100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:09,060This may describe the highest thing that can happen in the life of a Christian Believer200:00:09,060 –> 00:00:15,820in this world. To be controlled by the love of Christ. Energised by the love of Christ.300:00:15,820 –> 00:00:22,620How could I know more of what it is to be controlled by the Love of Christ. Energised,400:00:22,620 –> 00:00:27,840motivated, directed by the love of Christ in my life.500:00:28,559 –> 00:00:32,840Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick and Colin, anyone600:00:32,840 –> 00:00:37,400who’s been a Christian for a while, might be asking just that question. After the initial700:00:37,400 –> 00:00:43,639excitement of finding Christ, it might wane a little and you want it back. How is it possible800:00:43,639 –> 00:00:45,240to feel that again?900:00:45,240 –> 00:00:50,919Yeah, and this raises a huge question, which is, how do we get access to the heart? How1000:00:50,919 –> 00:00:56,720do I change what I feel? What’s the connection between the mind and the heart. You know,1100:00:56,799 –> 00:01:00,880people who say, well, you know, I’ve got it all in my head but I can’t get it down into1200:01:00,880 –> 00:01:05,860my heart, so how am I going to be filled in my heart with the knowledge of the love of1300:01:05,860 –> 00:01:06,599Christ?1400:01:06,599 –> 00:01:11,720And we’re going to come to a principle that I think is of huge importance today. That1500:01:11,720 –> 00:01:18,720whatever grips the mind in the end fills the heart. I want to make the case for that from1600:01:19,000 –> 00:01:25,440the Bible. Once a person understands that it makes a huge difference to the path that1700:01:25,519 –> 00:01:31,360we pursue to the filling and the shaping of the heart. Wonderful hope today to be filled1800:01:31,360 –> 00:01:32,339with the love of Christ.1900:01:32,339 –> 00:01:39,339Well, we find this in 2 Corinthians in chapter 5 and in verse 14 today as we begin a message2000:01:39,419 –> 00:01:42,760the love of Christ. Here’s Colin.2100:01:42,760 –> 00:01:49,760The love of Christ controls us. Now this is an amazing and a marvelous statement that2200:01:50,480 –> 00:01:53,199I want us to tune into at the beginning today.2300:01:53,199 –> 00:02:00,199So, here’s what I want to do. I want to give you 5 words that describe possible relationship2400:02:00,959 –> 00:02:03,760that you may have with the love of Christ.2500:02:03,760 –> 00:02:07,919And I’m not gonna ask everyone to stand or have a show of hands or whatever but I want2600:02:07,919 –> 00:02:14,919you to mark your own card as it were to check whether you think these would describe your2700:02:15,679 –> 00:02:18,380relationship with the love of Christ.2800:02:18,380 –> 00:02:23,440With the love of Christ, and I’m going to give you these 5 words. They are an ascending2900:02:23,440 –> 00:02:28,779scale so that each one is deeper richer and fuller than those that went before.3000:02:28,779 –> 00:02:35,720Now here’s the first, HEARD. I think everyone can check that box. We’ve all HEARD of the3100:02:35,720 –> 00:02:38,619love of Jesus Christ. Check.3200:02:38,619 –> 00:02:43,220Many of you have HEARD that Jesus loves you since you were very very young, and even if3300:02:43,220 –> 00:02:46,880you know almost nothing about Christianity, you cannot read the Bible for long or be in3400:02:46,979 –> 00:02:51,960a church like this for long without hearing about the love of Christ, so there you go.3500:02:51,960 –> 00:02:53,339Pretty easy one to check.3600:02:53,339 –> 00:02:56,179Here’s number two, ASCENDING SCALE.3700:02:56,179 –> 00:03:02,559BELIEVED – Now, most of us will put a checkmark against this, you BELIEVE that Jesus Christ3800:03:02,559 –> 00:03:08,479loves you. You perhaps look back to a time where you came to believe this and you say3900:03:08,479 –> 00:03:11,220yes, I certainly believe that, that is the case.4000:03:11,220 –> 00:03:13,779Here’s number three, RECEIVED.4100:03:13,779 –> 00:03:17,660Many of us will put a check against this box, also.4200:03:17,660 –> 00:03:22,660The love of Christ, you would say, is more than something that’s out there for me – more4300:03:22,660 –> 00:03:27,919even than something that I believe in, it’s something I’ve come to receive and to experience.4400:03:27,919 –> 00:03:34,080Romans 5.5 – The love of God has been poured out into my heart by the Holy Spirit.4500:03:34,080 –> 00:03:39,460Here’s the next one, number four, FILLED – pen sort of hovering over this little4600:03:40,059 –> 00:03:41,059check against this box.4700:03:41,059 –> 00:03:45,240Would you say that you are filled with the love of Christ?4800:03:45,240 –> 00:03:49,860Paul prays that Christian believers would know this more and more, that we would know4900:03:49,860 –> 00:03:54,100the breadth and length, and depth and height of the love of Christ and be filled to the5000:03:54,100 –> 00:03:56,960measure of all the fullness of God.5100:03:56,960 –> 00:04:03,119How marvellous would this be – to relate to the love of Christ in such a way that your5200:04:03,119 –> 00:04:06,979empty tank is filled up by the love of Christ.5300:04:06,979 –> 00:04:12,100Now, these words are going on an ascended scale, and I’m giving you them, so that you5400:04:12,100 –> 00:04:18,220will see just how remarkable what Paul says in our verse today really is, because verse5500:04:18,220 –> 00:04:22,100number 5, the top of the scale is controlled.5600:04:22,100 –> 00:04:26,820The love of Christ controls us.5700:04:26,820 –> 00:04:29,359What would it mean to be controlled by the love of Christ?5800:04:29,779 –> 00:04:36,519would it mean to be energized, to be moved into action, to be directed by the love of5900:04:36,519 –> 00:04:37,519Jesus Christ?6000:04:37,519 –> 00:04:39,459That’s more even than being filled.6100:04:39,459 –> 00:04:43,559You could be filled with the love of Christ, and simply be enjoying this love.6200:04:43,559 –> 00:04:48,660To be controlled by the love of Christ means that this love not only comes to you and fills6300:04:48,660 –> 00:04:53,619you up, but it’s actually coming through you and directly you and moving you out in to6400:04:53,619 –> 00:04:56,359touch the lives of others.6500:04:56,359 –> 00:05:01,119So I want simply then to draw your attention to the fact we’re looking at something absolutely6600:05:01,119 –> 00:05:02,559wonderful here today.6700:05:02,640 –> 00:05:08,200In fact, I’d suggest to you that this may describe the highest thing that can happen6800:05:08,200 –> 00:05:16,119in the life of a Christian believer in this world to be controlled by the love of Christ,6900:05:16,119 –> 00:05:18,440energized by the love of Christ day-by-day.7000:05:18,440 –> 00:05:20,959How marvelous would that be.7100:05:20,959 –> 00:05:25,220Now if you’ve got your mind tuned into that at all and you’re going to be asking this7200:05:25,220 –> 00:05:27,040question, well how is that possible?7300:05:27,040 –> 00:05:33,359How could I know more of what it is to be controlled by the love of Christ, energized,7400:05:33,359 –> 00:05:38,859motivated, directed by the love of Christ in my life?7500:05:38,859 –> 00:05:45,359Well, the answer to that question is given to us directly in the verses that are before7600:05:45,359 –> 00:05:46,359us today.7700:05:46,359 –> 00:05:50,239So, I hope you’re tuned in as to why this is now so important.7800:05:50,239 –> 00:05:51,859Look at what he says.7900:05:51,859 –> 00:05:59,559The love of Christ controls us because, he’s going to tell us how.8000:05:59,559 –> 00:06:02,399That’s always the big question, isn’t it?8100:06:02,399 –> 00:06:04,799How can I be filled with the love of Christ?8200:06:04,799 –> 00:06:09,320How can the love of Christ be more to me than something I’ve heard or believed?8300:06:09,320 –> 00:06:12,320How can I be moved, energized, by the love of Christ?8400:06:12,320 –> 00:06:19,239Now, you might like to reflect a little bit on the many answers that are given to this8500:06:19,239 –> 00:06:20,239question.8600:06:20,239 –> 00:06:21,720How can I know more of the love of Christ?8700:06:21,859 –> 00:06:23,239Because there’s all kinds of answers out there.8800:06:23,239 –> 00:06:27,079You know, I rededicated my life, I had more faith, I became more disciplined.8900:06:27,079 –> 00:06:32,739Make a list of all the things that would come to your mind, all the things that are said,9000:06:32,739 –> 00:06:42,239and then come back to the Bible and what the apostle Paul says here, it will blow you away.9100:06:42,239 –> 00:06:43,239It will blow you away.9200:06:44,059 –> 00:06:45,959Look at what he says, verse 14.9300:07:01,239 –> 00:07:10,980Now he goes on, as we’ll see in a moment, to state two settled convictions about what9400:07:11,320 –> 00:07:18,279happened through the death of Jesus Christ, and what he’s saying is that the settled convictions9500:07:18,279 –> 00:07:25,459that become active in his mind are the kind of fountain out of which this growing joy9600:07:25,459 –> 00:07:31,380in and motivation by the love of Christ actually comes to happen.9700:07:31,380 –> 00:07:36,619Now, we’re going to see what these two convictions are, so that they may become settled in our9800:07:37,260 –> 00:07:40,859may be more and more controlled by the love of Christ.9900:07:40,859 –> 00:07:45,459But just before we get there, I do want to pause here for a moment because this is telling10000:07:45,459 –> 00:07:51,119us something very important about how the head and the heart are connected.10100:07:51,119 –> 00:07:55,059We are controlled by the love of Christ, because we have concluded.10200:07:55,059 –> 00:07:57,500Heart and head are clearly joined there.10300:07:57,500 –> 00:08:01,459Now, many Christians are really confused about this.10400:08:02,100 –> 00:08:07,920I tell you, I really wish that I had a dollar for every time someone has said in the last10500:08:07,920 –> 00:08:15,89935 years that I’ve been a pastor has said, well, I believed it in my head, but it didn’t10600:08:15,899 –> 00:08:18,220get down to my heart.10700:08:18,220 –> 00:08:25,820Many may have said that, and we’re confused about how the head and the heart are actually10800:08:25,820 –> 00:08:26,820related.10900:08:26,820 –> 00:08:31,459You hear this phrase, the longest 18 inches in the world are between the head and how11000:08:31,459 –> 00:08:34,260are your head and your heart connected?11100:08:34,260 –> 00:08:39,119Paul is speaking about this directly here in these verses that are right in front of11200:08:39,119 –> 00:08:40,260us here today.11300:08:40,260 –> 00:08:46,940By the way, here’s what I’ve found over the years, repeatedly, as this comment often11400:08:46,940 –> 00:08:50,380comes up, I believed it in my head but not in my heart.11500:08:50,440 –> 00:08:58,380When the love of Christ is missing in the heart, the settled convictions that Paul speaks11600:08:58,380 –> 00:09:02,500about here are usually missing from the mind.11700:09:02,500 –> 00:09:07,380And conversely, when the settled convictions that Paul speaks about here are active in11800:09:07,380 –> 00:09:13,299the mind, usually the knowledge of the love of Christ is present in the heart, in other11900:09:13,299 –> 00:09:16,119words, these two go together.12000:09:16,159 –> 00:09:23,000And here’s the principle to get hold of, whatever grips your mind controls your heart.12100:09:23,000 –> 00:09:24,000That’s how it works.12200:09:24,000 –> 00:09:25,960That’s how you’re made.12300:09:25,960 –> 00:09:31,080Whatever grips the mind controls the heart.12400:09:31,080 –> 00:09:36,960And that is why in Romans 12, one Paul says you’re to be transformed by the renewing of12500:09:36,960 –> 00:09:43,239your mind, that’s where it begins, that’s the fountain from which the heart is changed.12600:09:43,900 –> 00:09:48,760Always remember your heart is more a follower than a leader.12700:09:48,760 –> 00:09:55,099Your heart rarely leads the way, your heart follows, and your heart follows in the12800:09:55,099 –> 00:10:00,359direction that is shaped by core convictions that exist in your mind.12900:10:00,359 –> 00:10:02,820Change the mind and the heart then is changed.13000:10:02,820 –> 00:10:08,000This is why on the road to Emmaus, do you remember, Jesus opened the Scriptures and13100:10:08,000 –> 00:10:13,080he teaches them about himself, then as a result, their hearts are strangely warmed within them.13200:10:13,219 –> 00:10:14,780That’s how it works.13300:10:14,780 –> 00:10:16,500Heart’s not the leader.13400:10:16,500 –> 00:10:17,840Heart is the follower.13500:10:17,840 –> 00:10:18,840That’s why Jesus says,13600:10:18,840 –> 00:10:22,419where in your treasure it is there your heart will be also.13700:10:22,419 –> 00:10:24,700Heart’s always following.13800:10:24,700 –> 00:10:29,679So here’s something that is very important, wherever you find an impulse or a desire within13900:10:29,679 –> 00:10:34,380your heart, it’s always good to ask, why is that there?14000:10:34,380 –> 00:10:40,859And if you ask that question, you will soon be pointed to what conviction in the mind14100:10:40,859 –> 00:10:45,299would give rise to this in the heart.14200:10:45,299 –> 00:10:51,580Because a false belief always lies behind every misdirected affection.14300:10:51,580 –> 00:10:56,539And so if you trace the affections of your heart back to the source in the mind, you14400:10:56,539 –> 00:11:02,080will find some conviction in the mind that relates to a particular belief about what14500:11:02,080 –> 00:11:07,179will make you happy and the heart is following after that.14600:11:07,179 –> 00:11:08,559So that sounds a little theoretical.14700:11:08,559 –> 00:11:14,760Let me give you a quote from someone who wrote to me from the congregation this week.14800:11:14,760 –> 00:11:19,000And here’s what this lady very honestly says this week.14900:11:19,000 –> 00:11:23,380Quote, when I was growing up, I thought.15000:11:23,380 –> 00:11:30,900So here we are, that each stage would bring me more worth.15100:11:30,900 –> 00:11:35,559When I get this husband, then I will feel loved.15200:11:35,559 –> 00:11:41,719When I finally have kids, then I will be important.15300:11:41,719 –> 00:11:50,559I got all of these things, the husband, the kids and the good job, and you know what?15400:11:50,559 –> 00:11:53,859I am still a mess.15500:11:53,859 –> 00:11:56,640So you see what this lady is saying?15600:11:56,640 –> 00:11:59,239And it’s very honest.15700:11:59,239 –> 00:12:04,320My heart was set on the husband, the kids and the job, and here’s why.15800:12:04,580 –> 00:12:06,539Because there was a deep and settled conviction in the mind.15900:12:06,539 –> 00:12:12,659I thought, that’s her words, I thought that this would be what would give me more worth,16000:12:12,659 –> 00:12:14,960that this would be the thing that would make me more important.16100:12:14,960 –> 00:12:16,059Do you see what grips?16200:12:16,059 –> 00:12:20,659The mind controls the heart.16300:12:20,659 –> 00:12:25,520Because your heart is a follower not a leader.16400:12:25,520 –> 00:12:30,260That’s very important to understand how we’re made, so that we can understand how it is16500:12:30,260 –> 00:12:34,799that we’re changed, which is why the reshaping of the mind through the Word of God is so16600:12:34,799 –> 00:12:37,739important in the life of a Christian.16700:12:37,739 –> 00:12:39,760The love of Christ controls us, how?16800:12:39,760 –> 00:12:45,820Because we have concluded, certain things have come to reshape the mind and that is16900:12:45,820 –> 00:12:50,000what has brought a change in the heart, that’s what he’s saying.17000:12:50,000 –> 00:12:53,599You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called The Love17100:12:53,599 –> 00:12:58,919of Christ and we’re pausing the message just briefly, it’s part of our series called Don’t17200:12:58,919 –> 00:13:03,859Lose Heart, based on II Corinthians chapter 5, and if you’ve missed any of the series17300:13:03,859 –> 00:13:08,700or if you do in the future it’s very easy to catch up, or go back and listen again.17400:13:08,700 –> 00:13:14,559Just come online to our website openthebible.org.uk and there you’ll find all of the messages17500:13:14,559 –> 00:13:18,919which have already been broadcast, and if it’s easier for you, you can also find them17600:13:18,919 –> 00:13:25,099as a podcast and those are on all the podcast sites, search for Open The Bible UK or follow17700:13:25,099 –> 00:13:27,479the link from our website.17800:13:27,520 –> 00:13:32,479Back to the message now, we’re in II Corinthians and chapter 5 verse 14 today,17900:13:32,479 –> 00:13:34,760and here again is Colin.18000:13:34,760 –> 00:13:37,440Now let’s get back then to what these things are.18100:13:37,440 –> 00:13:41,440The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded.18200:13:41,440 –> 00:13:49,359Okay, Paul, what did you conclude that reshaped the mind and therefore refired the heart?18300:13:49,619 –> 00:13:53,460Number one, how Jesus changes death.18400:13:53,460 –> 00:13:57,140And number two, how Jesus changes life.18500:13:57,140 –> 00:14:00,719These are the two things that are before us today.18600:14:00,719 –> 00:14:04,299Now look at the first, how Jesus changes death.18700:14:04,299 –> 00:14:15,239We have concluded this, that one has died for all and therefore all have died.18800:14:15,260 –> 00:14:19,119Now, to understand the change that Jesus has brought to death,18900:14:19,119 –> 00:14:21,440which is what he’s speaking about here,19000:14:21,440 –> 00:14:29,500it’s important to remember that death can be, will be, for every person, one of two things.19100:14:29,500 –> 00:14:36,479Either it will be a passing into condemnation, or it will be an entering into celebration.19200:14:36,479 –> 00:14:38,140It will always be one or the other.19300:14:38,140 –> 00:14:44,440For every person, it cannot ever be both, and these two are incomparably different.19400:14:44,440 –> 00:14:48,640Now, it is almost impossible for us to imagine because it’s so far from our experience19500:14:48,640 –> 00:14:54,799what it would be to enter into condemnation or what it would be to enter into celebration,19600:14:54,799 –> 00:15:00,760that we really need the word of God to give us some framework as to what these things would be like.19700:15:00,760 –> 00:15:04,179And so I’m going to paint two pictures for you,19800:15:04,179 –> 00:15:09,039and I want you to try and compose them in your mind, this is an imagination moment.19900:15:09,039 –> 00:15:12,039I want you to paint a picture in your own mind20000:15:12,039 –> 00:15:15,000as I describe these words from the Bible.20100:15:15,000 –> 00:15:19,299The first is the description of what it would be like to pass into condemnation.20200:15:19,299 –> 00:15:25,020And I’m taking that from Exodus, chapter 19, Exodus chapter 19.20300:15:25,020 –> 00:15:29,320This tells us the story of when God came down to Mount Sinai.20400:15:29,320 –> 00:15:32,820And it’s significant in the Bible because this was an event that took place20500:15:32,820 –> 00:15:40,700before God had given all of the sacrifices that pointed forward to Jesus Christ.20600:15:40,840 –> 00:15:44,859In Exodus 19 and verse 12, God says in preparation for this,20700:15:44,859 –> 00:15:49,539set limits around the mountain.20800:15:49,539 –> 00:15:54,299Barriers, really, so that the people don’t come too close,20900:15:54,299 –> 00:15:59,280because the appearing of the Lord is going to be so awesome and so terrifying.21000:15:59,280 –> 00:16:02,679And if anyone even touches the mountain on which God will come,21100:16:02,679 –> 00:16:04,500he’s only going to come to the top.21200:16:04,500 –> 00:16:09,700But if you even touch the bottom, then such a person will surely die.21300:16:10,080 –> 00:16:12,520Now, imagine, then, a million people,21400:16:12,520 –> 00:16:17,400and they’re beyond barriers at a distance from the bottom of the mountain21500:16:17,400 –> 00:16:19,580onto which the presence of God is going to come.21600:16:19,580 –> 00:16:22,979And now, here’s the picture that I want you to compose in your mind.21700:16:22,979 –> 00:16:27,179On the morning of the third day, Exodus 19, verse 16,21800:16:27,179 –> 00:16:30,739there were thunders and lightnings.21900:16:30,739 –> 00:16:37,840And there’s a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.22000:16:38,039 –> 00:16:41,280And then it says all the people in the camp trembled.22100:16:41,280 –> 00:16:45,359All the people, about a million of them.22200:16:45,359 –> 00:16:47,000And there wasn’t a single one who was saying,22300:16:47,000 –> 00:16:50,159hey, I’m not very impressed so far.22400:16:50,159 –> 00:16:53,559Nobody was saying, I don’t believe.22500:16:53,559 –> 00:16:57,820The presence of God was about to come down.22600:16:57,820 –> 00:17:02,840And just the anticipation of it as heaven had sort of opened.22700:17:03,059 –> 00:17:05,920Every person, the entire community,22800:17:05,920 –> 00:17:09,119everyone is trembling with fear.22900:17:10,140 –> 00:17:11,900Then we’re told that there was fire23000:17:11,900 –> 00:17:13,819and there was smoke on the mountain.23100:17:13,819 –> 00:17:15,459And then the next thing we’re told23200:17:15,459 –> 00:17:18,140is that the whole mountain itself trembled.23300:17:18,140 –> 00:17:20,300So now there’s thunder, there’s lightning,23400:17:20,300 –> 00:17:22,099there’s this piercing sound.23500:17:22,099 –> 00:17:23,900There’s all a million people around the bottom23600:17:23,900 –> 00:17:24,920and they’re trembling.23700:17:24,920 –> 00:17:28,300Now there’s smoke and fire and the mountain itself,23800:17:28,300 –> 00:17:31,959think of it an earthquake coming into the middle of this.23900:17:33,079 –> 00:17:34,819And the mountain itself is moving24000:17:34,819 –> 00:17:37,839and then we’re told the Lord came down24100:17:37,839 –> 00:17:40,780to Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain.24200:17:42,560 –> 00:17:46,160You see why the Bible says it is a fearful thing24300:17:46,160 –> 00:17:49,439to fall into the hands of the living God.24400:17:51,339 –> 00:17:53,520For a sinner without the sacrifice24500:17:53,520 –> 00:17:55,280that is offered by Jesus Christ24600:17:55,280 –> 00:17:57,420to come anywhere close to God,24700:17:59,119 –> 00:18:01,479is absolutely terrifying.24800:18:03,839 –> 00:18:04,780And that’s what death does,24900:18:04,780 –> 00:18:06,780it brings you into the presence of God.25000:18:08,199 –> 00:18:09,640And why would this be in the Bible25100:18:09,640 –> 00:18:10,880is to teach these people then25200:18:10,880 –> 00:18:12,400and to teach us people now25300:18:13,920 –> 00:18:16,920the sheer terror of standing in the presence25400:18:16,920 –> 00:18:19,400or anywhere close to a holy God,25500:18:19,400 –> 00:18:21,479even Moses was shaking with fear,25600:18:21,479 –> 00:18:23,300if Moses was shaking with fear,25700:18:24,640 –> 00:18:27,160then where would that leave the rest of us?25800:18:27,160 –> 00:18:28,319How grateful he must have been25900:18:28,319 –> 00:18:30,300when God told him about the sacrifices26000:18:30,300 –> 00:18:31,640that pointed to Jesus.26100:18:33,300 –> 00:18:34,839And then let me give you another picture26200:18:34,839 –> 00:18:36,780that’s completely and utterly different26300:18:36,780 –> 00:18:39,800and this one’s from Hebrews and chapter 12.26400:18:39,800 –> 00:18:41,500What’s significant here26500:18:41,500 –> 00:18:42,900is that the whole book of Hebrews26600:18:42,900 –> 00:18:46,280is written to Jewish believers in Jesus Christ.26700:18:46,280 –> 00:18:48,599So these people really knew the Old Testament26800:18:48,599 –> 00:18:50,699and what the writer to the Hebrews does26900:18:50,699 –> 00:18:52,520is he recomposes,27000:18:52,520 –> 00:18:55,339recollects the picture from Exodus 1927100:18:55,339 –> 00:18:56,400of absolute terror27200:18:56,400 –> 00:18:58,479that would have been familiar to all of them.27300:18:58,479 –> 00:18:59,959And then he says this,27400:18:59,959 –> 00:19:01,699verse 18 of Hebrews 12,27500:19:01,819 –> 00:19:04,800you, you who have come to believe in Christ27600:19:04,800 –> 00:19:09,359have not come too and then he describes27700:19:09,359 –> 00:19:10,660the mountain that may be touched27800:19:10,660 –> 00:19:12,260the blazing fire, the darkness,27900:19:12,260 –> 00:19:15,739the trumpet the voice that made the hearers beg28000:19:15,739 –> 00:19:18,099that no further messages be spoken to them.28100:19:18,099 –> 00:19:20,520It was so terrifying that even Moses said28200:19:20,520 –> 00:19:22,140I am trembling with fear.28300:19:22,140 –> 00:19:26,060You in Jesus Christ are not coming there.28400:19:26,060 –> 00:19:27,540Thank God for that.28500:19:27,540 –> 00:19:28,760Friends when you die,28600:19:28,800 –> 00:19:31,839you do not want to be at the bottom of Mount Sinai.28700:19:33,300 –> 00:19:34,199You do not.28800:19:35,780 –> 00:19:36,780Where do you want to be?28900:19:36,780 –> 00:19:39,979Well here it is in Hebrews 12 and verse 2229000:19:39,979 –> 00:19:41,900but you29100:19:41,900 –> 00:19:43,540have come to Mount Zion.29200:19:43,540 –> 00:19:45,079Now compose this picture.29300:19:46,599 –> 00:19:48,219The city of the Living God.29400:19:48,219 –> 00:19:51,199So see in your minds eye the city and the brightness,29500:19:51,199 –> 00:19:53,459just try and get that image in your mind29600:19:53,459 –> 00:19:55,300and then add to it.29700:19:55,439 –> 00:19:59,560To innumerable angels in festival gathering.29800:19:59,560 –> 00:20:01,979Now picture a crowd of angels.29900:20:01,979 –> 00:20:03,500This is like in the book of Revelation.30000:20:03,500 –> 00:20:06,719More than you could number and they’re all rejoicing,30100:20:06,719 –> 00:20:08,719they’re all in festivities.30200:20:10,459 –> 00:20:12,119And why are they in festivities?30300:20:12,119 –> 00:20:14,839Because you’ve come to the assembly of the firstborn30400:20:14,839 –> 00:20:16,280who are enrolled in heaven.30500:20:16,280 –> 00:20:17,420Here are all these people,30600:20:17,420 –> 00:20:21,160a vast crowd of men and women and children30700:20:21,160 –> 00:20:23,180who are in the presence of Jesus30800:20:23,199 –> 00:20:26,040and they belong in the presence of Jesus in heaven.30900:20:26,040 –> 00:20:29,040They’re enrolled there and they’re in the presence of God31000:20:29,040 –> 00:20:31,660because no one escapes God.31100:20:31,660 –> 00:20:33,800But they’ve not come before God in terror,31200:20:33,800 –> 00:20:36,119they’ve come before God in delight.31300:20:36,119 –> 00:20:37,400They’re in his presence31400:20:37,400 –> 00:20:39,520because they’ve been reconciled to him.31500:20:40,380 –> 00:20:42,640And how has all of this happened?31600:20:42,640 –> 00:20:45,579Because there has been a true change in them.31700:20:45,579 –> 00:20:48,579The spirits of righteous people made perfect,31800:20:48,579 –> 00:20:52,439how through Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant31900:20:52,520 –> 00:20:54,880and because of his sprinkled blood.32000:20:57,140 –> 00:21:00,699Now, the scene here could hardly be more different32100:21:00,699 –> 00:21:02,739from Exodus in chapter 19.32200:21:03,780 –> 00:21:06,500And please understand that in these two pictures,32300:21:06,500 –> 00:21:09,459I mean he’s not describing heaven and hell,32400:21:09,459 –> 00:21:13,359he’s not even actually specifically speaking about death.32500:21:13,359 –> 00:21:15,839The contrast we have here32600:21:15,839 –> 00:21:19,939is between standing before God without Jesus32700:21:20,339 –> 00:21:23,500and without a sacrifice and without a mediator32800:21:23,500 –> 00:21:26,420and standing before God with Jesus32900:21:26,420 –> 00:21:31,420and his blood shed for you, applied to your life.33000:21:31,920 –> 00:21:36,920And there is all the difference in the world.33100:21:37,040 –> 00:21:41,359Without Jesus, death will be a passing into condemnation33200:21:41,359 –> 00:21:46,040with Jesus and entering into celebration.33300:21:46,780 –> 00:21:49,560Pastor Colin Smith there talking about33400:21:49,560 –> 00:21:52,339the love of Christ, which is freely available33500:21:52,339 –> 00:21:54,780to all who seek it.33600:21:54,780 –> 00:21:57,180The message today is called A Love of Christ33700:21:57,180 –> 00:21:59,900and it’s part of our series, Don’t Lose Heart.33800:21:59,900 –> 00:22:02,780Taken from the Second Book of Corinthians33900:22:02,780 –> 00:22:03,939and Chapter Five.34000:22:03,939 –> 00:22:06,060And if you’ve missed any of the series so far34100:22:06,060 –> 00:22:08,380or indeed if you miss any in the future,34200:22:08,380 –> 00:22:11,020you can always catch up or go back and listen again34300:22:11,020 –> 00:22:15,400by coming to our website, openthebible.org.UK34400:22:15,400 –> 00:22:17,619or go to your favorite podcast site34500:22:17,619 –> 00:22:20,060and search for Open The Bible UK34600:22:20,060 –> 00:22:21,859or follow the link from our website34700:22:21,859 –> 00:22:23,199and you’ll find there,34800:22:23,199 –> 00:22:26,420all of the broadcasts that have already gone out on air.34900:22:26,420 –> 00:22:29,339Open The Bible is able to remain on your radio35000:22:29,339 –> 00:22:31,900and on the internet because we’re supported35100:22:31,900 –> 00:22:34,160financially by our listeners.35200:22:34,160 –> 00:22:36,660So if you already give to support the work,35300:22:36,660 –> 00:22:39,719thank you so much and may God bless you.35400:22:39,719 –> 00:22:42,300If you’ve considered supporting us in that way,35500:22:42,300 –> 00:22:44,500all this month, we’d like to encourage you35600:22:44,520 –> 00:22:46,880by offering something in return.35700:22:46,880 –> 00:22:49,819By setting up a new direct debit to Open The Bible35800:22:49,819 –> 00:22:52,339of five pounds per month or more35900:22:52,339 –> 00:22:55,939or a new one off gift of 50 pounds or more,36000:22:55,939 –> 00:22:58,020in return, we’ll send you two copies36100:22:58,020 –> 00:23:00,900of Pastor Colin’s book, Christmas Stories36200:23:00,900 –> 00:23:03,859along with five exclusive Christmas cards36300:23:03,859 –> 00:23:07,219featuring the illustrations from the book.36400:23:07,219 –> 00:23:09,300Here’s Colin to talk about one of the characters36500:23:09,300 –> 00:23:10,900from Christmas Stories.36600:23:10,900 –> 00:23:13,660Colin, we wouldn’t normally think about Adam36700:23:13,660 –> 00:23:15,819as being a part of the Christmas Story.36800:23:15,819 –> 00:23:17,180After all, he lived, what,36900:23:17,180 –> 00:23:19,540several thousand years before Jesus was born.37000:23:19,540 –> 00:23:21,060Well, he was the one37100:23:21,060 –> 00:23:23,579who was given the very first promise of the Redeemer37200:23:23,579 –> 00:23:25,619right back in Genesis, you see.37300:23:25,619 –> 00:23:27,699The coming of Jesus Christ into the world37400:23:27,699 –> 00:23:30,979isn’t some idea that God came up with, as it were,37500:23:30,979 –> 00:23:32,660halfway through human history.37600:23:32,660 –> 00:23:35,300It was his plan from the very beginning.37700:23:35,300 –> 00:23:37,939And I love the way that the New Testament picks up37800:23:37,939 –> 00:23:41,020the fact that there was the first Adam, Adam,37900:23:41,020 –> 00:23:42,640and that when Jesus Christ comes,38000:23:42,640 –> 00:23:44,719he’s called the last Adam.38100:23:44,719 –> 00:23:49,359And what the first Adam lost for us in his sin,38200:23:49,359 –> 00:23:53,640the last Adam restores for us through his righteousness.38300:23:53,640 –> 00:23:55,359That’s a marvelous theme in the Bible.38400:23:55,359 –> 00:23:57,160So it shines a whole floodlight38500:23:57,160 –> 00:23:59,239into the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.38600:23:59,239 –> 00:24:00,439Well, let’s go back a bit.38700:24:00,439 –> 00:24:02,540Wouldn’t we have the perfect right38800:24:02,540 –> 00:24:04,900to blame Adam for sin and death?38900:24:04,900 –> 00:24:08,199Well, the Bible does say, as in Adam I’ll die,39000:24:08,199 –> 00:24:09,800so it definitely has come from him.39100:24:09,800 –> 00:24:11,579But here’s the point.39200:24:11,579 –> 00:24:13,619If Adam was the only one who had sinned,39300:24:13,619 –> 00:24:15,280we might have some cause for complaint.39400:24:15,280 –> 00:24:18,859The reality is that we mimic and repeat39500:24:18,859 –> 00:24:21,420his sin in our own experience.39600:24:21,420 –> 00:24:23,500His sin is ours.39700:24:23,500 –> 00:24:27,020Not only in the sense that it is counted as ours39800:24:27,020 –> 00:24:28,459because we’re in him,39900:24:28,459 –> 00:24:30,839but because we got plenty of it of our own.40000:24:30,839 –> 00:24:32,660And that’s why we need a redeemer.40100:24:32,660 –> 00:24:34,459So that’s our free gift to you40200:24:34,459 –> 00:24:36,660of two copies of Christmas stories,40300:24:36,660 –> 00:24:38,920along with five Christmas cards,40400:24:38,920 –> 00:24:40,199if you are able to begin40500:24:40,199 –> 00:24:43,640to support Open the Bible financially this month.40600:24:43,640 –> 00:24:46,439Full terms and conditions are on our website,40700:24:46,439 –> 00:24:48,020openthebible.org.uk,40800:24:49,479 –> 00:24:52,699and you can give online on the website.40900:24:52,699 –> 00:24:53,839Don’t forget, though,41000:24:53,839 –> 00:24:56,359to include your full name and address.41100:24:56,359 –> 00:24:57,939Don’t give anonymously41200:24:57,939 –> 00:25:00,359so that we can send you your free gift.41300:25:01,280 –> 00:25:04,260For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,41400:25:04,260 –> 00:25:05,380I’m David Pick,41500:25:05,380 –> 00:25:07,839and I hope that you’ll join us again next time.41600:25:08,640 –> 00:25:09,479Thank you.41700:25:15,599 –> 00:25:17,920Many people think that they will find happiness41800:25:17,920 –> 00:25:19,719living for themselves,41900:25:19,719 –> 00:25:20,920but this will keep us42000:25:20,920 –> 00:25:23,359from experiencing the love of Christ.42100:25:23,359 –> 00:25:26,699Find out why next time on Open the Bible.