100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,040Our nation, as you know well, is200:00:05,040 –> 00:00:07,160deeply divided over issues of300:00:07,160 –> 00:00:10,520life, marriage, gender and400:00:10,520 –> 00:00:12,540increasingly will be divided,500:00:12,540 –> 00:00:14,520I believe, over issues relating to600:00:14,520 –> 00:00:16,719death as well.700:00:16,719 –> 00:00:20,020And so all over the country,800:00:20,020 –> 00:00:22,320many people are asking900:00:22,320 –> 00:00:25,000the question that is before us today.1000:00:25,000 –> 00:00:28,600What in the world are we to do?1100:00:29,180 –> 00:00:30,740welcome to Open the Bible1200:00:30,740 –> 00:00:32,200with Pastor Colin Smith.1300:00:32,200 –> 00:00:32,980I’m David Pick.1400:00:32,980 –> 00:00:34,400Glad you could be with us today.1500:00:34,400 –> 00:00:36,020And Colin, we’ve got to try and1600:00:36,020 –> 00:00:37,320answer that question.1700:00:37,320 –> 00:00:38,580What in the world1800:00:38,580 –> 00:00:40,279are we going to do?1900:00:40,279 –> 00:00:41,500Yeah, and I think first though,2000:00:41,500 –> 00:00:42,500we’ve got to feel the pain2100:00:42,500 –> 00:00:43,500of the question.2200:00:43,500 –> 00:00:45,980And I feel deeply grieved2300:00:45,980 –> 00:00:47,000over how divided2400:00:47,000 –> 00:00:48,139our country is.2500:00:48,139 –> 00:00:49,540And I think every thinking2600:00:49,540 –> 00:00:51,240Christian will feel the same.2700:00:51,240 –> 00:00:52,400How is it that we become2800:00:52,400 –> 00:00:55,180so polarised and so separated2900:00:55,180 –> 00:00:56,459from one another?3000:00:56,459 –> 00:00:58,080And then what are we to do about it?3100:00:58,119 –> 00:00:59,459I think Romans 123200:00:59,459 –> 00:01:01,119really speaks to that question.3300:01:01,119 –> 00:01:01,919We’re told there,3400:01:01,919 –> 00:01:04,820do not be overcome by evil,3500:01:04,820 –> 00:01:07,419but overcome evil with good.3600:01:07,419 –> 00:01:08,639And these words were written3700:01:08,639 –> 00:01:09,580by the Apostle Paul3800:01:09,580 –> 00:01:10,919to Christians in Rome3900:01:10,919 –> 00:01:12,680who were in a situation4000:01:12,680 –> 00:01:14,480that was really dark.4100:01:14,480 –> 00:01:16,400There was tremendous hostility4200:01:16,400 –> 00:01:18,080against Christian believers.4300:01:18,080 –> 00:01:19,440What were they to do?4400:01:19,440 –> 00:01:21,199Well, don’t be overcome4500:01:21,199 –> 00:01:21,800by the evil,4600:01:21,800 –> 00:01:22,839you’ve got to overcome4700:01:22,839 –> 00:01:23,839evil with good.4800:01:23,839 –> 00:01:25,220And the thing is in Romans 12,4900:01:25,220 –> 00:01:26,000he actually tells us5000:01:26,000 –> 00:01:27,279how to do that.5100:01:27,279 –> 00:01:29,160And the place that we begin5200:01:29,160 –> 00:01:30,919is let love be genuine.5300:01:30,919 –> 00:01:31,320And we’re going5400:01:31,320 –> 00:01:32,239to take a walk over5500:01:32,239 –> 00:01:33,360these next days5600:01:33,559 –> 00:01:34,919through Romans 125700:01:34,919 –> 00:01:35,879that lays out5800:01:35,879 –> 00:01:37,000step by step5900:01:37,000 –> 00:01:39,239how Christians are to respond6000:01:39,239 –> 00:01:40,440to a divided6100:01:40,639 –> 00:01:43,000and alienated culture6200:01:43,000 –> 00:01:44,400and not to be overcome6300:01:44,400 –> 00:01:44,879by evil,6400:01:44,879 –> 00:01:46,080but to overcome6500:01:46,080 –> 00:01:47,040evil with good.6600:01:47,040 –> 00:01:47,879So as you’ve heard,6700:01:47,879 –> 00:01:48,919we’re going to be looking6800:01:48,919 –> 00:01:51,300at Romans 12 today.6900:01:51,300 –> 00:01:52,360So I hope you’ll join us7000:01:52,360 –> 00:01:53,160in your Bible7100:01:53,160 –> 00:01:54,919as we begin the message7200:01:54,919 –> 00:01:56,919Overcoming evil with good.7300:01:56,959 –> 00:01:58,779Here’s Colin.7400:01:59,019 –> 00:02:00,279Well, good morning everyone.7500:02:00,279 –> 00:02:01,459If you would have your Bible7600:02:01,459 –> 00:02:03,800open at Romans and chapter 12,7700:02:03,800 –> 00:02:05,239I want to draw your attention7800:02:05,239 –> 00:02:07,519today to the last verse7900:02:07,519 –> 00:02:09,759that was read, verse 21.8000:02:09,759 –> 00:02:13,139Do not be overcome by evil,8100:02:13,139 –> 00:02:18,259but overcome evil with good.8200:02:18,259 –> 00:02:20,059Now, friends, you don’t need8300:02:20,059 –> 00:02:21,720me to tell you that8400:02:21,720 –> 00:02:23,320these are difficult days8500:02:23,320 –> 00:02:25,360for our country.8600:02:25,419 –> 00:02:27,240After years in which we8700:02:27,240 –> 00:02:29,399and many had hoped8800:02:29,399 –> 00:02:31,500there would be substantial8900:02:31,500 –> 00:02:34,800progress in regards to issues of race9000:02:34,800 –> 00:02:37,960We find ourselves in a circumstance9100:02:37,960 –> 00:02:39,559in which anger and tension9200:02:39,559 –> 00:02:41,199over these issues9300:02:41,199 –> 00:02:44,039are reaching a new intensity9400:02:44,039 –> 00:02:46,759loss of civility,9500:02:46,759 –> 00:02:48,800loss of manners9600:02:48,800 –> 00:02:50,960in public life9700:02:50,960 –> 00:02:53,000is producing a new kind of9800:02:53,279 –> 00:02:55,199meanness of spirit9900:02:55,199 –> 00:02:56,960that often makes life increasingly10000:02:56,960 –> 00:02:59,559unmanageable in the classroom10100:02:59,559 –> 00:03:01,520at work10200:03:01,520 –> 00:03:04,100and often in the home as well10300:03:04,100 –> 00:03:05,820One of our seniors10400:03:05,820 –> 00:03:07,119said to me recently10500:03:07,119 –> 00:03:08,779that she could not remember a time10600:03:08,779 –> 00:03:10,679in her entire life10700:03:10,679 –> 00:03:12,539where so many people10800:03:12,539 –> 00:03:14,339were so angry10900:03:14,339 –> 00:03:16,960so much of the time11000:03:16,960 –> 00:03:19,300and on top of this11100:03:19,300 –> 00:03:21,479the shared sense of right and wrong11200:03:21,660 –> 00:03:23,419that has really bound our11300:03:23,419 –> 00:03:25,660people together over centuries11400:03:25,660 –> 00:03:28,539um seems to have been discarded11500:03:28,539 –> 00:03:32,779and in large measure swept away11600:03:32,779 –> 00:03:34,139Our nation, as you know well,11700:03:34,139 –> 00:03:36,139is deeply divided over issues11800:03:36,139 –> 00:03:39,380of life, marriage, gender11900:03:39,380 –> 00:03:41,720and increasingly will be divided12000:03:41,720 –> 00:03:43,199I believe over issues12100:03:43,199 –> 00:03:46,399relating to death as well12200:03:46,399 –> 00:03:49,020Having lost the sense12300:03:49,059 –> 00:03:50,740of living under the authority12400:03:50,740 –> 00:03:53,199of God, our culture now sees12500:03:53,199 –> 00:03:54,720fit to take the great issues12600:03:54,720 –> 00:03:56,279of life into its own hands12700:03:56,279 –> 00:03:59,220and do with them as it pleases12800:03:59,220 –> 00:04:02,699and so all over the country12900:04:02,699 –> 00:04:04,800many people are asking13000:04:04,800 –> 00:04:06,619the question that is before us13100:04:06,619 –> 00:04:09,500today, what in the world13200:04:09,500 –> 00:04:12,000are we to do?13300:04:12,000 –> 00:04:15,179What in the world13400:04:15,179 –> 00:04:18,000are believing people13500:04:18,160 –> 00:04:22,619to do in days like these?13600:04:22,619 –> 00:04:23,720Now friends, the answer13700:04:23,720 –> 00:04:25,500to that question is found13800:04:25,500 –> 00:04:28,100in Romans and Chapter 12.13900:04:28,100 –> 00:04:29,660These verses that are before us14000:04:29,660 –> 00:04:31,540for the next two months14100:04:31,540 –> 00:04:33,739describe what God’s people14200:04:33,739 –> 00:04:37,179are to do when we find ourselves14300:04:37,179 –> 00:04:38,899surrounded by an increasing14400:04:38,899 –> 00:04:41,519tide of evil.14500:04:41,519 –> 00:04:42,920So, over these next weeks14600:04:42,920 –> 00:04:44,420we’re going to be camping out14700:04:44,420 –> 00:04:46,059in the second half of Romans14800:04:46,279 –> 00:04:47,359and Chapter 12,14900:04:47,359 –> 00:04:48,839and my prayer for this series15000:04:48,839 –> 00:04:49,839is threefold.15100:04:49,839 –> 00:04:51,000The first is that God15200:04:51,000 –> 00:04:53,420will use His Word over these weeks15300:04:53,420 –> 00:04:55,700to calm our fears,15400:04:56,640 –> 00:04:58,959to renew our hope,15500:04:58,959 –> 00:05:00,619and to strengthen our resolve,15600:05:00,619 –> 00:05:02,160these three things.15700:05:02,160 –> 00:05:03,660Now, these verses from15800:05:03,660 –> 00:05:05,040Romans and Chapter 1215900:05:05,040 –> 00:05:05,859have really come to me16000:05:05,859 –> 00:05:07,459with fresh force16100:05:07,459 –> 00:05:09,859as I have studied16200:05:09,859 –> 00:05:12,260the historical background16300:05:12,260 –> 00:05:13,480of the Book of Romans.16400:05:13,480 –> 00:05:14,679Now, I just said the word16500:05:14,739 –> 00:05:15,619historical,16600:05:15,619 –> 00:05:17,859and I know that for some of you16700:05:17,859 –> 00:05:19,299the very word historical16800:05:19,299 –> 00:05:21,279make your eyes glaze over,16900:05:21,279 –> 00:05:22,160make you think it’s time17000:05:22,160 –> 00:05:23,380to reach for the cellphone.17100:05:23,380 –> 00:05:25,619Please, please don’t do that.17200:05:25,619 –> 00:05:27,579Please, please don’t do that.17300:05:27,579 –> 00:05:28,540Cut me a bit of slack,17400:05:28,540 –> 00:05:29,380give me a bit of trust17500:05:29,380 –> 00:05:31,519for just a few minutes this morning17600:05:31,519 –> 00:05:35,260because when you see17700:05:36,160 –> 00:05:37,980what was going on17800:05:38,820 –> 00:05:40,339when the Holy Spirit17900:05:40,339 –> 00:05:41,720moved the Apostle Paul18000:05:41,779 –> 00:05:44,760to write to Christians in Rome,18100:05:44,760 –> 00:05:46,720the book of Romans,18200:05:46,720 –> 00:05:47,679you will see,18300:05:47,679 –> 00:05:48,519I believe,18400:05:48,519 –> 00:05:50,420in a new way,18500:05:50,420 –> 00:05:53,000the power and the relevance18600:05:53,000 –> 00:05:53,940of these verses18700:05:53,940 –> 00:05:55,119that are going to be before us18800:05:55,119 –> 00:05:56,760over these next weeks,18900:05:56,760 –> 00:05:57,600and you will say19000:05:57,600 –> 00:05:59,059it is as if this was written19100:05:59,059 –> 00:06:00,820just for us at this time,19200:06:00,820 –> 00:06:01,660which of course,19300:06:01,660 –> 00:06:03,059all of the word of God is.19400:06:04,399 –> 00:06:05,239Now on the screen19500:06:05,239 –> 00:06:07,339you will see a timeline19600:06:07,339 –> 00:06:08,320showing the years19700:06:08,320 –> 00:06:09,600following the birth, life, death,19800:06:09,600 –> 00:06:10,440and resurrection19900:06:10,440 –> 00:06:12,760of the Lord Jesus Christ.20000:06:12,760 –> 00:06:14,799During the first 70 years20100:06:14,799 –> 00:06:16,519of the first century,20200:06:16,519 –> 00:06:19,640there were five Roman emperors.20300:06:19,640 –> 00:06:20,480The first of these20400:06:20,480 –> 00:06:22,079was Augustus20500:06:22,079 –> 00:06:23,679referred to in Luke’s Gospel,20600:06:23,679 –> 00:06:24,799chapter two and verse one,20700:06:24,799 –> 00:06:25,959read every Christmas,20800:06:25,959 –> 00:06:28,660in those days a decree went out20900:06:28,660 –> 00:06:30,480from Caesar Agustus21000:06:30,480 –> 00:06:31,760that all the world21100:06:31,760 –> 00:06:33,980should be registered.21200:06:33,980 –> 00:06:35,059After Augustus,21300:06:35,059 –> 00:06:36,359there was Tiberius,21400:06:36,359 –> 00:06:37,339and we read about him21500:06:37,339 –> 00:06:38,299in Luke’s Gospel21600:06:38,359 –> 00:06:40,059in chapter three.21700:06:40,059 –> 00:06:43,859In the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar,21800:06:43,859 –> 00:06:45,019Luke records,21900:06:45,019 –> 00:06:47,239the word of God came to John the Baptist22000:06:47,239 –> 00:06:48,779out in the wilderness,22100:06:48,779 –> 00:06:50,959the 15th year of Tiberius22200:06:50,959 –> 00:06:55,119would have been the year 29 AD.22300:06:55,119 –> 00:06:56,059And that gives us22400:06:56,059 –> 00:06:58,019a clear date with regards22500:06:58,019 –> 00:07:00,899to the start of our Lord Jesus’ ministry,22600:07:00,899 –> 00:07:02,519which of course followed immediately22700:07:02,519 –> 00:07:05,559after the ministry of John the Baptist.22800:07:05,559 –> 00:07:10,559After Tiberius came four traumatic years22900:07:12,339 –> 00:07:14,160in which Rome was ruled23000:07:14,160 –> 00:07:16,279by the infamous Caligula.23100:07:17,399 –> 00:07:19,200And some months into Caligula’s reign23200:07:19,200 –> 00:07:21,160he contracted an illness23300:07:21,160 –> 00:07:23,799that seems to have affected him very deeply23400:07:23,799 –> 00:07:26,239and turned him into a tyrant23500:07:26,239 –> 00:07:29,839who was increasingly losing his mind.23600:07:29,839 –> 00:07:31,940Caligula ordered that an altar23700:07:31,940 –> 00:07:33,839should be built for himself.23800:07:33,880 –> 00:07:37,839He thought of himself as being a god.23900:07:37,839 –> 00:07:39,260The Roman historian,24000:07:39,260 –> 00:07:41,679this is secular Roman historian,24100:07:41,679 –> 00:07:46,679Sutonius, he records how Caligula ordered24200:07:47,640 –> 00:07:50,440that all of the statues of the gods24300:07:50,440 –> 00:07:54,119from around the Empire should be brought back to Rome24400:07:54,119 –> 00:07:57,320and that whatever image was on the face,24500:07:57,320 –> 00:08:00,160that the head should be cut off all the statues24600:08:00,160 –> 00:08:02,899and a new head should be put on each statue24700:08:02,959 –> 00:08:05,299that was his own image.24800:08:05,299 –> 00:08:08,619He had a temple built and there was a golden statue24900:08:08,619 –> 00:08:12,019in the temple that was an entire image of himself25000:08:12,019 –> 00:08:16,739and he had servants dressed that image25100:08:16,739 –> 00:08:20,059in precisely a replica of the clothes25200:08:20,059 –> 00:08:22,000that the Emperor was wearing on25300:08:22,000 –> 00:08:24,779that particular day, can you imagine being that servant?25400:08:24,779 –> 00:08:25,940What’s he wearing today?25500:08:25,940 –> 00:08:27,119We’ve got to get a replica.25600:08:27,119 –> 00:08:28,679We’ve got to put it on this statue.25700:08:28,679 –> 00:08:29,519Extraordinary.25800:08:30,519 –> 00:08:33,340Many of you are aware, and we don’t need the details25900:08:33,340 –> 00:08:37,140about Caligula’s excesses and his indulgence.26000:08:37,140 –> 00:08:40,940He was notorious in regards to the orgies26100:08:40,940 –> 00:08:43,880that he held in the imperial palace26200:08:43,880 –> 00:08:47,340and when it came to money, nobody could spend26300:08:47,340 –> 00:08:50,580the money of the state like Caligula did.26400:08:50,580 –> 00:08:53,739In fact, Suetonius records that he had a saying26500:08:53,739 –> 00:08:56,059that he repeated often.26600:08:56,080 –> 00:08:58,099Now think about this, he said,26700:08:58,099 –> 00:09:03,099a man ought either to be a good economist or an emperor.26800:09:07,219 –> 00:09:11,200Now, you think, a man should be a good economist26900:09:11,200 –> 00:09:14,919in order to be an emperor, but that wasn’t Caligula.27000:09:14,919 –> 00:09:17,719He said, oh, let the economist talk and write all they want.27100:09:17,719 –> 00:09:21,219I’m an emperor, I’ll spend as much as I want and he did.27200:09:22,179 –> 00:09:23,000Extraordinary.27300:09:24,539 –> 00:09:26,820Spent all of the assets27400:09:26,820 –> 00:09:29,780that had been passed on from Tiberius,27500:09:29,780 –> 00:09:31,239who had a very different policy27600:09:31,239 –> 00:09:32,419and a very different character27700:09:32,419 –> 00:09:35,659in a very short space of time.27800:09:36,619 –> 00:09:38,979Now these four years were a nightmare for Rome27900:09:38,979 –> 00:09:40,919and a huge relief to the people28000:09:40,919 –> 00:09:43,059when finally this man was assassinated28100:09:43,059 –> 00:09:46,580by two men members of his own guard.28200:09:46,580 –> 00:09:49,099After Caligula came Claudius,28300:09:49,179 –> 00:09:53,460who is referred to in Acts 18 in verse two,28400:09:53,460 –> 00:09:55,340where we read about a married couple,28500:09:55,340 –> 00:09:57,299Aquila and Priscilla,28600:09:57,299 –> 00:09:59,460who moved to Corinth from Italy.28700:09:59,460 –> 00:10:01,119And the reason they moved was28800:10:01,119 –> 00:10:03,599the scripture tells us that Claudius28900:10:03,599 –> 00:10:06,840had commanded all of the Jews to leave Rome.29000:10:06,840 –> 00:10:07,900This was the Great Edict.29100:10:07,900 –> 00:10:11,219The Jews were all expelled from Rome during his time.29200:10:11,219 –> 00:10:13,919And there are for sure plenty of hearraising stories29300:10:13,919 –> 00:10:16,280that could be told about Claudius.29400:10:16,280 –> 00:10:18,619But relative to what came before29500:10:18,679 –> 00:10:21,340and certainly relative to what came after,29600:10:21,340 –> 00:10:24,780he was something of a relief.29700:10:24,780 –> 00:10:26,960Because the next emperor of Rome29800:10:26,960 –> 00:10:30,280was a man by the name of Nero.29900:10:30,280 –> 00:10:31,799Yeah, Nero.30000:10:31,799 –> 00:10:34,799Nero came to power in the year 54 AD.30100:10:34,799 –> 00:10:36,700He ruled for 15 years30200:10:36,700 –> 00:10:40,500until he took his own life at the age of 32.30300:10:41,919 –> 00:10:44,159Three things to know about Nero.30400:10:44,159 –> 00:10:45,159Number one,30500:10:45,960 –> 00:10:48,239he had a good singing voice.30600:10:48,239 –> 00:10:50,039To the astonishment of the Senate30700:10:50,039 –> 00:10:51,299and their consternation,30800:10:51,299 –> 00:10:53,599he would enter these singing competitions30900:10:53,599 –> 00:10:55,400which would you be surprised to know,31000:10:55,400 –> 00:10:57,200he always won.31100:10:57,200 –> 00:11:00,000If you’re on the jury for a singing competition,31200:11:00,000 –> 00:11:01,380I vote for Nero, you know?31300:11:03,080 –> 00:11:05,799Then he moved to his own stage31400:11:05,799 –> 00:11:07,760and put on his own concerts,31500:11:07,760 –> 00:11:10,880featuring himself in which the audiences31600:11:10,880 –> 00:11:12,900were effectively locked in.31700:11:13,140 –> 00:11:16,700And some of Perunia’s stuff on this is hilarious.31800:11:16,700 –> 00:11:20,179He says many of the spectators31900:11:20,179 –> 00:11:22,900being quite wearied,32000:11:22,900 –> 00:11:25,219with hearing and applauding him,32100:11:25,219 –> 00:11:26,859you know, they had to keep going all the time32200:11:26,859 –> 00:11:28,619after every number.32300:11:28,619 –> 00:11:31,559Because the town gates were shut,32400:11:31,559 –> 00:11:35,099they slipped away privately over the walls32500:11:35,099 –> 00:11:38,020or counterfeited themselves dead32600:11:38,020 –> 00:11:39,719in order to be carried out.32700:11:39,719 –> 00:11:42,200I mean, you know, you’re so desperate,32800:11:42,359 –> 00:11:43,940how am I ever going to get out of here?32900:11:43,940 –> 00:11:45,599And this guy won’t let me leave.33000:11:45,599 –> 00:11:48,159And let me just, you know,33100:11:48,159 –> 00:11:50,780let the ushers carry me out if they think I’m dead.33200:11:50,780 –> 00:11:53,140And the arrogance of this man33300:11:53,140 –> 00:11:55,640and the self obsession,33400:11:55,640 –> 00:11:58,539he was of course also a man of extraordinary cruelty.33500:11:58,539 –> 00:12:01,820He arranged for the murder of his first wife,33600:12:01,820 –> 00:12:05,159of his aunt and also of his own mother.33700:12:05,159 –> 00:12:07,659Three times attempted to poison her33800:12:07,659 –> 00:12:08,700and failed each time,33900:12:08,700 –> 00:12:10,659apparently, she’d the antidote.34000:12:10,700 –> 00:12:12,539He ordered on one occasion34100:12:12,539 –> 00:12:16,539that the floor above where her bedroom was34200:12:16,539 –> 00:12:19,059should be weakened in order that34300:12:19,059 –> 00:12:22,020the ceiling would collapse on her and kill her.34400:12:22,020 –> 00:12:22,859And that didn’t work.34500:12:22,859 –> 00:12:24,940He ordered that a ship on which he was sailing34600:12:24,940 –> 00:12:25,820would be wrecked,34700:12:25,820 –> 00:12:27,059and that didn’t work either34800:12:27,059 –> 00:12:30,820and finally her life was taken after all these attempts.34900:12:32,940 –> 00:12:36,059Nero was married, over a period of 15 years,35000:12:36,099 –> 00:12:40,820five times to three women and to two men.35100:12:42,140 –> 00:12:46,619Suetonius speaks about spores and says they said,35200:12:46,619 –> 00:12:51,059quote he even went so far as to marry him35300:12:51,059 –> 00:12:55,440with all the usual formalities of a wedding settlement35400:12:55,440 –> 00:12:58,419when the ceremony was over he had him conducted35500:12:58,419 –> 00:13:03,419like a bride to his own house and treated him as his wife.35600:13:03,780 –> 00:13:07,659This spores he carried about with him dressed35700:13:07,659 –> 00:13:09,020that his spores was dressed35800:13:09,020 –> 00:13:12,840in the rich attire of an Empress35900:13:12,840 –> 00:13:17,840kissing him from time to time as they rode together.36000:13:18,599 –> 00:13:22,400Suetonius was of course a secular historian36100:13:22,400 –> 00:13:25,260no friend of Christianity whatsoever36200:13:25,260 –> 00:13:28,739but he the secular historian sums up Nero’s life36300:13:28,739 –> 00:13:32,400in these words the whole of his life36400:13:33,380 –> 00:13:38,719was one continued scene of lewdness,36500:13:39,419 –> 00:13:44,419sensuality, cruelty, and folly.36600:13:45,760 –> 00:13:47,000Now that is what was happening36700:13:47,000 –> 00:13:50,859according to the secular historian in Rome at that time.36800:13:50,859 –> 00:13:53,440You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith36900:13:53,440 –> 00:13:56,440and we’ve got to pause the message briefly there37000:13:56,440 –> 00:13:58,219but we’ll be back shortly.37100:13:58,219 –> 00:14:01,260The message is called Overcoming Evil with Good37200:14:01,280 –> 00:14:02,960and it’s part of our new series37300:14:02,960 –> 00:14:05,440so I hope you’ll be able to stay with us.37400:14:05,440 –> 00:14:07,039If you ever miss any of the series37500:14:07,039 –> 00:14:08,599or if you want to go back and listen again37600:14:08,599 –> 00:14:10,520you can do that by coming online37700:14:10,520 –> 00:14:14,020to our website, openthebible.org.uk37800:14:14,020 –> 00:14:16,219and you can also find us as a podcast37900:14:16,219 –> 00:14:18,979and those are on all the main podcast sites.38000:14:18,979 –> 00:14:21,359Open the Bible is supported by our listeners38100:14:21,359 –> 00:14:22,820and this month if you’re considering38200:14:22,820 –> 00:14:26,440supporting Open The Bible financially for the first time38300:14:26,440 –> 00:14:29,820with a direct debit of five pounds per month or more38400:14:29,820 –> 00:14:32,760or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more38500:14:32,760 –> 00:14:35,119we’d love to say thank you by sending you38600:14:35,119 –> 00:14:38,099a copy of the classic Christian book38700:14:38,099 –> 00:14:40,679Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan.38800:14:40,679 –> 00:14:42,059It’s written in modern English38900:14:42,059 –> 00:14:43,960so it’s easy to understand39000:14:43,960 –> 00:14:46,280and I’ll be talking to Open The Bible’s39100:14:46,280 –> 00:14:47,900Amanda Cunningham later in the programme39200:14:47,900 –> 00:14:49,739so I hope you’ll stay with us for that.39300:14:49,739 –> 00:14:50,799Back to the message now39400:14:50,799 –> 00:14:53,299we’re in Romans 12, here’s Colin.39500:14:53,299 –> 00:14:56,280Now let’s put the key events of the story39600:14:56,479 –> 00:14:59,940of the church onto this timeline.39700:14:59,940 –> 00:15:02,340Pentecost that great day when the Holy Spirit39800:15:02,340 –> 00:15:04,020was poured out on the church39900:15:04,020 –> 00:15:05,380and the people of God40000:15:05,380 –> 00:15:07,640the church in the true sense was born40100:15:07,640 –> 00:15:11,039that was the year 33 AD.40200:15:11,039 –> 00:15:14,200The events then that are covered by the book of acts40300:15:14,200 –> 00:15:16,700cover the next 30 years40400:15:16,700 –> 00:15:19,359and therefore they were in large measures40500:15:19,359 –> 00:15:21,299set against the background40600:15:21,299 –> 00:15:24,380of the reigns of Caligula and Claudius40700:15:24,380 –> 00:15:26,159and Nero himself.40800:15:26,739 –> 00:15:28,619The book of Romans was written40900:15:28,619 –> 00:15:30,140when Paul was in Corinth41000:15:30,140 –> 00:15:34,659in the winter of AD 56-5741100:15:34,659 –> 00:15:36,820and so when you read Romans 1241200:15:36,820 –> 00:15:40,460you are reading the word that God gave to Paul41300:15:40,460 –> 00:15:43,340by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit41400:15:43,340 –> 00:15:45,500when Nero was emperor41500:15:46,919 –> 00:15:48,099And it’s very significant41600:15:48,099 –> 00:15:50,119especially when you read Romans 1341700:15:50,119 –> 00:15:52,020where the word of God speaks about41800:15:52,020 –> 00:15:53,619submitting to governing authorities41900:15:53,619 –> 00:15:55,539that that word was given and spoken42000:15:55,539 –> 00:15:57,900to Christians in Rome in the time of Nero42100:16:00,159 –> 00:16:03,440Shortly after the book of Romans was written42200:16:03,440 –> 00:16:07,219false charges were brought against the apostle Paul42300:16:07,219 –> 00:16:09,440in a place called Caesarea42400:16:09,440 –> 00:16:11,539and he was arrested42500:16:11,539 –> 00:16:14,400serious charges that people wanted42600:16:14,400 –> 00:16:17,419that the death penalty should be applied to him42700:16:17,419 –> 00:16:18,659they wanted to stop him42800:16:18,659 –> 00:16:20,219from preaching the gospel42900:16:21,099 –> 00:16:23,539But Paul was a Roman citizen43000:16:23,640 –> 00:16:27,119And so any Roman citizen who was charged with a crime43100:16:27,119 –> 00:16:30,799had the right of appeal to be tried in Rome itself43200:16:30,799 –> 00:16:32,619rather than in one of the provinces43300:16:32,619 –> 00:16:34,539that had been conquered by Rome43400:16:35,200 –> 00:16:37,700And so having been arrested43500:16:37,700 –> 00:16:39,340the Apostle Paul said43600:16:39,340 –> 00:16:41,739and this is recorded in Acts 2543700:16:41,739 –> 00:16:44,159I appeal to Caesar43800:16:44,900 –> 00:16:47,700And the local governor man by the name of Festus43900:16:47,700 –> 00:16:50,059said to him well to Caesar you have appealed44000:16:50,059 –> 00:16:51,900and to Caesar you will go44100:16:52,359 –> 00:16:54,580So you can read this at the end of the book of Acts44200:16:54,580 –> 00:16:55,719What followed was that44300:16:55,719 –> 00:16:59,039Paul was taken by an armed guard on a ship44400:16:59,039 –> 00:17:01,380to Rome the ship got shipwrecked44500:17:01,380 –> 00:17:03,760but finally in the last chapter of Acts44600:17:03,760 –> 00:17:08,280the Apostle Paul actually arrives in Rome itself44700:17:08,699 –> 00:17:13,099And the book of Acts ends with two years44800:17:13,099 –> 00:17:15,479in which we are told Paul was effectively44900:17:15,479 –> 00:17:18,339under a kind of house arrest in Rome45000:17:18,420 –> 00:17:23,839and these would have been the years 60 and 6145100:17:24,140 –> 00:17:25,819Two years after that45200:17:25,819 –> 00:17:29,420we know that the Apostle Peter was in Rome45300:17:29,420 –> 00:17:32,359and while he was there he wrote45400:17:32,359 –> 00:17:34,160what we have in the New Testament45500:17:34,160 –> 00:17:36,660the first letter of Peter45600:17:36,660 –> 00:17:38,000And moved by the Holy Spirit45700:17:38,000 –> 00:17:41,939while he was in Rome he writes these words45800:17:41,939 –> 00:17:43,119Chapter 4 and verse 1245900:17:43,119 –> 00:17:46,099Do not be surprised46000:17:46,119 –> 00:17:48,859at the fiery trial46100:17:49,180 –> 00:17:52,520when it comes upon you to test you46200:17:52,520 –> 00:17:55,680Now he speaks prophetically there surely46300:17:55,680 –> 00:17:58,119The fiery trial when it comes upon you46400:17:58,119 –> 00:18:00,739There’s gonna be a fiery trial, he says46500:18:01,900 –> 00:18:03,959That’s AD 6346600:18:03,959 –> 00:18:05,859What happened one year later?46700:18:05,859 –> 00:18:07,380The great fire of Rome46800:18:07,380 –> 00:18:09,660Rome the whole city set ablaze46900:18:09,660 –> 00:18:13,380And the Roman historian Tacitus records47000:18:13,459 –> 00:18:16,000There were fourteen precincts in the city47100:18:16,099 –> 00:18:19,060Only four of them were unaffected47200:18:19,079 –> 00:18:22,099The rest of the city, utterly devastated47300:18:22,579 –> 00:18:25,140And Tacitus also records that47400:18:25,140 –> 00:18:27,099at the very time that Rome burned47500:18:27,099 –> 00:18:30,020Nero got on his platform and was singing47600:18:30,560 –> 00:18:31,959He was happy about this47700:18:32,140 –> 00:18:32,839Why?47800:18:32,839 –> 00:18:35,180Because the fire was giving the opportunity47900:18:35,180 –> 00:18:38,119for the building of a grander and more glorious city48000:18:39,520 –> 00:18:41,160And that’s, by the way, where you get48100:18:41,160 –> 00:18:43,060the phrase fiddling while Rome burns48200:18:43,060 –> 00:18:46,339because he was rejoicing while the city was being destroyed48300:18:46,339 –> 00:18:47,680Extraordinary thing48400:18:48,819 –> 00:18:50,859Now, of course, people perceived48500:18:50,859 –> 00:18:52,400and quickly got that48600:18:52,400 –> 00:18:55,339actually Nero himself was behind the fire48700:18:55,339 –> 00:18:57,319and that was widely believed48800:18:57,319 –> 00:18:59,640and widely spread around48900:18:59,819 –> 00:19:02,500And so Nero needed a scapegoat49000:19:02,500 –> 00:19:06,660someone else to blame for starting this fire49100:19:06,900 –> 00:19:10,079And the scapegoat that he chose was49200:19:10,859 –> 00:19:12,020Christians49300:19:13,219 –> 00:19:15,319Now the Roman historian Tacitus49400:19:15,319 –> 00:19:17,359again, no friend of Christianity49500:19:17,359 –> 00:19:20,040records, and I quote, his exact words49600:19:20,939 –> 00:19:23,939To scotch the rumour49700:19:23,939 –> 00:19:26,900Nero substituted as culprits49800:19:26,900 –> 00:19:31,219and punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty49900:19:31,219 –> 00:19:35,579a class of men whom the crowd styled50000:19:35,579 –> 00:19:38,239Christians50100:19:38,780 –> 00:19:42,780Christus, from whom they got their name50200:19:43,040 –> 00:19:48,520had been executed by the sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate50300:19:48,520 –> 00:19:51,319when Tiberius was the Emperor50400:19:52,060 –> 00:19:56,680First then, those who confessed themselves christians were arrested50500:19:57,420 –> 00:19:59,939Next, on their disclosures50600:19:59,939 –> 00:20:03,760a vast multitude were convicted50700:20:04,640 –> 00:20:08,859Not so much on the charge of arson50800:20:09,540 –> 00:20:11,760because of course there wasn’t any evidence whatsoever50900:20:11,760 –> 00:20:13,300that any of them had been involved in the fire51000:20:13,300 –> 00:20:14,300None of them were51100:20:15,680 –> 00:20:19,319A vast multitude of them were convicted51200:20:19,319 –> 00:20:22,719not so much on the charge of arson51300:20:22,719 –> 00:20:27,900but for hatred of the human race51400:20:29,099 –> 00:20:33,040Oh, Any echoes coming to your mind there?51500:20:34,219 –> 00:20:38,119You see, the Christians weren’t going in the direction of the culture51600:20:38,119 –> 00:20:39,939And so what did the culture say about them?51700:20:39,939 –> 00:20:41,599You folks must be haters51800:20:43,420 –> 00:20:46,099You must just be people who hate everyone else51900:20:47,459 –> 00:20:49,719You must be haters of the human race52000:20:49,719 –> 00:20:51,079And if you’re haters of the human race52100:20:51,079 –> 00:20:53,199there’s no place for you here in the human race52200:20:55,219 –> 00:20:56,579I continue to quote Tacitus52300:20:56,579 –> 00:20:58,699Their death was made a matter of sport52400:20:59,859 –> 00:21:02,260They were covered in wild beast skins52500:21:02,260 –> 00:21:04,339and torn to pieces by dogs52600:21:04,339 –> 00:21:06,560or were fastened to crosses52700:21:06,880 –> 00:21:11,520and set on fire in order to serve as torches by night when daylight failed52800:21:12,260 –> 00:21:13,079Hence52900:21:14,040 –> 00:21:16,660And this is Tacitus, the Roman historian53000:21:16,660 –> 00:21:19,939hence there arose a feeling of pity53100:21:19,939 –> 00:21:23,099Ordinary people had pity towards Christians53200:21:23,099 –> 00:21:28,079because it was felt that they were being sacrificed53300:21:28,079 –> 00:21:29,739not for the common good53400:21:30,959 –> 00:21:35,439but to gratify the savagery of one man53500:21:36,319 –> 00:21:39,599Now notice how quickly the world changed for Christians53600:21:39,599 –> 00:21:42,079in the late 50’s Paul could say53700:21:42,079 –> 00:21:44,920I appeal to Caesar and be very confident53800:21:44,920 –> 00:21:47,079that if he was in Rome53900:21:47,079 –> 00:21:49,660even under a bad emperor54000:21:49,660 –> 00:21:52,640the Roman system of justice was sufficiently strong54100:21:52,640 –> 00:21:56,060that it could protect his liberty to preach the gospel54200:21:56,760 –> 00:21:57,900So he said, I’ll be tried there54300:21:57,900 –> 00:21:59,219I’ll get a fair trial there54400:22:00,660 –> 00:22:02,319Within about six years54500:22:02,319 –> 00:22:05,260five or six years of the Apostle Paul saying that54600:22:05,380 –> 00:22:06,300What do you have?54700:22:06,300 –> 00:22:08,780You have Christians being thrown into the lion’s in Rome54800:22:10,099 –> 00:22:11,979And here’s where it comes home for us today54900:22:11,979 –> 00:22:14,000because you’ll have heard many resonances55000:22:14,000 –> 00:22:15,839in the account that I’ve given to you55100:22:15,839 –> 00:22:18,160When you find yourself saying55200:22:18,160 –> 00:22:21,160it seems that our freedoms are under threat55300:22:22,560 –> 00:22:24,959When you find yourself saying55400:22:24,959 –> 00:22:26,959the morality as we have known it55500:22:26,959 –> 00:22:29,099seems to be swept away55600:22:29,099 –> 00:22:30,439remember this friends55700:22:30,439 –> 00:22:32,959Christians have been here before55800:22:33,180 –> 00:22:36,560the Church has been here before55900:22:36,560 –> 00:22:37,280and you know what56000:22:37,280 –> 00:22:39,079the Church is alive and well today56100:22:39,079 –> 00:22:40,880and the Roman Empire is not56200:22:41,500 –> 00:22:42,680remember that56300:22:43,199 –> 00:22:45,000you’ve been listening to Open the Bible56400:22:45,000 –> 00:22:46,280with Pastor Colin Smith56500:22:46,280 –> 00:22:47,380and a message called56600:22:47,380 –> 00:22:49,420Overcoming evil with good56700:22:49,839 –> 00:22:51,339we’ve been looking at the first56800:22:51,339 –> 00:22:53,69970 years of the timeline of history56900:22:53,699 –> 00:22:56,780after Christ in the Roman Empire57000:22:56,780 –> 00:22:58,839and when we come back next time57100:22:58,839 –> 00:23:00,260we’ll look at the same period57200:23:00,260 –> 00:23:01,880through the lens of the Church57300:23:02,020 –> 00:23:04,140and next time we’ll look at two possibilities57400:23:04,140 –> 00:23:05,699to be overcome by evil57500:23:05,699 –> 00:23:08,380or how to overcome evil with good57600:23:08,380 –> 00:23:10,280that’s exactly what Jesus did57700:23:10,280 –> 00:23:12,780and we’ll see how he did that57800:23:12,780 –> 00:23:15,819and what good he used to overcome that evil57900:23:15,819 –> 00:23:18,040so I hope you’ll join us for that program58000:23:18,900 –> 00:23:20,099at Open the Bible58100:23:20,099 –> 00:23:21,959we welcome contact with our listeners58200:23:21,959 –> 00:23:23,020if you’ve been blessed58300:23:23,020 –> 00:23:25,140by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching58400:23:25,140 –> 00:23:26,959and you’d like to reach out to us58500:23:26,959 –> 00:23:28,459you can write to us58600:23:28,459 –> 00:23:30,060at Open the Bible58700:23:30,060 –> 00:23:36,640at PO Box 1420 Cheltenham GL50 9PG58800:23:36,640 –> 00:23:38,839our address and telephone number58900:23:38,839 –> 00:23:41,900and email address are available on our website59000:23:41,900 –> 00:23:45,619openthebible.org.uk59100:23:45,619 –> 00:23:48,400Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners59200:23:48,400 –> 00:23:50,140and if that’s something you’re considering59300:23:50,140 –> 00:23:52,300doing in this new year for the first time59400:23:52,300 –> 00:23:54,900we have an offer that I hope you’ll like59500:23:54,900 –> 00:23:57,719if you’re able to set up a new Direct Debit59600:23:57,719 –> 00:23:59,260to the work of Open the Bible59700:23:59,300 –> 00:24:01,920in the amount of £5 per month, or more59800:24:01,920 –> 00:24:04,680or a one off gift of £50, or more59900:24:04,680 –> 00:24:07,479we’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy60000:24:07,479 –> 00:24:09,219of the classic book60100:24:09,219 –> 00:24:11,859Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan60200:24:11,859 –> 00:24:15,920Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham with details60300:24:15,920 –> 00:24:17,819We’re thrilled to be able to give away60400:24:17,819 –> 00:24:21,640a free Open the Bible UK pen, bookmark60500:24:21,640 –> 00:24:25,180and an updated copy of the timeless classic60600:24:25,180 –> 00:24:28,319The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan60700:24:28,640 –> 00:24:31,400I honestly believe this book will inspire you60800:24:31,400 –> 00:24:33,119and give you hope60900:24:33,119 –> 00:24:36,699even if you’re currently going through a difficult time61000:24:36,699 –> 00:24:39,140so we would love to send you these free gifts61100:24:39,140 –> 00:24:43,300both to encourage you and to say thank you for your donation61200:24:43,300 –> 00:24:46,319So this book Pilgrims Progress is a gift to you61300:24:46,319 –> 00:24:48,780if you’re able to set up a new direct debit61400:24:48,780 –> 00:24:50,819to the work of Open the Bible61500:24:50,819 –> 00:24:53,500in the amount of £5 per month, or more61600:24:53,500 –> 00:24:56,920or a one off gift of £50 or more this month61700:24:57,000 –> 00:25:00,380Full terms and conditions and details are on our website61800:25:00,380 –> 00:25:04,000that’s at openthebible.org.uk61900:25:04,000 –> 00:25:06,459For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith62000:25:06,459 –> 00:25:09,920I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time62100:25:16,079 –> 00:25:18,040For the man or woman of God62200:25:18,040 –> 00:25:22,040there are two possibilities when confronted by evil62300:25:22,040 –> 00:25:25,199Find out what they are next time on Open The Bible