100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:05,500Probably some of your friends who don’t go to church will deduce from the200:00:05,500 –> 00:00:09,000fact that you do come to church they’ll say well of course you know Joe and Mary300:00:09,000 –> 00:00:14,000they must think that they’re righteous. That is the world’s view of a Christian400:00:14,000 –> 00:00:20,000and precisely the opposite is the case. Isn’t it ?500:00:20,000 –> 00:00:23,000Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.600:00:23,000 –> 00:00:26,020Glad you could join us today. And Colin what you’re saying there is700:00:27,020 –> 00:00:31,020very true some people have the idea that Christians have these areas of800:00:31,020 –> 00:00:35,020superiority that we think that we’re holier than thou, that we’re super900:00:35,020 –> 00:00:36,020righteous.1000:00:36,020 –> 00:00:40,020Super righteous there they go off to church with their Bibles and so forth1100:00:40,020 –> 00:00:41,020and so on.1200:00:41,020 –> 00:00:45,020Yeah and that is precisely the opposite of the reality, to be a1300:00:45,020 –> 00:00:49,020true Christian is to come to the place of saying I know that I am so far from1400:00:49,020 –> 00:00:53,020being righteous that I have no hope except in a saviour.1500:00:54,020 –> 00:00:58,020It’s completely the opposite of what is sometimes conveyed and what is1600:00:58,020 –> 00:01:00,020sometimes perceived.1700:01:00,020 –> 00:01:02,020And this is at the very heart of the gospel.1800:01:02,020 –> 00:01:06,019The Apostle Paul makes it clear that really to grasp our dependence on1900:01:06,019 –> 00:01:10,019Christ leaves us in a position where no person can boast unless its to2000:01:10,019 –> 00:01:11,019boast about Jesus.2100:01:11,019 –> 00:01:13,019But it’s certainly not to boast about ourselves.2200:01:13,019 –> 00:01:17,019Well none of us can do that when we measure ourselves against Jesus of2300:01:17,019 –> 00:01:20,019course and that’s what we were looking at last time.2400:01:20,019 –> 00:01:24,019That we have this inbuilt sinful nature that needs to be dealt with.2500:01:24,019 –> 00:01:27,019So today is a message of encouragement and hope.2600:01:27,019 –> 00:01:29,019It really is and here’s what I’ve found.2700:01:29,019 –> 00:01:35,019The more one thinks of one’s self, the less one thinks of Jesus and2800:01:35,019 –> 00:01:39,019the less one thinks of oneself, the more one thinks of Jesus and so2900:01:39,019 –> 00:01:44,019really grasping this truth of our human sinfulness and its application3000:01:44,019 –> 00:01:48,019is going to be the most Christ exalting path possible.3100:01:49,019 –> 00:01:52,019We’ll continue to look at how sin impacts us in today’s Message,3200:01:52,019 –> 00:01:57,019so I hope you’ll open your Bible, that Ecclesiastes Chapter 7 as we3300:01:57,019 –> 00:02:00,019continue the message, the life you never knew.3400:02:00,019 –> 00:02:02,019Here is Pastor Colin.3500:02:12,020 –> 00:02:15,020So we’re now talking about the whole history of the human race since the Fall.3600:02:18,520 –> 00:02:23,020Have gone in search of many schemes.3700:02:24,020 –> 00:02:28,020Now friends, that’s the teaching of this verse.3800:02:28,020 –> 00:02:31,020All the rest this morning is application and I want to offer three,3900:02:32,020 –> 00:02:35,020I believe, very important applications for us today.4000:02:35,020 –> 00:02:37,020Here’s number one.4100:02:38,020 –> 00:02:42,020I plead with you, especially if you are a Christian believer.4200:02:42,020 –> 00:02:48,020Here, stop blaming God for what’s wrong with the world.4300:02:49,020 –> 00:02:55,020Stop blaming God for what’s wrong with the world.4400:02:56,020 –> 00:03:02,020God did not burden Adam with sin, God made him upright.4500:03:03,020 –> 00:03:10,020Adam was the one who used his freedom to forfeit his righteousness.4600:03:11,020 –> 00:03:17,020Now, if you have really understood the Bible’s teaching with regards to creation4700:03:18,020 –> 00:03:19,020and the Bible’s teaching with regards to sin,4800:03:20,020 –> 00:03:22,020you will not spend the rest of your life blaming God for your problems.4900:03:23,020 –> 00:03:25,020This is of huge practical importance.5000:03:26,020 –> 00:03:28,020So, I want you to really try and grasp this right now,5100:03:29,020 –> 00:03:34,020because this truth has the power to move the trajectory of our thinking.5200:03:35,020 –> 00:03:37,020And friend, if the habit of your heart,5300:03:38,020 –> 00:03:39,020and I choose my words carefully,5400:03:40,020 –> 00:03:42,020if the habit of your heart5500:03:43,020 –> 00:03:45,020is to blame God for the problems of your life5600:03:46,020 –> 00:03:48,020and to blame God for the evils of the world,5700:03:49,020 –> 00:03:52,020you should seriously question whether you are really a Christian.5800:03:55,020 –> 00:03:58,020People who are redeemed by Jesus Christ love God5900:03:59,020 –> 00:04:01,020and they trust Him.6000:04:02,020 –> 00:04:04,020They have many unanswered questions,6100:04:05,020 –> 00:04:06,020and we have many doubts many times.6200:04:06,020 –> 00:04:12,020But it is not the habit of the heart of a believing person6300:04:13,020 –> 00:04:16,019to blame God for the problems of my life6400:04:17,019 –> 00:04:20,019and to blame God for the evils of the world.6500:04:21,019 –> 00:04:25,019Christians know that the blame lies with sin,6600:04:26,019 –> 00:04:29,019and sin does not lie in God.6700:04:30,019 –> 00:04:32,019There is no sin in Him!6800:04:33,019 –> 00:04:34,019It lies in us.6900:04:34,019 –> 00:04:39,019So, every time you see7000:04:40,019 –> 00:04:44,019the wretched destructive power of evil breaking out in this world,7100:04:45,019 –> 00:04:47,019and there may be some instinct who want,7200:04:48,019 –> 00:04:49,019if you have made this your habit in the past,7300:04:50,019 –> 00:04:51,019to say, well, here is another unresolved question for God7400:04:52,019 –> 00:04:55,019and another blaming of God that adds to the erosion of faith7500:04:56,019 –> 00:04:58,019that Satan is working within your heart,7600:04:59,019 –> 00:05:00,019instead of going down that road,7700:05:01,019 –> 00:05:03,019if you have grasped what we are being taught in this verse,7800:05:04,019 –> 00:05:07,019the next time you see some great outbreak of evil in the world7900:05:08,019 –> 00:05:11,019or some effect of fallenness within your own life,8000:05:12,019 –> 00:05:17,019you will want to use that to strengthen your own hatred of sin8100:05:18,019 –> 00:05:20,019and to say, Oh, what a wretched thing this is,8200:05:21,019 –> 00:05:25,019Oh, how far we have come from the uprightness with which God created Adam,8300:05:26,019 –> 00:05:29,019Oh, how much we need Jesus Christ who is our only hope,8400:05:30,019 –> 00:05:33,019and Oh, how much I see that the root of this very thing8500:05:34,019 –> 00:05:37,019that is so destructive in the world out there, the root of it is within me8600:05:38,019 –> 00:05:42,019and how much I must pursue holiness this week in the light of that.8700:05:43,019 –> 00:05:46,019Stop blaming God for what’s wrong with the world.8800:05:47,019 –> 00:05:49,019Second application.8900:05:50,019 –> 00:05:55,019Start confessing that you are far from upright.9000:05:56,019 –> 00:06:02,019Start confessing that you are far from upright.9100:06:02,019 –> 00:06:05,019This is simply what follows from believing in this verse.9200:06:06,019 –> 00:06:09,019We are not Adam, we are the men who have gone and the women9300:06:10,019 –> 00:06:12,019who have gone after many schemes.9400:06:13,019 –> 00:06:16,019The sure mark of a genuine Christian9500:06:17,019 –> 00:06:19,019is that he or she confesses that they are far from upright.9600:06:20,019 –> 00:06:21,019Again, this is counterintuitive.9700:06:22,019 –> 00:06:25,019Many folks in the world have the idea, and some of us have the idea,9800:06:26,019 –> 00:06:28,019if a person is a Christian,9900:06:29,019 –> 00:06:31,019that they must think that they’re very righteous,10000:06:32,019 –> 00:06:34,019and probably some of your friends who don’t go to church10100:06:35,019 –> 00:06:38,019will deduce from the fact that you do come to church,10200:06:39,019 –> 00:06:42,019they’ll say, well, of course, Joan Mary, they must think that they’re righteous.10300:06:43,019 –> 00:06:45,019That is the world’s view of a Christian.10400:06:46,019 –> 00:06:49,019Precisely the opposite is the case, isn’t it?10500:06:51,019 –> 00:06:54,019The mark of a genuine Christian is that this is a person10600:06:55,019 –> 00:06:59,019who knows and confesses that he or she is not righteous.10700:07:00,019 –> 00:07:03,019And this is the very reason why we need Jesus Christ.10800:07:05,019 –> 00:07:07,019And friends, this is radically countercultural,10900:07:08,019 –> 00:07:12,019that we be a community of people who confess that we are far from righteous,11000:07:13,019 –> 00:07:18,019and it’s very important because the world does not perceive the Christian community in that way.11100:07:19,019 –> 00:07:23,019The world perceives the Christian community as people say, we’re holier than thou.11200:07:24,019 –> 00:07:29,019And so we need in our own hearts to be cultivating a spirit11300:07:30,019 –> 00:07:35,019that reflects the truth that we believe that we are those who come to the table of Christ11400:07:36,019 –> 00:07:38,019because we are in desperate need of a righteousness11500:07:39,019 –> 00:07:42,019that we can never attain and can only receive from Him.11600:07:43,019 –> 00:07:47,019People who think that they are upright will never come to Christ.11700:07:48,019 –> 00:07:49,019Never.11800:07:50,019 –> 00:07:52,019That was the problem with the Pharisees.11900:07:53,019 –> 00:07:56,019Their religion even reinforced that we are upright people12000:07:56,019 –> 00:08:01,019because we do this and this and this and I pray and I tithe and all the rest of it.12100:08:02,019 –> 00:08:04,019And they never came to Christ.12200:08:05,019 –> 00:08:06,019How could they?12300:08:07,019 –> 00:08:08,019What need did they have?12400:08:08,019 –> 00:08:09,019They saw none.12500:08:11,019 –> 00:08:17,019So how can I cultivate a greater sense of how far I am from uprightness.12600:08:17,019 –> 00:08:18,019How can we do that?12700:08:18,019 –> 00:08:24,019How can we become more humble Christians and more Christ-exalting Christians12800:08:24,019 –> 00:08:30,019rather than people who may in some way convey that we are better than others?12900:08:32,020 –> 00:08:35,020Once in a while you come across a real gem in your reading13000:08:35,020 –> 00:08:38,020and that happened for me this week reading Matthew Henry13100:08:39,020 –> 00:08:43,020a Puritan who wrote a commentary on the whole Bible and it is full of pithy sayings.13200:08:43,020 –> 00:08:47,020Here is one that I want to give to you13300:08:47,020 –> 00:08:52,020and it is worth pondering for a moment because it opened a window for me.13400:08:52,020 –> 00:08:56,020Matthew Henry says and it is in his comments on this verse13500:08:56,020 –> 00:09:03,020a sound conviction of one sin13600:09:03,020 –> 00:09:10,020will put us upon inquiring into the whole Confederacy.13700:09:10,020 –> 00:09:13,020My friends, if I was preaching back in London13800:09:13,020 –> 00:09:17,020I would have to spend the next 5 minutes explaining the word Confederacy13900:09:17,020 –> 00:09:21,020but we are Americans, we know what this means.14000:09:21,020 –> 00:09:29,020Group of people, group of states that act together as one14100:09:29,020 –> 00:09:33,020in pursuit of certain goals in a certain purpose.14200:09:33,020 –> 00:09:37,020You see what Matthew Henry is saying14300:09:37,020 –> 00:09:40,020We are a Confederacy14400:09:40,020 –> 00:09:42,020but we don’t always see it that way14500:09:42,020 –> 00:09:45,020but he says, when you see just one sin14600:09:45,020 –> 00:09:47,020and you come to a conviction about it14700:09:47,020 –> 00:09:50,020In other words, if you were to come to the place today14800:09:50,020 –> 00:09:53,020at the Lords table where you can say14900:09:53,020 –> 00:09:56,020I can see one sin in my life, it’s really in me15000:09:56,020 –> 00:09:58,020It’s really a sin15100:09:58,020 –> 00:10:00,020I really need the grace of God for this15200:10:00,020 –> 00:10:03,020And it’s in my life now15300:10:03,020 –> 00:10:05,020I’m not talking about stuff I use to do and all that15400:10:05,020 –> 00:10:08,020If you could see one sin in your life today15500:10:08,020 –> 00:10:11,020it would put you on the path of enquiring15600:10:11,020 –> 00:10:13,020into the whole Confederacy15700:10:13,020 –> 00:10:18,020Once you see one, you’ll start saying15800:10:18,020 –> 00:10:21,020Hmm, maybe there’s others15900:10:21,020 –> 00:10:24,020Once you see one, you’re on the path to discovering16000:10:24,020 –> 00:10:26,020That there are in fact a whole Confederacy16100:10:26,020 –> 00:10:29,020of sins in your life16200:10:29,020 –> 00:10:31,020Many sins16300:10:31,020 –> 00:10:34,020In the believing heart16400:10:34,020 –> 00:10:35,020Working together16500:10:35,020 –> 00:10:37,020Feeding off each other16600:10:37,020 –> 00:10:39,020Playing, as it were, as a team16700:10:39,020 –> 00:10:40,020A Confederacy16800:10:40,020 –> 00:10:42,020Bringing each other into play16900:10:42,020 –> 00:10:44,020We don’t see that easily17000:10:44,020 –> 00:10:46,020but, Matthew Henry says17100:10:46,020 –> 00:10:48,020The way to get on the path to seeing it17200:10:48,020 –> 00:10:50,020Is if you can identify just one sin17300:10:50,020 –> 00:10:53,020One, just one17400:10:53,020 –> 00:10:56,020And come to a conviction that it’s really a sin17500:10:56,020 –> 00:10:58,020And it’s really at work in you right now17600:10:58,020 –> 00:11:00,020You’re listening to Open the Bible17700:11:00,020 –> 00:11:01,020with Pastor Colin Smith17800:11:01,020 –> 00:11:03,020And we have to pause the message briefly there17900:11:03,020 –> 00:11:05,020but we’ll be back very shortly18000:11:05,020 –> 00:11:07,020so please do stay with us18100:11:07,020 –> 00:11:09,020Open the Bible is supported by our many listeners18200:11:09,020 –> 00:11:11,020and if you’re one of them18300:11:11,020 –> 00:11:13,020thank you so much18400:11:13,020 –> 00:11:15,020It’s not just the radio programme18500:11:16,020 –> 00:11:18,020the website and podcast that you’re supporting18600:11:18,020 –> 00:11:21,020Here’s Open the Bible executive director John Martyn18700:11:21,020 –> 00:11:23,020David, it’s very exciting that we’ve seen18800:11:23,020 –> 00:11:26,020a open door, ironically, into prisons18900:11:27,020 –> 00:11:29,020We have distributed the film of19000:11:29,020 –> 00:11:30,020The story of the thief on the cross19100:11:30,020 –> 00:11:32,020Heaven how I got here19200:11:32,020 –> 00:11:33,020is based on Colin’s short book19300:11:33,020 –> 00:11:35,020We printed this onto a DVD19400:11:35,020 –> 00:11:37,020and sent it into every prison19500:11:37,020 –> 00:11:40,020in England and Wales last year19600:11:40,020 –> 00:11:42,020and this year we are trialing a19700:11:42,020 –> 00:11:44,020fifteen-session course of19800:11:44,020 –> 00:11:47,020Colin’s material Fly Through the Bible19900:11:47,020 –> 00:11:49,020This has been done in partnership20000:11:49,020 –> 00:11:51,020with Daylight Christian Prison Trust20100:11:51,020 –> 00:11:53,020who also helped us distribute the film20200:11:53,020 –> 00:11:55,020and we’re also partnering with20300:11:55,020 –> 00:11:58,020London City Mission to trial this course20400:11:58,020 –> 00:12:00,020Sessions begin with inmates watching20500:12:00,020 –> 00:12:02,320Pastor Colin reading each chapter of the book20600:12:02,320 –> 00:12:04,320and then they do a simple Bible study20700:12:04,320 –> 00:12:07,020with booklets, designed for prison use20800:12:07,020 –> 00:12:09,020given to every participant20900:12:10,020 –> 00:12:11,820One prison chaplain said this21000:12:11,820 –> 00:12:15,020The men really listen to pastor Colin21100:12:15,020 –> 00:12:17,020The focus on the Bible characters21200:12:17,020 –> 00:12:18,020has been really good21300:12:18,020 –> 00:12:21,020and rich conversations have come from it21400:12:21,020 –> 00:12:24,020One of the men is using it on his wing21500:12:24,020 –> 00:12:26,020to lead his own Bible study with other men21600:12:26,020 –> 00:12:28,020who aren’t in the groups21700:12:28,020 –> 00:12:30,020It’s all very encouraging21800:12:30,020 –> 00:12:31,020So David, if listeners are interested21900:12:31,020 –> 00:12:33,020in supporting this prison ministry22000:12:34,020 –> 00:12:35,020that we have in partnership22100:12:35,020 –> 00:12:36,020with Daylight Christian Prison Trust22200:12:36,020 –> 00:12:38,020and the London city mission22300:12:38,020 –> 00:12:39,020they can get in touch with us22400:12:39,020 –> 00:12:41,020and do a donation through the website22500:12:41,020 –> 00:12:43,020You can get involved in supporting22600:12:43,020 –> 00:12:45,020Open the Bible’s work22700:12:45,020 –> 00:12:46,020by coming to our website22800:12:46,020 –> 00:12:48,020openthebible.org.uk22900:12:49,020 –> 00:12:51,020You’ll find lots more information23000:12:51,020 –> 00:12:52,020terms and conditions23100:12:52,020 –> 00:12:54,020and you can give online23200:12:54,020 –> 00:12:55,020Back to the message now23300:12:55,020 –> 00:12:57,020Here again is pastor Colin23400:12:57,020 –> 00:12:59,020Am I the only one23500:12:59,020 –> 00:13:00,020that’s had this experience?23600:13:00,020 –> 00:13:02,020We’ve been as a family many times23700:13:02,020 –> 00:13:04,020either at the edge of a lake23800:13:04,020 –> 00:13:05,020or sometimes looking23900:13:05,020 –> 00:13:07,020out over the sea24000:13:07,020 –> 00:13:08,020We’re standing there24100:13:08,020 –> 00:13:09,020looking in a bright day24200:13:09,020 –> 00:13:10,020at shallow water24300:13:11,020 –> 00:13:13,020and the kids’ll say24400:13:13,020 –> 00:13:14,020Hey, Dad, see all these fish?24500:13:14,020 –> 00:13:16,020See all these little fish?24600:13:16,020 –> 00:13:18,020And I’m going24700:13:18,020 –> 00:13:19,020I don’t see them24800:13:19,020 –> 00:13:20,020Am I the only one24900:13:20,020 –> 00:13:21,020that’s had this experience?25000:13:21,020 –> 00:13:22,020There’s one there, Dad25100:13:22,020 –> 00:13:23,020I don’t see that25200:13:23,020 –> 00:13:24,020There’s one there25300:13:24,020 –> 00:13:25,020I don’t see that25400:13:26,020 –> 00:13:28,020Here’s what I’ve found25500:13:28,020 –> 00:13:30,020Suddenly25600:13:30,020 –> 00:13:31,020I began to think you folks25700:13:31,020 –> 00:13:33,020think I’m blind here25800:13:34,020 –> 00:13:35,020Alright, I’m just gonna tell you25900:13:35,020 –> 00:13:36,020my experience26000:13:36,020 –> 00:13:37,020you can see if you relate to it26100:13:37,020 –> 00:13:39,020Here’s what happens26200:13:39,020 –> 00:13:41,020Suddenly26300:13:41,020 –> 00:13:42,020I see one fish26400:13:43,020 –> 00:13:44,020There’s… That’s what26500:13:44,020 –> 00:13:45,020I’m looking for26600:13:45,020 –> 00:13:46,020Ok, right, got it26700:13:48,020 –> 00:13:49,020And you know26800:13:49,020 –> 00:13:51,020once you see one26900:13:51,020 –> 00:13:52,020you start seeing them27000:13:52,020 –> 00:13:53,020all over the place27100:13:53,020 –> 00:13:54,020Anyone else had that experience?27200:13:54,020 –> 00:13:56,020You get your eye in, you see27300:13:56,020 –> 00:13:58,020you get your eye in27400:13:59,020 –> 00:14:00,020Now is says, Matthew, Henry27500:14:00,020 –> 00:14:01,020that is exactly27600:14:01,020 –> 00:14:03,020what it is like with sin27700:14:03,020 –> 00:14:04,020If you can get your eye in27800:14:04,020 –> 00:14:06,020on just one today27900:14:06,020 –> 00:14:08,020today28000:14:08,020 –> 00:14:09,020and you can come to a28100:14:09,020 –> 00:14:11,020real conviction about it28200:14:12,020 –> 00:14:13,020it will not be long before28300:14:13,020 –> 00:14:15,020you see the whole Confederacy28400:14:15,020 –> 00:14:16,020and then you’ll be in a place28500:14:16,020 –> 00:14:17,020of confessing with28600:14:17,020 –> 00:14:19,020greater reality28700:14:19,020 –> 00:14:20,020the value of28800:14:20,020 –> 00:14:21,020Jesus Christ28900:14:21,020 –> 00:14:22,020who has what29000:14:22,020 –> 00:14:23,020you need much more29100:14:23,020 –> 00:14:25,020then you saw before29200:14:27,020 –> 00:14:28,020So let me ask you this29300:14:28,020 –> 00:14:29,020question29400:14:31,020 –> 00:14:32,020Can you name29500:14:32,020 –> 00:14:33,020one29600:14:33,020 –> 00:14:34,020sin29700:14:34,020 –> 00:14:35,020that you can see29800:14:35,020 –> 00:14:36,020in your life29900:14:36,020 –> 00:14:38,020right now30000:14:40,020 –> 00:14:41,020because if you can’t30100:14:42,020 –> 00:14:43,020I don’t know what this30200:14:43,020 –> 00:14:45,020table will mean to you30300:14:47,020 –> 00:14:48,020and if you can’t30400:14:48,020 –> 00:14:49,020would you not want to30500:14:49,020 –> 00:14:50,020begin thinking30600:14:50,020 –> 00:14:51,020how out of touch30700:14:51,020 –> 00:14:52,020with reality30800:14:52,020 –> 00:14:53,020so let me give you30900:14:53,020 –> 00:14:54,020a little bit31000:14:54,020 –> 00:14:55,020of help here31100:14:56,020 –> 00:14:57,020here’s31200:14:57,020 –> 00:14:58,020two31300:14:58,020 –> 00:14:59,020you could start31400:14:59,020 –> 00:15:00,020by spotting31500:15:01,020 –> 00:15:02,020one is31600:15:02,020 –> 00:15:03,020pride31700:15:03,020 –> 00:15:04,020the other31800:15:04,020 –> 00:15:04,520is covelessness31900:15:04,520 –> 00:15:05,020I choose them32000:15:05,020 –> 00:15:06,020for a reason32100:15:07,020 –> 00:15:09,020Pride was32200:15:09,020 –> 00:15:10,020the first32300:15:10,020 –> 00:15:11,020sin and it is32400:15:11,020 –> 00:15:12,020in us all32500:15:14,020 –> 00:15:15,020Adam was created32600:15:15,020 –> 00:15:16,020upright32700:15:16,020 –> 00:15:17,020he was wired32800:15:18,020 –> 00:15:19,020with the love of God32900:15:19,020 –> 00:15:20,020and the love of neighbour33000:15:22,020 –> 00:15:24,020but after sin33100:15:24,020 –> 00:15:25,020after the fall33200:15:25,020 –> 00:15:26,020the wiring was changed33300:15:26,020 –> 00:15:27,020friends by nature33400:15:27,020 –> 00:15:28,020we are wired33500:15:28,020 –> 00:15:30,020to love of self33600:15:31,020 –> 00:15:32,020and even when you are33700:15:32,020 –> 00:15:33,020converted to Jesus Christ33800:15:33,020 –> 00:15:34,020you’ll find yourself33900:15:34,020 –> 00:15:35,020fighting against34000:15:35,020 –> 00:15:36,020that stuff34100:15:36,020 –> 00:15:37,020all of your life34200:15:37,020 –> 00:15:38,020as I do too34300:15:39,020 –> 00:15:41,020so the first instinct34400:15:42,020 –> 00:15:43,020that comes out of34500:15:43,020 –> 00:15:44,020the human nature now34600:15:44,020 –> 00:15:45,020is me34700:15:45,020 –> 00:15:46,020and my family34800:15:48,020 –> 00:15:49,020and my work34900:15:49,020 –> 00:15:50,020and its importance35000:15:51,020 –> 00:15:52,020and what I want35100:15:52,020 –> 00:15:53,020and what I need35200:15:56,020 –> 00:15:57,020can you see that monster35300:15:57,020 –> 00:15:58,020there right now35400:15:58,020 –> 00:15:59,020in any particular ways35500:15:59,020 –> 00:16:00,020in your life35600:16:00,020 –> 00:16:01,020can you spot it35700:16:01,020 –> 00:16:02,020you say yeah35800:16:02,020 –> 00:16:03,020Yeah I see that35900:16:03,020 –> 00:16:04,020right now36000:16:06,020 –> 00:16:07,020covetousness36100:16:09,020 –> 00:16:10,020I say that36200:16:10,020 –> 00:16:11,020because it is36300:16:11,020 –> 00:16:12,020the last commandment36400:16:12,020 –> 00:16:13,020and in many ways36500:16:13,020 –> 00:16:14,020the most penetrating36600:16:14,020 –> 00:16:15,020of them all36700:16:15,020 –> 00:16:16,020it goes right to the heart36800:16:16,020 –> 00:16:17,020and it was the one36900:16:17,020 –> 00:16:18,020that the apostle Paul said37000:16:18,020 –> 00:16:19,020really,37100:16:19,020 –> 00:16:20,020I open him a window37200:16:20,020 –> 00:16:21,020into the true state37300:16:21,020 –> 00:16:22,020of his own heart37400:16:22,020 –> 00:16:23,020he talks about that37500:16:23,020 –> 00:16:24,020in Romans37600:16:24,020 –> 00:16:25,020in chapter seven37700:16:25,020 –> 00:16:26,020in verse seven37800:16:26,020 –> 00:16:27,020and I suggest to you37900:16:27,020 –> 00:16:28,020that that’s in all of us38000:16:28,020 –> 00:16:29,020I see it in my own heart38100:16:29,020 –> 00:16:30,020as well38200:16:30,020 –> 00:16:31,020you look at what38300:16:31,020 –> 00:16:32,020God has given38400:16:32,020 –> 00:16:33,020to others38500:16:34,020 –> 00:16:35,020their talents38600:16:36,020 –> 00:16:37,020their successes38700:16:38,020 –> 00:16:39,020their children38800:16:40,020 –> 00:16:41,020their ministries38900:16:43,020 –> 00:16:44,020a successful man39000:16:44,020 –> 00:16:45,020once came to Jesus39100:16:45,020 –> 00:16:46,020quite young39200:16:46,020 –> 00:16:47,020and already39300:16:47,020 –> 00:16:48,020he’d made it39400:16:48,020 –> 00:16:49,020into this world39500:16:49,020 –> 00:16:50,020so his mind was onto39600:16:50,020 –> 00:16:51,020hey, how am I going to39700:16:51,020 –> 00:16:52,020position myself for the next39800:16:52,020 –> 00:16:53,020so he said to Jesus39900:16:53,020 –> 00:16:54,020what must I do40000:16:54,020 –> 00:16:56,020to inherit eternal life40100:16:56,020 –> 00:16:58,020and Jesus discerned his heart40200:16:58,020 –> 00:16:59,020this man was all about himself40300:17:01,020 –> 00:17:02,020I’ve conquered earth40400:17:02,020 –> 00:17:03,020now I want to conquer heaven40500:17:04,020 –> 00:17:05,020I want it all40600:17:07,020 –> 00:17:08,020and Jesus discerned his heart40700:17:08,020 –> 00:17:09,020now he wanted it all40800:17:10,020 –> 00:17:11,020here’s what you do40900:17:13,020 –> 00:17:14,020you go and sell41000:17:14,020 –> 00:17:15,020everything you’ve got41100:17:15,020 –> 00:17:16,020and give it to the poor41200:17:16,020 –> 00:17:17,020and after that41300:17:17,020 –> 00:17:18,020why didn’t you follow me41400:17:19,020 –> 00:17:20,020and this man41500:17:20,020 –> 00:17:22,020who loved to pass himself off41600:17:22,020 –> 00:17:23,020as one who keeps the law41700:17:23,020 –> 00:17:24,020I’ve kept all the commandments41800:17:25,020 –> 00:17:26,020I love God41900:17:26,020 –> 00:17:27,020I love my neighbour42000:17:27,020 –> 00:17:28,020actually42100:17:28,020 –> 00:17:29,020he was in love with himself42200:17:31,020 –> 00:17:32,020and that one sin42300:17:32,020 –> 00:17:33,020was exposed42400:17:34,020 –> 00:17:35,020and his first reaction was42500:17:35,020 –> 00:17:36,020he went away42600:17:37,020 –> 00:17:38,020Sorrowful42700:17:39,020 –> 00:17:40,020I’ve often wonder42800:17:40,020 –> 00:17:41,020what happened to that man42900:17:42,020 –> 00:17:43,020have you ever wondered that43000:17:44,020 –> 00:17:45,020did he ever come back43100:17:45,020 –> 00:17:46,020do you think43200:17:46,020 –> 00:17:47,020will he be in heaven43300:17:48,020 –> 00:17:49,020I know this43400:17:50,020 –> 00:17:51,020Jesus opened his eyes43500:17:52,020 –> 00:17:53,020that day43600:17:54,020 –> 00:17:55,020to one sin43700:17:56,020 –> 00:17:57,020and so43800:17:57,020 –> 00:17:58,020with Matthew Henry’s43900:17:58,020 –> 00:17:59,020cleft comment44000:18:00,020 –> 00:18:01,020I’ve been wondering in my mind44100:18:01,020 –> 00:18:02,020how long was it then44200:18:03,020 –> 00:18:04,020before he saw44300:18:04,020 –> 00:18:05,020the whole confederacy44400:18:07,020 –> 00:18:08,020how long before he saw44500:18:09,020 –> 00:18:10,020you know44600:18:10,020 –> 00:18:11,020I came to Jesus44700:18:11,020 –> 00:18:12,020and I said44800:18:12,020 –> 00:18:13,020I’ve kept this44900:18:13,020 –> 00:18:14,020this, this and this commandments45000:18:14,020 –> 00:18:15,020I now see45100:18:15,020 –> 00:18:16,020that this heart is wretched45200:18:16,020 –> 00:18:17,020and that this heart45300:18:17,020 –> 00:18:19,020desperately needs45400:18:19,020 –> 00:18:20,020that savior45500:18:20,020 –> 00:18:21,020that I can go45600:18:21,020 –> 00:18:22,020and find him45700:18:23,020 –> 00:18:24,020start45800:18:24,020 –> 00:18:25,020confessing45900:18:25,020 –> 00:18:27,020that you are far from upright46000:18:27,020 –> 00:18:28,020round this table today46100:18:28,020 –> 00:18:29,020and every day46200:18:31,020 –> 00:18:32,020and as you do46300:18:32,020 –> 00:18:33,020here is the last thing46400:18:33,020 –> 00:18:34,020just briefly46500:18:34,020 –> 00:18:35,020put your hope in the one46600:18:35,020 –> 00:18:36,020who is upright46700:18:37,020 –> 00:18:38,020the one who is upright46800:18:39,020 –> 00:18:40,020that is46900:18:40,020 –> 00:18:41,020not Adam of course47000:18:41,020 –> 00:18:42,020because he was made upright47100:18:42,020 –> 00:18:43,020but he didn’t remain upright47200:18:43,020 –> 00:18:44,020he fell47300:18:44,020 –> 00:18:45,020and then all his children47400:18:45,020 –> 00:18:46,020were born47500:18:46,020 –> 00:18:47,020in sin47600:18:47,020 –> 00:18:48,020the children were born47700:18:48,020 –> 00:18:50,020where Adam landed47800:18:50,020 –> 00:18:51,020when he fell47900:18:53,020 –> 00:18:54,020and in all of human history48000:18:54,020 –> 00:18:55,020well you read through48100:18:55,020 –> 00:18:56,020the Old Testament story48200:18:56,020 –> 00:18:57,020and you look at48300:18:57,020 –> 00:18:58,020these various characters48400:18:58,020 –> 00:18:59,020and they are all disappointing48500:18:59,020 –> 00:19:00,020in one way or another48600:19:01,020 –> 00:19:02,020until48700:19:03,020 –> 00:19:04,020having had all these generations48800:19:04,020 –> 00:19:05,020arising from48900:19:05,020 –> 00:19:06,020the human race49000:19:06,020 –> 00:19:07,020the one comes49100:19:07,020 –> 00:19:08,020to the human race49200:19:08,020 –> 00:19:10,020and he is the Son of God49300:19:10,020 –> 00:19:11,020and he takes our flesh49400:19:11,020 –> 00:19:12,020and he lives this49500:19:12,020 –> 00:19:13,020perfect life49600:19:13,020 –> 00:19:14,020perfect life49700:19:14,020 –> 00:19:15,020the only49800:19:15,020 –> 00:19:16,020perfect human life49900:19:16,020 –> 00:19:17,020that has ever been lived50000:19:18,020 –> 00:19:20,020and then he lays it down50100:19:20,020 –> 00:19:21,020as a sacrifice50200:19:21,020 –> 00:19:22,020for the sins of others50300:19:23,020 –> 00:19:24,020he offers this50400:19:28,020 –> 00:19:29,020as a gift that can then50500:19:29,020 –> 00:19:30,020be transferred to50600:19:30,020 –> 00:19:31,020those who are in him50700:19:32,020 –> 00:19:33,020which is why50800:19:33,020 –> 00:19:34,020the New Testament50900:19:34,020 –> 00:19:35,020says that Jesus Christ51000:19:35,020 –> 00:19:37,020is our righteousness51100:19:38,020 –> 00:19:39,020after years51200:19:39,020 –> 00:19:40,020of living the Christian life51300:19:40,020 –> 00:19:42,020I have not been able51400:19:42,020 –> 00:19:43,020to develop51500:19:44,020 –> 00:19:45,020a righteousness51600:19:45,020 –> 00:19:46,020with which I could51700:19:46,020 –> 00:19:47,020stand before God51800:19:47,020 –> 00:19:48,020and neither have you51900:19:48,020 –> 00:19:49,020no one ever has52000:19:49,020 –> 00:19:50,020Christ is our righteousness52100:19:51,020 –> 00:19:52,020we look to him52200:19:52,020 –> 00:19:54,020for what we do not have52300:19:54,020 –> 00:19:55,020and cannot work up52400:19:55,020 –> 00:19:56,020within ourselves52500:19:59,020 –> 00:20:00,020so it is that52600:20:00,020 –> 00:20:01,020the Apostle Paul says52700:20:02,020 –> 00:20:03,020I want to be found52800:20:04,020 –> 00:20:05,020in Christ52900:20:08,020 –> 00:20:09,020and I’m not looking53000:20:09,020 –> 00:20:10,020to stand before God53100:20:11,020 –> 00:20:12,020with a righteousness53200:20:12,020 –> 00:20:13,020that comes from the law53300:20:13,020 –> 00:20:15,020I don’t want to stand before God53400:20:15,020 –> 00:20:16,020on the last day53500:20:16,020 –> 00:20:17,020saying look at this53600:20:17,020 –> 00:20:18,020Christian life53700:20:18,020 –> 00:20:19,020and all the effort53800:20:19,020 –> 00:20:20,020I’ve made53900:20:20,020 –> 00:20:21,020and all these things54000:20:21,020 –> 00:20:22,020I’ve done for you54100:20:22,020 –> 00:20:23,020that would be completely54200:20:23,020 –> 00:20:24,020hopeless because I’m54300:20:24,020 –> 00:20:25,020so far from upright54400:20:26,020 –> 00:20:27,020so I don’t want to54500:20:27,020 –> 00:20:28,020stand with a righteousness54600:20:28,020 –> 00:20:29,020that comes from the law54700:20:30,020 –> 00:20:31,020I want to be found54800:20:31,020 –> 00:20:32,020in Christ54900:20:32,020 –> 00:20:33,020and to have55000:20:33,020 –> 00:20:34,020the righteousness55100:20:34,020 –> 00:20:35,020that comes from God55200:20:35,020 –> 00:20:36,020and is by faith in him55300:20:37,020 –> 00:20:40,020and if you think55400:20:40,020 –> 00:20:41,020of it this way55500:20:41,020 –> 00:20:42,020in this very last moment55600:20:42,020 –> 00:20:43,020the Lord Jesus Christ55700:20:43,020 –> 00:20:44,020comes to you today55800:20:46,020 –> 00:20:48,020and he offers himself55900:20:48,020 –> 00:20:49,020to you56000:20:49,020 –> 00:20:50,020this is the beauty56100:20:50,020 –> 00:20:51,020of gathering around the table56200:20:52,020 –> 00:20:53,020this Christ crucified56300:20:53,020 –> 00:20:54,020and risen56400:20:54,020 –> 00:20:55,020offers himself to us56500:20:56,020 –> 00:20:57,020and he says come56600:20:58,020 –> 00:20:59,020come to me56700:20:59,020 –> 00:21:00,020in faith and repentance56800:21:01,020 –> 00:21:02,020and let me drape56900:21:02,020 –> 00:21:03,020my righteousness57000:21:04,020 –> 00:21:05,020around you57100:21:06,020 –> 00:21:07,020and he invites you57200:21:07,020 –> 00:21:08,020to draw near to the father57300:21:09,020 –> 00:21:10,020not with your head57400:21:10,020 –> 00:21:11,020hanging in shame57500:21:12,020 –> 00:21:13,020but knowing how far57600:21:13,020 –> 00:21:14,020you are from57700:21:14,020 –> 00:21:15,020being upright57800:21:16,020 –> 00:21:17,020with a humble57900:21:17,020 –> 00:21:18,020and a thankful heart58000:21:19,020 –> 00:21:20,020saying, Father58100:21:21,020 –> 00:21:22,020thank you that I stand58200:21:22,020 –> 00:21:23,020before you58300:21:23,020 –> 00:21:25,020as a justified sinner58400:21:27,020 –> 00:21:28,020reconciled to you58500:21:28,020 –> 00:21:29,020through your son58600:21:29,020 –> 00:21:30,020Jesus Christ58700:21:31,020 –> 00:21:32,020and all my good58800:21:33,020 –> 00:21:34,020is in him58900:21:36,020 –> 00:21:38,020when Christ shall come59000:21:39,020 –> 00:21:41,020with trumpet sound59100:21:42,020 –> 00:21:43,020oh may I then59200:21:43,020 –> 00:21:45,020in him be found59300:21:46,020 –> 00:21:47,020dressed in59400:21:47,020 –> 00:21:50,020his righteousness alone59500:21:51,020 –> 00:21:52,020and therefore59600:21:52,020 –> 00:21:53,020faultless to stand59700:21:54,020 –> 00:21:55,020before his throne59800:21:57,020 –> 00:21:58,020on Christ59900:21:58,020 –> 00:21:59,020the solid rock60000:21:59,020 –> 00:22:00,020say it with me60100:22:01,020 –> 00:22:02,020I stand60200:22:02,020 –> 00:22:03,020because all60300:22:03,020 –> 00:22:04,020other60400:22:04,020 –> 00:22:05,020ground60500:22:05,020 –> 00:22:06,020is60600:22:06,020 –> 00:22:07,020sinking60700:22:07,020 –> 00:22:08,020sand60800:22:09,020 –> 00:22:11,020you’ve been listening to Open the Bible60900:22:11,020 –> 00:22:12,020with pastor Colin Smith61000:22:12,020 –> 00:22:13,020and a message called61100:22:13,020 –> 00:22:15,020the life you never knew61200:22:15,020 –> 00:22:16,020it’s part of our series61300:22:16,020 –> 00:22:19,020the inside story of human life61400:22:19,020 –> 00:22:20,020why the world is61500:22:20,020 –> 00:22:21,020the way it is61600:22:22,020 –> 00:22:23,020Well Colin61700:22:23,020 –> 00:22:24,020what would you say to the person who61800:22:24,020 –> 00:22:25,020says61900:22:25,020 –> 00:22:26,020I’m not really sure that62000:22:26,020 –> 00:22:28,020God did create Adam and Eve62100:22:29,020 –> 00:22:30,020Well, I’d say this62200:22:30,020 –> 00:22:31,020that the doctrine of God62300:22:31,020 –> 00:22:32,020being the creator62400:22:32,020 –> 00:22:34,020is of huge importance62500:22:34,020 –> 00:22:35,020huge importance that he created62600:22:35,020 –> 00:22:36,020Adam and Eve62700:22:36,020 –> 00:22:37,020and of huge importance62800:22:37,020 –> 00:22:39,020that he created you and me62900:22:39,020 –> 00:22:41,020and here is why it is so important63000:22:41,020 –> 00:22:45,020if you were created by God63100:22:45,020 –> 00:22:47,020then you belong to him63200:22:47,020 –> 00:22:49,020you are owned by him63300:22:49,020 –> 00:22:51,020you are loved by him63400:22:51,020 –> 00:22:54,020you are the work of his hands63500:22:54,020 –> 00:22:56,020and your life has meaning and purpose63600:22:56,020 –> 00:22:58,020if you were not created by God63700:22:58,020 –> 00:22:59,020then who are you?63800:22:59,020 –> 00:23:01,020you are an accident of history63900:23:02,020 –> 00:23:04,020and.. it is the most dignifying64000:23:04,020 –> 00:23:05,020and hope filled64100:23:05,020 –> 00:23:07,020and wonderful truth in the Bible64200:23:07,020 –> 00:23:08,020to discover64300:23:08,020 –> 00:23:10,020I am created by God64400:23:10,020 –> 00:23:11,020and not only that64500:23:11,020 –> 00:23:13,020but as his creation64600:23:13,020 –> 00:23:14,020he has loved me64700:23:14,020 –> 00:23:16,020and he has sent his son for me64800:23:16,020 –> 00:23:18,020that’s grace64900:23:18,020 –> 00:23:19,020that’s love65000:23:19,020 –> 00:23:21,020and it flows out of the very beginning65100:23:21,020 –> 00:23:22,020of the Bible65200:23:22,020 –> 00:23:23,020and I think it is a tragedy65300:23:23,020 –> 00:23:25,020to lose sight of this truth65400:23:25,020 –> 00:23:26,020or to jettison it65500:23:26,020 –> 00:23:27,020because it is foundational65600:23:27,020 –> 00:23:28,020to what we most needs to know65700:23:28,020 –> 00:23:29,020about ourselves65800:23:29,020 –> 00:23:30,020who are you?65900:23:30,020 –> 00:23:31,020it is God’s creation66000:23:31,020 –> 00:23:33,020when you look at the two options66100:23:33,020 –> 00:23:34,020one leads to futility66200:23:34,020 –> 00:23:35,020as you say66300:23:35,020 –> 00:23:36,020when..66400:23:36,020 –> 00:23:36,02066500:23:36,020 –> 00:23:38,020of history66600:23:38,020 –> 00:23:39,020we may feel66700:23:39,020 –> 00:23:40,020that we are in charge66800:23:40,020 –> 00:23:41,020of our lives66900:23:41,020 –> 00:23:42,020but ultimately67000:23:42,020 –> 00:23:43,020there is no67100:23:43,020 –> 00:23:44,020purpose and no hope67200:23:44,020 –> 00:23:45,020but if we acknowledge67300:23:45,020 –> 00:23:46,020that we belong67400:23:46,020 –> 00:23:47,020to God67500:23:47,020 –> 00:23:48,020there is a purpose67600:23:48,020 –> 00:23:49,020and a hope67700:23:49,020 –> 00:23:50,020yea, that’s right67800:23:50,020 –> 00:23:51,020and not only in this world67900:23:51,020 –> 00:23:52,020but we are thinking68000:23:52,020 –> 00:23:53,020in this series68100:23:53,020 –> 00:23:54,020beyond68200:23:54,020 –> 00:23:55,020this world68300:23:55,020 –> 00:23:56,020as well68400:23:56,020 –> 00:23:57,020we have been talking68500:23:57,020 –> 00:23:58,020the title is68600:23:59,020 –> 00:24:00,020none of us have lived68700:24:00,020 –> 00:24:01,020in paradise68800:24:01,020 –> 00:24:02,020but the promise68900:24:02,020 –> 00:24:03,020of the gospel69000:24:03,020 –> 00:24:04,020is a life69100:24:04,020 –> 00:24:05,020that is69200:24:05,020 –> 00:24:06,020better69300:24:06,020 –> 00:24:07,020than paradise69400:24:07,020 –> 00:24:08,020not just paradise69500:24:08,020 –> 00:24:09,020restored69600:24:09,020 –> 00:24:10,020but something better69700:24:10,020 –> 00:24:11,020better than Adam69800:24:11,020 –> 00:24:11,02069900:24:11,020 –> 00:24:12,020ever knew70000:24:12,020 –> 00:24:13,020is what lies70100:24:13,020 –> 00:24:14,020ahead for those70200:24:14,020 –> 00:24:15,020who were redeemed70300:24:15,020 –> 00:24:16,020in Jesus Christ70400:24:16,020 –> 00:24:17,020and that’s70500:24:17,020 –> 00:24:18,020our amazing hope70600:24:18,020 –> 00:24:19,020and that’s70700:24:19,020 –> 00:24:20,020what this series70800:24:20,020 –> 00:24:21,020is all about70900:24:21,020 –> 00:24:22,020if you ever71000:24:22,020 –> 00:24:23,020miss one of the71100:24:23,020 –> 00:24:24,020messages in the series71200:24:24,020 –> 00:24:25,020don’t forget71300:24:25,020 –> 00:24:26,020you can easily71400:24:26,020 –> 00:24:27,020catch up71500:24:27,020 –> 00:24:28,020with us71600:24:28,020 –> 00:24:29,020on71700:24:29,020 –> 00:24:30,020openthebible.org.uk71800:24:30,020 –> 00:24:31,020also find us as a podcast71900:24:31,020 –> 00:24:32,020all the messages72000:24:32,020 –> 00:24:33,099which have already been72100:24:33,099 –> 00:24:34,099broadcast are72200:24:34,099 –> 00:24:35,099put up on all72300:24:35,099 –> 00:24:36,099the podcast72400:24:36,099 –> 00:24:37,099sites so you can72500:24:37,099 –> 00:24:38,099find them there72600:24:38,099 –> 00:24:39,099by searching72700:24:39,099 –> 00:24:40,099for72800:24:40,099 –> 00:24:41,099Open The Bible72900:24:41,099 –> 00:24:42,099UK73000:24:42,099 –> 00:24:43,099well we’ve73100:24:43,099 –> 00:24:44,099come to the end73200:24:44,099 –> 00:24:45,099of today’s73300:24:45,099 –> 00:24:46,099broadcast73400:24:46,099 –> 00:24:47,099and it’s just73500:24:47,099 –> 00:24:48,099to remind you73600:24:48,099 –> 00:24:49,099that we always73700:24:49,099 –> 00:24:50,099value contact73800:24:50,099 –> 00:24:51,099with our73900:24:51,099 –> 00:24:52,099listeners74000:24:52,099 –> 00:24:53,099so if you’d74100:24:53,099 –> 00:24:54,099like to74200:24:54,099 –> 00:24:55,099get in touch74300:24:55,099 –> 00:24:56,099with us74400:25:26,540 –> 00:25:27,540find out what that74500:25:27,540 –> 00:25:28,540means74600:25:28,540 –> 00:25:29,540next time on74700:25:29,540 –> 00:25:30,540Open The Bible