100:00:00,860 –> 00:00:03,920…200:00:03,920 –> 00:00:13,400Jesus said that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.300:00:13,400 –> 00:00:17,040Why did Jesus say that?400:00:17,040 –> 00:00:20,860I mean, if repentance is beating up on yourself.500:00:20,860 –> 00:00:26,740How in all the world do the angels have joy when they see you doing it?600:00:26,740 –> 00:00:29,520Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith.700:00:29,520 –> 00:00:32,020I’m David Pick, glad you could join us today.800:00:32,020 –> 00:00:33,740And Colin, let’s begin there.900:00:33,740 –> 00:00:35,779Why would angels rejoice over that?1000:00:35,779 –> 00:00:39,259Well the first thing is that God tells us that they do1100:00:39,259 –> 00:00:43,740and that tells us something of huge importance with regards to repentance.1200:00:43,740 –> 00:00:49,240That far from being a miserable kind of beating up on yourself about all your failures,1300:00:49,240 –> 00:00:53,119that actually… this is the hidden path to a transformed life.1400:00:53,119 –> 00:00:55,820So we have the wrong definition of repentance.1500:00:55,900 –> 00:00:57,900Well I think often the wrong understanding of it.1600:00:57,900 –> 00:00:59,160It’s something wonderful.1700:00:59,160 –> 00:01:02,400Faith and repentance are transforming to human life1800:01:02,400 –> 00:01:05,400and here’s the way in which a life actually changes.1900:01:05,400 –> 00:01:10,239So, in this series, I want us to get a new, fresh positive wonderful view2000:01:10,239 –> 00:01:12,160of what repentance actually is.2100:01:12,160 –> 00:01:16,019It causes joy for angels and it should cause joy for us.2200:01:16,019 –> 00:01:19,860And when you see that, then it’s going to draw in a whole new2300:01:19,860 –> 00:01:21,239and very, very wonderful way.2400:01:21,239 –> 00:01:24,459We’ll hear about that as we begin this new series called2500:01:24,519 –> 00:01:28,000Repentance, the Hidden Path to a Transformed Life.2600:01:28,000 –> 00:01:30,959Join us today, if you can, in Hebrews chapter 122700:01:30,959 –> 00:01:32,360as we begin the message2800:01:32,360 –> 00:01:34,220The Man Who Couldn’t Repent.2900:01:34,220 –> 00:01:35,720Here’s Pastor Colin.3000:01:35,720 –> 00:01:42,839Now I wonder what your first reaction is to a series on repentance.3100:01:42,839 –> 00:01:45,320We come from all kinds of different backgrounds.3200:01:45,320 –> 00:01:51,199So, it seems to me that the very word repentance is likely to trigger off3300:01:51,199 –> 00:01:55,199all kinds of different thoughts in our minds.3400:01:55,199 –> 00:02:02,400And frankly, your first reaction to a series on repentance3500:02:02,400 –> 00:02:04,980probably reveals a great deal3600:02:04,980 –> 00:02:10,580about what your understanding of repentance actually is.3700:02:10,580 –> 00:02:13,860Now for some of us, I’m sure the first reaction is going to be3800:02:13,860 –> 00:02:17,919Ugh! Sounds heavy.3900:02:18,039 –> 00:02:19,679And if that’s your first reaction4000:02:19,679 –> 00:02:22,460when you hear about repentance4100:02:22,460 –> 00:02:25,440it probably means that you think4200:02:25,440 –> 00:02:30,440repentance is beating up on yourself.4300:02:30,440 –> 00:02:32,740And quite honestly, if you think that repentance4400:02:32,740 –> 00:02:35,119is beating up on yourself4500:02:35,119 –> 00:02:37,139you are hardly going to be inspired4600:02:37,139 –> 00:02:41,320by the thought of a series of Sunday mornings on this subject.4700:02:41,320 –> 00:02:43,580You’ll probably be saying as you take a look at the title4800:02:43,580 –> 00:02:44,880Oh my goodness!4900:02:44,880 –> 00:02:47,440I feel bad enough about myself already5000:02:47,460 –> 00:02:49,300Maybe I need to go and find some other place5100:02:49,300 –> 00:02:51,080where I’m going to be affirmed.5200:02:52,779 –> 00:02:56,199Well if you think that repentance is beating up on yourself5300:02:56,199 –> 00:02:58,559quite honestly you will not be able to hear5400:02:58,559 –> 00:03:01,240the word of God, so let’s clear away5500:03:01,240 –> 00:03:04,119the baggage of misunderstanding5600:03:04,119 –> 00:03:06,080and indeed that is the primary thing5700:03:06,080 –> 00:03:07,699that I’ve asked of the Lord5800:03:07,699 –> 00:03:11,440we may be able to accomplish together today.5900:03:11,440 –> 00:03:13,460Let me ask you a question6000:03:13,460 –> 00:03:16,080to help you get rid of the baggage6100:03:16,479 –> 00:03:19,119if you come from a background that causes you6200:03:19,119 –> 00:03:21,699to think that repentance is basically6300:03:21,699 –> 00:03:23,039beating up on yourself.6400:03:23,039 –> 00:03:24,440Here’s the question,6500:03:27,559 –> 00:03:31,919Jesus said that there is joy6600:03:33,800 –> 00:03:38,800in heaven over one sinner who repents.6700:03:39,899 –> 00:03:43,660Now my question is, why did Jesus say that?6800:03:44,539 –> 00:03:49,399I mean, if repentance is beating up on yourself,6900:03:49,399 –> 00:03:51,679how in all the world do the angels have joy7000:03:51,679 –> 00:03:53,119when they see you doing it?7100:03:54,160 –> 00:03:57,559I mean, if the angels have joy over human misery,7200:03:57,559 –> 00:04:00,059then they’re not angels, they’re devils, right?7300:04:01,899 –> 00:04:05,000So when Jesus says there is joy in heaven7400:04:05,000 –> 00:04:06,940over one sinner who repents,7500:04:06,940 –> 00:04:09,160clearly he’s talking about something very different7600:04:09,160 –> 00:04:10,580from beating up on yourself.7700:04:11,539 –> 00:04:13,460So I want us, therefore,7800:04:13,460 –> 00:04:15,839if that’s the background from which you come7900:04:15,839 –> 00:04:17,040and that’s what you think of8000:04:17,040 –> 00:04:19,019as soon as this very word is mentioned,8100:04:19,019 –> 00:04:21,779will you try now to open your mind8200:04:21,779 –> 00:04:26,779and to think again about what repentance actually is?8300:04:26,859 –> 00:04:29,059Jesus makes it clear in stating8400:04:29,059 –> 00:04:31,299that there is joy in heaven over this,8500:04:31,299 –> 00:04:33,239he’s making it quite clear8600:04:33,239 –> 00:04:34,980that it is not beating up on yourself,8700:04:34,980 –> 00:04:39,619it is not an odyssey of self-recrimination and regret.8800:04:40,040 –> 00:04:42,779There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents,8900:04:42,779 –> 00:04:44,779if there’s joy in it for heaven,9000:04:44,779 –> 00:04:47,940there’s joy in it for you, must be.9100:04:50,019 –> 00:04:52,420We have a worship team meeting every Tuesday9200:04:52,420 –> 00:04:56,600to plan for the services in the sanctuary and in the gym.9300:04:56,600 –> 00:05:01,260And we were talking about the music for next Sunday9400:05:01,260 –> 00:05:04,500in the sanctuary, when the plan is for the choir9500:05:04,500 –> 00:05:08,279to sing a piece called, I’ve Got Joy.9600:05:08,299 –> 00:05:11,799And in our discussion, it came up that someone had asked9700:05:11,799 –> 00:05:14,679if the song, I’ve Got Joy,9800:05:14,679 –> 00:05:17,119would be appropriate on a Sunday morning9900:05:17,119 –> 00:05:19,299when the sermon was on repentance.10000:05:20,940 –> 00:05:23,899Well, the answer is of course, it’s appropriate.10100:05:23,899 –> 00:05:26,279And if you think there would be something strange10200:05:26,279 –> 00:05:28,059about a choir singing, I’ve Got Joy10300:05:28,059 –> 00:05:29,279when the preacher is about to get up10400:05:29,279 –> 00:05:32,079and speak on repentance, what I’m asking of you10500:05:32,079 –> 00:05:36,720is that you open your mind to let the Bible reshape10600:05:36,720 –> 00:05:39,739your understanding of what repentance is all about.10700:05:41,760 –> 00:05:45,079Remember, Jesus told a wonderful story about repentance.10800:05:46,040 –> 00:05:47,940We know it as the prodigal son.10900:05:48,940 –> 00:05:51,760Takes his inheritance, goes to the distant country,11000:05:51,760 –> 00:05:54,640wastes everything he has on riotous living.11100:05:54,640 –> 00:05:56,660Eventually, the bottom falls out of his life,11200:05:56,660 –> 00:05:59,160he ends up scratching a living on a pig farm,11300:05:59,160 –> 00:06:00,980comes to his senses and then says,11400:06:00,980 –> 00:06:03,559I will arise and I will go to my father.11500:06:04,559 –> 00:06:07,899Jesus tells how he begins the long journey home11600:06:07,899 –> 00:06:09,760and when he sees the house on the horizon,11700:06:09,760 –> 00:06:12,399he sees a distant figure coming running towards him.11800:06:13,399 –> 00:06:14,859It’s the father who’s been watching11900:06:14,859 –> 00:06:16,799and waiting for him every day to return12000:06:16,799 –> 00:06:19,660and instead of recriminations,12100:06:19,660 –> 00:06:23,140the father hugs him and will not stop kissing him12200:06:24,559 –> 00:06:26,160and leads him back to the house12300:06:26,160 –> 00:06:28,959and puts a robe on his back and puts a ring on his finger,12400:06:28,959 –> 00:06:30,160calls the servants and says,12500:06:30,160 –> 00:06:31,980let’s kill that fatted calf12600:06:31,980 –> 00:06:34,059because we are going to have a celebration.12700:06:34,059 –> 00:06:34,880Why?12800:06:34,880 –> 00:06:37,940Because of the father’s joy.12900:06:39,239 –> 00:06:42,480Now, if there is joy in it for the father,13000:06:42,480 –> 00:06:44,779there has to be joy in it for the son.13100:06:44,779 –> 00:06:46,779All right, the son may be embarrassed,13200:06:46,779 –> 00:06:48,739he may feel unworthy,13300:06:48,739 –> 00:06:51,440but look at the transformation that is taking place,13400:06:51,440 –> 00:06:54,200he’s been scratching a living with the pigs.13500:06:54,200 –> 00:06:56,700Now he’s feasting on the calf.13600:06:57,640 –> 00:07:01,179That by any standards is an amazing transformation13700:07:01,179 –> 00:07:03,220and that is why we’ve called this series13800:07:03,220 –> 00:07:07,100Repentance, The Hidden Path to a Transformed Life.13900:07:08,279 –> 00:07:10,700Because that is what it is, it is good news.14000:07:10,700 –> 00:07:12,299And that is why the Bible tells us14100:07:12,299 –> 00:07:14,899that right at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus,14200:07:14,899 –> 00:07:18,739he went into Galilee and he preached good news.14300:07:18,739 –> 00:07:21,519And what was the first word of the good news he preached?14400:07:21,519 –> 00:07:23,179Repent.14500:07:23,179 –> 00:07:24,940For the kingdom of heaven is near.14600:07:24,940 –> 00:07:26,739Repentance is good news.14700:07:26,739 –> 00:07:30,660It is possible for your life to be changed.14800:07:30,660 –> 00:07:33,899Jesus is saying, because God has come near to you14900:07:33,899 –> 00:07:35,980in and through my ministry.15000:07:35,980 –> 00:07:37,459That is what Jesus is saying.15100:07:37,459 –> 00:07:40,899Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.15200:07:42,299 –> 00:07:45,540So my prayer for our time in the Scriptures this morning15300:07:45,540 –> 00:07:48,380has been that God will clear away15400:07:49,420 –> 00:07:53,339the baggage of misunderstanding15500:07:53,339 –> 00:07:55,179that many of us carry15600:07:56,179 –> 00:08:00,160about this whole business of repentance.15700:08:00,700 –> 00:08:03,519So that we will be able, with fresh understanding,15800:08:03,519 –> 00:08:05,760to receive the word of God15900:08:05,760 –> 00:08:10,420in its wonderful, joyful, transforming power16000:08:10,420 –> 00:08:15,059into our lives and our experience.16100:08:15,059 –> 00:08:20,059If you have thought at the back or the front of your mind16200:08:20,299 –> 00:08:22,579that repentance is beating up on yourself,16300:08:22,579 –> 00:08:25,540please will you think again.16400:08:25,540 –> 00:08:28,380Stop thinking misery16500:08:29,339 –> 00:08:31,940and start thinking joy.16600:08:31,940 –> 00:08:34,140Now, for those of us who carry that baggage,16700:08:34,140 –> 00:08:36,140you think you can do that?16800:08:36,140 –> 00:08:38,219Let’s ask that in God’s grace we will.16900:08:39,979 –> 00:08:43,619Now, there’s a second misunderstanding of repentance17000:08:43,619 –> 00:08:45,619that I think also could keep us17100:08:45,619 –> 00:08:49,419from receiving the word of God in these coming Sundays.17200:08:50,460 –> 00:08:53,260For others of us who come from a very different17300:08:53,260 –> 00:08:55,539kind of a background,17400:08:55,559 –> 00:08:58,099our instinctive reaction when we hear17500:08:58,099 –> 00:09:00,239the word repentance is17600:09:01,659 –> 00:09:03,460been there, done that.17700:09:05,340 –> 00:09:07,760Now, if that’s your instinctive reaction,17800:09:07,760 –> 00:09:11,659it’s pretty easy to understand why.17900:09:11,659 –> 00:09:15,419Many of us were brought up under teaching18000:09:15,419 –> 00:09:19,219that emphasized repentance as the beginning18100:09:19,219 –> 00:09:21,539of the Christian life.18200:09:21,539 –> 00:09:24,239Sermons that we heard over the years18300:09:24,679 –> 00:09:26,960by calling sinners to repent,18400:09:26,960 –> 00:09:29,400inviting them to come to the front of the church,18500:09:29,400 –> 00:09:31,919raise their hand during the prayer or whatever it was18600:09:31,919 –> 00:09:34,940if they wanted to receive Christ.18700:09:34,940 –> 00:09:38,719We were told the ABC of the Gospel.18800:09:38,719 –> 00:09:40,539Admit that you are a sinner.18900:09:40,539 –> 00:09:42,479Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ19000:09:42,479 –> 00:09:44,239and commit your way to him,19100:09:44,239 –> 00:09:46,640and we did that.19200:09:46,640 –> 00:09:47,799We did it.19300:09:47,799 –> 00:09:51,039And over the years we have seen many, many other people19400:09:51,039 –> 00:09:52,719who have done the same.19500:09:52,719 –> 00:09:56,359Repent and believe and commit to Jesus Christ.19600:09:56,359 –> 00:09:58,679And so when we hear the word repent,19700:09:58,679 –> 00:10:03,299we say yes, that is what I did a very long time ago.19800:10:06,059 –> 00:10:07,559Now if that is your understanding,19900:10:07,559 –> 00:10:10,239you’ll completely miss the Word of God.20000:10:10,239 –> 00:10:13,400So let’s try and clear away that second kind of baggage.20100:10:13,400 –> 00:10:14,640Let me ask this question.20200:10:17,140 –> 00:10:20,359When you made a commitment to Jesus Christ,20300:10:21,280 –> 00:10:24,039how long was that commitment for?20400:10:25,359 –> 00:10:27,520You say, oh, well, it was for a lifetime.20500:10:27,520 –> 00:10:30,400It’s a continuing commitment, okay.20600:10:31,619 –> 00:10:34,700And when you said you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,20700:10:34,700 –> 00:10:37,000how long was that believing for?20800:10:38,219 –> 00:10:40,580Oh, you say it’s for a lifetime,20900:10:40,580 –> 00:10:43,820it’s a continuing believing.21000:10:46,119 –> 00:10:48,760So when you said that you repent towards God,21100:10:48,880 –> 00:10:51,119how long is that repenting for?21200:10:52,859 –> 00:10:56,219Well, it’s for a lifetime.21300:10:56,219 –> 00:10:59,400It’s a continuing repenting.21400:10:59,400 –> 00:11:04,239Now you see, that is one of the great truths21500:11:04,239 –> 00:11:07,239that the reformers in the 16th century,21600:11:07,239 –> 00:11:09,400Luther and Calvin and others,21700:11:09,400 –> 00:11:13,000rediscovered in the Bible21800:11:13,000 –> 00:11:15,500way back in the 16th century.21900:11:16,380 –> 00:11:18,400Many of you know that Martin Luther22000:11:18,400 –> 00:11:23,080wrote a famous document called the 95 Thesis,22100:11:23,080 –> 00:11:24,900which he nailed famously22200:11:24,900 –> 00:11:27,340to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral.22300:11:27,340 –> 00:11:29,700Many people know about the 95 Thesis,22400:11:29,700 –> 00:11:31,059not many people have much of a clue22500:11:31,059 –> 00:11:32,320as to what any of them were.22600:11:32,320 –> 00:11:36,460Do you know what the first of the 95 Thesis states?22700:11:36,460 –> 00:11:37,700Here it is.22800:11:37,700 –> 00:11:39,299The first thesis of Martin Luther22900:11:39,299 –> 00:11:41,500nailed to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral.23000:11:41,500 –> 00:11:46,039When our Lord and master Jesus Christ said repent,23100:11:46,039 –> 00:11:49,960he called for the entire life of believers23200:11:49,960 –> 00:11:52,239to be one of repentance.23300:11:53,140 –> 00:11:55,700That’s the first of the 95 Thesis of Martin Luther.23400:11:56,659 –> 00:12:01,659When Jesus Christ called us to repent,23500:12:01,859 –> 00:12:05,419he was calling for the entire life of believers,23600:12:05,419 –> 00:12:09,359their entire life to be one of repentance.23700:12:10,260 –> 00:12:11,340Now, of course, at this point,23800:12:12,159 –> 00:12:13,460all the beating up on yourselves Christians23900:12:13,460 –> 00:12:15,380who are reverting to their former understanding24000:12:15,380 –> 00:12:16,799are going to go, oh no,24100:12:16,799 –> 00:12:19,359not a whole life of beating up on myself.24200:12:19,359 –> 00:12:20,200No.24300:12:20,200 –> 00:12:21,679No we’re trying to think again.24400:12:21,679 –> 00:12:24,380And you see Martin Luther had understood24500:12:24,380 –> 00:12:26,820that repentance wasn’t beating up on yourself,24600:12:26,820 –> 00:12:28,940but that it was a life of continuing change.24700:12:31,020 –> 00:12:34,539Not a moment, a continuing process24800:12:34,539 –> 00:12:36,380throughout the entire Christian life.24900:12:38,159 –> 00:12:40,979And reformers understood this in the Bible25000:12:41,200 –> 00:12:43,080in a way that had long been lost.25100:12:43,080 –> 00:12:45,440A few years later,25200:12:45,440 –> 00:12:50,440John Calvin wrote about the Anabaptists he said who,25300:12:50,820 –> 00:12:52,419and I quote,25400:12:52,419 –> 00:12:57,599”Limit to a paltry few days25500:12:57,599 –> 00:12:59,739”the repentance that for a Christian man25600:12:59,739 –> 00:13:02,000”should last an entire lifetime.”25700:13:03,780 –> 00:13:06,840Evangelical type folks25800:13:06,940 –> 00:13:10,460who limit to a paltry few days25900:13:11,640 –> 00:13:14,340the repentance which for a Christian man26000:13:14,340 –> 00:13:16,859should last his entire life.26100:13:18,880 –> 00:13:22,119Now all of us who have this kind of been there,26200:13:22,119 –> 00:13:24,739done that feeling about repentance26300:13:24,739 –> 00:13:27,119because of the way in which it’s in our minds26400:13:27,119 –> 00:13:30,299as the initial thing only26500:13:30,299 –> 00:13:34,799I want to ask, can we also now think again?26600:13:34,820 –> 00:13:37,200Can we push that baggage out of our mind26700:13:37,200 –> 00:13:38,760that would clearly hinder us26800:13:38,760 –> 00:13:39,979from hearing the word of God26900:13:39,979 –> 00:13:42,080over these coming Sunday mornings,27000:13:42,080 –> 00:13:45,340and can we come to the place where we grasp27100:13:45,340 –> 00:13:48,580that this is a continuing process27200:13:48,580 –> 00:13:53,000throughout the life of a Christian woman or man?27300:13:55,239 –> 00:13:56,559You’re listening to Open the Bible27400:13:56,559 –> 00:13:57,940with pastor Colin Smith27500:13:57,940 –> 00:14:01,239and a message called The Man Who Couldn’t Repent.27600:14:01,239 –> 00:14:03,460Part of our new series Repentance,27700:14:03,460 –> 00:14:06,000the Hidden Path to a Transformed Life,27800:14:06,000 –> 00:14:08,260we got to pause the message briefly there,27900:14:08,260 –> 00:14:09,400but we’ll be back very soon.28000:14:09,400 –> 00:14:11,200So, stay with us.28100:14:11,200 –> 00:14:12,780If you ever miss one of our messages,28200:14:12,780 –> 00:14:14,239you can catch up or go back28300:14:14,239 –> 00:14:17,020and listen again online at our website,28400:14:17,020 –> 00:14:20,119openthebible.org.UK.28500:14:20,119 –> 00:14:21,460There you’ll find all the messages28600:14:21,460 –> 00:14:23,520which have already been broadcast.28700:14:23,520 –> 00:14:24,559Back to the message now,28800:14:24,559 –> 00:14:26,780we’re in Hebrews chapter 12.28900:14:26,780 –> 00:14:29,039Here again is pastor Colin.29000:14:29,039 –> 00:14:31,700I want to offer a definition of repentance29100:14:31,719 –> 00:14:34,099that I have found to be extremely helpful.29200:14:35,200 –> 00:14:36,960I found this a number of years ago29300:14:36,960 –> 00:14:39,760in the writing of Dr. Jim Packer.29400:14:39,760 –> 00:14:42,400And, the moment I read this,29500:14:42,400 –> 00:14:44,479it was as if a light went on in my mind29600:14:44,479 –> 00:14:46,880and I thought, that’s repentance,29700:14:46,880 –> 00:14:51,559that’s it stated as clearly as ever it could be stated.29800:14:51,559 –> 00:14:54,320And, over many years since that time,29900:14:54,320 –> 00:14:56,479this definition has remained with me30000:14:56,479 –> 00:14:59,840and has been so very, very helpful in so many ways.30100:15:00,719 –> 00:15:03,299Dr. Jim Packer puts it like this.30200:15:03,299 –> 00:15:05,340Repentance, he says,30300:15:05,340 –> 00:15:09,340is turning from as much as you know of your sin30400:15:09,340 –> 00:15:12,700to give as much as you know of yourself30500:15:12,700 –> 00:15:15,059to as much as you know of God.30600:15:15,059 –> 00:15:17,099It’s a marvelous definition,30700:15:17,099 –> 00:15:19,619very helpful if we can get it into our minds.30800:15:19,619 –> 00:15:24,619Repentance, it’s turning from as much as you know of sin30900:15:25,020 –> 00:15:29,619to give as much as you know of yourself31000:15:29,619 –> 00:15:34,359to as much as you know of your God.31100:15:34,359 –> 00:15:39,200Turning from as much as you know of your sin.31200:15:39,200 –> 00:15:42,539See, as the Holy Spirit shines the light of truth31300:15:42,539 –> 00:15:44,900from his word into your life,31400:15:44,900 –> 00:15:48,940you will go on seeing more and more that is wrong31500:15:48,940 –> 00:15:51,080than you ever saw before.31600:15:52,020 –> 00:15:54,919It’s an old hymn that puts it like this.31700:15:54,919 –> 00:15:59,419None, oh Lord, has perfect rest,31800:16:00,320 –> 00:16:04,099for none is wholly free from sin.31900:16:04,099 –> 00:16:06,599No Christian believer is wholly free from sin.32000:16:07,700 –> 00:16:11,760And those who want to serve you best32100:16:11,760 –> 00:16:15,000are conscious most of wrong within.32200:16:16,200 –> 00:16:17,940See, if you are growing as a Christian,32300:16:18,039 –> 00:16:21,179and you will become more conscious of sin in your life now32400:16:21,179 –> 00:16:23,359than you used to be and frankly,32500:16:23,359 –> 00:16:27,219many older Christians will testify to the truth of this.32600:16:27,219 –> 00:16:28,900And sometimes it feels alarming,32700:16:28,900 –> 00:16:30,820you know, am I making any progress?32800:16:30,820 –> 00:16:33,960I feel that I see more wrong in my life now32900:16:33,960 –> 00:16:35,419than I did 10 years ago.33000:16:35,419 –> 00:16:37,299But you know, that is not a reason for fear.33100:16:37,299 –> 00:16:39,460That is a reason for thankfulness.33200:16:41,080 –> 00:16:42,200It’s a sign of growth.33300:16:43,140 –> 00:16:44,559That it is the work of the Holy Spirit33400:16:44,559 –> 00:16:46,719to shine the light into your heart33500:16:46,760 –> 00:16:50,039so that more and more you see your sins33600:16:50,039 –> 00:16:51,539so that you can turn from it.33700:16:52,419 –> 00:16:53,460That’s what Christian growth33800:16:53,460 –> 00:16:56,599and the hidden path of repentance is really all about.33900:16:58,179 –> 00:17:00,440And then Pecker says repentance is giving to God34000:17:00,440 –> 00:17:02,580as much as you know of yourself.34100:17:03,820 –> 00:17:07,699You know, when I became a Christian at the age of six,34200:17:09,180 –> 00:17:10,800I was absolutely convinced34300:17:10,800 –> 00:17:13,719that I had given my whole self to Jesus Christ.34400:17:14,640 –> 00:17:16,800And you know, as I grow older,34500:17:17,739 –> 00:17:21,020I find that there are hidden subversive parts of myself34600:17:21,020 –> 00:17:23,099that haven’t heard that Jesus is Lord34700:17:24,699 –> 00:17:27,099and that need to be brought into submission to Him.34800:17:27,099 –> 00:17:28,619Paul talks about this when he says34900:17:28,619 –> 00:17:31,739we have to take every thought35000:17:31,739 –> 00:17:35,520and make it captive to Jesus Christ.35100:17:36,579 –> 00:17:38,260And the more that we go on in life,35200:17:38,260 –> 00:17:41,819the more we discover that there are dimensions35300:17:42,719 –> 00:17:45,599of who we are that need to be brought more fully35400:17:45,599 –> 00:17:48,439under the sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ.35500:17:48,439 –> 00:17:50,660It’s giving as much as I know of myself.35600:17:52,439 –> 00:17:57,439And it’s giving too as much as I know of God.35700:17:57,599 –> 00:18:02,599And as you grow in the knowledge of who God is35800:18:02,640 –> 00:18:05,739and all His beauty and all His glory,35900:18:05,739 –> 00:18:10,739there is a deeper self-giving that comes as a result.36000:18:12,060 –> 00:18:14,239Now over these next weeks, we’re going to use36100:18:14,239 –> 00:18:16,140God Willing Packers definition as a kind36200:18:16,140 –> 00:18:20,079of framework for learning what repentance is36300:18:20,079 –> 00:18:22,540and how we can pursue it joyfully together36400:18:22,540 –> 00:18:25,819throughout the entire course of our Christian lives.36500:18:25,819 –> 00:18:28,839Repentance turning from as much as you know of your sin36600:18:28,839 –> 00:18:30,819to give as much as you know of yourself36700:18:30,819 –> 00:18:32,479to as much as you know of God.36800:18:32,479 –> 00:18:36,260And as we grow at each of these points,36900:18:36,260 –> 00:18:39,560knowing my sin, knowing myself, and knowing my God,37000:18:39,560 –> 00:18:42,359so my repentance will grow deeper.37100:18:43,520 –> 00:18:47,599The effect of that is to be transformed increasingly37200:18:47,599 –> 00:18:49,560into the likeness of Jesus Christ.37300:18:49,560 –> 00:18:52,760Or as Paul puts it, to move from one degree37400:18:52,760 –> 00:18:54,979of glory to another.37500:18:55,959 –> 00:18:57,479This is a wonderful thing.37600:18:59,260 –> 00:19:01,040So we’re trying to clear away the baggage37700:19:01,040 –> 00:19:04,199of misunderstanding, and to the beating up37800:19:04,199 –> 00:19:06,959on yourself Christians, I want to say this morning37900:19:06,959 –> 00:19:09,560repentance is positive.38000:19:09,560 –> 00:19:13,319There’s joy in it for heaven, so there’s joy in it for you.38100:19:14,520 –> 00:19:18,300For us being there, done that kind of Christians,38200:19:18,300 –> 00:19:22,359I want to say repentance is progressive.38300:19:22,359 –> 00:19:25,040It is God’s purpose throughout your lifetime38400:19:25,040 –> 00:19:27,400that this repentance will grow and deepen38500:19:27,400 –> 00:19:30,260as you have a fuller understanding of your own sin38600:19:30,260 –> 00:19:31,439and of your own self.38700:19:31,439 –> 00:19:33,839And of who God is in all his glory.38800:19:33,859 –> 00:19:38,540The Christian life is a life of repentance38900:19:38,540 –> 00:19:41,319as much as it is a life of faith.39000:19:41,319 –> 00:19:44,199And that was something that Martin Luther grasped39100:19:44,199 –> 00:19:47,339in the very first of his 95 thesis.39200:19:48,560 –> 00:19:50,280The last thing that I wanted to say this morning,39300:19:50,280 –> 00:19:54,000and here we come to Hebrews in Chapter 12 more clearly,39400:19:54,000 –> 00:19:58,239is that repentance is possible by the grace of God.39500:19:58,239 –> 00:19:59,760It’s positive, it’s progressive,39600:19:59,760 –> 00:20:04,119it is possible by the grace of God.39700:20:04,119 –> 00:20:06,699And it seems to me that this is very important to say39800:20:06,699 –> 00:20:10,839because some of us will, in our first response39900:20:10,839 –> 00:20:15,219to this word repentance, feel a great sense of sadness.40000:20:16,680 –> 00:20:18,300You feel defeated.40100:20:19,160 –> 00:20:20,319You come into church, you hear,40200:20:20,319 –> 00:20:22,260okay, we’re going to focus on repentance,40300:20:22,260 –> 00:20:24,140and you think, oh dear, here we go again.40400:20:24,140 –> 00:20:28,060I already know that I can’t change.40500:20:28,540 –> 00:20:30,140And you feel that very deeply.40600:20:31,619 –> 00:20:33,780Maybe you’ve been a Christian for a long time40700:20:33,780 –> 00:20:36,819and there are certain sins40800:20:36,819 –> 00:20:39,319that have taken root in your life.40900:20:40,339 –> 00:20:43,579You’ve tried to get free, but in some particular area41000:20:43,579 –> 00:20:45,680you’ve not yet been able to do so.41100:20:47,260 –> 00:20:50,260And so you feel the need for repentance.41200:20:50,260 –> 00:20:52,079You would very much like to see change41300:20:52,079 –> 00:20:54,319in this area of your life,41400:20:54,319 –> 00:20:55,739but you are deeply convinced41500:20:55,800 –> 00:20:58,020because it has been there a long time,41600:20:58,020 –> 00:21:01,020this is no longer possible for you.41700:21:02,079 –> 00:21:04,560So when you hear the word repentance,41800:21:04,560 –> 00:21:06,660you say in your head,41900:21:06,660 –> 00:21:09,699I would if I could, but I can’t.42000:21:11,040 –> 00:21:12,900And the truth is that you feel trapped,42100:21:12,900 –> 00:21:14,339you feel defeated.42200:21:15,400 –> 00:21:20,180You say to yourself, I just can’t change.42300:21:21,359 –> 00:21:24,859What a great definition of repentance in today’s broadcast.42400:21:24,859 –> 00:21:27,819Turning from as much as you know of your sin,42500:21:27,819 –> 00:21:30,699to give as much as you know of yourself,42600:21:30,699 –> 00:21:33,719to as much as you know of your God.42700:21:33,719 –> 00:21:35,500A lot of us want to be able to change42800:21:35,500 –> 00:21:37,979but we may not know how.42900:21:37,979 –> 00:21:40,699That’s what this series is all about,43000:21:40,699 –> 00:21:43,880we’re discovering God’s path to a transformed life43100:21:43,880 –> 00:21:47,459and how change happens in our lives by the grace of God43200:21:47,459 –> 00:21:50,939and how that first step is repentance.43300:21:50,939 –> 00:21:52,380You’ve been listening to Open The Bible43400:21:52,859 –> 00:21:53,780with Pastor Colin Smith,43500:21:53,780 –> 00:21:56,900and a message called The Man Who Couldn’t Repent,43600:21:56,900 –> 00:21:59,560the first in our series called repentance,43700:21:59,560 –> 00:22:02,140the hidden path to a transformed life.43800:22:02,140 –> 00:22:04,020And if you ever miss one of the series43900:22:04,020 –> 00:22:06,760you can easily catch up or go back and listen again44000:22:06,760 –> 00:22:11,760if you come online to our website at OpenTheBible.org.uk44100:22:11,900 –> 00:22:13,339there you’ll find all the messages44200:22:13,339 –> 00:22:15,400which have already gone out on air.44300:22:15,400 –> 00:22:17,540You’ll also find them as a podcast44400:22:17,540 –> 00:22:19,599and those are on all the main podcast sites44500:22:20,420 –> 00:22:23,459by searching for Open The Bible UK44600:22:23,459 –> 00:22:26,199or follow the link from our website.44700:22:26,199 –> 00:22:27,800Many of us love reading,44800:22:27,800 –> 00:22:30,760but our busy lives don’t allow much time for that.44900:22:30,760 –> 00:22:33,819So we often listen to audiobooks and podcasts,45000:22:33,819 –> 00:22:37,260maybe when we’re driving, or out for a walk.45100:22:37,260 –> 00:22:40,439So we have a new podcast starting this month45200:22:40,439 –> 00:22:42,760and it’s called Hike Through The Bible.45300:22:42,760 –> 00:22:44,780Yeah, and the Hike Through The Bible podcast45400:22:44,780 –> 00:22:48,079will take you on a journey through the entire Bible story,45500:22:48,079 –> 00:22:50,959giving you the option of listening or watching45600:22:50,959 –> 00:22:52,520rather than reading.45700:22:52,520 –> 00:22:55,660And in each episode, I’ll read a chapter of my book,45800:22:55,660 –> 00:22:56,900Hike Through The Bible45900:22:56,900 –> 00:22:59,300and then I’ll discuss it with some friends.46000:22:59,300 –> 00:23:03,339I hope you’ll join me in hiking through the Bible.46100:23:03,339 –> 00:23:05,099You’ll grow in your faith,46200:23:05,099 –> 00:23:07,780you’ll deepen your grasp of scripture46300:23:07,780 –> 00:23:09,880and you’ll come to love Jesus more.46400:23:09,880 –> 00:23:13,160So that’s the Hike Through The Bible podcast46500:23:13,160 –> 00:23:14,880and it’s not too late to get started.46600:23:14,880 –> 00:23:17,780You’ll find the Hike Through The Bible podcast46700:23:17,859 –> 00:23:20,020wherever you get your podcasts46800:23:20,020 –> 00:23:21,900and there’s a link on our website46900:23:21,900 –> 00:23:25,020at openthebible.org.uk.47000:23:25,020 –> 00:23:28,579You’ll also find more information about the podcast.47100:23:28,579 –> 00:23:30,880Colin, I’m sure there are people listening today47200:23:30,880 –> 00:23:33,839who’ve come to believe they just can’t change.47300:23:33,839 –> 00:23:35,339They’ve tried in the past,47400:23:35,339 –> 00:23:39,140but they seem to always go back to their old patterns.47500:23:39,140 –> 00:23:40,640Yeah, I hear that all the time.47600:23:40,640 –> 00:23:42,619I just can’t change47700:23:42,619 –> 00:23:45,300and I really want to challenge you47800:23:45,359 –> 00:23:48,699in that if that’s what you’re thinking today,47900:23:48,699 –> 00:23:51,060you know this is a matter of believing the gospel48000:23:51,060 –> 00:23:54,619because the gospel says that you can change.48100:23:54,619 –> 00:23:56,579Christ says that you can change.48200:23:56,579 –> 00:23:58,420That’s the hope of the gospel.48300:23:58,420 –> 00:24:02,380We are given more than forgiveness and more than heaven.48400:24:02,380 –> 00:24:06,979We are given in Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit,48500:24:06,979 –> 00:24:10,400making it possible for you to change,48600:24:10,400 –> 00:24:12,699and the starting point of change48700:24:12,699 –> 00:24:14,420is believing the gospel48800:24:14,540 –> 00:24:18,439in which Christ says that this is possible for you48900:24:18,439 –> 00:24:21,160by his power through the Holy Spirit.49000:24:21,160 –> 00:24:24,699You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you,49100:24:24,699 –> 00:24:28,459and your hope of being a new and different kind of a person49200:24:28,459 –> 00:24:32,380comes from the presence of Jesus Christ in your life.49300:24:32,380 –> 00:24:35,140So, start by believing the gospel,49400:24:35,140 –> 00:24:37,979and you will find that as you start believing49500:24:37,979 –> 00:24:40,339God’s promise that you can change49600:24:40,339 –> 00:24:42,380and that he’s at work to change you,49700:24:42,380 –> 00:24:44,579you will find change becomes much more possible49800:24:44,579 –> 00:24:46,579than you ever found it before.49900:24:46,579 –> 00:24:51,140Thanks Colin, I am sure that’s helpful for many of us today.50000:24:51,140 –> 00:24:52,400Thanks for joining us today,50100:24:52,400 –> 00:24:54,400you’ve been listening to Open the Bible50200:24:54,400 –> 00:24:55,780with Pastor Colin Smith.50300:24:55,780 –> 00:24:58,280I’m David Pick, and I hope you’ll join us again50400:24:58,280 –> 00:25:00,640next time on Open the Bible.50500:25:00,640 –> 00:25:03,619[‘Open the Bible’]50600:25:03,939 –> 00:25:05,739Have you ever said to yourself50700:25:05,739 –> 00:25:09,119it’s no good, I just can’t change.50800:25:09,119 –> 00:25:12,660You need to meet a man in the Bible who couldn’t repent.50900:25:12,660 –> 00:25:16,099Discover what stood between Esau and repentance51000:25:16,099 –> 00:25:19,239next time on Open the Bible.