100:00:00,980 –> 00:00:04,160Does the new life live in you?200:00:06,060 –> 00:00:07,900Not asking have you lived a moral life, a successful life.300:00:08,000 –> 00:00:11,060Not asking if you feel part of the church or its programs.400:00:12,140 –> 00:00:14,860I’m asking is the life of Jesus Christ within you?500:00:15,980 –> 00:00:18,860Can you say, I’ve been crucified with Christ and I no longer live600:00:19,059 –> 00:00:22,000but Jesus Christ lives within me.700:00:22,100 –> 00:00:25,080Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.800:00:25,959 –> 00:00:27,860I am David Pick. I am glad you could be with us today.900:00:27,860 –> 00:00:30,719And Colin, those are some profound questions.1000:00:31,160 –> 00:00:34,880I’m sure there are many who could confidently answer the first questions,1100:00:35,880 –> 00:00:37,919but some who really aren’t sure how to answer the question,1200:00:37,919 –> 00:00:39,880Does Jesus live in me?1300:00:40,980 –> 00:00:42,919Yeah, this is a really big question.1400:00:42,939 –> 00:00:44,860How do I discern? How do I know?1500:00:45,860 –> 00:00:46,939And here’s how I’d answer that.1600:00:47,860 –> 00:00:51,919The person who’s basically living a religious, moral kind of life1700:00:51,959 –> 00:00:52,959and pursuing that path.1800:00:53,939 –> 00:00:57,959Where that goes is that you end up primarily thinking and1900:00:57,959 –> 00:01:00,980speaking about what you are doing for Jesus.2000:01:01,080 –> 00:01:05,059And if that’s the primary mode of how you think about2100:01:05,839 –> 00:01:08,080your life and about your activity,2200:01:08,080 –> 00:01:11,900it’s probably an indication that that’s the path you are on,2300:01:11,980 –> 00:01:13,959but if Christ is living within you,2400:01:14,940 –> 00:01:16,879then the line of thought,2500:01:16,900 –> 00:01:20,019the way in which you will speak will not be so much about what you’re doing2600:01:20,019 –> 00:01:21,000for Jesus,2700:01:21,000 –> 00:01:23,940but what Jesus Christ has done for you.2800:01:23,959 –> 00:01:27,919And that’s what Paul is getting at in the end of Galatians chapter six.2900:01:27,919 –> 00:01:28,839And he says,3000:01:28,839 –> 00:01:33,059I’m not going to boast about anything except the cross of Jesus Christ.3100:01:33,080 –> 00:01:35,760I mean, think of what he could have quoted boasted about.3200:01:35,760 –> 00:01:36,919Look at what I’ve done.3300:01:36,919 –> 00:01:37,919Look at what I’ve endured.3400:01:37,919 –> 00:01:41,000Look at what I’ve sacrificed for the sake of Jesus Christ.3500:01:41,019 –> 00:01:43,879I’ve done this and I’ve not done that or the other.3600:01:43,919 –> 00:01:44,699And he says,3700:01:44,720 –> 00:01:45,800No, I don’t even go there.3800:01:45,800 –> 00:01:50,919Why? Because Christ is living in him and therefore his boast is about Christ.3900:01:51,080 –> 00:01:55,160So that’s the trajectory and that’s the way in which I try to discern and help4000:01:55,199 –> 00:01:58,879a person see what is the real spiritual state that I’m in.4100:01:58,919 –> 00:02:00,559That’s a really good answer, Colin.4200:02:00,559 –> 00:02:03,400And today we’re going to look into it more in Galatians4300:02:03,440 –> 00:02:04,760and chapter six.4400:02:04,760 –> 00:02:08,160So I hope you’ll stay with us as we continue the message.4500:02:08,199 –> 00:02:10,320The gospel glorifies God.4600:02:10,360 –> 00:02:11,440Here’s Colin.4700:02:11,479 –> 00:02:15,419I want us to see this morning that throughout the history of the church,4800:02:15,860 –> 00:02:17,580there have always been, are today,4900:02:17,580 –> 00:02:22,300and I guess always will be three versions of Christianity.5000:02:22,300 –> 00:02:25,259One that centres on the individual,5100:02:25,259 –> 00:02:28,660that is what you can do for yourself.5200:02:28,660 –> 00:02:30,580One that centres on the church,5300:02:30,580 –> 00:02:33,779that is what we can do for each other.5400:02:33,779 –> 00:02:36,039And one that centres on Jesus Christ.5500:02:36,039 –> 00:02:39,419That is what God does for us in the gospel.5600:02:40,899 –> 00:02:43,059First, then, the self-centred gospel.5700:02:43,940 –> 00:02:47,440Now the self-centred gospel has a very simple message,5800:02:47,440 –> 00:02:49,619it’s about what you can do for yourself,5900:02:49,619 –> 00:02:51,500and the message is that you can accomplish6000:02:51,500 –> 00:02:52,839your own salvation.6100:02:53,800 –> 00:02:55,619Of course, it takes discipline.6200:02:55,619 –> 00:02:57,339It takes accountability.6300:02:57,339 –> 00:02:58,779It takes effort.6400:02:58,779 –> 00:03:02,100All self-help goes down this road.6500:03:02,100 –> 00:03:05,380What you have to do is change your patterns of behaviour6600:03:05,380 –> 00:03:07,220and when you do this, you can become6700:03:07,220 –> 00:03:08,360all that God wants you to be6800:03:08,360 –> 00:03:11,919or all that you want to be, whichever version it is.6900:03:11,919 –> 00:03:14,500Now, this always sounds very attractive7000:03:14,500 –> 00:03:16,520and if you ask the question, who gets the glory?7100:03:16,520 –> 00:03:18,160The answer is obvious, you do.7200:03:19,460 –> 00:03:22,240Now, there’s another version that’s equally subtle7300:03:24,039 –> 00:03:27,679and that’s the church-centred gospel7400:03:27,679 –> 00:03:30,039and here, let’s focus in a little more closely7500:03:30,039 –> 00:03:32,380on the passage that was read in Galatians,7600:03:32,380 –> 00:03:36,720in chapter six, because this is really the central theme.7700:03:36,720 –> 00:03:38,839You notice if you have the New International Version7800:03:38,839 –> 00:03:40,360that the last section of Galatians7900:03:40,460 –> 00:03:45,460is entitled not circumcision but a new creation.8000:03:48,440 –> 00:03:49,520Look at that with me please.8100:03:49,520 –> 00:03:50,440Verse 12.8200:03:51,919 –> 00:03:53,580Those who want to make a good impression8300:03:53,580 –> 00:03:55,199are trying to compel you, what?8400:03:55,199 –> 00:03:56,360To be circumcised.8500:03:57,399 –> 00:03:59,960Verse 13, they want you to be circumcised8600:03:59,960 –> 00:04:02,139so that they may boast about your flesh.8700:04:03,080 –> 00:04:06,020Verse 15, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision8800:04:06,020 –> 00:04:08,440means anything, what counts is a new creation.8900:04:08,960 –> 00:04:12,759Verse 16, peace and mercy to all who follow this rule.9000:04:12,759 –> 00:04:13,580What rule?9100:04:13,580 –> 00:04:14,460That rule he’s just mentioned,9200:04:14,460 –> 00:04:17,540that neither circumcision or uncircumcision means anything.9300:04:18,459 –> 00:04:21,059Verse 17, let no one cause me trouble9400:04:21,059 –> 00:04:25,260for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.9500:04:25,260 –> 00:04:27,579Hey folks, I do have some scars.9600:04:27,579 –> 00:04:29,700Paul is saying that do mean something.9700:04:29,700 –> 00:04:31,839They are the wounds and the scars9800:04:31,839 –> 00:04:34,700that have come from the persecution I have suffered9900:04:34,739 –> 00:04:38,720for the sake of Jesus who was crucified for me.10000:04:39,940 –> 00:04:42,239That’s very clear then what the theme10100:04:42,239 –> 00:04:44,739of these closing verses of Galatians is.10200:04:44,739 –> 00:04:46,100The obvious question is,10300:04:46,100 –> 00:04:49,420what in all the world does this have to do with us today?10400:04:51,059 –> 00:04:53,019Now, remember what happened in Galatia.10500:04:54,260 –> 00:04:56,179Paul had preached the gospel10600:04:56,179 –> 00:04:58,480and people had come to faith in Jesus.10700:04:59,540 –> 00:05:03,779After he left, some very zealous missionaries10800:05:03,779 –> 00:05:08,299arrived from Jerusalem with their particular program.10900:05:09,660 –> 00:05:12,359Their message was something like this.11000:05:12,359 –> 00:05:13,339You know, it’s really great11100:05:13,339 –> 00:05:15,959that your sins have been forgiven by God’s grace they said,11200:05:15,959 –> 00:05:17,500but what you really need to do now11300:05:17,500 –> 00:05:20,260is to learn to live the Christian life.11400:05:20,260 –> 00:05:22,700We will show you how to do that.11500:05:22,700 –> 00:05:24,579We will walk you through everything that you need11600:05:24,579 –> 00:05:26,779in order to live an authentic Christian life11700:05:26,779 –> 00:05:28,820in the world today.11800:05:28,820 –> 00:05:31,660We will show you how to develop spiritual disciplines,11900:05:31,660 –> 00:05:34,339how to grow spiritually through festivals.12000:05:34,339 –> 00:05:37,899We will even teach you diets for a healthy life.12100:05:37,899 –> 00:05:40,239In fact, we’re going to give you everything that you need12200:05:40,239 –> 00:05:42,100to live an authentic Christian life today12300:05:42,100 –> 00:05:44,899and all of this is really Biblical12400:05:44,899 –> 00:05:47,220because you will find all of it in the Old Testament12500:05:47,220 –> 00:05:49,019and the way in which it will be initiated12600:05:49,019 –> 00:05:51,019into all that we now offer you in this program12700:05:51,019 –> 00:05:52,220is circumcision.12800:05:52,220 –> 00:05:53,779That’s basically what they said.12900:05:54,980 –> 00:05:56,260Now I put it like that you see,13000:05:56,260 –> 00:06:00,380because I can see how some of the folks in Galatia13100:06:00,399 –> 00:06:01,720were drawn into their message.13200:06:01,720 –> 00:06:04,179It doesn’t sound so bad when you put it like that.13300:06:06,640 –> 00:06:08,500But you see what has happened?13400:06:10,220 –> 00:06:13,239The central focus has moved13500:06:13,239 –> 00:06:16,079with the arrival of these teachers from Jerusalem.13600:06:17,619 –> 00:06:20,660It is no longer Christ for me on the cross13700:06:20,660 –> 00:06:22,579and Christ in me by the Spirit.13800:06:22,579 –> 00:06:27,220The focus is now on what these people can do for me13900:06:27,220 –> 00:06:29,820by giving me the spiritual tools I need.14000:06:31,299 –> 00:06:34,260It’s no longer Christ for me and Christ in me.14100:06:34,260 –> 00:06:36,619It’s these people who have the answer14200:06:36,619 –> 00:06:39,179and I need what they now offer to me.14300:06:42,279 –> 00:06:44,980Now you can trace this subtle movement14400:06:44,980 –> 00:06:48,519of the church replacing the savior throughout history,14500:06:50,000 –> 00:06:53,220of the church, as it were nudging the Lord Jesus Christ14600:06:53,220 –> 00:06:56,140out of the center of the picture14700:06:56,140 –> 00:06:58,220by drawing the focus and the attention14800:06:58,299 –> 00:07:01,179to what we are able to do for people.14900:07:03,260 –> 00:07:07,220We have the tools, we’ll give them to you,15000:07:07,220 –> 00:07:10,459we’ll show you if you join us.15100:07:13,459 –> 00:07:14,480The tools vary.15200:07:16,640 –> 00:07:20,320It may be circumcision and separation.15300:07:22,220 –> 00:07:26,779It may be confession, penance, absolution.15400:07:27,540 –> 00:07:32,540It might be accountability groups or ministry programs.15500:07:33,859 –> 00:07:35,220But at the end of the day,15600:07:35,220 –> 00:07:38,380what is coming across to the people15700:07:38,380 –> 00:07:42,140is not so much Christ for me and Christ in me,15800:07:42,140 –> 00:07:44,179but what certain people can do for me15900:07:44,179 –> 00:07:46,420if I sign up to their program.16000:07:46,420 –> 00:07:48,019That was the problem in Galatia.16100:07:50,480 –> 00:07:52,859And when it’s about what the church offers,16200:07:53,040 –> 00:07:54,260guess who gets the glory?16300:07:55,420 –> 00:07:56,239We do.16400:07:58,980 –> 00:08:01,700You see, I found it very, very helpful16500:08:03,200 –> 00:08:07,299to apply verse 15 of Galatians chapter six16600:08:08,739 –> 00:08:13,739to any program and activity of the local church.16700:08:16,040 –> 00:08:18,220And I think if you do that,16800:08:18,220 –> 00:08:20,700it will consistently bring you back16900:08:20,739 –> 00:08:23,299to what really matters,17000:08:23,299 –> 00:08:26,679and will help us from getting hung up on the wrong issue.17100:08:27,899 –> 00:08:29,600Now, you can pick whatever program,17200:08:29,600 –> 00:08:30,899whatever activity you want,17300:08:30,899 –> 00:08:34,380you can plug it in to Galatians chapter six and verse 1517400:08:34,380 –> 00:08:35,820and it will set you straight17500:08:35,820 –> 00:08:39,099on where the center of gravity for the church needs to be,17600:08:40,419 –> 00:08:42,719and there is a wonderful freedom here.17700:08:43,619 –> 00:08:45,320Look at that verse,17800:08:45,320 –> 00:08:50,320neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything,17900:08:51,179 –> 00:08:55,419what counts is a new creation.18000:08:56,700 –> 00:08:59,440See Paul was quite happy to circumcise Timothy18100:08:59,440 –> 00:09:00,559if it was going to be helpful18200:09:00,559 –> 00:09:02,859for the ministry of outreach to the Jews.18300:09:04,000 –> 00:09:06,979He was vigorous in opposing the imposition of circumcision18400:09:06,979 –> 00:09:10,739on Titus or anyone else if it was being laid out as a rule18500:09:10,739 –> 00:09:14,140for all of these new converts in Galatia or anywhere else.18600:09:16,219 –> 00:09:19,820He wasn’t taking a great kind of position on this issue,18700:09:19,820 –> 00:09:22,820he was saying look, if you’re hung up on that issue,18800:09:22,820 –> 00:09:24,780you’re just hung up on the wrong issue.18900:09:26,020 –> 00:09:29,239Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision19000:09:29,239 –> 00:09:30,400counts for anything.19100:09:32,359 –> 00:09:35,940What matters, whether it’s the ministry of the church19200:09:35,940 –> 00:09:38,619in Jerusalem or Antioch or whether it be here in Galatia,19300:09:38,619 –> 00:09:40,880what matters is, is there a new life?19400:09:42,140 –> 00:09:43,340Is there a new creation?19500:09:46,099 –> 00:09:47,200You see this always delivers us19600:09:47,200 –> 00:09:48,940from slavery to program doesn’t it?19700:09:50,440 –> 00:09:51,880You can take things at random.19800:09:51,880 –> 00:09:54,900Let me take things that’ve been areas of discussion for us.19900:09:57,200 –> 00:09:58,640Neither being in a small group20000:09:58,640 –> 00:10:00,940nor not being in a small group means anything.20100:10:02,700 –> 00:10:06,119What counts is a new creation.20200:10:06,119 –> 00:10:07,179Is the new life in you?20300:10:07,179 –> 00:10:08,719I’m not asking what program you’re in.20400:10:08,719 –> 00:10:10,440I’m asking, is the new life in you?20500:10:11,559 –> 00:10:12,960That’s what matters.20600:10:12,960 –> 00:10:16,200Is the new life being manifest in us and among us?20700:10:16,200 –> 00:10:19,919Now they’re having a traditional service20800:10:19,919 –> 00:10:21,960nor a contemporary service means anything.20900:10:21,960 –> 00:10:23,460What counts is a new creation.21000:10:25,760 –> 00:10:28,020Now the meeting in one venue nor in five venues21100:10:28,020 –> 00:10:29,700or however many venues means anything.21200:10:29,700 –> 00:10:31,039It doesn’t count for anything.21300:10:31,039 –> 00:10:33,640What counts is a new creation.21400:10:36,059 –> 00:10:41,020Is new life that flows from Christ crucified by the spirit21500:10:41,020 –> 00:10:43,380coming in to Christian believers21600:10:43,380 –> 00:10:45,760and coming to those who are not yet Christian believers21700:10:45,859 –> 00:10:47,820or they become Christian believers,21800:10:47,820 –> 00:10:51,179is that new creation evident among us?21900:10:51,179 –> 00:10:55,780It’s all that matters, Paul says, it all that matters.22000:10:55,780 –> 00:10:58,099And you see, Galatians 6,15 will save us22100:10:58,099 –> 00:10:59,799from getting hung up on the wrong issue.22200:10:59,799 –> 00:11:02,400It will bring us back to the right center of gravity22300:11:02,400 –> 00:11:04,440for the life of the church, which is the gospel.22400:11:04,440 –> 00:11:07,320The only thing that matters is the new creation.22500:11:07,320 –> 00:11:09,679New life in Christ by the Holy Spirit,22600:11:09,679 –> 00:11:13,239that is the message of Galatians.22700:11:14,059 –> 00:11:18,320And you see how subtle it is that whether22800:11:18,320 –> 00:11:19,880it be the self-centered gospel,22900:11:19,880 –> 00:11:24,200in which the individual seeks to subvert Christ23000:11:24,200 –> 00:11:26,880and draw the glory to him or herself,23100:11:26,880 –> 00:11:29,299or the church that corporately seeks23200:11:29,299 –> 00:11:32,020to take the central place away from Jesus Christ23300:11:32,020 –> 00:11:35,059so that the glory comes to us and to our programs,23400:11:35,059 –> 00:11:36,840there is always this temptation23500:11:36,840 –> 00:11:38,280for us individually and together23600:11:38,280 –> 00:11:40,880to subvert the position of Jesus Christ23700:11:40,900 –> 00:11:43,640and therefore to become distracted from the gospel.23800:11:43,640 –> 00:11:46,479And we have to get back to this question,23900:11:46,479 –> 00:11:48,080does the new life live in you?24000:11:49,580 –> 00:11:52,679Not asking have you lived a moral life, a successful life.24100:11:52,679 –> 00:11:55,859Not asking if you feel part of the church or its programs.24200:11:55,859 –> 00:11:59,619I’m asking is the life of Jesus Christ within you.24300:11:59,619 –> 00:12:02,859Can you say, I’ve been crucified with Christ24400:12:02,859 –> 00:12:06,000and I no longer live, but Jesus Christ lives within me24500:12:06,000 –> 00:12:07,599and the life I live in the body,24600:12:07,619 –> 00:12:09,979I live by faith in the son of God24700:12:09,979 –> 00:12:12,219who loved me and gave himself for me.24800:12:12,219 –> 00:12:14,460Where people are coming to that reality,24900:12:15,299 –> 00:12:18,059God gets the glory.25000:12:19,599 –> 00:12:21,739The church can’t give you a spiritual life.25100:12:22,840 –> 00:12:25,299Your individual search will never in itself25200:12:25,299 –> 00:12:26,700lead you to spiritual life.25300:12:26,700 –> 00:12:31,520Jesus Christ, the son of God has life in himself25400:12:32,520 –> 00:12:35,679and he came that you may have that life25500:12:35,780 –> 00:12:37,880and he offers himself to you today25600:12:37,880 –> 00:12:41,739and all of God’s blessings are found in him.25700:12:41,739 –> 00:12:45,419Those who receive him, those who believe in his name,25800:12:45,419 –> 00:12:50,419to them he gives the right to become children of God.25900:12:51,840 –> 00:12:53,460You’re listening to Open the Bible26000:12:53,460 –> 00:12:54,700with Pastor Colin Smith26100:12:54,700 –> 00:12:57,260and we’ve got to pause the message briefly there.26200:12:57,260 –> 00:12:59,840The series wherein is called Grasping the Gospel26300:12:59,840 –> 00:13:02,780and this is the final message in that series.26400:13:02,780 –> 00:13:04,580So if you’ve missed any of the series26500:13:04,799 –> 00:13:06,640or if you want to go back and listen again26600:13:06,640 –> 00:13:08,020and please, do do that.26700:13:08,020 –> 00:13:11,340It’s available on our website, openthebible.org.uk.26800:13:12,719 –> 00:13:15,799Also, as a podcast on all the main podcast sites,26900:13:15,799 –> 00:13:17,780search for Open the Bible UK27000:13:17,780 –> 00:13:20,619and subscribe to be regularly updated.27100:13:20,619 –> 00:13:23,099Open the Bible is supported by our listeners27200:13:23,099 –> 00:13:24,820and as we approach the end of the month27300:13:24,820 –> 00:13:26,840this is the last opportunity27400:13:26,840 –> 00:13:29,820to begin to support Open the Bible financially27500:13:29,820 –> 00:13:31,380if you wish to do that27600:13:31,380 –> 00:13:35,659by setting up a direct debit of £5 per month27700:13:35,659 –> 00:13:38,619or more, or a one-off gift to £50 per month27800:13:38,619 –> 00:13:40,580and in return, we’d love to thank you27900:13:40,580 –> 00:13:43,979by sending you a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress,28000:13:43,979 –> 00:13:47,099the classic Christian book by John Bunyan28100:13:47,099 –> 00:13:48,559with modern English.28200:13:48,559 –> 00:13:50,479I’ll be talking to Colin more about this book28300:13:50,479 –> 00:13:51,500later in the program28400:13:51,500 –> 00:13:52,840so I hope you’ll stay with us.28500:13:52,840 –> 00:13:54,140Back to the message now,28600:13:54,140 –> 00:13:55,059here’s Colin.28700:13:56,020 –> 00:13:57,080So,28800:13:57,080 –> 00:13:58,419the self centered gospel,28900:13:58,419 –> 00:14:00,039the church centered gospel29000:14:00,200 –> 00:14:01,820and finally of course, where we want to be29100:14:01,820 –> 00:14:03,919the Christ centered gospel.29200:14:03,919 –> 00:14:05,280May I29300:14:05,280 –> 00:14:07,159never boast,29400:14:07,159 –> 00:14:08,760never boast29500:14:11,020 –> 00:14:11,979except29600:14:13,059 –> 00:14:14,340in the cross29700:14:15,799 –> 00:14:17,799of our Lord Jesus Christ.29800:14:18,719 –> 00:14:20,780Now notice by the way the contrast there29900:14:20,780 –> 00:14:23,140with verse 13 just before30000:14:23,140 –> 00:14:25,320where Paul says what they want to do30100:14:25,320 –> 00:14:28,080that is the circumcision group,30200:14:28,080 –> 00:14:29,640they want you to be circumcised30300:14:29,799 –> 00:14:32,780that they may boast about your flesh30400:14:34,719 –> 00:14:37,359but may I never boast except in the cross30500:14:39,039 –> 00:14:40,919of our Lord Jesus Christ.30600:14:42,000 –> 00:14:44,599Their instead, now many people are in their program.30700:14:46,659 –> 00:14:50,580My interest is in the cross of Jesus Powell says.30800:14:52,039 –> 00:14:53,820Now, having gone to the letter I find myself30900:14:53,820 –> 00:14:55,320going again back to the beginning.31000:14:55,320 –> 00:14:57,479It’s funny when you get to the end of studying a letter31100:14:57,479 –> 00:14:58,559in the New Testament you feel like31200:14:58,859 –> 00:14:59,679well, I must go back to the beginning31300:14:59,679 –> 00:15:01,479and see if I understand it now31400:15:01,479 –> 00:15:03,359and it’s come freshly to me31500:15:03,359 –> 00:15:05,799just looking at verse three and four again.31600:15:05,799 –> 00:15:07,099Grace and peace to you.31700:15:07,099 –> 00:15:09,380Chapter one verse three and four.31800:15:09,380 –> 00:15:11,419From God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ31900:15:11,419 –> 00:15:13,280who gave himself for our sins32000:15:13,280 –> 00:15:16,119to rescue us from the present evil age32100:15:16,119 –> 00:15:19,659according to the will of our God and Father.32200:15:19,659 –> 00:15:23,119Now see, that’s the gospel right there at the beginning.32300:15:23,119 –> 00:15:26,539It’s what Christ did for me then on the cross32400:15:26,619 –> 00:15:28,820that is, he gave himself for my sins.32500:15:28,820 –> 00:15:32,200It’s what Christ does for me now by the spirit32600:15:32,200 –> 00:15:35,539he rescues us from the present evil age.32700:15:37,520 –> 00:15:39,219That’s the gospel.32800:15:39,219 –> 00:15:40,659Now notice who gets the glory.32900:15:40,659 –> 00:15:41,500Verse five.33000:15:41,500 –> 00:15:43,719According to the will of God our Father33100:15:43,719 –> 00:15:46,559to whom be glory for ever and ever.33200:15:49,179 –> 00:15:50,020Amen.33300:15:51,000 –> 00:15:54,000If Christianity is about what you do for God33400:15:54,000 –> 00:15:55,500you get the glory.33500:15:56,539 –> 00:16:00,780If Christianity becomes about what we do for each other33600:16:00,780 –> 00:16:03,219then we get the glory.33700:16:03,219 –> 00:16:06,419But if Christianity is about what God does for us33800:16:06,419 –> 00:16:09,840in Jesus Christ then God gets the glory.33900:16:11,760 –> 00:16:13,659And on that night when Jesus was born34000:16:13,659 –> 00:16:17,340the angels sang glory to God in the highest.34100:16:20,840 –> 00:16:22,460Why?34200:16:22,460 –> 00:16:25,760Because God did for us what we could never do for ourselves34300:16:25,760 –> 00:16:29,640and what none of us could do for each other.34400:16:29,640 –> 00:16:33,479He sent his son into the world born of a woman34500:16:33,479 –> 00:16:35,960to redeem those under the law34600:16:35,960 –> 00:16:39,700that we might receive the full rites of sons.34700:16:40,700 –> 00:16:44,119And this Christ bore the curse in his body34800:16:44,979 –> 00:16:46,719through his death on the cross.34900:16:46,719 –> 00:16:50,159He graciously receives all who will come to him,35000:16:50,159 –> 00:16:54,979forgives, makes you a son of God and heir of God,35100:16:55,039 –> 00:16:56,340gives you the spirit35200:16:56,340 –> 00:16:58,119and therefore makes his home with you,35300:16:58,119 –> 00:17:02,479facing every circumstance of your life with you.35400:17:02,479 –> 00:17:03,979May I never boast35500:17:05,640 –> 00:17:07,140except in the cross35600:17:08,939 –> 00:17:11,020of our Lord Jesus Christ.35700:17:12,500 –> 00:17:16,660Where is the center of your interest and affection?35800:17:19,500 –> 00:17:22,420Is it yourself and your experience?35900:17:25,180 –> 00:17:27,939Is it the church and her ministry?36000:17:30,020 –> 00:17:30,939Is it Christ36100:17:32,959 –> 00:17:35,040and his gospel?36200:17:35,040 –> 00:17:37,520I am persuaded to the core of my being36300:17:37,520 –> 00:17:41,619that what is so desperately needed in our time36400:17:41,619 –> 00:17:43,479is gospel-centered Christians36500:17:43,479 –> 00:17:46,479and gospel-centered churches, right?36600:17:46,479 –> 00:17:50,660Not self-centered, not church-centered, gospel-centered,36700:17:51,500 –> 00:17:53,880folks who are obsessed36800:17:53,880 –> 00:17:56,479not with what we can do for ourselves36900:17:56,479 –> 00:17:58,079nor what we can do for each other37000:17:58,079 –> 00:18:00,760but for what God is able to do for us37100:18:00,760 –> 00:18:02,500and with us and through us37200:18:02,500 –> 00:18:05,939for his own glory by his son Jesus Christ.37300:18:07,959 –> 00:18:10,060It’s our ministry.37400:18:10,060 –> 00:18:11,219It’s our life.37500:18:13,640 –> 00:18:17,819Some years ago when I was serving in church in London,37600:18:19,140 –> 00:18:20,780I spent a day at a conference37700:18:20,859 –> 00:18:24,060and had been called by the local authority37800:18:24,060 –> 00:18:26,060to bring together representatives37900:18:26,060 –> 00:18:28,560of various caring professions.38000:18:29,420 –> 00:18:32,699They came in pairs, it’s almost a comedy, this thing,38100:18:32,699 –> 00:18:34,959really, but you had two doctors,38200:18:34,959 –> 00:18:36,959you had a couple of social workers,38300:18:36,959 –> 00:18:40,140educators, counselors, healthcare professionals38400:18:40,140 –> 00:18:44,160and, of course, to complete the number, two pastors.38500:18:44,160 –> 00:18:47,020Well, I didn’t know the other pastor well38600:18:47,020 –> 00:18:48,380but it was soon clear to me38700:18:48,400 –> 00:18:51,579that he was well at home in this environment.38800:18:51,579 –> 00:18:53,380What I mean by that was,38900:18:53,380 –> 00:18:55,540he had an opinion about everything39000:18:55,540 –> 00:18:57,660and he wasn’t afraid to share it.39100:18:57,660 –> 00:18:59,020You know what I mean.39200:18:59,020 –> 00:19:00,900He waxed eloquent with opinions39300:19:00,900 –> 00:19:04,380about politics and about psychology39400:19:04,380 –> 00:19:06,939and about educational theory.39500:19:06,939 –> 00:19:09,859He had ideas on how to change the schools,39600:19:09,859 –> 00:19:13,000how to change the family, how to change everything.39700:19:13,859 –> 00:19:16,439Now, you know how it is, the awkwardness,39800:19:16,439 –> 00:19:17,900when there is someone in a group39900:19:18,000 –> 00:19:19,640who is speaking way too much40000:19:19,640 –> 00:19:21,560and they themselves are the only person40100:19:21,560 –> 00:19:23,880who doesn’t know it.40200:19:23,880 –> 00:19:27,239Well, the more he went on, honestly,40300:19:27,239 –> 00:19:29,119the more tiresome he became.40400:19:29,119 –> 00:19:30,959And because I was the other pastor,40500:19:30,959 –> 00:19:34,500personally, I kind of felt some embarrassment about it all.40600:19:35,680 –> 00:19:38,680Well, eventually one of the social workers40700:19:38,680 –> 00:19:40,979reached the end of his patience.40800:19:41,900 –> 00:19:43,420And midway through the afternoon,40900:19:43,420 –> 00:19:44,959when we were all getting a little dozy,41000:19:44,959 –> 00:19:47,640he wakened us up with a rather stirring question.41100:19:48,780 –> 00:19:50,420He said to the pastor, you know,41200:19:51,339 –> 00:19:55,280you have been making many contributions to this discussion,41300:19:56,599 –> 00:19:58,560and I’d like to ask you a question.41400:20:00,300 –> 00:20:05,300What exactly is your professional expertise?41500:20:06,859 –> 00:20:08,719There was a bit of tension in the room.41600:20:10,060 –> 00:20:13,839Well, he said, I kind of do a bit of everything really,41700:20:13,839 –> 00:20:15,520a bit of what all of you do.41800:20:16,459 –> 00:20:20,979And I really do anything that I can to help people.41900:20:23,459 –> 00:20:25,859So the social worker would ask the question, said,42000:20:25,859 –> 00:20:30,540so what you’re saying is that you do a bit42100:20:30,540 –> 00:20:31,660of what all of us do,42200:20:31,660 –> 00:20:33,599except that you’re not professionally qualified42300:20:33,599 –> 00:20:34,439for any of it.42400:20:39,020 –> 00:20:40,260And then he turned to me.42500:20:40,319 –> 00:20:41,160Oh dear.42600:20:46,319 –> 00:20:50,140And he said and what exactly is your professional expertise?42700:20:53,420 –> 00:20:55,000And I took a deep breath and I said well,42800:20:56,380 –> 00:20:59,859I am a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.42900:21:01,780 –> 00:21:04,300And that means that I believe that God43000:21:04,300 –> 00:21:06,859has made himself known to us in the Bible.43100:21:07,540 –> 00:21:11,819And so my task, my calling,43200:21:12,780 –> 00:21:15,839is to show people in the Bible43300:21:16,939 –> 00:21:19,500what God has said about himself43400:21:21,180 –> 00:21:25,640so that by turning to him through Jesus Christ,43500:21:26,680 –> 00:21:29,739people can find forgiveness from God43600:21:31,359 –> 00:21:34,380and power to live a new life43700:21:34,380 –> 00:21:36,780that’s pleasing to God in this world.43800:21:37,699 –> 00:21:40,180And then after they die,43900:21:41,459 –> 00:21:44,300everlasting life in his presence.44000:21:46,959 –> 00:21:48,079And as The Gospel,44100:21:49,219 –> 00:21:51,500by which you are saved44200:21:53,839 –> 00:21:57,520on which we have taken our stand,44300:21:59,760 –> 00:22:04,760may God give us grace to grasp it44400:22:05,000 –> 00:22:08,239and to live it44500:22:10,319 –> 00:22:13,479and to bring it, communicate it44600:22:13,479 –> 00:22:16,719in every way possible to a lost world44700:22:18,560 –> 00:22:21,439and all for the sake of Jesus Christ44800:22:22,640 –> 00:22:26,500and for his ultimate glory.44900:22:27,839 –> 00:22:30,479And all God’s people together said amen.45000:22:30,479 –> 00:22:32,280Amen.45100:22:32,280 –> 00:22:35,180What a brilliant way to end our message today45200:22:35,180 –> 00:22:37,199the Gospel Glorifies God45300:22:37,199 –> 00:22:41,439and indeed to end our series grasping the Gospel.45400:22:41,439 –> 00:22:43,000If you’ve missed any of the series45500:22:43,000 –> 00:22:44,959or if you’d like to go back and listen again45600:22:44,959 –> 00:22:47,599you can do that by coming online to our website45700:22:47,599 –> 00:22:49,959openthebible.org.uk45800:22:49,959 –> 00:22:52,000or by following us as a podcast45900:22:52,000 –> 00:22:55,199and those are on all the major podcast sites.46000:22:55,199 –> 00:22:58,160Also on our website and available as a podcast46100:22:58,160 –> 00:23:00,359you’ll find Open the Bible Daily.46200:23:00,459 –> 00:23:02,760If you’ve not listened to Open the Bible Daily before46300:23:02,760 –> 00:23:04,640can I encourage you to find it.46400:23:04,640 –> 00:23:08,579It’s a series of short, 2 to 3 minute daily reflections46500:23:08,579 –> 00:23:10,619based on Pastor Colin’s teaching46600:23:10,619 –> 00:23:13,140and read in the UK by Su McCleish.46700:23:13,140 –> 00:23:14,880Many Christians find it’s a great way46800:23:14,880 –> 00:23:15,939to start the day.46900:23:16,979 –> 00:23:20,359Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.47000:23:20,359 –> 00:23:22,199We do depend on people like you47100:23:22,199 –> 00:23:24,619to keep Pastor Colin Smith’s messages47200:23:24,619 –> 00:23:26,719on the radio and online.47300:23:26,719 –> 00:23:29,959So if you already support us in that way47400:23:30,040 –> 00:23:31,579thank you so much.47500:23:31,579 –> 00:23:34,140If that’s something your considering beginning to do47600:23:34,140 –> 00:23:36,380this month, if you’re able to set up47700:23:36,380 –> 00:23:40,160a new direct debit of £5 per month or more47800:23:40,160 –> 00:23:42,680or a one off gift of £50,47900:23:42,680 –> 00:23:45,060we’d love to say thank you by sending you48000:23:45,060 –> 00:23:47,760a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress,48100:23:47,760 –> 00:23:51,380John Bunyan’s classic allegory of the Christian life48200:23:51,380 –> 00:23:55,040which so many have enjoyed and benefited by reading.48300:23:55,040 –> 00:23:58,459Along with a specially printed Open the Bible bookmark48400:23:58,500 –> 00:24:01,140and an Open the Bible pen.48500:24:01,140 –> 00:24:03,979Colin, many people may have heard of this book48600:24:03,979 –> 00:24:06,660but not really know what it’s all about.48700:24:06,660 –> 00:24:08,260Oh well Pilgrim’s Progress48800:24:08,260 –> 00:24:10,780is a classic of Christian literature48900:24:10,780 –> 00:24:14,660that was written by John Bunyan in the 17th century.49000:24:14,660 –> 00:24:16,859Bunyan’s one of my heroes of the faith.49100:24:16,859 –> 00:24:18,540He was a preacher of the gospel49200:24:18,540 –> 00:24:21,660and he was arrested for preaching the gospel49300:24:21,660 –> 00:24:24,219during a time when there were real restrictions49400:24:24,219 –> 00:24:26,339on believers in England.49500:24:26,339 –> 00:24:28,579And during his time in prison49600:24:28,579 –> 00:24:31,859he wrote this Christian classic that is a story49700:24:31,859 –> 00:24:34,060about a man who takes a journey49800:24:34,060 –> 00:24:36,140from a city called Destruction49900:24:36,140 –> 00:24:37,579to the Celestial City50000:24:37,579 –> 00:24:39,819which is his way of speaking about heaven.50100:24:39,819 –> 00:24:43,540And it is full of profound insight50200:24:43,540 –> 00:24:45,180into the Christian life.50300:24:45,180 –> 00:24:47,339It’s so easy to read50400:24:47,339 –> 00:24:50,780and it is so rich in what we can learn from it.50500:24:50,780 –> 00:24:52,099Well, we’d love to send you50600:24:52,099 –> 00:24:53,979a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress50700:24:53,979 –> 00:24:54,939as our way of saying50800:24:54,939 –> 00:24:56,140thank you for supporting50900:24:56,140 –> 00:24:58,540Open the Bible financially.51000:24:58,540 –> 00:24:59,819Full terms and conditions51100:24:59,819 –> 00:25:00,900on our website51200:25:00,900 –> 00:25:03,780at OpenTheBible.org.uk51300:25:04,660 –> 00:25:05,699for Open the Bible51400:25:05,699 –> 00:25:06,859and Pastor Colin Smith51500:25:06,859 –> 00:25:08,099I’m David Pieck.51600:25:08,099 –> 00:25:09,099Thank you for joining us51700:25:09,099 –> 00:25:10,859and I hope we’ll see you again soon.51800:25:14,979 –> 00:25:16,780in a nation that’s so divided51900:25:16,780 –> 00:25:18,020over many issues52000:25:18,020 –> 00:25:19,260many people are wondering52100:25:19,260 –> 00:25:21,339what on earth we can do.52200:25:21,339 –> 00:25:22,459Discover the answer52300:25:22,459 –> 00:25:23,500and next time on52400:25:23,500 –> 00:25:24,500Open the Bible.