100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:12,480The default death for every person apart from Jesus Christ is passing into condemnation,200:00:12,480 –> 00:00:20,020the default life for every person apart from Jesus Christ is what he refers to here, living300:00:20,020 –> 00:00:22,799for yourself.400:00:22,799 –> 00:00:27,440Welcome to, Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Colin, there’s a lot500:00:27,480 –> 00:00:31,639of people who think there’s really nothing wrong with living for themself.600:00:31,639 –> 00:00:36,759Well, there’s a straight answer out of the scriptures to that, that Jesus Christ died700:00:36,759 –> 00:00:41,040for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves. That’s second Corinthians800:00:41,040 –> 00:00:46,3605, and verse 15. He died so that I would not be living for myself.900:00:46,360 –> 00:00:51,080And thank God for that. We’re going to see in the message today that to live for yourself1000:00:51,080 –> 00:00:58,580is a path to misery. It is not possible to live for yourself, to make yourself the boss1100:00:58,580 –> 00:01:03,720and yourself the servant is going to end up with losing both sides of the ledger. And1200:01:03,720 –> 00:01:08,980the only way to find genuine joy is not in living for self, but in living for Jesus Christ1300:01:08,980 –> 00:01:11,440who loved us and gave himself for us.1400:01:11,440 –> 00:01:16,160There’s a really powerful part in the message today where Colin explains that in detail.1500:01:16,540 –> 00:01:22,480I hope you’ll stay with us as we open our Bibles to 2 Corinthians 5 and continue the1600:01:22,480 –> 00:01:25,699message, the love of Christ. Here is Colin.1700:01:25,699 –> 00:01:32,680Without Jesus, death will be a passing into condemnation with Jesus and entering into1800:01:32,680 –> 00:01:40,160celebration. Now, that’s what He’s talking about here in verse 14.1900:01:40,680 –> 00:01:46,639One has died for all, and therefore all have died.2000:01:46,720 –> 00:01:53,180Jesus, in other words, entered the condemnation, the death that you would have died, so that2100:01:53,199 –> 00:01:58,000when death comes for you, if you’re in Jesus Christ, it will not be a passing into2200:01:58,000 –> 00:02:02,760condemnation, it will rather be an entrance into celebration.2300:02:02,760 –> 00:02:04,860And so here’s settled conviction number one.2400:02:04,860 –> 00:02:09,720We’ve concluded, Paul says, let me put it this way, Jesus died in my place and He2500:02:09,839 –> 00:02:13,679has changed the face of death from me forever.2600:02:13,679 –> 00:02:16,960That’s settled in my mind, I’ve got that.2700:02:16,979 –> 00:02:22,460He passed into our condemnation in order to bring us into celebration.2800:02:22,460 –> 00:02:31,179If you are in Jesus Christ, passing into condemnation happened for you at the cross.2900:02:31,179 –> 00:02:34,100It happened at the cross as far as you’re concerned.3000:02:34,100 –> 00:02:38,559That’s why it says he died for all and therefore all died.3100:02:39,179 –> 00:02:42,139Therefore, this very passing into condemnation happened as far as you are concerned, if you’re3200:02:42,139 –> 00:02:44,020in Jesus Christ at the cross.3300:02:44,020 –> 00:02:48,000So whenever the moment of death comes for you, whether it’s through a sudden accident3400:02:48,000 –> 00:02:52,619that was completely unforeseen or if it may be years and years from now when that moment3500:02:52,619 –> 00:02:58,240comes for you, it will not be a passing into condemnation that was done in Jesus, it will3600:02:58,240 –> 00:03:00,699be an entrance into celebration.3700:03:00,699 –> 00:03:04,899That is what is left and what is ahead for you.3800:03:05,699 –> 00:03:09,020Now, that is the most amazing transformation.3900:03:09,020 –> 00:03:15,839It is as it’s settled in our minds that Jesus has changed the face of death for us4000:03:15,839 –> 00:03:22,020forever and forever and the more that grips the mind the more the love of Christ that4100:03:22,020 –> 00:03:27,139caused him to do this begins to permeate into our experience.4200:03:27,139 –> 00:03:34,479It takes control of the heart when this settles in the mind.4300:03:34,479 –> 00:03:36,580And then there’s something else.4400:03:36,580 –> 00:03:41,860Not only how Jesus changes death but how Jesus changes life.4500:03:41,860 –> 00:03:46,240I want you to notice what he says here, the love of Christ controls us because we’ve4600:03:46,240 –> 00:03:52,380concluded this, verse 15, that he died for all that those who live might no longer live4700:03:52,380 –> 00:03:58,740for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.4800:03:59,380 –> 00:04:08,839Now think about this, the default death for every person apart from Jesus Christ is passing4900:04:08,839 –> 00:04:11,979into condemnation.5000:04:11,979 –> 00:04:19,420The default life for every person apart from Jesus Christ is what he refers to here, living5100:04:19,420 –> 00:04:22,440for yourself.5200:04:22,440 –> 00:04:26,760The Bible says this quite clearly in Philippians chapter 2 and verse 21.5300:04:26,760 –> 00:04:33,579All seek their own interests, not that of Jesus Christ.5400:04:33,579 –> 00:04:38,440In other words, unless something radically changes, unless there’s some amazing intervention5500:04:38,440 –> 00:04:43,220in a human life, the default life is to live for ourselves.5600:04:43,220 –> 00:04:48,279The default death is to pass into condemnation, and what we’re being told here is that not5700:04:48,279 –> 00:04:56,200only has Jesus changed the default death, but he also changes the default life.5800:04:56,200 –> 00:05:00,440So that we will no longer live for ourselves.5900:05:00,440 –> 00:05:05,880Now friends, what does it mean to live for yourself?6000:05:05,880 –> 00:05:08,160I spent some time meditating on that.6100:05:08,160 –> 00:05:13,440What is it to live for self?6200:05:13,440 –> 00:05:21,579If you live for self, self is an uncrowned king.6300:05:21,579 –> 00:05:25,359Self is a pretender to the throne of God.6400:05:25,359 –> 00:05:30,779If you live for self, it is a very dangerous thing to do.6500:05:30,779 –> 00:05:35,519It’s very dangerous to live for and serve an uncrowned king, because what happens when6600:05:35,519 –> 00:05:37,119the true king comes back?6700:05:37,119 –> 00:05:42,799What happens to self and to the servant of self when the true king returns?6800:05:43,660 –> 00:05:48,660Second, if you live for self, self is always an unhappy boss.6900:05:48,679 –> 00:05:49,880Now think about this with me.7000:05:49,880 –> 00:05:53,540It’s a bit of a brain twister, but I think you’ll get there.7100:05:53,540 –> 00:06:00,359The problem with living for yourself is that you make yourself both the boss and the servant.7200:06:00,359 –> 00:06:04,959You put yourself, in other words, both sides of the ledger.7300:06:04,959 –> 00:06:10,760If you live for yourself, you are both the one who is served, and you are the one who7400:06:10,760 –> 00:06:12,000does the serving.7500:06:12,000 –> 00:06:15,440Live for yourself.7600:06:15,440 –> 00:06:24,179So the demands that you set become the demands that you have to keep, and this is why the7700:06:24,179 –> 00:06:29,579experience of a person who lives for self is always that you’re kind of robbing Peter7800:06:29,579 –> 00:06:31,660to pay Paul.7900:06:31,660 –> 00:06:34,920It’s like taking stuff out of one bank account, putting it into another.8000:06:34,920 –> 00:06:35,920They’re both yours.8100:06:35,920 –> 00:06:36,920Nothing actually changes.8200:06:36,920 –> 00:06:38,660The balance is still the same.8300:06:38,660 –> 00:06:41,399You just move things around.8400:06:41,559 –> 00:06:48,059And that is why the person who lives for self is constantly in conflict.8500:06:48,059 –> 00:06:50,299You will find this to be the case.8600:06:50,299 –> 00:06:56,839If you live for yourself you will often find in this strange position that you are beating8700:06:56,839 –> 00:07:00,160up on yourself because you are unhappy.8800:07:00,160 –> 00:07:01,959Now how illogical is that?8900:07:01,959 –> 00:07:08,160You see, if self is unhappy, who is there to beat up on except the one who is serving9000:07:08,160 –> 00:07:10,320self, that is the one who is living for self?9100:07:10,320 –> 00:07:12,200So you wind up beating up on yourself.9200:07:12,200 –> 00:07:13,299It’s inevitable.9300:07:13,299 –> 00:07:16,579It is a completely miserable and impossible existence.9400:07:16,579 –> 00:07:19,760Here is how it works.9500:07:19,760 –> 00:07:24,540Let me give you some examples and you could take this much further in conversation this9600:07:24,540 –> 00:07:27,720week and in application.9700:07:27,720 –> 00:07:37,880You look in the mirror and self the boss is not happy because she wants to have a more9800:07:38,079 –> 00:07:49,440pleasing image, so she beats up on self the servant who suffers for not being pretty enough.9900:07:49,440 –> 00:07:59,839You look at your life and self the boss says you should have accomplished more, so who’s10000:07:59,839 –> 00:08:02,079to blame?10100:08:02,079 –> 00:08:08,679Self the servant gets beaten up for not measuring up.10200:08:08,679 –> 00:08:14,720Then here’s what happens, you beat up on yourself because who else is there to beat10300:08:14,720 –> 00:08:19,739up, you’re living all for yourself and so the boss and the servant are both you.10400:08:19,739 –> 00:08:23,239So you come to this point you’re saying oh this is no good, I’m going to need some counselling10500:08:23,239 –> 00:08:28,000some counselling and you get this new insight and you say I know what it is.10600:08:28,000 –> 00:08:29,279I know why I’m not happy.10700:08:29,279 –> 00:08:31,660I’m being too hard on myself.10800:08:31,660 –> 00:08:34,359I need to lighten up.10900:08:34,359 –> 00:08:37,340I need to give myself a break.11000:08:37,340 –> 00:08:42,080So that’s what you do and there’s the problem, you’re still not happy because while self11100:08:42,080 –> 00:08:48,119the servant has been given a break, guess what, self the boss is no longer being served.11200:08:48,119 –> 00:08:49,619So you’re still not happy.11300:08:49,619 –> 00:08:53,200Living yourself is an absolute nightmare.11400:08:53,200 –> 00:08:56,760When you lay it out as the master you get crushed as the servant.11500:08:56,780 –> 00:09:01,520When you lighten up on the servant you get short-changed as the master, you cannot possibly11600:09:01,520 –> 00:09:03,640win.11700:09:03,640 –> 00:09:08,000And all around us is a culture that says live for yourself, be whatever you want to be,11800:09:08,000 –> 00:09:10,719be your own Lord, be your own saviour.11900:09:10,719 –> 00:09:15,140And it’s just assumed that this is going to be the path on which everybody finds happiness12000:09:15,140 –> 00:09:19,919and that it would be a great sacrifice if you did anything other than live for yourself.12100:09:20,059 –> 00:09:27,200And what I’m saying to you is if you just think about it, it is not possible to be happy12200:09:27,200 –> 00:09:31,640on the basis of living for yourself, you’re always going to be in conflict, you’re always12300:09:31,640 –> 00:09:37,539robbing Peter to pay Paul, you’re never any further forward, whichever way you come at12400:09:37,539 –> 00:09:38,599it.12500:09:38,599 –> 00:09:45,479And so here’s marvellous good news, that Jesus Christ comes not only to change the face of12600:09:45,479 –> 00:09:50,679death for us but to change the face of life for us and here’s the change, that those who12700:09:50,679 –> 00:09:57,719are in him will no longer live for themselves, be released from that, from the utter misery,12800:09:57,719 –> 00:10:04,200the dead end that it always is, the perpetual conflict, and to bring you into the joy that12900:10:04,200 –> 00:10:09,799can only be found in living for him.13000:10:09,799 –> 00:10:14,059And as if it were not bad enough that to live for self is to live for an uncrowned king13100:10:14,140 –> 00:10:21,340and to live for a perpetually unhappy boss, to live for self means that you end up with13200:10:21,340 –> 00:10:25,440an unrewarded servant.13300:10:25,440 –> 00:10:31,000If you live for yourself, who is there to reward you?13400:10:31,000 –> 00:10:38,140Who is there to smile on you when your work is done if you live for yourself?13500:10:38,140 –> 00:10:40,219Who is there to embrace you?13600:10:40,219 –> 00:10:43,900Who is there to rejoice with you?13700:10:43,900 –> 00:10:52,760If you live for yourself who can ever say to you, well done, good and faithful servant,13800:10:52,760 –> 00:10:55,900enter into your master’s joy?13900:10:55,900 –> 00:10:58,359Who could say that to you if you live for yourself?14000:10:58,359 –> 00:11:04,039No, you live for yourself when your work is done, you look up and you find you are all14100:11:04,900 –> 00:11:05,919alone14200:11:05,919 –> 00:11:15,940and there is no smile, and there is no well done, and there no love, and there is no joy14300:11:15,940 –> 00:11:21,099because the One for whom everything has been done is yourself.14400:11:22,539 –> 00:11:26,479You are listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and the message called The Love14500:11:26,479 –> 00:11:33,479of Christ part of our series Don’t Lose Heart based on 2 Corinthians chapter 5.14600:11:33,739 –> 00:11:38,500And if you’ve missed any messages so far, or you ever want to listen to them again,14700:11:38,500 –> 00:11:40,659you can easily do that by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk or on our14800:11:40,659 –> 00:11:44,679website on Open the Bible.14900:11:44,679 –> 00:11:48,559You can also find them as a podcast on all main podcast sites.15000:11:48,559 –> 00:11:52,299Search for Open the Bible UK or follow the link from our website.15100:11:52,299 –> 00:11:57,659Open the Bible is supported by our listeners, and later on in the program we will hear about15200:11:57,659 –> 00:12:01,960this month’s special offer for anyone who is considering beginning to support Open the15300:12:01,960 –> 00:12:03,280Bible financially.15400:12:03,280 –> 00:12:07,599If you already support us, then thank you so much, but if you’re thinking of doing it15500:12:07,599 –> 00:12:13,359in the future, stay tuned and you’ll hear about our special offer this month.15600:12:13,359 –> 00:12:14,880Back to the Message now.15700:12:14,880 –> 00:12:16,460Here again is Colin.15800:12:16,460 –> 00:12:17,460You live for yourself.15900:12:17,460 –> 00:12:25,000When your work is done you look up and you find you are all alone and there is no smile16000:12:25,000 –> 00:12:32,440and there is no love and there is no joy because the one for whom everything has been16100:12:32,440 –> 00:12:37,559done is yourself.16200:12:37,559 –> 00:12:43,299So here is settled conviction number two, that Jesus died not only to change the face16300:12:43,299 –> 00:12:50,479of death for me forever but Jesus died to bring me from the misery of living for myself16400:12:50,479 –> 00:12:54,559into the joy of living for him.16500:12:54,900 –> 00:12:57,159The only way that real joy can ever be found.16600:12:57,159 –> 00:13:03,760We have concluded this he says, that Christ died for all that those who live might no16700:13:03,760 –> 00:13:13,960longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised.16800:13:13,960 –> 00:13:16,380So here we have it friends.16900:13:16,380 –> 00:13:22,039There is for human beings a default life and a default death.17000:13:22,059 –> 00:13:25,520The default life is that we live for ourselves.17100:13:25,520 –> 00:13:31,479The default death is that we pass into condemnation, and here is what Jesus Christ has done.17200:13:31,479 –> 00:13:37,299He has died our default death to change our default life.17300:13:37,299 –> 00:13:44,719He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him17400:13:44,719 –> 00:13:47,320who died and was raised.17500:13:48,140 –> 00:13:50,559Now Paul says these are the two convictions.17600:13:50,559 –> 00:13:55,320The transformation of death, transformation of life by Jesus Christ, which as they settle17700:13:55,320 –> 00:14:02,280in the human mind, we’ve concluded, we’re convinced, we’re persuaded about this.17800:14:02,280 –> 00:14:08,320And as that has restructured our thinking, Paul says, so it has fired our hearts.17900:14:08,320 –> 00:14:14,299This is why we are controlled by the love of Christ.18000:14:15,119 –> 00:14:17,840Now, three words, and then we’re through.18100:14:17,840 –> 00:14:22,359Actually there’s a few words about each of the three words, but we’re nearly there, is18200:14:22,359 –> 00:14:23,359what I’m telling.18300:14:23,359 –> 00:14:27,239Here’s word number one, Jesus, Jesus.18400:14:27,239 –> 00:14:31,539Don’t miss the most obvious thing about these marvelous verses, they’re all about Jesus.18500:14:31,539 –> 00:14:34,099It’s Jesus who died, it’s Jesus who arose.18600:14:34,099 –> 00:14:38,119We’re being delivered from living for ourselves in order to live for him.18700:14:38,119 –> 00:14:39,719It’s all about Jesus.18800:14:39,719 –> 00:14:45,840That’s why we read the story of the rich young ruler earlier in the service because here18900:14:45,840 –> 00:14:53,599was someone who was moral, and here the rich young ruler was someone who was deeply religious.19000:14:53,599 –> 00:14:57,520Because he was all about himself, he wanted to make sure that he got heaven as well.19100:14:57,520 –> 00:15:05,000I want everything in this world, and I want everything in the next world, as well.19200:15:05,239 –> 00:15:10,719This story is a very sad one, because it tells us that, did you notice this word when it19300:15:10,719 –> 00:15:15,299was read, he walked away from Jesus because he’s not willing to become a follower of19400:15:15,299 –> 00:15:19,719Jesus, he just wants to be moral and religious and have heaven.19500:15:19,719 –> 00:15:25,479And so he walks away from Jesus disheartened, the Bible says.19600:15:25,479 –> 00:15:26,479Disheartened.19700:15:26,479 –> 00:15:27,739Don’t lose heart.19800:15:27,739 –> 00:15:29,020He did lose heart, why?19900:15:29,020 –> 00:15:31,460Because he walked away from Jesus.20000:15:31,460 –> 00:15:34,840Our series is called Don’t Lose Heart and How Am I Not to Lose Heart?20100:15:34,960 –> 00:15:37,159Walk towards Jesus.20200:15:39,539 –> 00:15:42,179Here’s the thing.20300:15:42,179 –> 00:15:49,020Have you discovered yet and you see this with great sadness sometimes, that moral and religious20400:15:49,020 –> 00:15:54,479people can sometimes be the most selfish people on the face of the planet?20500:15:54,479 –> 00:15:57,380Have you noticed that?20600:15:57,380 –> 00:16:03,340And here’s the reason, that being moral and being religious has no power whatsoever20700:16:03,340 –> 00:16:08,039to break the default human life, which is to live for self.20800:16:08,039 –> 00:16:10,900And so you see this in the Pharisees, you see it in the rich young ruler, you can see20900:16:10,900 –> 00:16:13,780it all around us in religious circles.21000:16:13,780 –> 00:16:18,539Sadly too often the people who are moral and religious are fundamentally about themselves.21100:16:18,539 –> 00:16:22,200All this and heaven too.21200:16:22,200 –> 00:16:26,140And not the love of Christ.21300:16:26,140 –> 00:16:29,260Not the love of Christ.21400:16:29,520 –> 00:16:35,359Being moral will never release you from the default mode of living.21500:16:35,359 –> 00:16:41,200It takes the power of a risen savior to change that direction of life.21600:16:41,200 –> 00:16:45,900And that’s why Paul at the end of the verse says that he not only died, but he rose.21700:16:45,900 –> 00:16:48,099You can’t be saved by a dead savior.21800:16:48,099 –> 00:16:53,520You need a living savior whose power is actually able to come and transform your life.21900:16:53,520 –> 00:16:59,080And this is what happens when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ.22000:16:59,080 –> 00:17:01,820Changes the face of death for you, changes the face of life for you.22100:17:01,820 –> 00:17:05,219But that never happens by being moral or being religious.22200:17:05,219 –> 00:17:08,939It’s Jesus who does it.22300:17:08,939 –> 00:17:09,939Jesus.22400:17:09,939 –> 00:17:10,939Second word—now.22500:17:10,939 –> 00:17:15,079That those who live might no longer live for themselves.22600:17:15,079 –> 00:17:16,540See what he’s saying?22700:17:16,540 –> 00:17:19,680That’s why I say this is the default life is to live for self.22800:17:19,680 –> 00:17:21,140He says no longer.22900:17:21,140 –> 00:17:28,599Just assumes that that’s how it always was, how it always is and will be except for Jesus,23000:17:28,680 –> 00:17:34,959but when you come to a living knowledge of Jesus, you can no longer live for yourself.23100:17:34,959 –> 00:17:42,880And so, as we’ve been brought into this place today, where what Jesus has done to23200:17:42,880 –> 00:17:49,859change death and what Jesus has done to change life has been opened up before us, why would23300:17:49,859 –> 00:17:54,180anyone in the congregation spend one more day living for self?23400:17:54,859 –> 00:18:00,839How could you possibly do that in the misery of it?23500:18:00,839 –> 00:18:01,839Why would you not?23600:18:01,839 –> 00:18:08,219Why would every one of us not today be saying, Jesus Christ, I am so done with living for23700:18:08,219 –> 00:18:10,459self.23800:18:10,459 –> 00:18:16,599I have as best as I can, right now, to give into your hands all that I am and all that23900:18:16,599 –> 00:18:23,760I have that I may live for you and that you, as my Lord, will show me and lead me in what24000:18:23,760 –> 00:18:30,760that actually means for me, but I am so done with living for myself.24100:18:30,760 –> 00:18:34,780No longer, no longer.24200:18:34,780 –> 00:18:41,099How could you hang about with life as it is when Jesus offers the transformation of death24300:18:41,099 –> 00:18:44,260and of life to you?24400:18:44,260 –> 00:18:49,859The last word is simply this, Jesus, now.24500:18:49,859 –> 00:18:51,020The third word is you.24600:18:51,599 –> 00:18:53,479And I just end here for this reason.24700:18:53,479 –> 00:18:58,319Did you notice verse 14, we have concluded this that one died for24800:18:58,400 –> 00:19:00,219all.24900:19:00,219 –> 00:19:05,560All means every person in the third service, and it included everyone in the first two25000:19:05,560 –> 00:19:07,680services by the way as well.25100:19:07,680 –> 00:19:12,219And everyone at every other campus, it includes everybody in the world.25200:19:12,219 –> 00:19:15,020It includes you.25300:19:15,020 –> 00:19:17,280It includes you, and here’s what it means.25400:19:17,280 –> 00:19:21,680It means that there is hope for you, for this reason.25500:19:21,680 –> 00:19:27,640That everything that God did through Jesus Christ on the cross to change death and to25600:19:27,640 –> 00:19:29,739change life can be yours today.25700:19:29,739 –> 00:19:33,260There are no exclusions.25800:19:33,260 –> 00:19:38,020Nobody who has pushed Jesus away so long that he would not welcome you today.25900:19:38,020 –> 00:19:42,339Nobody who is beyond the bounds of grace because you have sinned too badly and he would turn26000:19:42,339 –> 00:19:44,099his back on you today.26100:19:44,099 –> 00:19:47,020Nobody in that, no, he died for all.26200:19:47,119 –> 00:19:56,140So, what God has done in Jesus Christ, to change death and to change life, can be yours26300:19:56,140 –> 00:19:57,140today.26400:19:57,140 –> 00:20:01,400So why would you not come to him?26500:20:01,400 –> 00:20:05,959Tell him that you see your need of him in death and in life, more than you have ever26600:20:05,959 –> 00:20:07,140seen it before.26700:20:07,140 –> 00:20:12,099Tell him that you see that the only hope of a changed experience at death, and a changed26800:20:12,099 –> 00:20:15,880experience right now of life, your only hope lies in him.26900:20:15,959 –> 00:20:19,900But you do have hope in him — tell him you’re tired of living for yourself.27000:20:19,900 –> 00:20:25,099Tell him you’ve seen now that it can only ever leave you in conflict and misery.27100:20:25,099 –> 00:20:29,319Tell him your many sins and ask him to forgive you.27200:20:29,319 –> 00:20:30,839Ask him to make you his own.27300:20:30,839 –> 00:20:33,680Ask him to lead you into this new life.27400:20:33,680 –> 00:20:37,719Be my Lord, be my Savior.27500:20:37,719 –> 00:20:39,839Come to him today.27600:20:39,880 –> 00:20:49,680And as you come to him, settle these convictions in your mind — that Jesus died in your27700:20:49,680 –> 00:21:01,099place to change the face of death for you forever, and that Jesus died to deliver you27800:21:01,099 –> 00:21:08,380from the misery of living for yourself, and that he is able to lead you into a new life.27900:21:09,219 –> 00:21:13,900And not only is he able to do this, he is ready to do this, and he is willing to do28000:21:13,900 –> 00:21:17,800this for you.28100:21:17,800 –> 00:21:25,119And so unlike the rich young ruler who was so disheartened as he walked away from Jesus,28200:21:25,119 –> 00:21:29,760you come to Jesus Christ as you are and put your trust in him.28300:21:29,760 –> 00:21:36,640As you walk towards Jesus, you will not lose heart.28400:21:37,359 –> 00:21:39,939You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with28500:21:39,939 –> 00:21:43,920Pastor Colin Smith and and a message called The Love of Christ.28600:21:43,920 –> 00:21:48,719Based on the Second Book of Corinthians, chapter 5, it’s part of a series called Don’t Lose28700:21:48,719 –> 00:21:53,859Heart, and if you ever miss one of the series, it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen28800:21:53,859 –> 00:22:01,760again by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk or you can find it as a podcast and those28900:22:01,760 –> 00:22:04,079are on all the main podcast sites.29000:22:04,280 –> 00:22:10,339Search for Open the Bible UK on the podcast site or follow the link from our website.29100:22:10,339 –> 00:22:14,459While you’re on our website, don’t forget about Open the Bible Daily.29200:22:14,459 –> 00:22:20,859That’s our series of short 2-3 daily reflections based on pastor Colin’s teaching and read29300:22:20,859 –> 00:22:23,160in the UK by Sue McLeish.29400:22:23,160 –> 00:22:27,959In the run up to Christmas, at Open the Bible we want to provide churches and groups with29500:22:28,319 –> 00:22:30,319with grant supporting material.29600:22:30,319 –> 00:22:34,119Here’s Open the Bible’s Executive Director John Martin.29700:22:34,119 –> 00:22:38,680If you’re involved with planning your Christmas and Advent services and events for your church29800:22:38,680 –> 00:22:40,540and community.29900:22:40,540 –> 00:22:42,880Open the Bible has resources to help you.30000:22:42,880 –> 00:22:48,079We’ve released a short book called Christmas Stories 5 First Person Narratives from those30100:22:48,079 –> 00:22:53,040nativity events and then we have free resources to go along with that little book.30200:22:53,339 –> 00:22:59,099a nativity script that you can use, five transcripts for sermons that you could use for Advent30300:22:59,119 –> 00:23:01,300and a Bible study guide.30400:23:01,300 –> 00:23:08,160To download those free resources, and to find out more, go to openthebible.org.uk30500:23:08,160 –> 00:23:12,400Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham to talk about this month’s offer for anyone30600:23:12,400 –> 00:23:15,880who’s able to begin supporting Open the Bible financially.30700:23:15,880 –> 00:23:18,280Thanks, David.30800:23:18,280 –> 00:23:25,959This month, we are really excited here at Open the Bible UK to offer you a very special30900:23:25,959 –> 00:23:32,680gift, two copies of our new book Christmas Stories by Colin Smith.31000:23:32,680 –> 00:23:38,920This beautifully illustrated book brings the Christmas story to life through the eyes of31100:23:38,939 –> 00:23:46,760five key characters from the early years of Jesus, the angel Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Simeon31200:23:46,800 –> 00:23:53,760and even King Herod. Each short chapter is based on key bible events with scripture woven31300:23:53,839 –> 00:24:00,479throughout, offering a fresh and powerful presentation of the Gospel. It’s a perfect31400:24:00,479 –> 00:24:07,420read for all ages and ideal for sharing with friends, neighbours or loved ones this Christmas.31500:24:07,420 –> 00:24:14,000Why not pop a copy in with that box of chocolates or the annual pair of socks and give a book31600:24:14,579 –> 00:24:20,079about the best gift of all. Along with the two books, you’ll also receive31700:24:20,079 –> 00:24:26,400five exclusive Christmas cards featuring the same stunning illustrations from the book,31800:24:26,400 –> 00:24:30,400perfect for sharing the message of hope this season.31900:24:30,400 –> 00:24:36,160This thank-you gift is yours completely free when you give a one-off donation of £50 or32000:24:36,160 –> 00:24:42,900more or when you set up a new direct debit of just £5 a month! But please do remember32100:24:42,900 –> 00:24:48,800to include your address when you donate so that we can send you your gift in the post.32200:24:48,800 –> 00:24:53,819Thank you. We’re very grateful to God for the many Open the Bible listeners who support32300:24:53,819 –> 00:24:59,680the work. If you’d like to join them head over to our website, openthebible.org.uk,32400:24:59,680 –> 00:25:06,880where you can give online and find full terms and conditions for our offer this month.32500:25:06,900 –> 00:25:12,260For Open the Bible, Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick, and I hope you’ll join us again soon.32600:25:17,900 –> 00:25:23,239Do you know about the ten factors which distinguish us according to the flesh?32700:25:23,239 –> 00:25:27,520Find out about it next time on Open the Bible.