100:00:00,760 –> 00:00:07,880Sin is much more than a list of things that you may have done wrong.200:00:08,080 –> 00:00:09,840Sin is a living part.300:00:10,040 –> 00:00:15,080It is a vicious enemy and it is at work within you.400:00:15,280 –> 00:00:18,320Are you taking the power of sin in your own life?500:00:18,520 –> 00:00:22,600Seriously, this power is bigger and greater than you are.600:00:22,799 –> 00:00:25,240Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:25,440 –> 00:00:27,879I’m David Pick. Glad you could join us today.800:00:28,719 –> 00:00:29,680When it comes to sin,900:00:29,760 –> 00:00:32,279some people think, well that’s never going to happen to me.1000:00:32,480 –> 00:00:37,000Well, I guess that involves having a very short list of what you define as sin.1100:00:37,200 –> 00:00:42,799I mean, it is easy to say it wouldn’t catch me if you only define a very few things as being sinful.1200:00:43,000 –> 00:00:47,240The problem is actually that sin is much more than a list of things that are done1300:00:47,439 –> 00:00:51,080wrong, even a long list of those things that are done wrong.1400:00:51,279 –> 00:00:53,439We’re trying to get at what the Bible teaches today,1500:00:53,439 –> 00:00:56,240which is that sin is a living power,1600:00:56,439 –> 00:01:02,799that it actually inhabits the nature that is underneath the actions.1700:01:03,000 –> 00:01:05,320The nature that produces that reaction,1800:01:05,519 –> 00:01:09,919that pride, that foul language and so forth and so on.1900:01:10,120 –> 00:01:13,320What is it that’s the fountain of these things,2000:01:13,519 –> 00:01:17,320that’s of huge importance because if we just think of sin as what we do,2100:01:17,519 –> 00:01:19,919then Christianity becomes changing what we do.2200:01:19,919 –> 00:01:22,440In other words, it’s just a kind of behaviour modification.2300:01:22,680 –> 00:01:24,239But that’s not the gospel.2400:01:24,440 –> 00:01:27,680Sin is about a power that is at work within us.2500:01:27,879 –> 00:01:31,480It therefore runs deeper and the answer therefore has to run deeper.2600:01:31,680 –> 00:01:36,480It has to be about not just changing what I do but changing who I am.2700:01:36,680 –> 00:01:37,959And that’s why the Bible speaks2800:01:38,040 –> 00:01:41,599about a new birth and becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ2900:01:41,599 –> 00:01:43,199and the power of the Holy Spirit.3000:01:43,199 –> 00:01:45,279And now we’re in to real Christianity.3100:01:45,400 –> 00:01:47,959But you see, we got there from a proper understanding of sin.3200:01:48,160 –> 00:01:48,839Absolutely.3300:01:48,839 –> 00:01:53,440And as Pastor Colin has said, you’ve got to understand what the Bible says about sin.3400:01:53,639 –> 00:01:56,800So join us in Genesis chapter five today3500:01:57,000 –> 00:02:01,440if you can, as we continue the message the enigma of the double image.3600:02:01,480 –> 00:02:02,839Here is Pastor Colin.3700:02:03,040 –> 00:02:06,000We are all on, as it were, a level playing field,3800:02:06,199 –> 00:02:08,839all in exactly the same position before God.3900:02:09,000 –> 00:02:12,000We all stand before God, however privileged our background,4000:02:12,000 –> 00:02:13,399however wretched our background,4100:02:13,600 –> 00:02:17,080we all stand before God in exactly the same position4200:02:18,080 –> 00:02:19,600Sinners.4300:02:20,800 –> 00:02:27,279To whom God offers his grace in Jesus Christ.4400:02:28,440 –> 00:02:30,399Friend, I’ve got to tell you4500:02:30,600 –> 00:02:33,759as I prayed about this part of the message4600:02:33,960 –> 00:02:36,360and asked of God that He would shine a light4700:02:36,559 –> 00:02:39,479so that some of us may be able to receive it for the first time.4800:02:39,679 –> 00:02:41,479That is a big prayer.4900:02:41,759 –> 00:02:46,240No doctrine is more repugnant5000:02:46,440 –> 00:02:51,919to the natural mind and heart of a man or a woman than this.5100:02:52,119 –> 00:02:57,279There is no truth that a sinner5200:02:57,559 –> 00:03:03,000is more resistant to hearing and receiving than the truth that we are all sinners.5300:03:03,199 –> 00:03:06,320If you believe this today,5400:03:06,600 –> 00:03:09,039it is because God has given light to you.5500:03:09,240 –> 00:03:13,080If your mind is opening to this right now, thank God he’s working in your mind5600:03:13,279 –> 00:03:16,080and in your heart right now.5700:03:16,600 –> 00:03:18,759And friends, you need to know that many churches5800:03:18,960 –> 00:03:22,559are erasing this truth fast.5900:03:22,759 –> 00:03:25,479Have you noticed as you visit around various places,6000:03:25,679 –> 00:03:30,440how often I’ve been struck by this when I’ve had opportunity to travel?6100:03:30,639 –> 00:03:33,880How often confession of sin6200:03:34,080 –> 00:03:37,800is quietly dropped6300:03:38,000 –> 00:03:40,759from worship service.6400:03:41,279 –> 00:03:44,479How massive tracts of Scripture6500:03:44,679 –> 00:03:47,559that repeat this foundational Christian6600:03:47,759 –> 00:03:51,679truth are silently glossed over.6700:03:51,880 –> 00:03:54,199Did you know that there are active projects that are going6800:03:54,399 –> 00:03:56,759on in our country to rewrite all the great hymns6900:03:56,960 –> 00:04:00,039of the faith and to eliminate all references7000:04:00,240 –> 00:04:03,080to sin because it’s not a positive notion7100:04:03,279 –> 00:04:07,080to make people feel good on a Sunday morning?7200:04:07,279 –> 00:04:11,279I plead with you to take this truth seriously.7300:04:11,479 –> 00:04:14,000Sin is in us all by nature.7400:04:14,199 –> 00:04:16,559If you don’t see that something is wrong with you how7500:04:16,760 –> 00:04:19,559will you ever come to Christ?7600:04:19,760 –> 00:04:22,720Only when we see our true condition7700:04:22,920 –> 00:04:26,359will we see that our hope7800:04:26,559 –> 00:04:29,920is in Christ and in Christ alone.7900:04:30,119 –> 00:04:32,519So this is a massive truth for us to try8000:04:32,720 –> 00:04:34,160to digest today.8100:04:34,399 –> 00:04:36,519It has the power to shift the whole8200:04:36,720 –> 00:04:39,000trajectory of our living if we really embrace it8300:04:39,200 –> 00:04:40,359and get hold of it.8400:04:40,559 –> 00:04:41,720Sin is in all of us by nature.8500:04:41,920 –> 00:04:43,959Here is the second thing.8600:04:44,160 –> 00:04:49,079Sin is a vicious enemy.8700:04:49,279 –> 00:04:53,359It is a vicious enemy.8800:04:53,559 –> 00:04:57,239If you glance back at Genesis chapter 48900:04:57,440 –> 00:04:59,679and then in verse 6 the Lord says to Cain9000:04:59,880 –> 00:05:02,399one Now why are you angry and why is your face downcast.9100:05:02,480 –> 00:05:05,200He says if you do what is right you’d be accepted.9200:05:05,399 –> 00:05:07,720But if you do not do what is right notice these next9300:05:07,920 –> 00:05:12,200words sin is crouching at your door.9400:05:12,399 –> 00:05:14,799What a picture.9500:05:15,000 –> 00:05:17,079The image here is as if sin was9600:05:17,279 –> 00:05:19,399a predator like a9700:05:19,600 –> 00:05:23,239wild animal lion9800:05:23,440 –> 00:05:25,600and it’s crouching at the door and God9900:05:25,799 –> 00:05:29,000says it desires to have you10000:05:29,239 –> 00:05:32,600to destroy you to take you10100:05:32,799 –> 00:05:36,160but you must master it.10200:05:36,359 –> 00:05:38,839So I want you to see not only is sin present10300:05:39,040 –> 00:05:43,119within every one of us by birth by nature10400:05:43,320 –> 00:05:45,880but sin is an active and10500:05:46,079 –> 00:05:48,160destructive power.10600:05:48,359 –> 00:05:50,000It is a vicious enemy.10700:05:50,200 –> 00:05:53,880It desires to have you.10800:05:54,079 –> 00:05:56,320You cannot live your life passively10900:05:56,519 –> 00:05:59,320because there’s an enemy at the gates11000:05:59,519 –> 00:06:00,679as it were.11100:06:00,880 –> 00:06:05,320Sin is crouching at your door.11200:06:05,519 –> 00:06:08,000So over this weekend the Homeland Security11300:06:08,200 –> 00:06:10,480forces will be on the highest alert11400:06:10,679 –> 00:06:13,200because we have powerful enemies who want11500:06:13,399 –> 00:06:15,440to destroy us and they will11600:06:15,640 –> 00:06:18,160never stop hatching new schemes11700:06:18,359 –> 00:06:19,040to try and do it.11800:06:19,239 –> 00:06:22,399They want to have us.11900:06:22,600 –> 00:06:25,279So the work of watching and the work of interrupting12000:06:25,440 –> 00:06:27,200these schemes is never done.12100:06:27,399 –> 00:06:29,920That’s exactly how it is with sin.12200:06:30,119 –> 00:06:32,920Do you realize God is saying to Cain that sin is crouching12300:06:33,119 –> 00:06:34,720at your door. Cain didn’t listen12400:06:34,920 –> 00:06:40,200and his life was destroyed, took him over it had him.12500:06:40,399 –> 00:06:42,640I wonder what percentage of us took in water12600:06:42,839 –> 00:06:45,279during the heavy rains a few weeks ago.12700:06:45,480 –> 00:06:46,399I think quite a lot of us.12800:06:46,600 –> 00:06:49,320We didn’t have too much damage but we got it into three rooms12900:06:49,519 –> 00:06:52,079and so we’re having some fun with the clean it up13000:06:52,279 –> 00:06:54,720and so forth and especially13100:06:54,839 –> 00:06:57,359with drywall.13200:06:57,559 –> 00:07:00,519Suppose you paint a wall13300:07:00,720 –> 00:07:03,679and a child comes with a crayon13400:07:03,880 –> 00:07:08,880and marks over your beautifully painted wall.13500:07:09,079 –> 00:07:11,559You know you might get a little bit frustrated13600:07:11,760 –> 00:07:15,600but you can wash the wall you can get rid of the crayon.13700:07:15,799 –> 00:07:19,640If it’s really bad you can paint the wall over.13800:07:19,839 –> 00:07:23,079Not that big a deal.13900:07:23,320 –> 00:07:27,519But suppose you have mold in your house.14000:07:27,880 –> 00:07:32,119Painting over the mould won’t help.14100:07:32,320 –> 00:07:35,119So our house took on some water14200:07:35,320 –> 00:07:37,880and here’s me cutting out two feet of drywall right14300:07:38,079 –> 00:07:40,600round the bottom all that stuff taken out the14400:07:40,799 –> 00:07:44,399insulation behind.14500:07:44,600 –> 00:07:46,920Crayon leaves a mark that14600:07:47,119 –> 00:07:49,959is easily dealt with.14700:07:50,160 –> 00:07:52,880But mold is a living14800:07:53,079 –> 00:07:55,559thing.14900:07:55,760 –> 00:07:59,119You can’t leave it.15000:07:59,320 –> 00:08:01,959It spreads.15100:08:02,160 –> 00:08:07,320It will take your health it would destroy your house.15200:08:07,519 –> 00:08:11,720Sin is not like crayons, sin is like mold.15300:08:11,920 –> 00:08:14,600The crayon is static.15400:08:14,799 –> 00:08:17,559The mould is on the move.15500:08:17,799 –> 00:08:19,480Sin is crouching at your door.15600:08:19,679 –> 00:08:24,640It’s a living thing and it desires to have you.15700:08:24,839 –> 00:08:29,760It needs to be cut out or it’s going to destroy your house.15800:08:29,959 –> 00:08:32,880So please understand this.15900:08:33,080 –> 00:08:36,640Sin is much more than a list of things that you may have done wrong.16000:08:36,640 –> 00:08:38,239If that’s your notion of sin you’ve not16100:08:38,440 –> 00:08:40,000really understood it from the Bible.16200:08:40,200 –> 00:08:44,640Sin is much more than a list of things that you may have done wrong.16300:08:44,840 –> 00:08:46,559Sin is a living part.16400:08:46,559 –> 00:08:51,640It is a vicious enemy and it is at work within you.16500:08:51,840 –> 00:08:53,719As it is at work within me.16600:08:53,919 –> 00:08:56,200That’s why we have the battle of the Christian life.16700:08:56,400 –> 00:08:59,719And we’re going to look at that in a few weeks time.16800:08:59,919 –> 00:09:01,640So I ask you this question, really.16900:09:01,840 –> 00:09:03,679We thought about the presence of sin.17000:09:03,679 –> 00:09:06,760Are you taking the presence of sin in your own life seriously?17100:09:06,960 –> 00:09:12,039I ask this question now, are you taking the power of sin in your own life seriously?17200:09:12,320 –> 00:09:16,440This power is bigger and greater than you are.17300:09:16,640 –> 00:09:19,239You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.17400:09:19,320 –> 00:09:21,520We’ve got to pause the message briefly here.17500:09:21,719 –> 00:09:24,880But we’ll be back shortly, so please do stay with us.17600:09:25,080 –> 00:09:27,320Open the Bible is supported by our many17700:09:27,520 –> 00:09:31,239listeners and if you’re one of them, thank you so much.17800:09:31,440 –> 00:09:36,880It’s not just the radio program, the website and podcast that you’re supporting.17900:09:37,080 –> 00:09:40,080Here’s Open the Bible’s executive director, John Martin.18000:09:40,239 –> 00:09:42,119David, it’s very exciting that we’ve seen18100:09:42,320 –> 00:09:45,440an open door, ironically, into prisons,18200:09:45,640 –> 00:09:49,200we have distributed the film of the story of the thief on the cross.18300:09:49,260 –> 00:09:51,619Heaven how I got here, based on Colin’s short book.18400:09:51,820 –> 00:09:53,799We printed this onto a DVD and sent it18500:09:54,000 –> 00:09:57,760into every prison in England and Wales last year.18600:09:57,960 –> 00:10:00,479And this year we are trialling a 1518700:10:00,679 –> 00:10:04,880session course of Collins’ material, Fly Through the Bible.18800:10:05,080 –> 00:10:06,880This has been done in partnership18900:10:07,080 –> 00:10:09,760with daylight Christian Prison Trust, who also helped us19000:10:09,840 –> 00:10:11,359distribute the film.19100:10:11,559 –> 00:10:12,840And we’re also partnering with London19200:10:13,039 –> 00:10:15,559City Mission to trial this course.19300:10:15,760 –> 00:10:18,039Sessions begin within mates, watching a short video19400:10:18,239 –> 00:10:21,080of Pastor Collin, reading each chapter of the book.19500:10:21,280 –> 00:10:23,559And then they do a simple Bible study with booklets19600:10:23,760 –> 00:10:28,479designed for prison use given to every participant.19700:10:28,679 –> 00:10:31,000One prison chaplain said this The19800:10:31,200 –> 00:10:33,679men really listen to Pastor Collin.19900:10:33,880 –> 00:10:36,719The focus on the Bible characters has been really good20000:10:36,960 –> 00:10:40,000and rich conversations have come from it20100:10:40,200 –> 00:10:42,599one of the men is using it on his wing20200:10:42,799 –> 00:10:46,200to lead his own Bible study with other men who aren’t in the groups.20300:10:46,400 –> 00:10:48,359It’s all very encouraging.20400:10:48,559 –> 00:10:50,919So David if listeners are interested in supporting this20500:10:51,119 –> 00:10:53,359prison ministry that we have in partnership20600:10:53,559 –> 00:10:56,559with Daylight Christian Prison Trust and the London City Mission20700:10:56,760 –> 00:11:00,200they can get in touch with us and do a donation through the website.20800:11:00,400 –> 00:11:02,679You can get involved in supporting Open the Bible’s20900:11:02,880 –> 00:11:04,960work by coming to our website.21000:11:05,159 –> 00:11:06,280OpenTheBible.org21100:11:06,799 –> 00:11:09,679UK You’ll find lots more information21200:11:09,880 –> 00:11:12,679terms and conditions and you can give online21300:11:12,880 –> 00:11:16,119back to the message now here again is Pastor Colin21400:11:16,320 –> 00:11:17,280now Here’s what we’ve got then.21500:11:17,479 –> 00:11:19,000Sin is in all of us by nature.21600:11:19,200 –> 00:11:21,919It is it vicious enemy we’ve looked at its presence21700:11:22,119 –> 00:11:23,919we’ve looked at its power.21800:11:24,119 –> 00:11:26,280More briefly this last point sin leaves21900:11:26,479 –> 00:11:29,479us needing an intervention from God22000:11:29,679 –> 00:11:32,200when you really see that this vicious22100:11:32,400 –> 00:11:34,679power is present within you22200:11:34,919 –> 00:11:37,000when you really see what it means to be22300:11:37,200 –> 00:11:39,559born in the likeness of Adam as well as made22400:11:39,760 –> 00:11:42,679in the image of God you will begin to see that22500:11:42,880 –> 00:11:45,239every person needs22600:11:45,440 –> 00:11:47,919the intervention of God that is our need22700:11:48,119 –> 00:11:49,119in every human life.22800:11:49,320 –> 00:11:51,679And I want you to pick up on Genesis 4 and verse22900:11:51,880 –> 00:11:54,11926 where we’re told at that23000:11:54,320 –> 00:11:56,479time very significant phrase chapter23100:11:56,679 –> 00:11:58,9194 and verse 26 the end of the chapter at23200:11:59,119 –> 00:12:01,479that time men23300:12:01,479 –> 00:12:04,119began to call on the name23400:12:04,320 –> 00:12:06,760of the Lord by the way that’s the first23500:12:06,960 –> 00:12:09,239mention of prayer for the first reference to prayer in the23600:12:09,440 –> 00:12:10,840entire Bible.23700:12:11,039 –> 00:12:13,039This is the first time we read that men began to call on23800:12:13,239 –> 00:12:13,840the name of the Lord.23900:12:14,039 –> 00:12:16,159That’s what prayer is.24000:12:16,359 –> 00:12:18,760And it happened at that time at what time.24100:12:18,960 –> 00:12:21,440What was it that caused men to pray for the very24200:12:21,640 –> 00:12:23,640first time.24300:12:23,840 –> 00:12:26,119And the answer is when the destructive powers of24400:12:26,320 –> 00:12:28,760sin became obvious in the world broken24500:12:28,960 –> 00:12:30,520families.24600:12:30,719 –> 00:12:32,320Violence.24700:12:32,520 –> 00:12:34,119Murder.24800:12:34,320 –> 00:12:37,400Men saw evil in its ugly colors.24900:12:37,599 –> 00:12:39,880Adam must have begun to say I never realized25000:12:40,080 –> 00:12:43,080it would do this.25100:12:43,280 –> 00:12:46,280And this is in me too.25200:12:46,479 –> 00:12:49,960And they began to ask God for help.25300:12:50,159 –> 00:12:52,440And it doesn’t say that all men did this all men25400:12:52,640 –> 00:12:55,039will not ask God for help but some men25500:12:55,239 –> 00:12:57,679did some men saw and some women saw25600:12:57,880 –> 00:12:59,640what sin was doing in the world.25700:12:59,840 –> 00:13:01,919And when they saw what sin was doing in the world25800:13:02,119 –> 00:13:05,080they knew that they needed to pray God we need your help.25900:13:05,280 –> 00:13:07,880This is bigger than us.26000:13:08,080 –> 00:13:09,799What’s going on around me in my life.26100:13:10,000 –> 00:13:15,000I’m facing incredible darkness it’s bigger than me26200:13:15,200 –> 00:13:16,840and I need an intervention from you.26300:13:17,039 –> 00:13:17,760I need your help.26400:13:17,960 –> 00:13:20,239And men begin to call on the name of the Lord for the very26500:13:20,440 –> 00:13:23,440first time.26600:13:23,640 –> 00:13:26,599What does God do.26700:13:26,799 –> 00:13:29,200Two things that are both very wonderful and I mentioned26800:13:29,340 –> 00:13:31,440them just briefly.26900:13:31,640 –> 00:13:33,919Men begin to call on the name of the Lord and as you follow the27000:13:34,119 –> 00:13:36,799story through Genesis you find that God does two things.27100:13:37,000 –> 00:13:38,520The first is.27200:13:38,719 –> 00:13:42,440That God wonderfully restrains sin.27300:13:42,640 –> 00:13:46,039And we should thank him for this.27400:13:46,239 –> 00:13:48,719That is what happened of course through the flood which is the27500:13:48,919 –> 00:13:53,080story that follows in the subsequent chapters.27600:13:53,280 –> 00:13:57,359God restrains sin27700:13:57,640 –> 00:13:59,479in the world27800:13:59,760 –> 00:14:02,640if you think this world is bad dark27900:14:02,840 –> 00:14:05,239and evil you cannot imagine what it would28000:14:05,440 –> 00:14:07,919be if God took his hand off if God28100:14:08,119 –> 00:14:12,000took his restraining hand of sin it would be Hell itself.28200:14:12,200 –> 00:14:14,359That’s what Hell is.28300:14:14,559 –> 00:14:17,159When God’s restraint has taken off28400:14:17,359 –> 00:14:21,159and the full ugliness of what evil is28500:14:21,359 –> 00:14:23,400is left.28600:14:23,599 –> 00:14:24,840How does God restrains said.28700:14:25,039 –> 00:14:26,919I don’t have time to go into this let me just give you the28800:14:27,000 –> 00:14:29,400headings and you can Ponder them a little more fully.28900:14:29,599 –> 00:14:31,239God restrained sin through the law.29000:14:31,440 –> 00:14:33,640Thank God for law thank God for law in our country.29100:14:33,840 –> 00:14:38,119Thank God for law in the Bible laws a gift from God.29200:14:38,320 –> 00:14:41,400You see a policeman this weekend.29300:14:41,599 –> 00:14:43,119Thank him.29400:14:43,320 –> 00:14:45,640Tell him that he is a gift of God or tell her that29500:14:45,840 –> 00:14:48,400she is a gift of God in a following world without29600:14:48,599 –> 00:14:51,039the law our streets would not be safe.29700:14:51,239 –> 00:14:54,640And it is a gift of God that restrains sin in our world.29800:14:54,919 –> 00:14:56,479Second conscience.29900:14:56,679 –> 00:14:58,880We saw last time that Adam was a law to himself.30000:14:59,039 –> 00:15:00,080He didn’t need a written law.30100:15:00,280 –> 00:15:03,039Why? because the law was already impressed on his own heart.30200:15:03,239 –> 00:15:06,000When of course much of that has been erased since the fall.30300:15:06,200 –> 00:15:08,599But in Romans chapter two and verse 1530400:15:08,799 –> 00:15:11,440the apostle makes it quite clear that there is some residue30500:15:11,640 –> 00:15:14,559of this and we call it conscience30600:15:14,760 –> 00:15:16,440conscience.30700:15:16,640 –> 00:15:18,640Bearing witness.30800:15:18,840 –> 00:15:21,119And Paul says this is true even of people who are not30900:15:21,320 –> 00:15:23,799believers even of godless people there is some functioning31000:15:23,960 –> 00:15:25,960of conscience for which we should thank God.31100:15:27,880 –> 00:15:29,880Number three common grace.31200:15:30,080 –> 00:15:32,559That is as distinguished from saving31300:15:32,760 –> 00:15:35,320grace we’re not talking about how God saves people31400:15:35,520 –> 00:15:37,760we’re talking about the kindness that God31500:15:37,960 –> 00:15:40,119shows to people indiscriminately just31600:15:40,320 –> 00:15:42,559as he causes the sun and the rain to come for31700:15:42,760 –> 00:15:43,559all people.31800:15:43,760 –> 00:15:45,960So there are gifts of God and kindnesses of God31900:15:46,159 –> 00:15:49,880that come to all people is enemies as well as his friends.32000:15:50,119 –> 00:15:52,400So when you see someone who has absolutely no time for32100:15:52,599 –> 00:15:55,440Christian faith but she is a good mother32200:15:55,640 –> 00:15:58,000or you see someone who is a rampant atheist and will32300:15:58,200 –> 00:16:01,159not have any time at all for your faith in the Lord32400:16:01,359 –> 00:16:03,760Christ but he is a good neighbor and looks after32500:16:03,960 –> 00:16:05,799an elderly person who lives next door.32600:16:06,000 –> 00:16:07,719You see where does that goodness come from.32700:16:07,919 –> 00:16:10,159It is an echo.32800:16:10,359 –> 00:16:13,119Of the image of God.32900:16:13,320 –> 00:16:15,640Even in an unbelieving person for33000:16:15,840 –> 00:16:18,080which we should thank God.33100:16:18,280 –> 00:16:21,159Common grace restrains sin.33200:16:21,479 –> 00:16:23,679So that nobody is as bad as we might be apart from33300:16:23,880 –> 00:16:25,520the grace of God.33400:16:26,820 –> 00:16:30,679And God cuts in back through judgment in this world.33500:16:30,880 –> 00:16:33,280Think of it this way sin is like a massive33600:16:33,479 –> 00:16:35,280weed.33700:16:35,479 –> 00:16:37,799A massive weed that would take over and destroy the33800:16:38,000 –> 00:16:40,359whole world except that God33900:16:40,559 –> 00:16:43,159keeps cutting it back.34000:16:43,359 –> 00:16:45,760He doesn’t cut it out but he cuts34100:16:45,960 –> 00:16:47,280it back.34200:16:47,479 –> 00:16:49,880That is what happened in the flood and34300:16:49,880 –> 00:16:52,479it has happened in other less dramatic ways throughout34400:16:52,679 –> 00:16:53,640history.34500:16:53,840 –> 00:16:56,880When a nation becomes34600:16:57,080 –> 00:16:59,679intolerably evil34700:16:59,880 –> 00:17:03,280God either sends revival34800:17:03,479 –> 00:17:05,040or he causes that nation to fall.34900:17:05,239 –> 00:17:07,680You can read that in history.35000:17:07,880 –> 00:17:10,400That’s why the Bible says righteousness exalts35100:17:10,599 –> 00:17:13,739a nation and sin is a reproach to people because35200:17:13,939 –> 00:17:16,439there comes a point where if sin takes hold within35300:17:16,640 –> 00:17:19,079a society the society itself is judged by God35400:17:19,280 –> 00:17:21,079and it collapses.35500:17:21,680 –> 00:17:24,300That’s a merciful thing so that the world may be protected35600:17:24,880 –> 00:17:26,880the weed is being cut back.35700:17:30,339 –> 00:17:32,880So God restrains sin.35800:17:34,339 –> 00:17:36,880But of course you know he only does that in part.35900:17:37,540 –> 00:17:40,140The law restrains some36000:17:40,699 –> 00:17:41,699but not all.36100:17:43,199 –> 00:17:45,400Conscience restrains to some extent36200:17:45,599 –> 00:17:46,640but not fully.36300:17:47,099 –> 00:17:49,939Common grace shines on some36400:17:51,000 –> 00:17:52,000much more than others.36500:17:55,000 –> 00:17:59,479Judgment in this life comes on some wickedness36600:18:00,079 –> 00:18:01,479but clearly not all.36700:18:03,339 –> 00:18:07,140God is not removing the weeds during the course of human history36800:18:07,140 –> 00:18:09,140he’s just cutting it back.36900:18:10,239 –> 00:18:11,239But its root37000:18:12,300 –> 00:18:16,599and its sprouting leaves continue throughout the generations of time37100:18:16,640 –> 00:18:19,300of human history, its growth and its root remain37200:18:21,000 –> 00:18:24,500until the day when Jesus Christ comes in power and glory37300:18:26,939 –> 00:18:29,479which is why our hope is not in37400:18:29,900 –> 00:18:33,099God’s restrained of sin, cutting back evil in the world,37500:18:33,099 –> 00:18:34,079our hope37600:18:34,939 –> 00:18:38,099lies in God redeeming sinners37700:18:39,040 –> 00:18:42,140in the day when God will take the weed up by the root37800:18:42,140 –> 00:18:44,500and cast the whole thing into the fire37900:18:44,500 –> 00:18:46,500and sin shall be no more38000:18:46,680 –> 00:18:48,680there will be the new heaven38100:18:48,680 –> 00:18:51,300then there will be, the bible says, a new heaven38200:18:51,300 –> 00:18:52,739and there will be a new earth38300:18:52,739 –> 00:18:55,719and that will be the home of righteousness38400:18:57,079 –> 00:18:58,319and it will be very wonderful38500:18:58,319 –> 00:19:00,319because, remember, that suffering came into this world38600:19:00,319 –> 00:19:02,319on the coattails of sin38700:19:03,140 –> 00:19:06,020so when sin is finally evicted from this world38800:19:06,020 –> 00:19:08,020the weed is pulled up and it is cast into hell38900:19:08,119 –> 00:19:11,119suffering will go out of the world on its coattails as well39000:19:13,280 –> 00:19:15,719there will be, the bible says, no more death39100:19:15,719 –> 00:19:17,439and no more mourning and no more crying39200:19:17,439 –> 00:19:18,719and no more pain39300:19:18,719 –> 00:19:22,479and God will wipe away all tears39400:19:22,479 –> 00:19:24,479from the eyes of His people39500:19:24,479 –> 00:19:26,479that is the hope of the world39600:19:26,479 –> 00:19:28,479and it is in Jesus Christ39700:19:29,619 –> 00:19:32,040you say how can sinners39800:19:32,540 –> 00:19:34,660be in the home of righteousness39900:19:34,660 –> 00:19:36,319there’s only one way40000:19:36,319 –> 00:19:38,319you remember what John the baptist said40100:19:39,079 –> 00:19:41,199when Jesus began his ministry40200:19:41,319 –> 00:19:43,500John the baptist pointed to Jesus and he said40300:19:43,819 –> 00:19:47,119behold the Lamb of God40400:19:48,479 –> 00:19:50,640who takes away40500:19:51,459 –> 00:19:52,959the sin of the world40600:19:52,959 –> 00:19:54,959our hope is in Him40700:19:55,239 –> 00:19:56,040our hope is in him40800:19:56,040 –> 00:19:59,099that is true for every person every culture every nation every generation40900:19:59,619 –> 00:20:00,739only in him41000:20:02,660 –> 00:20:04,319one story and we’re through41100:20:04,439 –> 00:20:07,680I’ll never forget the Sunday after September the 11th41200:20:07,680 –> 00:20:11,359and the particular sense of responsibility41300:20:11,359 –> 00:20:13,760of faith-bringing the Word of God on that day41400:20:14,880 –> 00:20:16,260and of the many conversations41500:20:16,260 –> 00:20:19,660that I had after the service41600:20:20,699 –> 00:20:23,079one will always remain41700:20:23,319 –> 00:20:24,040in my mind41800:20:25,540 –> 00:20:27,880a woman who I had never seen before41900:20:27,880 –> 00:20:30,420really came rushing up to me after the service42000:20:30,420 –> 00:20:32,180I’d never seen her in church before42100:20:32,359 –> 00:20:34,560to my knowledge she has not been there again42200:20:34,560 –> 00:20:36,079I certainly have not seen her there again42300:20:36,420 –> 00:20:37,520but she was there on that day42400:20:37,520 –> 00:20:38,660as with many people42500:20:38,680 –> 00:20:40,959who suddenly felt us at a momentary need of God42600:20:42,300 –> 00:20:43,780and so she came to church42700:20:43,780 –> 00:20:45,540first Sunday after September the 11th42800:20:45,540 –> 00:20:47,339she comes rushing up to me42900:20:47,520 –> 00:20:48,819quite distressed43000:20:48,819 –> 00:20:49,800and she says43100:20:49,800 –> 00:20:51,160pastor, pastor43200:20:52,900 –> 00:20:55,900how can I tell my children that they’re safe43300:20:58,400 –> 00:20:59,640and I said to her43400:21:00,680 –> 00:21:01,640you can’t43500:21:03,540 –> 00:21:05,219the world isn’t safe43600:21:06,719 –> 00:21:08,959she looked absolutely astonished43700:21:09,800 –> 00:21:11,800I said to her43800:21:12,359 –> 00:21:12,859listen43900:21:14,420 –> 00:21:17,479we need to learn to live in44000:21:18,439 –> 00:21:19,680this world44100:21:20,420 –> 00:21:21,540in such a way44200:21:21,540 –> 00:21:23,640as to be prepared for the next44300:21:25,500 –> 00:21:27,180that’s what I need to do44400:21:28,959 –> 00:21:30,640that’s what you need to do44500:21:31,500 –> 00:21:34,380and that’s what we need to tell our children44600:21:36,459 –> 00:21:38,140You’ve been listening to pastor Collin Smith44700:21:38,239 –> 00:21:39,439on Open the Bible44800:21:39,439 –> 00:21:40,140and a message called44900:21:40,599 –> 00:21:42,680the enigma of the double image45000:21:50,680 –> 00:21:51,680With Pamela45100:21:51,680 –> 00:21:52,199with Pamela45200:21:52,199 –> 00:21:52,699with Pamela45300:21:52,699 –> 00:21:53,199with Pamela45400:21:53,199 –> 00:21:53,699with Pamela45500:21:53,699 –> 00:21:54,199with Pamela45600:21:54,199 –> 00:21:54,699with Pamela45700:21:54,699 –> 00:21:55,199with Pamela45800:21:55,199 –> 00:21:55,699with Pamela45900:21:55,699 –> 00:21:56,199with Pamela46000:21:56,199 –> 00:21:56,699with Pamela46100:21:56,699 –> 00:21:57,199with Pamela46200:21:57,199 –> 00:21:57,699with Pamela46300:21:57,699 –> 00:21:58,199with Pamela46400:21:58,199 –> 00:21:58,699with Pamela46500:21:58,699 –> 00:21:59,199With Pamela46600:21:59,199 –> 00:21:59,699With Pamela46700:21:59,699 –> 00:22:00,199with Pamela46800:22:00,199 –> 00:22:00,699With Pamela46900:22:00,699 –> 00:22:01,199with Pamela47000:22:01,199 –> 00:22:01,699With Pamela47100:22:01,699 –> 00:22:02,199With Pamela47200:22:02,199 –> 00:22:02,699With Pamela47300:22:02,699 –> 00:22:03,199with Pamela47400:22:03,199 –> 00:22:03,699With Pamela47500:22:03,699 –> 00:22:04,199With Pamela47600:22:04,199 –> 00:22:04,699With Pamela47700:22:04,699 –> 00:22:05,199with Pamela47800:22:05,199 –> 00:22:05,699With Pamela47900:22:05,699 –> 00:22:06,199With Pamela48000:22:06,199 –> 00:22:06,699With Pamela48100:22:06,699 –> 00:22:07,199With Pamela48200:22:07,199 –> 00:22:07,699With Pamela48300:22:08,000 –> 00:22:09,319openthebible.org.uk48400:22:09,319 –> 00:22:09,880openthebible.org.uk48500:22:09,880 –> 00:22:10,380openthebeible.org.uk48600:22:10,819 –> 00:22:12,500You can get a free e-book48700:22:12,500 –> 00:22:13,000You can get a free e-book48800:22:13,000 –> 00:22:13,500You can get a free e-book48900:22:13,500 –> 00:22:14,000You can get a free e-book49000:22:14,000 –> 00:22:14,300copy of Pastor Colin’s49100:22:14,300 –> 00:22:14,800copy of Pastor Colin’s49200:22:14,800 –> 00:22:15,300copy of Pastor Colin’s book49300:22:15,300 –> 00:22:15,800copy of Pastor Colin’s book49400:22:15,800 –> 00:22:16,300growing 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Earth56000:24:37,219 –> 00:24:37,719From The Earth56100:24:37,719 –> 00:24:38,219From The Earth56200:24:38,219 –> 00:24:38,719From The Earth56300:24:39,219 –> 00:24:39,719From The Earth56400:24:39,719 –> 00:24:40,219From The Earth56500:24:40,219 –> 00:24:40,719From The Earth56600:24:40,719 –> 00:24:41,219From The Earth56700:24:41,719 –> 00:24:42,219From The Earth56800:24:43,719 –> 00:24:44,219From The Earth56900:24:44,219 –> 00:24:44,719From The Earth57000:24:52,719 –> 00:24:53,219The End57100:24:55,219 –> 00:24:57,060The End57200:25:11,219 –> 00:25:16,859Everything seems to be going fine when suddenly you have a dark thought or desire57300:25:17,219 –> 00:25:19,560Where did that come from?57400:25:19,979 –> 00:25:21,979Find out next time on Open The Bible