:56,619 –> 00:17:00,000and your growth in regards to a godly life.34500:17:01,219 –> 00:17:06,219Now friends, we live in an increasingly harsh world34600:17:08,420 –> 00:17:11,780where people make demands of each other34700:17:11,780 –> 00:17:14,619only to be disappointed and frustrated34800:17:14,619 –> 00:17:16,560when their demands are not met.34900:17:18,400 –> 00:17:22,359Godliness can never be demanded.35000:17:23,300 –> 00:17:26,219It does not come through law.35100:17:28,719 –> 00:17:32,660Godliness grows in the soil of grace.35200:17:34,020 –> 00:17:35,880And when we understand that,35300:17:35,880 –> 00:17:40,339it will characterize our communication with the world35400:17:40,339 –> 00:17:44,099as we declare the good news that was seen by angels35500:17:44,099 –> 00:17:45,699was trusted to the apostles35600:17:45,699 –> 00:17:47,920and is now given to us.35700:17:47,920 –> 00:17:49,979It’s the good news of God’s grace.35800:17:50,900 –> 00:17:53,000And, therefore, it is to be spoken35900:17:53,000 –> 00:17:56,260to an often angry and demanding world36000:17:56,260 –> 00:17:59,280in the tone of grace and in the spirit of grace36100:17:59,280 –> 00:18:02,599because godliness can never be demanded.36200:18:03,459 –> 00:18:07,619It grows in the soil of grace.36300:18:07,619 –> 00:18:10,079It is the grace of God that equips us,36400:18:10,079 –> 00:18:13,459trains us to say no to ungodliness36500:18:13,459 –> 00:18:18,459and to live with self-control in this present age.36600:18:19,400 –> 00:18:24,400So, here is the mystery of godliness.36700:18:26,280 –> 00:18:28,119You can live the life for which God36800:18:28,119 –> 00:18:30,180made you the life to which God calls you36900:18:30,180 –> 00:18:32,939and you can do it in and through Jesus Christ.37000:18:32,939 –> 00:18:35,579The more you see the grace of God in Him,37100:18:35,579 –> 00:18:37,239the more you will be motivated from37200:18:37,239 –> 00:18:40,579the heart to pursue a godly life.37300:18:41,979 –> 00:18:45,319It follows, therefore, that since godliness37400:18:46,300 –> 00:18:48,239is the purpose for which every person37500:18:48,239 –> 00:18:49,599on the planet is made37600:18:50,880 –> 00:18:54,239and it is the call of God to every life37700:18:54,239 –> 00:18:56,099every person who has ever lived,37800:18:57,079 –> 00:18:59,640it follows that the mystery of godliness37900:18:59,640 –> 00:19:02,040Jesus Christ is therefore to be proclaimed38000:19:02,040 –> 00:19:03,079to all people.38100:19:03,079 –> 00:19:07,560There is no person on any corner of this planet38200:19:07,560 –> 00:19:09,800who was not made by God and is not called38300:19:09,800 –> 00:19:11,780by God to be his man or his woman.38400:19:12,739 –> 00:19:16,140Therefore, this gospel that was seen38500:19:16,140 –> 00:19:18,280by angels and proclaimed by the apostles38600:19:18,280 –> 00:19:19,959is not a matter of private opinion,38700:19:19,959 –> 00:19:21,880it is in fact the very word of God,38800:19:21,880 –> 00:19:24,939the revelation of God for all people.38900:19:26,099 –> 00:19:30,459And therefore, we are to declare39000:19:31,739 –> 00:19:36,739this good news, proclaim it to the nations.39100:19:37,020 –> 00:19:39,219And when we do that, we are not pressing39200:19:39,400 –> 00:19:43,400private opinion, we are telling another person39300:19:43,400 –> 00:19:48,319very simply what God has revealed for all people.39400:19:48,319 –> 00:19:50,619The life for which God made you,39500:19:50,619 –> 00:19:52,839the life to which he calls you,39600:19:52,839 –> 00:19:55,560is made possible for you in and through39700:19:55,560 –> 00:19:58,239his gracious and glorious gift39800:19:58,239 –> 00:20:00,199of Jesus Christ the Lord,39900:20:00,199 –> 00:20:04,099who came into the world to be your savior.40000:20:05,079 –> 00:20:06,640Now let me end with this,40100:20:07,420 –> 00:20:12,420just once in a while when my wife40200:20:13,060 –> 00:20:17,300wants me to do something particularly to help her,40300:20:18,239 –> 00:20:22,780she’ll make her request using a rather unusual phrase40400:20:22,780 –> 00:20:25,560that perhaps is used in your home as well.40500:20:25,560 –> 00:20:29,699She’ll say, be an angel,40600:20:29,699 –> 00:20:34,619and then follow some request as to some kind40700:20:34,619 –> 00:20:36,880of good thing that needs to be done.40800:20:38,099 –> 00:20:43,099Now we know what that phrase means, be an angel.40900:20:44,680 –> 00:20:48,939Angels are messengers sent by God,41000:20:48,939 –> 00:20:53,099to speak of, and to serve Jesus Christ.41100:20:53,099 –> 00:20:55,579I want to say to you this Christmas, be an angel,41200:20:56,540 –> 00:20:57,400be an angel.41300:21:00,119 –> 00:21:03,680Tell someone who needs to know about the love of God41400:21:03,680 –> 00:21:08,680in Jesus Christ, tell someone that God offers a gift41500:21:09,680 –> 00:21:13,479of unspeakable value, that forgiveness and reconciliation41600:21:13,479 –> 00:21:15,520is freely available through the Lord41700:21:15,520 –> 00:21:18,359who came into the world to be the savior.41800:21:18,359 –> 00:21:21,859It’s not just your opinion, it’s what God has made known41900:21:21,859 –> 00:21:26,540for every person, good news of great joy for all people.42000:21:27,920 –> 00:21:31,040Christ the Lord stands ready to receive all,42100:21:31,140 –> 00:21:34,380who will come to Him in faith and in repentance42200:21:34,380 –> 00:21:38,979and to do so in marvelous and marvelous grace.42300:21:38,979 –> 00:21:41,619Ask yourself this question,42400:21:41,619 –> 00:21:45,040where are there people who do not know Jesus42500:21:45,040 –> 00:21:46,680and how can I reach them?42600:21:48,140 –> 00:21:50,400Where are there people who do not know Jesus42700:21:50,400 –> 00:21:51,739and how can I reach them?42800:21:51,739 –> 00:21:53,619And then remember this, as you recall42900:21:53,619 –> 00:21:55,459that angels were sent by God,43000:21:55,459 –> 00:22:00,060you have been sent by God into a particular family circle,43100:22:00,060 –> 00:22:03,060into a neighborhood, into a school,43200:22:03,060 –> 00:22:05,819into a workplace, into a circle of friends,43300:22:05,819 –> 00:22:08,000why did God send you there?43400:22:09,199 –> 00:22:10,859He sent you there to be an angel,43500:22:11,959 –> 00:22:16,359messenger to proclaim what angels have seen,43600:22:17,400 –> 00:22:22,380the good news of Jesus Christ, born and risen.43700:22:23,880 –> 00:22:25,680You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith43800:22:25,680 –> 00:22:27,699on Open the Bible and a message called43900:22:28,219 –> 00:22:30,520Jesus Seen and Proclaimed,44000:22:30,540 –> 00:22:33,560part of our series simply called Jesus.44100:22:33,660 –> 00:22:36,020It was based on Romans and chapter 10,44200:22:36,020 –> 00:22:37,599and if you’ve missed any of the series44300:22:37,599 –> 00:22:39,520or if you want to go back and listen again,44400:22:39,520 –> 00:22:41,199you can do that by coming online44500:22:41,199 –> 00:22:45,160to our website, openthebible.org.uk.44600:22:45,160 –> 00:22:47,479You can also find Pastor Colin’s teaching44700:22:47,479 –> 00:22:49,459as a podcast, and those are available44800:22:49,459 –> 00:22:51,400on all the main podcast sites44900:22:51,400 –> 00:22:54,020by searching for Open the Bible UK45000:22:54,020 –> 00:22:57,000or by following the link from our website.45100:22:57,020 –> 00:22:59,540Also, on our website and available as a podcast45200:22:59,540 –> 00:23:01,979is Open the Bible Daily, and that’s45300:23:01,979 –> 00:23:05,560a series of short, two to three-minute reflections45400:23:05,560 –> 00:23:07,540based on Pastor Colin’s teaching45500:23:07,540 –> 00:23:10,180and read in the UK by Sue Macleish.45600:23:10,180 –> 00:23:12,859There’s a fresh one on the website every day.45700:23:12,859 –> 00:23:14,400Many Christians start the day45800:23:14,400 –> 00:23:16,660by listening to Open the Bible Daily.45900:23:17,479 –> 00:23:19,020Open the Bible is able to stay46000:23:19,020 –> 00:23:21,119on this station and on the internet46100:23:21,119 –> 00:23:22,859as a result of the generous giving46200:23:22,859 –> 00:23:25,040made by our many listeners,46300:23:25,160 –> 00:23:26,280and if that’s something you’ve46400:23:26,280 –> 00:23:27,979been thinking about doing,46500:23:27,979 –> 00:23:30,520if you’re able to set up a new direct debit46600:23:30,520 –> 00:23:32,839to the work of Open the Bible this month46700:23:32,839 –> 00:23:35,520in the amount of £5 per month or more46800:23:35,520 –> 00:23:38,520or a one-off gift of £50 or more,46900:23:38,520 –> 00:23:40,199we’d love to say thank you47000:23:40,199 –> 00:23:44,400by sending you five copies of the Gospel of John.47100:23:44,400 –> 00:23:45,880The five copies are all about47200:23:45,880 –> 00:23:48,680giving away the good news of Jesus Christ47300:23:48,680 –> 00:23:50,219to your friends and family,47400:23:50,219 –> 00:23:52,359or maybe even sitting down with them47500:23:52,359 –> 00:23:54,239and reading it with them.47600:23:54,260 –> 00:23:56,680Colin, for listeners who may not know,47700:23:56,680 –> 00:23:58,800tell us about John’s Gospel.47800:23:58,800 –> 00:24:01,199Well, there are four books in the New Testament47900:24:01,199 –> 00:24:02,459about the life of Jesus48000:24:02,459 –> 00:24:05,420and they’re regularly referred to as Gospels.48100:24:05,420 –> 00:24:08,099They are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.48200:24:08,099 –> 00:24:09,760And John was an apostle,48300:24:09,760 –> 00:24:11,319one of Jesus’s disciples,48400:24:11,319 –> 00:24:14,719and he tells us why he wrote his Gospel.48500:24:14,719 –> 00:24:17,939These are written so that you may believe48600:24:17,939 –> 00:24:20,079that Jesus is the Christ,48700:24:20,079 –> 00:24:21,300the Son of God,48800:24:21,459 –> 00:24:22,880and that by believing,48900:24:22,880 –> 00:24:25,380you may have life in his name.49000:24:26,800 –> 00:24:30,079Eternal life comes to a person49100:24:30,079 –> 00:24:33,660through believing in the Lord, Jesus Christ,49200:24:33,660 –> 00:24:36,739and faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ,49300:24:36,739 –> 00:24:39,300is formed through the Word of God,49400:24:39,300 –> 00:24:41,859and there’s no better place to begin49500:24:41,859 –> 00:24:43,579than in the Gospel of John.49600:24:43,579 –> 00:24:45,719So those five copies of John’s Gospel49700:24:45,719 –> 00:24:46,760are our gift to you49800:24:46,760 –> 00:24:49,119if you’re able to set up a new direct debit49900:24:49,119 –> 00:24:50,540to the Work of Open the Bible50000:24:50,560 –> 00:24:53,420this month, in the amount of five pounds per month,50100:24:53,420 –> 00:24:56,520or more, or a one-off gift of 50 pounds.50200:24:56,520 –> 00:24:59,119Full details, terms, and conditions50300:24:59,119 –> 00:25:00,319are on our website,50400:25:00,359 –> 00:25:03,060gotoopenthebible.org.uk.50500:25:04,540 –> 00:25:07,239For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,50600:25:07,239 –> 00:25:08,439I’m David Pik,50700:25:08,439 –> 00:25:11,199and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time.50800:25:11,199 –> 00:25:13,699If salvation and eternal life50900:25:13,699 –> 00:25:16,000could be yours right now,51000:25:16,000 –> 00:25:17,640what’s your wish?51100:25:17,680 –> 00:25:19,839If salvation and eternal life51200:25:19,839 –> 00:25:22,239could be yours by simply believing,51300:25:22,239 –> 00:25:24,140what does it mean to believe?51400:25:24,140 –> 00:25:27,119Find out next time on Open the Bible.