100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:10,000Christian Bro and Sis, the reason that on the last day you will enter into heaven200:00:10,000 –> 00:00:17,500is not because you are without sin but because in Jesus Christ you are without blame.300:00:18,000 –> 00:00:20,500Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.400:00:20,500 –> 00:00:25,260I’m David Pick and Colin if we’re honest we all know that we fall short500:00:25,760 –> 00:00:30,260of God’s standard, so it’s good to know that it’s not having no sin in our lives600:00:30,260 –> 00:00:35,259that makes us acceptable to God. Rather, it’s what Jesus has done for us.700:00:35,259 –> 00:00:36,259Yeah, that’s right.800:00:36,259 –> 00:00:41,259It’s no blame, your whole spirit, soul and body being kept blameless.900:00:41,259 –> 00:00:45,779In other words, if God wanted to bring charges against any Christian believer,1000:00:45,779 –> 00:00:49,860there are there are charges he could bring! He chooses not to do that and why1100:00:49,860 –> 00:00:54,259does he not do that? Because these things have already been charged to Jesus Christ.1200:00:54,360 –> 00:00:59,259And so, although we are even to the end of our Christian lives, a long way from1300:00:59,259 –> 00:01:03,259what God is calling us to be, there are no charges, and therefore, there is no1400:01:03,259 –> 00:01:08,260condemnation. We’re not sinless, but we are blameless because he’s not bringing1500:01:08,260 –> 00:01:12,860that which he could bring as accusation against us and laying it to our charge.1600:01:12,860 –> 00:01:16,879That’s the mercy of God. And of course, it can only be in Jesus Christ.1700:01:17,559 –> 00:01:20,260That’s why it’s so important to keep coming back to1800:01:20,260 –> 00:01:23,059this is the blessing that is ours in Christ.1900:01:23,059 –> 00:01:26,459We’re justified, we have peace with God in and through2000:01:26,459 –> 00:01:30,059Jesus Christ, because of everything that he did on the cross for us.2100:01:30,059 –> 00:01:32,860I think you’re going to be encouraged by today’s message2200:01:32,860 –> 00:01:36,860so. Join us if you can in 1 Thessalonians, chapter five, as2300:01:36,860 –> 00:01:40,260we continue the message, The Urgency of Spiritual Vitality.2400:01:40,260 –> 00:01:42,059Here is Pastor Colin2500:01:42,059 –> 00:01:45,059We come to the last in our series from Thessalonians today,2600:01:45,059 –> 00:01:49,059Living like there’s no tomorrow, in which we’ve been looking at2700:01:50,059 –> 00:01:54,059desperately needed in the Church of Jesus Christ2800:01:54,059 –> 00:01:58,059today, and when we come to the end of the letter, we’re seeing2900:01:58,059 –> 00:02:02,260that Paul is very specifically speaking about life In the Holy3000:02:02,260 –> 00:02:03,160Spirit.3100:02:03,260 –> 00:02:05,959There’s a sense of which the whole letter has really been3200:02:05,959 –> 00:02:10,059about this, but it becomes explicit right here at the end3300:02:10,160 –> 00:02:13,559and particularly in verse 19, which is our starting point3400:02:14,559 –> 00:02:20,860Do not put out the spirits fire do not put out the spirits3500:02:20,860 –> 00:02:21,660fire.3600:02:23,259 –> 00:02:29,960Now, the surest way to put out the spirits fire is to listen3700:02:29,960 –> 00:02:34,960to the wrong voices and to follow the wrong people.3800:02:36,360 –> 00:02:42,160That is why it is critical in the life of a spiritual church3900:02:42,559 –> 00:02:47,759that God’s people grow in this capacity of discernment,4000:02:47,960 –> 00:02:53,660which is given to you because the Holy Spirit lives within4100:02:53,660 –> 00:03:01,860you grow in discerning human words in your private life and4200:03:02,059 –> 00:03:04,660in our shared life together.4300:03:04,660 –> 00:03:06,860Now, you say how do I do that?4400:03:06,960 –> 00:03:13,960John Scott in his commentary on Thessalonians gives five tests4500:03:13,960 –> 00:03:18,759from the Bible that we can use in relation to this whole4600:03:18,759 –> 00:03:24,960matter of discerning other people’s words and you might4700:03:24,960 –> 00:03:26,460like to note them down and remember them.4800:03:26,460 –> 00:03:28,759I’ve found them to be very very helpful indeed.4900:03:28,759 –> 00:03:31,559They’re quite simple and I think as you see them fairly5000:03:31,559 –> 00:03:35,160self-evident and clearly from the Bible itself.5100:03:35,660 –> 00:03:38,360These are the five that John Scott suggests the ways in5200:03:38,360 –> 00:03:42,860which we test the ways in which we discern number one the5300:03:42,860 –> 00:03:49,660plain truth of the Scripture second the human divine person5400:03:50,160 –> 00:03:51,759of Jesus Christ.5500:03:52,759 –> 00:03:55,399And then here’s the third test the gospel of God saving5600:03:55,399 –> 00:03:55,860grace.5700:03:55,860 –> 00:03:58,800Let’s take this one from Galatians chapter 1 one of the5800:03:58,800 –> 00:04:02,020strongest verses in the Bible Galatians one eight even if5900:04:02,020 –> 00:04:05,580we or an angel from heaven Paul says should preach a gospel6000:04:05,580 –> 00:04:06,960other than the one we preached to you.6100:04:07,119 –> 00:04:08,720Let it be eternally condemned.6200:04:09,679 –> 00:04:11,380Here’s the fourth test.6300:04:11,619 –> 00:04:15,720The known character of the speaker.6400:04:17,220 –> 00:04:19,579And here’s the fifth test the benefit of the church.6500:04:19,640 –> 00:04:27,760So scripture, Christ, gospel, character, church.6600:04:29,679 –> 00:04:35,920And apply these tests, get used to thinking this way6700:04:35,920 –> 00:04:39,500almost as it where subconsciously, apply these6800:04:39,500 –> 00:04:44,140in relation to preachers, to all that you hear from any6900:04:44,140 –> 00:04:48,820pulpit apply it to what you may be hearing from7000:04:48,820 –> 00:04:53,940counselors or a therapist discern in relation to what7100:04:53,940 –> 00:04:56,640your friends say.7200:04:56,640 –> 00:04:59,420Your friend may indeed have some prompting from the Lord7300:04:59,420 –> 00:05:03,619that really helps you and there may be other times when7400:05:03,619 –> 00:05:06,179your friend is just saying what they think you want to7500:05:06,179 –> 00:05:11,140hear, so you need to discern and why does God call you7600:05:11,140 –> 00:05:12,019to do this?7700:05:12,019 –> 00:05:15,059Because he wants you to grow because he wants us to be7800:05:15,059 –> 00:05:17,980sons and daughters who grow in wisdom and gain maturity7900:05:18,480 –> 00:05:21,799and can be trusted with responsibility not only in this8000:05:21,799 –> 00:05:25,519world but in the new creation of which we will be stewards8100:05:25,519 –> 00:05:28,579forever and forever.8200:05:28,579 –> 00:05:31,339Now, do you see what Paul is saying here as we put these8300:05:31,339 –> 00:05:32,299things together?8400:05:32,299 –> 00:05:37,220Don’t quench the spirit, do not put out the spirit’s fire.8500:05:37,220 –> 00:05:40,940And if you listen to the wrong voices, you will quench the8600:05:40,940 –> 00:05:46,299spirit, you will inhibit what he is doing in your life and8700:05:46,339 –> 00:05:48,940that has happened to many Christians and it has happened8800:05:48,940 –> 00:05:52,100to too many churches.8900:05:52,100 –> 00:05:56,079And Paul says now keep the spirits fire burning and if9000:05:56,079 –> 00:05:58,359you’re going to do that individually and we’re going to9100:05:58,359 –> 00:06:02,600do that together, we need to grow in this whole area of9200:06:02,600 –> 00:06:11,500discernment in this world of so many human words.9300:06:11,500 –> 00:06:16,140That’s the first thing and it’s so important.9400:06:16,179 –> 00:06:19,100Here’s the second.9500:06:19,100 –> 00:06:25,500If we are to keep these fires burning, we must grow not only9600:06:25,500 –> 00:06:28,820in discerning human words but grow by responding to God’s9700:06:28,820 –> 00:06:29,220words.9800:06:29,220 –> 00:06:31,920Now, I want to draw your attention for just a few9900:06:31,920 –> 00:06:36,779moments to verse 27 because right at the end of the letter10000:06:36,799 –> 00:06:42,299there is a distinct change of tone and there is a very good10100:06:42,299 –> 00:06:44,420reason for it.10200:06:44,420 –> 00:06:52,739Verse 27, I charge you before the Lord to have this letter10300:06:52,739 –> 00:06:57,920read to all the brothers.10400:06:57,920 –> 00:06:59,540But do you see what Paul is saying here?10500:06:59,540 –> 00:07:04,660He’s putting the words of this letter, first Thessalonians, on10600:07:04,660 –> 00:07:10,820the same level as the Old Testament scriptures.10700:07:10,820 –> 00:07:14,320He’s making it very clear that while human words are to be10800:07:14,880 –> 00:07:20,399tested and discerned that these words, in this letter, are not10900:07:20,399 –> 00:07:22,519human words, they are on a different level.11000:07:22,519 –> 00:07:25,359They’re a different kind of word that are on the same level11100:07:25,359 –> 00:07:29,459as the Old Testament scriptures and therefore are to be read by11200:07:29,459 –> 00:07:33,559the Lord’s command to all of the brothers.11300:07:33,559 –> 00:07:41,000Now, the words of scripture being in a different category11400:07:41,000 –> 00:07:44,820from other human words, that theme is reflected many,11500:07:44,820 –> 00:07:47,140many places throughout the scripture.11600:07:47,140 –> 00:07:56,160Let me give you just one example this morning from 2 Peter 1.2011700:07:56,160 –> 00:07:59,160Because Peter there uses the word prophecy.11800:07:59,160 –> 00:08:00,720But he uses it in a special way.11900:08:00,720 –> 00:08:07,559He says there, 2 Peter 1.20, no prophecy of scripture came12000:08:07,559 –> 00:08:11,359about by the prophet’s own interpretation.12100:08:11,359 –> 00:08:14,579No prophecy of scripture.12200:08:14,579 –> 00:08:16,700Now you see he is using this word in a completely12300:08:16,700 –> 00:08:17,679different way.12400:08:17,679 –> 00:08:21,119In Thessalonians, Paul is talking about human words12500:08:21,119 –> 00:08:24,600that a person may feel or claim come from the Lord.12600:08:24,600 –> 00:08:27,279And he says, when that happens, don’t despise it.12700:08:27,279 –> 00:08:29,899But whatever you do, test it and discern it.12800:08:29,899 –> 00:08:33,960And we’ve looked at how we might go about that.12900:08:33,960 –> 00:08:37,840But Peter talks about prophecy of scripture,13000:08:37,840 –> 00:08:39,719and that’s in a different category.13100:08:39,719 –> 00:08:43,520Prophecy of scripture never came from human imagination13200:08:43,520 –> 00:08:46,919or from human interpretation.13300:08:46,919 –> 00:08:48,840The words of the Bible, in other words,13400:08:48,840 –> 00:08:51,559the Old and the New Testament scriptures —13500:08:51,559 –> 00:08:53,919and Paul is putting his letters written13600:08:53,919 –> 00:08:55,780under the inspiration of the scripture13700:08:55,780 –> 00:08:59,539at the same level of authority as the Old Testament —13800:08:59,539 –> 00:09:01,919these are different from any other words13900:09:01,919 –> 00:09:02,840that we hear today.14000:09:02,880 –> 00:09:04,419That’s the point.14100:09:04,419 –> 00:09:12,979So you do not test the words of Isaiah or Jeremiah or John14200:09:12,979 –> 00:09:17,200or Paul or Jesus.14300:09:17,200 –> 00:09:21,960What you do with these words is that you respond to them,14400:09:21,960 –> 00:09:26,359and you respond to them in repentance and in faith14500:09:26,359 –> 00:09:27,659and in obedience.14600:09:27,659 –> 00:09:30,119That’s our calling as Christian believers,14700:09:30,159 –> 00:09:35,320because we have received the Word of God.14800:09:35,320 –> 00:09:38,520Now, put these two things together.14900:09:38,520 –> 00:09:44,400The spiritual temperature of any local church15000:09:44,400 –> 00:09:47,559can be determined in large measure15100:09:47,559 –> 00:09:51,760by the discernment among God’s people in relation15200:09:51,760 –> 00:09:55,559to human words and the responsiveness15300:09:55,559 –> 00:10:02,840of God’s people in relation to God’s words.15400:10:02,840 –> 00:10:04,979The question as we come to the end of this series15500:10:04,979 –> 00:10:11,140is, well, now, how are we going to respond to God’s word,15600:10:11,140 –> 00:10:14,440to this letter of scripture given to us15700:10:14,440 –> 00:10:16,460by the inspiration of the spirit,15800:10:16,460 –> 00:10:19,440the same level of authority as all of the Old Testament15900:10:19,440 –> 00:10:23,840scripture, and all of the rest of the words of your Bible?16000:10:23,840 –> 00:10:26,440How are we going to respond to it?16100:10:26,440 –> 00:10:29,239I’m not asking, how do you respond to every word16200:10:29,239 –> 00:10:32,260that the preacher has said over these last two months16300:10:32,260 –> 00:10:35,520because I’m sure that in that there’s chaff as well as wheat.16400:10:35,520 –> 00:10:36,599And you have to sift it.16500:10:36,599 –> 00:10:39,400And some things can just be left.16600:10:42,320 –> 00:10:47,559But with an open Bible, surely you16700:10:47,640 –> 00:10:55,880have seen as I have seen that God’s word16800:10:55,880 –> 00:11:01,799is pointing us to the urgency of gospel-centered ministry.16900:11:04,719 –> 00:11:09,979And in chapter 2, as we saw, he’s17000:11:09,979 –> 00:11:14,200calling us to push beyond our own comfort level17100:11:14,239 –> 00:11:16,700and desire for approval which is natural to us.17200:11:19,039 –> 00:11:23,159And he’s calling us to stand firm,17300:11:23,159 –> 00:11:25,159even when we, like the Thessalonians,17400:11:25,159 –> 00:11:31,440face severe trials and strong temptations.17500:11:31,440 –> 00:11:34,539And surely, you have seen with an open Bible17600:11:34,539 –> 00:11:37,159from 1 Thessalonians in chapter 417700:11:37,159 –> 00:11:39,979that God is calling us through his word17800:11:39,979 –> 00:11:43,419to the pursuit of practical purity17900:11:43,419 –> 00:11:47,440in marriage and outside of marriage.18000:11:47,440 –> 00:11:49,780And surely, you’ve seen with an open Bible18100:11:49,780 –> 00:11:53,380that God is opening to us the hope of heaven18200:11:53,380 –> 00:11:54,840and that in the light of it,18300:11:54,840 –> 00:11:57,119he’s calling us to willing work,18400:11:57,119 –> 00:12:00,280which is one of the marks of those who have18500:12:00,280 –> 00:12:03,460grasped the gospel and been grasped by the gospel18600:12:03,460 –> 00:12:06,760that we throw ourselves into service for Jesus Christ18700:12:06,880 –> 00:12:08,760for as many days as he gives us18800:12:08,760 –> 00:12:10,520until Jesus Christ shall return.18900:12:10,520 –> 00:12:13,640And surely, you’ve seen from the scripture19000:12:13,640 –> 00:12:18,320that God is calling us to the pursuit of persistent prayer19100:12:18,320 –> 00:12:25,299because what is accomplished is only accomplished19200:12:25,299 –> 00:12:28,799by his power and not by our skills and our abilities.19300:12:28,799 –> 00:12:32,200Now, the Word of God always has an effect.19400:12:32,200 –> 00:12:35,359It always has an effect on us individually19500:12:35,359 –> 00:12:38,440and as a church, and it will always19600:12:38,440 –> 00:12:42,859push us one of two ways.19700:12:42,859 –> 00:12:48,719As you receive the Word of God with repentance, faith,19800:12:48,719 –> 00:12:55,000and obedience, that word itself in being received19900:12:55,000 –> 00:12:59,440will make you more receptive.20000:12:59,440 –> 00:13:03,520And if we were to resist the Word of God,20100:13:03,559 –> 00:13:06,799just to push off not human words,20200:13:06,799 –> 00:13:10,599but what is being said to us here,20300:13:10,599 –> 00:13:13,280if we just push that off, resisting the Word of God20400:13:13,280 –> 00:13:17,539actually makes us more resistant,20500:13:17,539 –> 00:13:21,340it kind of hardens a shell.20600:13:21,340 –> 00:13:24,679Which is why you can find people who’ve20700:13:24,679 –> 00:13:31,640been in church for years who, however, clearly they20800:13:31,640 –> 00:13:36,440hear the Bible expounded and however often it is just20900:13:36,440 –> 00:13:39,979like water off a duck’s back and they do not21000:13:39,979 –> 00:13:46,760change because they’ve become used to passing it off,21100:13:46,760 –> 00:13:48,840passing it off.21200:13:48,840 –> 00:13:51,460And so they become like the folks our Lord spoke of.21300:13:51,460 –> 00:13:55,080They’re always hearing but never understanding,21400:13:55,080 –> 00:14:01,119always seeing but never perceiving.21500:14:01,119 –> 00:14:04,080So do not put out the Spirit’s fire.21600:14:04,080 –> 00:14:07,719We want to see this fire kindled to a flame.21700:14:07,719 –> 00:14:14,119We’ve got to be real discerning in relation to human words.21800:14:14,119 –> 00:14:20,880And we’ve got to grow in responsiveness to God’s Word.21900:14:20,880 –> 00:14:22,320You’re listening to Open the Bible22000:14:22,320 –> 00:14:24,460with Pastor Colin Smith, and the final message22100:14:24,460 –> 00:14:27,419in our series, Living Like There’s No Tomorrow.22200:14:27,419 –> 00:14:30,960The message is called The Urgency of Spiritual Vitality.22300:14:30,960 –> 00:14:33,659And if you’ve missed any of the messages in this series,22400:14:33,659 –> 00:14:35,820they’re all different on our website,22500:14:35,820 –> 00:14:38,760openthebible.org.uk.22600:14:38,760 –> 00:14:41,780Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.22700:14:41,780 –> 00:14:43,359Now there’s one more thing before we close.22800:14:43,359 –> 00:14:45,320We’ve just got a few minutes to touch it here,22900:14:45,320 –> 00:14:46,719but it’s very wonderful.23000:14:46,719 –> 00:14:52,320I want to draw your attention to verses 23 and 24.23100:14:52,320 –> 00:14:55,020Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire, Paul says.23200:14:55,020 –> 00:14:58,619And then he exhorts us to be discerning in relation23300:14:58,640 –> 00:15:03,440to human words and responsive in relation to God’s Word.23400:15:03,440 –> 00:15:05,219Then here’s the last thing, that we should grow23500:15:05,219 –> 00:15:07,719through trusting in the work of Jesus Christ.23600:15:07,719 –> 00:15:10,979God’s work in us through him.23700:15:10,979 –> 00:15:13,039Now I want to read this prayer23800:15:13,039 –> 00:15:17,080with which Paul ends the letter.23900:15:17,080 –> 00:15:20,820And there are two requests that Paul the apostle24000:15:20,820 –> 00:15:24,780brings before God in relation to these Christians24100:15:24,780 –> 00:15:28,039who have been brought together under his ministry.24200:15:28,039 –> 00:15:29,400And he says, here’s the first prayer,24300:15:29,400 –> 00:15:32,099may God himself, the God of peace24400:15:32,099 –> 00:15:36,380sanctify you through and through.24500:15:36,380 –> 00:15:37,799Here’s the second prayer,24600:15:37,799 –> 00:15:41,400may your whole spirit and body be kept blameless24700:15:41,400 –> 00:15:43,440at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,24800:15:43,440 –> 00:15:46,479the one who calls us faithful,24900:15:46,479 –> 00:15:49,739and he will do it.25000:15:51,440 –> 00:15:53,799Now earlier in this series you may remember25100:15:53,799 –> 00:15:55,400that we learn just a little bit25200:15:55,440 –> 00:15:59,559about the two Bible words justification and sanctification.25300:15:59,559 –> 00:16:00,960Remember that?25400:16:00,960 –> 00:16:05,960Justification, Christ’s completed work for you on the cross.25500:16:08,719 –> 00:16:12,380Sanctification, Christ’s continuing work25600:16:12,380 –> 00:16:15,520in you by the Holy Spirit.25700:16:15,520 –> 00:16:17,719And these two together always joined25800:16:17,719 –> 00:16:22,159as one in the life and experience of a Christian believer.25900:16:22,239 –> 00:16:24,080I want you to notice how Paul brings26000:16:24,080 –> 00:16:26,679these two beautifully together26100:16:26,679 –> 00:16:29,840in this concluding prayer that he brings26200:16:29,840 –> 00:16:33,440to the Lord for these Christians he loves so much.26300:16:33,440 –> 00:16:35,000Notice that the first request26400:16:35,000 –> 00:16:37,880relates to sanctification, verse 23.26500:16:37,880 –> 00:16:41,059May God himself, the God of peace,26600:16:41,059 –> 00:16:44,400sanctify you through and through.26700:16:44,400 –> 00:16:46,140And then in the next verse he says,26800:16:46,140 –> 00:16:51,039God who calls you is faithful and he will do it.26900:16:52,039 –> 00:16:53,419I thank God for that.27000:16:54,760 –> 00:16:56,739That is so wonderfully encouraging.27100:16:58,200 –> 00:17:01,479Do you not have times in your Christian life27200:17:02,479 –> 00:17:06,739when you look at yourself and after all the years27300:17:06,739 –> 00:17:09,920that you may have been a Christian you say,27400:17:09,920 –> 00:17:14,839I am still so far from what God calls me to be.27500:17:16,400 –> 00:17:17,859Actually that’s not a bad thing27600:17:18,739 –> 00:17:22,300because anyone who looks into the brightness27700:17:22,300 –> 00:17:27,339of the glory of Christ will feel that everywhere else27800:17:27,339 –> 00:17:32,140he looks is actually quite dark and you will feel that27900:17:32,140 –> 00:17:34,380often about yourself as a Christian believer.28000:17:34,380 –> 00:17:39,380I am so far still from what Jesus Christ calls me to be.28100:17:43,339 –> 00:17:46,579Now Paul is saying be encouraged28200:17:47,060 –> 00:17:49,400because God has begun by his Spirit,28300:17:49,400 –> 00:17:52,479a work in your life and he will complete it.28400:17:52,479 –> 00:17:56,540There will be a unique and wonderful reflection28500:17:56,540 –> 00:17:58,939of the Lord Jesus Christ completed in you.28600:17:58,939 –> 00:18:01,199That’s what sanctification means.28700:18:01,199 –> 00:18:03,339And God will take the good things in your life28800:18:03,339 –> 00:18:05,760and even the bad things in your life as well28900:18:05,760 –> 00:18:08,979and out of it he will forge.29000:18:08,979 –> 00:18:11,699A reflection of the glory of Jesus29100:18:11,699 –> 00:18:13,520that will be for his honor29200:18:13,520 –> 00:18:16,739and for your ever increasing joy.29300:18:17,699 –> 00:18:18,819And God who called you,29400:18:18,819 –> 00:18:21,540God who brought you into this relationship29500:18:21,540 –> 00:18:23,280with Jesus Christ so wonderfully,29600:18:23,280 –> 00:18:25,699He’s faithful and he will do it.29700:18:25,699 –> 00:18:28,540He’ll not abandon his own work halfway done.29800:18:28,540 –> 00:18:30,439He will bring it to completion.29900:18:30,439 –> 00:18:33,619I’m praying Paul says that God will sanctify you30000:18:33,619 –> 00:18:37,780and I know that he who has called you is faithful30100:18:37,780 –> 00:18:39,979and he will do it.30200:18:39,979 –> 00:18:44,040There will be a perfect, complete reflection30300:18:44,040 –> 00:18:47,339of the glory of Jesus Christ in you30400:18:47,339 –> 00:18:49,079and it will be the work of God30500:18:49,079 –> 00:18:52,300and it will be your everlasting joy.30600:18:53,660 –> 00:18:56,839But I want you to notice that the second request30700:18:57,880 –> 00:19:01,380relates I believe to justification.30800:19:01,380 –> 00:19:04,339The first to sanctification, the second to justification.30900:19:04,339 –> 00:19:06,339Look at this just for one moment with me.31000:19:07,300 –> 00:19:10,619May your whole spirit soul and body31100:19:10,619 –> 00:19:15,619be kept blameless at the coming31200:19:15,900 –> 00:19:19,939of our Lord Jesus Christ, kept blameless.31300:19:21,140 –> 00:19:24,619Now, look carefully at what he says.31400:19:24,619 –> 00:19:29,500He doesn’t say may God make you blameless.31500:19:30,459 –> 00:19:31,800He says may your whole spirit,31600:19:31,800 –> 00:19:35,060soul and body be kept blameless,31700:19:35,099 –> 00:19:37,459implying that that is the position you31800:19:37,459 –> 00:19:42,160are already in, kept blameless.31900:19:43,119 –> 00:19:47,099You say well, I don’t think that could be said for me.32000:19:47,099 –> 00:19:52,079I don’t feel, I’m so far from being a perfect Christian.32100:19:52,079 –> 00:19:55,660How could that possibly be said of me?32200:19:56,900 –> 00:19:58,359Well, look at what he says again.32300:19:58,359 –> 00:20:01,939He doesn’t say may you be kept sinless.32400:20:01,939 –> 00:20:05,479You and I are very far from being sinnerless.32500:20:05,479 –> 00:20:07,479That’s why every week when we gather in church32600:20:07,479 –> 00:20:09,160and surely every time we come before the Lord32700:20:09,160 –> 00:20:12,359personally in prayer, we have to confess our sins32800:20:12,359 –> 00:20:14,760because we all sin in many ways.32900:20:14,760 –> 00:20:16,920He doesn’t say may you be kept sinless,33000:20:16,920 –> 00:20:20,119he says may you be kept blameless.33100:20:20,119 –> 00:20:21,300What does that mean?33200:20:22,520 –> 00:20:26,400Well, I looked up the word blame in my dictionary.33300:20:26,400 –> 00:20:28,099And here’s what it says.33400:20:28,099 –> 00:20:29,040To blame.33500:20:29,219 –> 00:20:30,719To blame.33600:20:30,719 –> 00:20:35,619To find faults with, for an offense.33700:20:35,619 –> 00:20:40,619To fix responsibility on or to hold a person responsible.33800:20:45,319 –> 00:20:49,599Now folks, here is the very heart of the gospel.33900:20:51,060 –> 00:20:54,040We all sin in many ways.34000:20:55,040 –> 00:21:00,040But in Christ God has chosen not to fault you over that.34100:21:02,800 –> 00:21:05,979He has decided in his incredible Mercy34200:21:07,060 –> 00:21:11,420not to fix responsibility for that on you.34300:21:12,540 –> 00:21:14,319How could he do that?34400:21:15,140 –> 00:21:18,979Because he puts the blame for your sins34500:21:18,979 –> 00:21:21,280on his son, Jesus Christ.34600:21:22,280 –> 00:21:27,319God held Christ responsible for your sins.34700:21:28,020 –> 00:21:30,160He took the blame.34800:21:30,900 –> 00:21:33,239God faulted him.34900:21:34,000 –> 00:21:38,579He bore the wrath for you on the cross.35000:21:39,959 –> 00:21:42,380And Christian brother and sister35100:21:43,119 –> 00:21:47,439the reason that on the last day you will enter into heaven35200:21:47,680 –> 00:21:50,819is not because you are without sin35300:21:51,420 –> 00:21:54,819but because in Jesus Christ you are without blame35400:21:54,819 –> 00:21:59,640because the responsibility, the faulty has been placed on him35500:22:00,020 –> 00:22:04,859and what Paul is saying to us here is that God who placed that blame on Jesus35600:22:04,959 –> 00:22:08,520the God who moved that guilt, the God who faulted him35700:22:09,479 –> 00:22:10,979will keep you35800:22:11,859 –> 00:22:14,839so that at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ35900:22:14,839 –> 00:22:18,420you will be blameless not because you’re sinless36000:22:18,420 –> 00:22:24,020but because he took the fault for you36100:22:24,819 –> 00:22:27,099God reconciles us to himself how?36200:22:27,099 –> 00:22:31,459By not counting men’s sins against them36300:22:31,739 –> 00:22:33,959that is why Jesus Christ who never sinned36400:22:34,239 –> 00:22:36,500became sin for us so that in him36500:22:36,660 –> 00:22:39,900we should become the righteousness of God36600:22:40,239 –> 00:22:43,619now notice how these two things are so beautifully brought together36700:22:44,079 –> 00:22:45,579at the end of this letter36800:22:45,579 –> 00:22:48,739the security of the Christian believer36900:22:48,739 –> 00:22:51,660through justification in Christ God37000:22:51,660 –> 00:22:55,199counts you blameless and he keeps you37100:22:55,199 –> 00:22:57,900blameless and the growth of the37200:22:57,900 –> 00:22:58,920Christian believer through37300:22:59,300 –> 00:23:02,119sanctification in Christ God will37400:23:02,140 –> 00:23:04,140sanctify you through-and-through and37500:23:04,520 –> 00:23:06,219what God has joined together37600:23:06,219 –> 00:23:08,479justification and sanctification in37700:23:08,560 –> 00:23:12,599Jesus Christ let no one ever separate37800:23:13,319 –> 00:23:16,699so Paul says do not put out the37900:23:16,699 –> 00:23:18,520spirit’s fire38000:23:19,859 –> 00:23:21,979Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible38100:23:21,979 –> 00:23:23,640the final part of our series38200:23:23,640 –> 00:23:25,520Living Like There’s No Tomorrow38300:23:25,520 –> 00:23:27,739based on 1 Thessalonians chapter 538400:23:27,739 –> 00:23:29,739the message was called38500:23:29,739 –> 00:23:31,719the urgency of spiritual vitality38600:23:31,719 –> 00:23:33,939and if you missed any part of that message38700:23:33,939 –> 00:23:36,140or any of the previous messages in the series38800:23:36,140 –> 00:23:38,180they’re all on our website at38900:23:38,180 –> 00:23:40,319openthebible.org.uk39000:23:40,319 –> 00:23:41,400where you can listen to them39100:23:41,719 –> 00:23:43,140completely free of charge39200:23:43,140 –> 00:23:45,140they’re also available as a podcast39300:23:45,140 –> 00:23:47,140and those are on all the main podcast sites39400:23:47,140 –> 00:23:50,140search for Open The Bible UK39500:23:50,140 –> 00:23:51,859regular listeners will know that39600:23:51,859 –> 00:23:55,300Open the Bible is supported by our listeners39700:23:55,300 –> 00:23:57,140and if you already give to support39800:23:57,140 –> 00:23:59,140our work thank you so much39900:23:59,140 –> 00:24:00,900If you’d like to become one of our40000:24:00,900 –> 00:24:01,619supporters40100:24:01,619 –> 00:24:03,040here’s Open the Bible’s40200:24:03,040 –> 00:24:03,900Amanda Cunningham40300:24:03,900 –> 00:24:06,020to tell you about a special offer40400:24:06,020 –> 00:24:07,219Thanks David40500:24:07,219 –> 00:24:09,219our book of the month for October40600:24:09,540 –> 00:24:12,199Hallelujah by Dave and Sally Gobbett40700:24:12,199 –> 00:24:14,579a beautiful christmas devotional40800:24:14,579 –> 00:24:16,579inspired by Handel’s Messiah40900:24:16,579 –> 00:24:18,599and the words of Scripture41000:24:18,599 –> 00:24:20,599I read this devotional last advent41100:24:20,599 –> 00:24:21,459with my family41200:24:21,459 –> 00:24:23,459and found it a real blessing41300:24:23,579 –> 00:24:25,579Each day combines a short reflection41400:24:25,579 –> 00:24:27,579with a piece of the Hallelujah chorus41500:24:27,579 –> 00:24:28,219to listen to41600:24:28,880 –> 00:24:30,880You can receive your free copy41700:24:30,880 –> 00:24:32,479when you donate a one-off gift41800:24:32,479 –> 00:24:34,479of at least 60 pounds41900:24:34,479 –> 00:24:36,000or set up a new direct debit42000:24:36,000 –> 00:24:38,000of 5 pounds or more42100:24:38,439 –> 00:24:40,439Thank you so much for supporting the work42200:24:40,439 –> 00:24:41,939of Open the Bible UK42300:24:41,939 –> 00:24:43,939And please do remember to leave your name42400:24:43,939 –> 00:24:45,939and address when you donate42500:24:45,939 –> 00:24:47,939so that we know where to send your free book42600:24:47,939 –> 00:24:49,939Thanks Amanda42700:24:49,939 –> 00:24:51,939So our website address is42800:24:51,939 –> 00:24:53,939openthebible.org.uk42900:24:53,939 –> 00:24:55,939and there you’ll find full terms43000:24:55,939 –> 00:24:57,939and conditions and all the details43100:24:57,939 –> 00:24:59,680about this offer43200:24:59,680 –> 00:25:00,739for Open the Bible43300:25:00,739 –> 00:25:01,839and pastor Colin Smith43400:25:01,839 –> 00:25:02,579I’m David Pick43500:25:02,579 –> 00:25:04,099I’m glad you joined us today43600:25:04,099 –> 00:25:05,560and I hope to see you again43700:25:05,560 –> 00:25:07,900next time on Open the Bible43800:25:08,000 –> 00:25:18,119Music43900:25:18,119 –> 00:25:20,739sometimes we are motivated by guilt44000:25:20,739 –> 00:25:23,880sometimes we are motivated by pride44100:25:23,880 –> 00:25:25,959Discover what it means to be44200:25:25,959 –> 00:25:27,520motivated by the Gospel44300:25:27,520 –> 00:25:29,800That’s next time on Open the Bible