100:00:00,640 –> 00:00:11,100If the Holy Spirit lives in you, if you have really come truly to love God, if200:00:11,100 –> 00:00:17,160you have set your heart on living a holy life, a godly life, a life that is300:00:17,160 –> 00:00:26,160pleasing to God, then you will often find that your own sins remaining in you as400:00:26,160 –> 00:00:32,799a Christian believer do much to cause you to lose heart500:00:32,799 –> 00:00:37,880Welcome to OpenBible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick, I’m glad you600:00:37,880 –> 00:00:41,599could be with us today and Colin it’s great that we’re looking at this subject700:00:41,599 –> 00:00:45,980today of how we can lose heart when we look at the sin that’s still in our800:00:45,980 –> 00:00:51,360hearts even many years after we began to believe. Yeah and the whole of 2900:00:51,360 –> 00:00:55,360Corinthians chapter 5 is really an answer to the question how can I not1000:00:55,560 –> 00:00:59,099lose heart and so Paul deals with some of the things that are just1100:00:59,099 –> 00:01:03,160discouraging in the Christian life. I mean, some of the physical difficulties1200:01:03,160 –> 00:01:07,839that we have living in the tent of this body or the relentless criticism, say1300:01:07,839 –> 00:01:12,279that Paul experienced and, you know, when we’re criticized by others, it can just1400:01:12,279 –> 00:01:17,099be discouraging, or just not liking yourself. Boy, I look in the mirror or1500:01:17,099 –> 00:01:21,599whatever that is and I just wish that I had the gifts of other people. And these1600:01:21,599 –> 00:01:26,160things are disheartening to us and we’ve looked at the answers to them but now we1700:01:26,160 –> 00:01:31,879come to one of the biggest of all. The sins that stalk my life and why am I not1800:01:31,879 –> 00:01:37,800further beyond this why have I not gained greater victory over this. Boy1900:01:37,800 –> 00:01:42,080that is disheartening. And when I face up to that discouragement because Satan’s2000:01:42,080 –> 00:01:46,559gonna throw that stuff at me, how am I going to answer him when I look at my2100:01:46,720 –> 00:01:51,800failures in the face how do I not lose heart? Well the answers coming from the2200:01:51,800 –> 00:01:56,400scriptures today. It’s a great message of hope and one that so many of us need to2300:01:56,400 –> 00:02:01,680hear so join us if you can in 2 Corinthians and chapter 5 as we begin a2400:02:01,680 –> 00:02:07,279message, the Heart of the Gospel. Here is Colin. What has been so striking to me as2500:02:07,279 –> 00:02:12,380we’ve gone through this series has been to realize again in a fresh way just how2600:02:12,380 –> 00:02:19,139directly God speaks into all the real issues of our lives, I mean think about2700:02:19,139 –> 00:02:24,880the things that cause us to lose heart and then think about what we’ve seen in2800:02:24,880 –> 00:02:28,460this one chapter of the Bible 2nd Corinthians, in chapter 5, the2900:02:28,460 –> 00:02:33,520difficulties of life in the body. That’s rather like a tent, the feeling that what3000:02:33,520 –> 00:02:39,820we do may not have lasting significance or value, the harsh judgments that other3100:02:40,419 –> 00:02:44,320people may make, the criticisms that they may make about you, the3200:02:44,320 –> 00:02:48,539disappointments that come relative to the plan you had for your life, the way3300:02:48,539 –> 00:02:53,539that you thought it would be and the way it actually turned out, the frustrations3400:02:53,539 –> 00:02:57,779that you have with what you are in the flesh and the limitations of your3500:02:57,779 –> 00:03:02,179capacities in one way or another relative to what God has given to others3600:03:02,179 –> 00:03:07,500and then the sheer weight of evil in this lost and in this rebellious world.3700:03:07,720 –> 00:03:12,539These are the things that cause us to lose heart and they’re precisely the3800:03:12,539 –> 00:03:17,860things about which God speaks as he tells us in this wonderful chapter how3900:03:17,860 –> 00:03:23,699we are to handle each of them in such a way that we will not lose heart.4000:03:23,740 –> 00:03:30,500And so that’s been our series over these last weeks and today we come to a way of4100:03:30,619 –> 00:03:39,220losing heart that is familiar to every person who wants to live a godly life.4200:03:39,220 –> 00:03:47,220If the Holy Spirit lives in you, if you have really come truly to love God,4300:03:47,220 –> 00:03:52,339if you have set your heart on living a holy life, a godly life,4400:03:52,339 –> 00:03:58,179a life that is pleasing to God, then you will often find4500:03:58,179 –> 00:04:04,779that your own sins, remaining in you as a Christian believer,4600:04:04,779 –> 00:04:08,740do much to cause you to lose heart.4700:04:08,740 –> 00:04:12,619And that’s the particular issue that we’re focused on as we come to4800:04:12,619 –> 00:04:18,399the last verse of 2nd Corinthians and chapter 5 today.4900:04:18,519 –> 00:04:23,500Now, awareness of sin is actually heightened in godly people5000:04:23,500 –> 00:04:25,359for three reasons.5100:04:25,359 –> 00:04:27,559One is, the work of the Holy Spirit.5200:04:27,559 –> 00:04:32,739Remember, the Holy Spirit is given to convince us of sin.5300:04:32,739 –> 00:04:37,220So he comes like a great shining light into our lives.5400:04:37,220 –> 00:04:41,660When there is darkness, it’s not easy to see where there is dirt.5500:04:41,660 –> 00:04:45,440But when a light shines, then anything that is dirty will be5600:04:45,440 –> 00:04:46,200shown up.5700:04:46,200 –> 00:04:49,619You can’t see if a darkened theater is clean or not very5800:04:49,619 –> 00:04:50,220well.5900:04:50,220 –> 00:04:52,799Turn on the lights, and you will soon see what6000:04:52,799 –> 00:04:54,420needs to be cleaned up.6100:04:54,420 –> 00:04:56,359And so, the work of the Holy Spirit6200:04:56,359 –> 00:04:58,739is to shine a light so that those6300:04:58,739 –> 00:05:01,380who know the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts6400:05:01,380 –> 00:05:06,339have a heightened awareness of their own sinfulness.6500:05:06,339 –> 00:05:08,299Secondly, people who are pursuing6600:05:08,299 –> 00:05:12,899a godly life have a heightened awareness of their own sin6700:05:12,899 –> 00:05:15,980because of the strategy of the enemy.6800:05:15,980 –> 00:05:18,940Remember that Satan is described in the Bible6900:05:18,940 –> 00:05:22,700as the accuser of the brothers.7000:05:22,700 –> 00:05:28,019So what he does is he accuses Christian brothers and sisters.7100:05:28,019 –> 00:05:29,820What that means is that he brings7200:05:29,820 –> 00:05:34,459your sins and your failures to your mind7300:05:34,459 –> 00:05:36,899in order to discourage you in the hope7400:05:36,899 –> 00:05:39,500that you will lose heart.7500:05:39,500 –> 00:05:41,940Now, it’s worth remembering that this is a strategy7600:05:41,940 –> 00:05:47,339that Satan only uses in the lives of believers.7700:05:47,339 –> 00:05:50,100It is not in his interest to bring sin7800:05:50,100 –> 00:05:52,579to the mind of an unbeliever.7900:05:52,579 –> 00:05:54,140What he wants to do with an unbeliever8000:05:54,140 –> 00:05:57,299is for an unbeliever never to think about that stuff,8100:05:57,299 –> 00:05:59,399never to think that it actually matters,8200:05:59,399 –> 00:06:02,519not even to recognize it as a capacity.8300:06:02,519 –> 00:06:04,779So it is never in his interest to be8400:06:04,779 –> 00:06:07,600the accuser of the unbeliever, but he8500:06:07,600 –> 00:06:10,859is the accuser of the person who is in Christ,8600:06:10,859 –> 00:06:13,720which is why he is called the accuser of the brothers,8700:06:13,720 –> 00:06:18,200the brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.8800:06:18,200 –> 00:06:19,880Now, one way that he does that is8900:06:19,880 –> 00:06:21,660that he can sometimes bring things9000:06:21,660 –> 00:06:24,239that are long in the past back to your memory.9100:06:24,239 –> 00:06:25,859And you think, now that was long ago9200:06:25,859 –> 00:06:27,399and I’ve confessed that to the Lord.9300:06:27,399 –> 00:06:30,239Why is this being brought back into my mind?9400:06:30,239 –> 00:06:32,540And it comes to your mind because9500:06:32,540 –> 00:06:36,339of the accusation of the enemy who wants you to lose heart.9600:06:36,339 –> 00:06:39,739And you need to know how to answer him when he works9700:06:39,760 –> 00:06:42,059against you in this way.9800:06:42,059 –> 00:06:43,739And then there is a third reason9900:06:43,739 –> 00:06:47,760why there is a heightened awareness of sin in godly people.10000:06:47,760 –> 00:06:52,260And that is simply the godly impulse of the new heart.10100:06:52,260 –> 00:06:56,619When you become a Christian you are given a new heart.10200:06:56,619 –> 00:06:58,899And the new heart is sensitive10300:06:58,899 –> 00:07:03,779to sin, to its subtleties, and to its presence.10400:07:03,779 –> 00:07:06,700That is why John in his letter chapter three10500:07:06,700 –> 00:07:10,859in verse 20 speaks to Christians and he says,10600:07:10,859 –> 00:07:15,859When ever our hearts condemn us.10700:07:16,100 –> 00:07:20,059He doesn’t say, if ever our hearts condemn us,10800:07:20,059 –> 00:07:23,279as if it was not very likely ever to happen.10900:07:23,279 –> 00:07:26,859He says, when ever our hearts condemn us,11000:07:26,859 –> 00:07:29,519indicating that for a Christian believer11100:07:29,519 –> 00:07:31,779this will be something that we will struggle with.11200:07:31,779 –> 00:07:33,540We have a new heart.11300:07:33,540 –> 00:07:35,660And the new heart loves the lord.11400:07:35,700 –> 00:07:38,739And so the new heart is sensitive to the presence11500:07:38,739 –> 00:07:40,980of sin that remains within us11600:07:40,980 –> 00:07:43,660and therefore alerts us to this.11700:07:43,660 –> 00:07:47,220And so for these three reasons put together11800:07:47,220 –> 00:07:50,459there is a heightened awareness of,11900:07:50,459 –> 00:07:53,700or sensitivity towards sin12000:07:53,700 –> 00:07:56,540in the life of a Christian believer,12100:07:56,540 –> 00:07:59,459the life of a person who is vigorous12200:07:59,459 –> 00:08:04,279in the pursuit of a holy or a godly life.12300:08:05,220 –> 00:08:06,559Now this is one of these things12400:08:06,559 –> 00:08:09,440that’s sort of counter intuitive.12500:08:09,440 –> 00:08:12,779You might think that the awareness of sin12600:08:12,779 –> 00:08:17,540would be strongest in people who are far from God12700:08:17,540 –> 00:08:20,839and the people who are really pursuing holy lives12800:08:20,839 –> 00:08:24,540wouldn’t have much of an issue in this regard.12900:08:24,540 –> 00:08:25,920But what we’re learning is that13000:08:25,920 –> 00:08:28,880precisely the opposite is true,13100:08:28,880 –> 00:08:32,159that the awareness of sin is greatest13200:08:32,200 –> 00:08:34,700in those who are most vigorous13300:08:34,700 –> 00:08:37,059in pursuing a holy life.13400:08:37,059 –> 00:08:39,219Which is actually why when a person first13500:08:39,219 –> 00:08:41,960becomes a Christian, I’ve often had this experience,13600:08:41,960 –> 00:08:44,380a person becomes a Christian13700:08:44,380 –> 00:08:46,700and they have the new heart, the new life and then13800:08:46,700 –> 00:08:48,400two or three months, six months after13900:08:48,400 –> 00:08:49,960they become a Christian, they say,14000:08:49,960 –> 00:08:53,080you know I feel like I’m worse than ever,14100:08:53,080 –> 00:08:55,840and you begin to talk about it and what they’re saying is14200:08:55,840 –> 00:08:58,280I’m more sensitive to sin within me14300:08:58,280 –> 00:08:59,719than I ever was before.14400:08:59,719 –> 00:09:02,359I begin to see my need of Jesus Christ now14500:09:02,359 –> 00:09:04,460more than I ever did before.14600:09:04,460 –> 00:09:05,880And that’s actually a mark,14700:09:05,880 –> 00:09:08,039that they are pursuing a godly life14800:09:08,039 –> 00:09:10,919and that things are changing and that there is a new heart14900:09:10,919 –> 00:09:12,960and it’s wonderful and it’s beautiful15000:09:12,960 –> 00:09:15,979and it is from God.15100:09:15,979 –> 00:09:20,299So it is the person who is far from God15200:09:20,299 –> 00:09:23,640who has very little awareness of sin.15300:09:23,640 –> 00:09:25,659The person who’s far from God,15400:09:25,659 –> 00:09:29,119is the one who thinks that she is a good person15500:09:29,140 –> 00:09:32,140or that he is a person who is basically good at heart15600:09:32,140 –> 00:09:34,099but just has had a lot of difficulties15700:09:34,099 –> 00:09:36,559to contend with in life.15800:09:36,559 –> 00:09:38,260The person who’s far from God15900:09:38,260 –> 00:09:39,900is the person who’s thinking,16000:09:39,900 –> 00:09:42,419I’m not really sure that there would be much point16100:09:42,419 –> 00:09:44,400in a sermon on the subject of sin.16200:09:44,400 –> 00:09:45,979Isn’t there something more practical16300:09:45,979 –> 00:09:47,500for the church to talk about?16400:09:47,500 –> 00:09:51,200It is not an issue for the person who’s far from God.16500:09:51,200 –> 00:09:53,059He’s not concerned about sin.16600:09:53,059 –> 00:09:55,219Satan never accuses him.16700:09:55,919 –> 00:09:59,039So it’s actually a sleep towards all of these things.16800:09:59,979 –> 00:10:01,919So what I’m saying to you is this,16900:10:01,919 –> 00:10:05,919that if a sense of sin in your own life17000:10:05,919 –> 00:10:08,119is not an issue for you,17100:10:09,000 –> 00:10:10,679if it’s not an issue for you,17200:10:10,679 –> 00:10:15,280you may actually be further from God than you think.17300:10:15,280 –> 00:10:17,799And you should be concerned17400:10:17,799 –> 00:10:20,880about the state of your own soul.17500:10:22,000 –> 00:10:23,380You’re listening to Open The Bible17600:10:23,760 –> 00:10:25,280with Pastor Colin Smith17700:10:25,280 –> 00:10:27,440on a message called, The Heart of the gospel.17800:10:27,440 –> 00:10:29,960It’s the final message in our series,17900:10:29,960 –> 00:10:34,799Don’t lose heart based on 2 corinthians chapter five.18000:10:34,799 –> 00:10:36,320If you’ve missed any of the series18100:10:36,320 –> 00:10:38,359or if you ever want to go back and listen again,18200:10:38,359 –> 00:10:41,239you can do that by coming online to our website,18300:10:41,239 –> 00:10:44,179openthebible.org.uk18400:10:44,179 –> 00:10:47,119or by going to your favourite podcast site18500:10:47,119 –> 00:10:49,859and searching for Open The Bible UK.18600:10:49,859 –> 00:10:52,479In both places, you’ll find all the messages18700:10:52,659 –> 00:10:54,359which have already been broadcast18800:10:54,359 –> 00:10:56,640and they’re all free to listen to.18900:10:56,640 –> 00:10:58,919Open The Bible is supported by our listeners19000:10:59,820 –> 00:11:00,659and later on in the programme,19100:11:00,659 –> 00:11:03,960I’ll be talking to Colin about our gift this month19200:11:03,960 –> 00:11:06,280for anyone who’s able to begin supporting19300:11:06,280 –> 00:11:08,080Open The Bible in that way.19400:11:08,080 –> 00:11:10,380So I hope you’ll stay with us for that.19500:11:10,380 –> 00:11:11,679Back to the message now.19600:11:12,719 –> 00:11:13,559Here again is Colin.19700:11:13,559 –> 00:11:16,679Today, I want to speak to every person19800:11:16,679 –> 00:11:20,919who wants to live a godly life.19900:11:20,919 –> 00:11:24,840And I speak knowing that because you do want20000:11:24,840 –> 00:11:28,359to live a godly life that you are sensitive20100:11:28,359 –> 00:11:32,280to your own sins, that you do from time to time20200:11:32,280 –> 00:11:35,799say to yourself, now here I am a Christian20300:11:35,799 –> 00:11:40,599and how can it be that these thoughts were in my mind?20400:11:40,599 –> 00:11:43,520That you do from time to time say to yourself,20500:11:43,520 –> 00:11:46,280why have I not made more progress?20600:11:46,280 –> 00:11:48,840Why did I speak with that sharp tongue?20700:11:49,659 –> 00:11:52,479Why is it that when I know that prayer is so important20800:11:52,479 –> 00:11:55,840and I truly love God, I have this strange reluctance20900:11:55,840 –> 00:11:59,700in me with regards to coming to him in prayer?21000:11:59,700 –> 00:12:02,159And sometimes you ask these questions21100:12:02,159 –> 00:12:04,700and years down the track of being a Christian21200:12:04,700 –> 00:12:08,380they can cause you to lose heart.21300:12:09,840 –> 00:12:12,400Now how are you going to settle your heart?21400:12:12,400 –> 00:12:13,840How are you going to make sure that you21500:12:13,840 –> 00:12:17,119don’t lose heart as a Christian21600:12:17,179 –> 00:12:20,799who is determined to pursue a godly life21700:12:20,799 –> 00:12:23,419and yet finds that that very determination21800:12:23,419 –> 00:12:26,700brings with it a heightened awareness21900:12:26,700 –> 00:12:28,799of your own sins?22000:12:29,940 –> 00:12:32,059Well the answer to that is in the last verse22100:12:32,059 –> 00:12:35,919of 2 Corinthians and chapter five, verse 21.22200:12:35,919 –> 00:12:37,000Look at it with me.22300:12:37,940 –> 00:12:42,940For our sake, He, that is God the Father,22400:12:43,799 –> 00:12:47,320made Him, that is God the Son,22500:12:48,859 –> 00:12:53,859He made Him to be sin, who knew no sin,22600:12:55,960 –> 00:13:00,960so that in Him we might become22700:13:01,359 –> 00:13:04,979the righteousness of God.22800:13:06,320 –> 00:13:08,320One writer says of these words,22900:13:08,320 –> 00:13:11,880there is no sentence more profound23000:13:11,880 –> 00:13:14,419in the whole of Scripture,23100:13:15,260 –> 00:13:19,200and indeed, this is the epicenter23200:13:19,200 –> 00:13:23,359of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.23300:13:23,359 –> 00:13:26,000It’s a verse to know and to learn and to underline23400:13:26,000 –> 00:13:28,539and to be familiar with and to come back to23500:13:28,539 –> 00:13:31,880every time you are discouraged23600:13:31,880 –> 00:13:35,520about remaining sin in your own life.23700:13:36,679 –> 00:13:39,380Now, we saw last week, just to place it in context,23800:13:39,380 –> 00:13:41,760that God has removed every barrier23900:13:41,820 –> 00:13:45,799to reconciliation with men and women on his side.24000:13:45,799 –> 00:13:49,580In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself.24100:13:49,580 –> 00:13:51,140Verse 19.24200:13:51,140 –> 00:13:54,380The question is, how did he do that?24300:13:54,380 –> 00:13:56,900What was it that he accomplished24400:13:56,900 –> 00:14:00,260in and through the cross of Jesus Christ24500:14:00,260 –> 00:14:05,260that brought about this great and amazing reconciliation?24600:14:05,640 –> 00:14:07,979And the answer is in verse 21,24700:14:07,979 –> 00:14:10,119here’s what God did at the cross.24800:14:10,159 –> 00:14:13,039That’s why I call it the epicenter.24900:14:13,039 –> 00:14:14,059Here’s what was happening.25000:14:14,059 –> 00:14:19,059He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us25100:14:19,640 –> 00:14:24,640that in him we might become the righteousness of God.25200:14:26,539 –> 00:14:29,119And let’s walk through this together.25300:14:29,119 –> 00:14:34,119First, I want us to see why Jesus is uniquely qualified25400:14:34,400 –> 00:14:36,719to deal with our sins,25500:14:36,719 –> 00:14:41,719why Jesus is uniquely qualified to deal with our sins.25600:14:43,440 –> 00:14:48,359It says here, for our sake he made him to be sin25700:14:48,359 –> 00:14:51,299who knew no sin.25800:14:52,200 –> 00:14:56,280Christ knew no sin.25900:14:57,900 –> 00:15:02,359Now, this was affirmed by angels, devils26000:15:02,359 –> 00:15:04,479and by God the Father.26100:15:04,479 –> 00:15:06,840Remember how it was affirmed by angels26200:15:06,840 –> 00:15:09,440in the announcement of the conception26300:15:09,440 –> 00:15:11,979of Christ as the angel appears to Mary.26400:15:11,979 –> 00:15:15,520Luke 135, the Holy Spirit will come upon you.26500:15:15,520 –> 00:15:18,200The power of the Most High will overshadow you.26600:15:18,200 –> 00:15:23,200The child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God.26700:15:25,000 –> 00:15:27,520When Jesus begins his ministry,26800:15:27,520 –> 00:15:29,539there’s a man who has an unclean spirit.26900:15:29,539 –> 00:15:32,900There’s a Demon that is possessing him27000:15:32,900 –> 00:15:35,820and as Jesus comes towards this man,27100:15:35,820 –> 00:15:38,080the Demon manifests itself,27200:15:38,080 –> 00:15:40,020speaks through his vocal chords27300:15:40,020 –> 00:15:42,599and hears what the Devil says.27400:15:42,599 –> 00:15:45,539What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?27500:15:45,539 –> 00:15:47,380Have you come to destroy us?27600:15:47,380 –> 00:15:51,539I know who you are, the Holy One of God.27700:15:51,539 –> 00:15:53,359The Devils know it.27800:15:53,359 –> 00:15:55,599The angels know it.27900:15:55,599 –> 00:15:57,659Jesus is the only man28000:15:57,659 –> 00:16:00,880of whom it could be said that he is God28100:16:01,020 –> 00:16:04,380and Jesus is the only man who has ever lived28200:16:04,380 –> 00:16:08,280of whom it could be said that he is holy, holy.28300:16:10,260 –> 00:16:14,559The Lord Jesus Christ was holy in his conception,28400:16:14,559 –> 00:16:16,539holy in his nature,28500:16:16,539 –> 00:16:18,580he was holy in his life,28600:16:18,580 –> 00:16:20,719he was holy in his death,28700:16:20,719 –> 00:16:22,919he’s confessed as holy in heaven,28800:16:22,919 –> 00:16:25,559he’s confessed as holy in hell,28900:16:25,559 –> 00:16:29,739he is confessed by his church as holy on earth29000:16:30,239 –> 00:16:34,039and he is confessed to be the well pleasing son of God,29100:16:34,039 –> 00:16:36,000the only son of God,29200:16:36,000 –> 00:16:38,580by the Almighty Father in heaven.29300:16:38,580 –> 00:16:41,760And so at his baptism and at his transfiguration,29400:16:41,760 –> 00:16:43,780we have these wonderful words.29500:16:43,780 –> 00:16:47,960This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.29600:16:51,739 –> 00:16:54,260And as you go through the rest of the New Testament,29700:16:54,260 –> 00:16:58,419it is the unanimous witness of the New Testament writers29800:16:58,419 –> 00:17:02,700that Jesus Christ, the son of God, was without sin.29900:17:02,700 –> 00:17:04,079Let me remind you briefly,30000:17:04,079 –> 00:17:07,160Hebrews, we have a high priest who’s been tempted30100:17:07,160 –> 00:17:09,219in every way just as we are,30200:17:09,219 –> 00:17:10,560yet without sin.30300:17:12,439 –> 00:17:15,599The Apostle Peter, speaking of Jesus,30400:17:15,599 –> 00:17:17,260he committed no sin.30500:17:18,180 –> 00:17:21,359Neither was deceit found in his mouth.30600:17:22,540 –> 00:17:25,459The Apostle John, you know that he appeared30700:17:25,560 –> 00:17:27,680in order to take sins away,30800:17:27,680 –> 00:17:29,939and in Him, there is no sin.30900:17:32,599 –> 00:17:34,219And here we have the Apostle Paul,31000:17:34,219 –> 00:17:37,5792 Corinthians, chapter five, and verse 21,31100:17:37,579 –> 00:17:41,000and he says of Jesus that He knew no sin.31200:17:44,420 –> 00:17:46,160Now, here’s why this matters.31300:17:46,160 –> 00:17:49,680Why would we take time on this to settle it in our minds?31400:17:49,680 –> 00:17:53,040Why does the New Testament unanimously bear witness31500:17:53,040 –> 00:17:55,140to this very important truth?31600:17:55,260 –> 00:17:56,680And they answer,31700:17:57,780 –> 00:18:00,680only a person without sin of their own31800:18:00,680 –> 00:18:05,540could be in a position to deal with the sins of others.31900:18:05,540 –> 00:18:09,020Only a person without sin of their own32000:18:09,020 –> 00:18:12,239could possibly be in a position32100:18:12,239 –> 00:18:14,900to deal with the sins of others.32200:18:16,819 –> 00:18:19,479If it were possible for a person32300:18:20,719 –> 00:18:22,900to bear the sins of others,32400:18:23,219 –> 00:18:25,219it could only be a person32500:18:27,579 –> 00:18:31,739who was holy through and through in and of himself.32600:18:34,119 –> 00:18:37,699That’s what it would take to do it.32700:18:37,699 –> 00:18:39,800And here, as we’ve gone through this series,32800:18:39,800 –> 00:18:42,459we’ve kind of been piling up reasons32900:18:42,459 –> 00:18:45,959for why Jesus Christ is unique in his glory33000:18:46,900 –> 00:18:50,459and is the only Lord and the only savior33100:18:50,640 –> 00:18:53,000and why Jesus Christ alone can do for you33200:18:53,000 –> 00:18:57,300what no one else or nothing else can ever do.33300:18:57,300 –> 00:18:59,099For in all human history,33400:18:59,099 –> 00:19:00,839there has never been another person33500:19:00,839 –> 00:19:03,839of whom you could say he is God,33600:19:03,839 –> 00:19:05,939he is man, and he is holy.33700:19:07,560 –> 00:19:10,079And these are the three great uniquenesses33800:19:10,079 –> 00:19:14,560of the Lord Jesus Christ combined in this one person.33900:19:14,560 –> 00:19:18,599Because he is God, he is uniquely in a position34000:19:18,640 –> 00:19:21,959to reconcile us to the Father.34100:19:21,959 –> 00:19:25,140Because he is at the same time man,34200:19:25,140 –> 00:19:28,239he is uniquely in a position to stand with us34300:19:28,239 –> 00:19:33,380and act for us as our substitute and as our representative.34400:19:33,380 –> 00:19:38,160Because he is holy, he is uniquely in the position34500:19:38,160 –> 00:19:40,880of being able to bear the sins of others34600:19:40,880 –> 00:19:44,199who are not holy standing in their place.34700:19:44,199 –> 00:19:46,640There is no one else of whom34800:19:46,640 –> 00:19:49,199these things could ever be said.34900:19:49,199 –> 00:19:52,219This is the unique glory and position35000:19:52,219 –> 00:19:54,459of our savior Jesus Christ.35100:19:55,420 –> 00:19:57,560There’s no one else like him.35200:19:57,560 –> 00:19:59,239And there’s no one else by definition35300:19:59,239 –> 00:20:01,660who could possibly do35400:20:01,660 –> 00:20:05,680what Jesus Christ has accomplished on the cross.35500:20:05,680 –> 00:20:07,339So when people ask you why in the world35600:20:07,339 –> 00:20:09,459would you possibly think that Jesus is the only way,35700:20:09,459 –> 00:20:10,500you’ve got yet another answer.35800:20:10,500 –> 00:20:14,239We’re piling up answers in this series35900:20:14,239 –> 00:20:15,619as we’re learning more and more36000:20:15,839 –> 00:20:19,479the unique glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,36100:20:19,479 –> 00:20:22,520who he is, and because of who he is,36200:20:22,520 –> 00:20:26,140what he was uniquely able to do.36300:20:26,140 –> 00:20:28,420So that’s the first thing I wanted us to pick up.36400:20:28,420 –> 00:20:30,479He’s the one who knew no sin,36500:20:30,479 –> 00:20:34,859the unique qualification of our Lord Jesus Christ36600:20:34,859 –> 00:20:37,380to deal with our sins.36700:20:37,380 –> 00:20:40,599And here’s the second thing I want us to see today.36800:20:40,599 –> 00:20:45,359How God deals with people who reconcile to him36900:20:45,880 –> 00:20:49,119in Jesus, how God deals with people37000:20:49,119 –> 00:20:52,060who reconcile to him in Jesus.37100:20:52,060 –> 00:20:53,140Look at the verse again.37200:20:53,140 –> 00:20:57,900For our sake, he God the Father made him, the Son,37300:20:57,900 –> 00:21:01,859to be sin, who knew no sin,37400:21:03,079 –> 00:21:06,619so that in him, notice that word,37500:21:06,619 –> 00:21:11,459we might become the righteousness of God, in him.37600:21:12,439 –> 00:21:16,339So what we have here is a description of what is true37700:21:16,339 –> 00:21:20,579of every person who is in Jesus Christ,37800:21:20,579 –> 00:21:23,660which is what happens when you are joined to him37900:21:23,660 –> 00:21:24,780through the bond of faith.38000:21:24,780 –> 00:21:28,680You come to believe in him.38100:21:28,680 –> 00:21:33,680And in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself,38200:21:34,520 –> 00:21:37,239and as we saw last week, that’s why he now stands38300:21:37,239 –> 00:21:39,880with open arms and invites every person38400:21:39,880 –> 00:21:41,339from every background,38500:21:41,640 –> 00:21:45,900to be reconciled to him through his unique son,38600:21:45,900 –> 00:21:48,260our Saviour, Jesus Christ.38700:21:48,260 –> 00:21:52,500That’s why the message is, be reconciled to God38800:21:52,500 –> 00:21:56,099and the arms of God are stretched out to every person38900:21:56,099 –> 00:21:58,900in Jesus Christ in this way.39000:22:00,359 –> 00:22:01,199We’ve been listening39100:22:01,199 –> 00:22:03,500to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith39200:22:03,500 –> 00:22:06,160and a message called The Heart of the Gospel.39300:22:06,160 –> 00:22:09,439It’s the final part of our series Don’t Lose Heart39400:22:09,439 –> 00:22:13,219based on the Second Book of Corinthians chapter five.39500:22:13,219 –> 00:22:14,880And if you’ve missed any of the series39600:22:14,880 –> 00:22:16,060or if you ever want to go back39700:22:16,060 –> 00:22:17,739and listen again, you can do that39800:22:17,739 –> 00:22:22,760by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk39900:22:22,760 –> 00:22:25,060or by going to your favourite podcast site40000:22:25,060 –> 00:22:27,619and searching for Open The Bible UK.40100:22:27,619 –> 00:22:31,939In both places, you will find all Pastor Colin’s messages40200:22:31,939 –> 00:22:34,000that have already been broadcast.40300:22:34,000 –> 00:22:35,719Also on our website and available40400:22:35,719 –> 00:22:38,579as a podcast is Open The Bible Daily,40500:22:38,579 –> 00:22:41,900our series of short two to three minute reflections40600:22:41,900 –> 00:22:43,859based on Pastor Colin’s teaching40700:22:43,859 –> 00:22:46,239and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.40800:22:46,239 –> 00:22:48,060There’s a new one every day.40900:22:48,060 –> 00:22:49,579Open The Bible Daily.41000:22:50,500 –> 00:22:53,599At Open The Bible, we welcome contact with our listeners.41100:22:53,599 –> 00:22:57,400You can email us by using the contact form on our website41200:22:57,400 –> 00:23:02,380openthebible.org.uk forward slash contact.41300:23:02,380 –> 00:23:05,219You can write to us at Open The Bible,41400:23:05,219 –> 00:23:10,219PO Box 1420 Cheltenham GL50 9PG41500:23:12,099 –> 00:23:16,859or you can phone us on 0330 335 8089.41600:23:20,099 –> 00:23:22,280If we’re not available when you call,41700:23:22,280 –> 00:23:25,319leave a message for us and we will return your call.41800:23:25,319 –> 00:23:26,900All of these contact details41900:23:26,900 –> 00:23:31,900are available on our website, openthebible.org.uk.42000:23:32,319 –> 00:23:35,219Open the Bible is able to remain on your radio42100:23:35,219 –> 00:23:36,500and on the internet,42200:23:36,500 –> 00:23:40,020because we are supported financially by our listeners.42300:23:40,020 –> 00:23:42,540So if you already give to support the work,42400:23:42,540 –> 00:23:45,560thank you so much and may God bless you.42500:23:45,560 –> 00:23:48,199If you’ve considered supporting us in that way,42600:23:48,199 –> 00:23:50,339all this month, we’d like to encourage you42700:23:50,339 –> 00:23:52,719by offering something in return.42800:23:52,719 –> 00:23:55,619By setting up a new direct debit to Open the Bible42900:23:55,619 –> 00:23:58,180of five pounds per month or more,43000:23:58,180 –> 00:24:01,780or a new one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,43100:24:01,780 –> 00:24:03,839in return we’ll send you two copies43200:24:03,839 –> 00:24:06,719of Pastor Colin’s book, Christmas Stories,43300:24:06,719 –> 00:24:09,719along with five exclusive Christmas cards43400:24:09,719 –> 00:24:12,959featuring the illustrations from the book.43500:24:12,959 –> 00:24:15,239Here’s Colin to talk about one of the characters43600:24:15,239 –> 00:24:18,140from Christmas Stories, the angel, Gabriel.43700:24:18,140 –> 00:24:21,520Here’s the story of Jesus viewed from heaven itself.43800:24:21,520 –> 00:24:24,219And there’s a fascinating reference in the New Testament.43900:24:24,219 –> 00:24:27,540Even angels long to look into these things.44000:24:27,540 –> 00:24:29,560So let’s take a look at the Christmas story44100:24:29,599 –> 00:24:31,239from the perspective of the angels44200:24:31,239 –> 00:24:33,020who were witnesses to it.44300:24:33,020 –> 00:24:36,060Of course, they knew Christ in his glory before he came.44400:24:36,060 –> 00:24:38,020What an astonishing thing it must have been44500:24:38,020 –> 00:24:39,760for them to see him born as a baby.44600:24:39,760 –> 00:24:41,560So that’s our free gift to you44700:24:41,560 –> 00:24:43,719of two copies of Christmas Stories,44800:24:43,719 –> 00:24:45,959along with five Christmas cards44900:24:45,959 –> 00:24:47,760if you are able to begin to support45000:24:47,760 –> 00:24:50,800Open the Bible financially this month.45100:24:50,800 –> 00:24:53,319Full terms and conditions are on our website,45200:24:53,319 –> 00:24:58,160openthebible.org.uk, and you can give online45300:24:58,160 –> 00:24:59,719on the website.45400:24:59,719 –> 00:25:03,400Don’t forget though to include your full name and address.45500:25:03,400 –> 00:25:04,959Don’t give anonymously45600:25:04,959 –> 00:25:07,420so that we can send you your free gift.45700:25:08,339 –> 00:25:11,300For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,45800:25:11,300 –> 00:25:15,060I’m David Pick, and I hope you’ll join us again next time.45900:25:15,060 –> 00:25:20,060How will it change your life if you’re reconciled to God?46000:25:24,760 –> 00:25:27,339Find out next time on Open the Bible.