100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,140When you are in Christ,200:00:05,140 –> 00:00:10,380you stand not only in an entirely new relationship with God,300:00:10,380 –> 00:00:14,980but also you stand in an entirely new relationship with sin.400:00:14,980 –> 00:00:17,280Sin used to be your master.500:00:17,280 –> 00:00:20,700It used to reign over you.600:00:20,700 –> 00:00:24,700But now you have died to the reign of sin.700:00:24,700 –> 00:00:27,700Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.800:00:27,700 –> 00:00:30,500I’m David Pick. Glad you could be with us today.900:00:30,500 –> 00:00:34,939Colin, many of us relate to the idea that we still have to deal with sin.1000:00:34,939 –> 00:00:37,939We understand that sin used to be our master1100:00:37,939 –> 00:00:41,480and maybe some of us feel as though it still is our master.1200:00:41,480 –> 00:00:45,080What does it really mean to die to the reign of sin?1300:00:45,080 –> 00:00:49,480For sin to reign over you, means, you’ve got to do what it says.1400:00:49,480 –> 00:00:51,980It’s your master. You’re under its authority.1500:00:51,980 –> 00:00:53,500You’re under its power.1600:00:53,500 –> 00:00:56,320When you’re a Christian, you’re no longer in that position.1700:00:56,459 –> 00:01:01,099Sin is still your enemy, but it is no longer your master.1800:01:01,099 –> 00:01:05,400Sin being your enemy means that you’re able to put up a fight.1900:01:05,400 –> 00:01:07,800You’re able to fight against it. It’s your enemy.2000:01:07,800 –> 00:01:10,500It’s a very different kind of engagement2100:01:10,500 –> 00:01:12,699from being in the position where it’s your master2200:01:12,720 –> 00:01:14,400and you have to do what it says.2300:01:14,400 –> 00:01:17,599What else can you do but capitulate if sin is your master?2400:01:17,599 –> 00:01:20,599It’s no longer true of you when you are in Christ.2500:01:20,599 –> 00:01:23,099It’s a very important principle to grasp.2600:01:23,099 –> 00:01:25,699So today we will be looking at that principle2700:01:25,779 –> 00:01:29,279and see how, if I’m in Christ, I am free.2800:01:29,279 –> 00:01:32,279We see that in Romans chapter six.2900:01:32,279 –> 00:01:34,779And so I hope you’ll join us there if you can3000:01:34,820 –> 00:01:37,519as we begin the message, You Are Free.3100:01:37,519 –> 00:01:39,120Here’s Colin.3200:01:39,120 –> 00:01:44,320If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.3300:01:44,320 –> 00:01:48,120The old has gone and the new has come.3400:01:48,459 –> 00:01:52,040We’re seeing together that the heart of the Christian life3500:01:52,040 –> 00:01:56,580is that you discover your new identity in Jesus Christ3600:01:56,580 –> 00:02:00,180and then be who you are.3700:02:00,180 –> 00:02:01,980We took our first step last week3800:02:01,980 –> 00:02:05,139in looking at 1 Corinthians chapter one in verse 30.3900:02:05,139 –> 00:02:06,639You might like to look that verse up.4000:02:06,639 –> 00:02:09,839It’s our foundation for this entire series.4100:02:09,839 –> 00:02:15,259Christ Jesus has become wisdom for us from God.4200:02:15,259 –> 00:02:19,759That is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.4300:02:19,759 –> 00:02:21,800And last week we focused on this great theme4400:02:21,919 –> 00:02:23,960that Christ is your righteousness.4500:02:23,960 –> 00:02:27,639In other words, in Jesus Christ you are clean4600:02:27,639 –> 00:02:29,399even though you still sin.4700:02:29,399 –> 00:02:32,839He is righteous, you are in Him,4800:02:32,839 –> 00:02:35,899and that means that His righteousness is yours.4900:02:35,899 –> 00:02:37,440So here’s the first thing5000:02:37,440 –> 00:02:38,899that you need to know about yourself.5100:02:38,899 –> 00:02:43,899If you’re in Jesus Christ, you are clean.5200:02:44,919 –> 00:02:46,160So be who you are.5300:02:47,539 –> 00:02:49,839Now today we’re going to take the second step5400:02:49,839 –> 00:02:52,779in discovering our new identity, and here it is.5500:02:52,779 –> 00:02:53,619In Christ you are free.5600:02:53,619 –> 00:02:58,559In Christ you are free.5700:02:58,559 –> 00:03:01,300Now notice again from 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 305800:03:01,300 –> 00:03:03,100how this is stated.5900:03:03,100 –> 00:03:08,100Christ, Jesus has become for us wisdom from God.6000:03:08,220 –> 00:03:12,300That is our righteousness, holiness,6100:03:12,300 –> 00:03:13,740and here’s our word for today,6200:03:13,740 –> 00:03:17,339and redemption, our redemption.6300:03:17,360 –> 00:03:21,059Now, redemption is a freedom word.6400:03:21,059 –> 00:03:24,580Redemption is about setting a person free6500:03:24,580 –> 00:03:27,360by the payment of a price.6600:03:27,360 –> 00:03:30,039In fact, the word redeem was often used6700:03:30,039 –> 00:03:35,039of the purchase of slaves into freedom.6800:03:35,039 –> 00:03:37,360More recently, perhaps about a generation ago6900:03:37,360 –> 00:03:39,399and perhaps still in some places,7000:03:39,399 –> 00:03:43,179the word redeem was used in pawn shops.7100:03:43,179 –> 00:03:45,419Now hands up everyone who knows what a pawn shop is.7200:03:45,460 –> 00:03:47,779All the older people know what a pawn shop is.7300:03:47,779 –> 00:03:50,080Hands up everyone who’s been in a pawn shop.7400:03:50,080 –> 00:03:50,960No, we won’t do that.7500:03:50,960 –> 00:03:52,020I’ve been in a pawn shop.7600:03:52,020 –> 00:03:53,179I’ve been in a pawn shop.7700:03:53,179 –> 00:03:56,740I bought my first record player,7800:03:56,740 –> 00:03:58,399as shows how long ago it is7900:03:58,399 –> 00:04:00,619as a high school student in a pawn shop.8000:04:00,619 –> 00:04:02,460Now let me tell you for those who don’t know8100:04:02,460 –> 00:04:04,979how a pawn shop works.8200:04:04,979 –> 00:04:08,020About a generation ago, if you ran out of money8300:04:08,020 –> 00:04:10,500a pawn shop was a way of getting hold of some money8400:04:10,500 –> 00:04:11,979to tide you through for a time.8500:04:12,000 –> 00:04:14,720You could take something of value like a golden ring8600:04:15,619 –> 00:04:17,179and you put it in the pawn shop8700:04:17,179 –> 00:04:19,140and the pawn broker would give you some money8800:04:19,140 –> 00:04:21,820or at least loan you some money for a period of time8900:04:21,820 –> 00:04:23,420and hold the ring.9000:04:24,339 –> 00:04:26,820You would hold it for 30 days.9100:04:26,820 –> 00:04:30,959And during that time you had the right to redeem it.9200:04:30,959 –> 00:04:33,980In other words to buy it back.9300:04:33,980 –> 00:04:35,660But if you didn’t redeem the ring9400:04:35,660 –> 00:04:37,339or whatever it was that you had pawned9500:04:37,339 –> 00:04:40,179within a period of 30 days,9600:04:40,179 –> 00:04:41,940then the pawn broker would put it9700:04:41,940 –> 00:04:43,619in the window of his shop9800:04:43,619 –> 00:04:45,720and it was available to anyone else to buy.9900:04:45,720 –> 00:04:47,000And that’s how as a teenager10000:04:47,000 –> 00:04:49,040I bought my first record player.10100:04:49,040 –> 00:04:50,940I’ve had my eye on this thing for a long time10200:04:50,940 –> 00:04:52,739and then I suddenly saw the very model10300:04:52,739 –> 00:04:55,540that I decided I wanted in the pawn broker’s window.10400:04:55,540 –> 00:04:56,559It’s a Scottish kind of thing.10500:04:56,559 –> 00:04:59,019You know you can get it for cheap.10600:04:59,019 –> 00:05:01,540And that’s what I did.10700:05:01,540 –> 00:05:04,880Now as long as the ring or the record player10800:05:04,880 –> 00:05:07,959or whatever it is is in the shop,10900:05:07,959 –> 00:05:09,920it is in the power11000:05:10,459 –> 00:05:13,019and the possession of the pawn broker.11100:05:13,019 –> 00:05:15,380Only when it is redeemed11200:05:15,380 –> 00:05:18,000is it brought back to where it belongs.11300:05:18,000 –> 00:05:20,399Now this is the word we’re focusing on today11400:05:20,399 –> 00:05:23,380and it is one of the most wonderful titles11500:05:23,380 –> 00:05:25,899ever given to our Lord Jesus Christ11600:05:25,899 –> 00:05:27,380that he11700:05:27,380 –> 00:05:28,519is11800:05:28,519 –> 00:05:29,980our11900:05:29,980 –> 00:05:31,380Redeemer.12000:05:31,380 –> 00:05:32,820Our Redeemer.12100:05:32,820 –> 00:05:35,000Christ is our righteousness12200:05:35,920 –> 00:05:40,059and that means that he releases you from the guilt of sin12300:05:40,359 –> 00:05:42,920but Christ is our Redeemer12400:05:42,920 –> 00:05:47,260and that means that he releases you from the grip of sin.12500:05:47,940 –> 00:05:49,619Now we’re seeing in this series that12600:05:49,619 –> 00:05:51,000the gospel touches12700:05:51,000 –> 00:05:54,239some of the deepest issues of our lives.12800:05:55,559 –> 00:05:57,359Last week when we were talking about12900:05:57,359 –> 00:05:59,040the righteousness of Christ13000:05:59,160 –> 00:06:01,799we saw how this touches some of the13100:06:01,799 –> 00:06:06,000most painful issues of abuse13200:06:07,160 –> 00:06:08,660and today I want us to see13300:06:08,660 –> 00:06:11,459as we look at Christ our Redemption13400:06:11,459 –> 00:06:13,000how the gospel touches13500:06:13,000 –> 00:06:17,299some of the most powerful issues of addiction.13600:06:18,500 –> 00:06:21,119Today we’re going to focus on the struggle.13700:06:21,119 –> 00:06:23,839The battle that we have with the power of temptation.13800:06:23,839 –> 00:06:25,359The power of habit.13900:06:25,359 –> 00:06:28,760The whole area of compulsive patterns14000:06:29,559 –> 00:06:32,320of behavior with which we struggle.14100:06:32,320 –> 00:06:34,320You can define addictions in different ways14200:06:34,320 –> 00:06:36,760but here’s the definition that I’m using today.14300:06:36,760 –> 00:06:41,480I’m defining an addiction as a compulsive power14400:06:41,480 –> 00:06:43,579that leads you to do something14500:06:43,579 –> 00:06:45,359that you regret when you do it.14600:06:45,359 –> 00:06:47,299Now, something irrational about it,14700:06:47,299 –> 00:06:49,940I do something and then I regret it14800:06:49,940 –> 00:06:54,920but then some compulsion within causes me to do it again.14900:06:54,920 –> 00:06:57,959Now, we all know what that is.15000:06:57,959 –> 00:07:01,820The question is does the gospel address this issue?15100:07:03,279 –> 00:07:07,140Is this an area in which Jesus Christ can help you?15200:07:08,820 –> 00:07:13,299Or do you have to look somewhere else beyond Christ15300:07:13,299 –> 00:07:17,640for help when it comes to the fundamental battles15400:07:17,640 –> 00:07:21,000with some of the most powerful impulses15500:07:21,000 –> 00:07:23,059that we find within us?15600:07:24,540 –> 00:07:26,079You see, that’s a huge question, isn’t it?15700:07:26,220 –> 00:07:29,220If I am to be delivered from sin,15800:07:30,760 –> 00:07:33,320I need more than forgiveness.15900:07:33,320 –> 00:07:36,279I need more than a savior who’ll cleanse me.16000:07:36,279 –> 00:07:40,480I need a redeemer who will break the power16100:07:40,480 –> 00:07:44,760that leads me into sin in the first place.16200:07:44,760 –> 00:07:47,540Now, we’ve seen that Jesus Christ is our righteousness.16300:07:47,540 –> 00:07:49,720Today we’re going to explore what the Bible means16400:07:49,720 –> 00:07:53,459when it tells us that He is also our redemption.16500:07:53,459 –> 00:07:55,559You see, Jesus not only paid the price16600:07:55,600 –> 00:07:56,760to make sinners clean,16700:07:56,760 –> 00:08:00,920He paid the price to set prisoners free.16800:08:01,980 –> 00:08:05,579Now, before we get into the Bible’s teaching on this today,16900:08:05,579 –> 00:08:10,480I want us to look at some real life examples17000:08:10,480 –> 00:08:12,100so that we’ve got a clear idea17100:08:12,100 –> 00:08:14,359of the sorts of issues and struggles17200:08:14,359 –> 00:08:16,320that we’re talking about.17300:08:16,320 –> 00:08:18,140So I want you to turn over just a few pages17400:08:18,140 –> 00:08:21,040from 1 Corinthians 1 to 1 Corinthians chapter 6.17500:08:21,459 –> 00:08:25,880Remember that this first letter of Corinthians17600:08:25,880 –> 00:08:27,959was written by the Apostle Paul17700:08:27,959 –> 00:08:30,480to a real community of Christian believers17800:08:30,480 –> 00:08:33,559about 2000 years ago in a town called Corinth.17900:08:34,559 –> 00:08:36,760Now, Paul knew these folks.18000:08:36,760 –> 00:08:40,159He had been the founding church planter.18100:08:40,159 –> 00:08:43,080He had been in Corinth for about a year,18200:08:43,080 –> 00:08:44,419and so when writes this letter,18300:08:44,419 –> 00:08:47,159he’s not writing to some unknown group of people,18400:08:47,159 –> 00:08:48,940he’s writing to a community of people18500:08:49,239 –> 00:08:52,159most of whom he would have known by name.18600:08:53,219 –> 00:08:56,340And as he writes, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,18700:08:56,340 –> 00:09:00,719he’s able to think about the particular people in Corinth18800:09:00,719 –> 00:09:04,239who he knows, many of whom he personally led18900:09:04,239 –> 00:09:07,799to faith in Jesus Christ.19000:09:07,799 –> 00:09:10,700And in chapter six, he talks quite honestly19100:09:10,700 –> 00:09:14,179about the remarkable transformation that has taken place19200:09:14,179 –> 00:09:17,539in many of the members of the congregation in Corinth.19300:09:17,559 –> 00:09:20,340And he says, 1 Corinthians, chapter six and verse nine,19400:09:20,340 –> 00:09:22,140don’t be deceived,19500:09:22,140 –> 00:09:24,979neither the sexually immoral,19600:09:24,979 –> 00:09:26,780nor idolaters,19700:09:26,780 –> 00:09:28,700nor adulterers,19800:09:28,700 –> 00:09:31,099nor male prostitutes,19900:09:31,099 –> 00:09:33,659nor homosexual offenders,20000:09:33,659 –> 00:09:35,340nor thieves,20100:09:35,340 –> 00:09:37,020nor the greedy,20200:09:37,020 –> 00:09:38,000nor drunkards,20300:09:38,000 –> 00:09:39,000nor slanderers,20400:09:39,000 –> 00:09:41,960nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.20500:09:41,960 –> 00:09:45,919And that is what some of you wear.20600:09:46,619 –> 00:09:48,520I was thinking around the congregation20700:09:48,520 –> 00:09:49,359and he’s saying,20800:09:49,359 –> 00:09:50,599there are folks who have struggled20900:09:50,599 –> 00:09:53,760with all of these compulsive patterns of behavior,21000:09:54,679 –> 00:09:58,659but you were washed,21100:09:59,479 –> 00:10:02,099you were sanctified,21200:10:02,099 –> 00:10:04,760you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ21300:10:04,760 –> 00:10:06,940by the Spirit of our God.21400:10:06,940 –> 00:10:08,659Now notice,21500:10:08,659 –> 00:10:11,099the patterns of compulsive behavior.21600:10:11,099 –> 00:10:12,900We would probably call most of these things21700:10:12,900 –> 00:10:15,700addictions today.21800:10:15,739 –> 00:10:17,359The sexually immoral.21900:10:17,359 –> 00:10:21,260There’s the whole world of sexual addiction, right there.22000:10:21,260 –> 00:10:22,880The thieves.22100:10:22,880 –> 00:10:27,020If ever there was an ingrained way of patterned living,22200:10:27,020 –> 00:10:29,140surely this is it.22300:10:29,140 –> 00:10:30,099The greedy.22400:10:31,059 –> 00:10:34,780We would call these folks the shopaholics, right?22500:10:34,780 –> 00:10:36,700This is the person who can’t go into a shop22600:10:36,700 –> 00:10:37,700and see something nice22700:10:37,700 –> 00:10:40,219without getting out their credit card, you see?22800:10:40,219 –> 00:10:41,059The impulse.22900:10:41,059 –> 00:10:42,099So strong.23000:10:42,099 –> 00:10:43,580Greedy.23100:10:43,580 –> 00:10:44,400The drunkards.23200:10:44,400 –> 00:10:46,960These are folks who are under the power of alcohol.23300:10:46,960 –> 00:10:48,000Not sober.23400:10:48,919 –> 00:10:50,479Here are slanderers.23500:10:50,479 –> 00:10:53,039People who can’t control the power of the tongue.23600:10:53,039 –> 00:10:54,739They just burst out.23700:10:54,739 –> 00:10:56,619They can’t control what they say23800:10:56,619 –> 00:10:59,020and they speak so unkindly of other people.23900:10:59,960 –> 00:11:00,799The swindlers.24000:11:00,799 –> 00:11:02,200Here’s the guy who’s run a business24100:11:02,200 –> 00:11:03,840but he’s never cut a straight deal in his life.24200:11:03,840 –> 00:11:05,500It’s just, the way he does business,24300:11:05,500 –> 00:11:07,159he cuts every corner there is24400:11:07,159 –> 00:11:10,479and he becomes known for what he is, a swindler.24500:11:11,580 –> 00:11:13,440Now, Paul is writing this letter24600:11:13,479 –> 00:11:17,359and he thinks about the past experience24700:11:17,359 –> 00:11:20,380of these folks in the congregation at Corinth24800:11:20,380 –> 00:11:22,299and he’s thinking of their faces and their names24900:11:22,299 –> 00:11:24,599and the people he’s led to faith in Jesus Christ.25000:11:24,599 –> 00:11:26,820Old Mike, you know, he was a prostitute.25100:11:27,739 –> 00:11:30,820Leslie, she was an idolater.25200:11:30,820 –> 00:11:32,380John was a thief.25300:11:32,380 –> 00:11:33,900Dan was an alcoholic.25400:11:35,380 –> 00:11:39,919That’s who you were, he says,25500:11:41,340 –> 00:11:42,179but not now.25600:11:43,000 –> 00:11:47,380Here are folks who have been set free25700:11:47,380 –> 00:11:52,380from deeply ingrained patterns of compulsive behavior.25800:11:53,500 –> 00:11:55,599Now that’s what we’re talking about today.25900:11:56,840 –> 00:11:59,919You see, the gospel is the power of God26000:11:59,919 –> 00:12:01,919for the salvation of those who believe.26100:12:01,919 –> 00:12:03,960That’s 1 Corinthians one 18.26200:12:03,960 –> 00:12:06,119That’s the significance of the word redemption.26300:12:06,119 –> 00:12:08,900It’s a power word.26400:12:08,900 –> 00:12:11,580The gospel is about more than forgiveness.26500:12:12,200 –> 00:12:14,919The gospel is about the ability of Jesus Christ26600:12:14,919 –> 00:12:19,919to release a person from deeply ingrained patterns26700:12:19,960 –> 00:12:21,880of compulsive behavior.26800:12:21,880 –> 00:12:24,599If Jesus Christ can’t do that, who can?26900:12:26,280 –> 00:12:29,000Many of us know that when we come to Christ,27000:12:29,000 –> 00:12:30,239our sin is forgiven,27100:12:30,239 –> 00:12:31,799but sometimes we don’t realize27200:12:31,799 –> 00:12:33,799that through the power of the spirit,27300:12:33,799 –> 00:12:35,760we are given the power to fight,27400:12:35,760 –> 00:12:38,440to resist and to say no to sin,27500:12:38,440 –> 00:12:40,580and we’ll continue to hear about that27600:12:40,659 –> 00:12:42,780when we come back in a moment.27700:12:42,780 –> 00:12:45,039The message is called You Are Free,27800:12:45,039 –> 00:12:47,979and it’s part of our series, Be Yourself.27900:12:47,979 –> 00:12:52,039And today we’re looking at Romans and chapter six.28000:12:52,039 –> 00:12:55,419You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.28100:12:55,419 –> 00:12:57,739And the message is called You Are Free.28200:12:57,739 –> 00:12:59,239If you’ve missed any of the message28300:12:59,239 –> 00:13:01,799or if you want to go back and listen again to that28400:13:01,799 –> 00:13:04,340or any of our previously broadcast messages,28500:13:04,340 –> 00:13:07,059you can do that by coming online to our website28600:13:07,059 –> 00:13:09,940openthebible.org.uk28700:13:09,940 –> 00:13:11,700or by finding us as a podcast.28800:13:11,700 –> 00:13:13,919And those are on all the main podcast sites.28900:13:13,919 –> 00:13:16,200Search for Open the Bible, UK29000:13:16,200 –> 00:13:20,099and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.29100:13:20,099 –> 00:13:22,419Well, Open the Bible is supported by our listeners.29200:13:22,419 –> 00:13:23,659And later on in the program,29300:13:23,659 –> 00:13:26,099I’ll be talking to Colin about a special offer29400:13:26,099 –> 00:13:27,840we have during this month.29500:13:27,840 –> 00:13:29,380If you’re able to begin29600:13:29,380 –> 00:13:32,000supporting Open the Bible financially.29700:13:32,000 –> 00:13:34,500So I hope you’ll stay with us for that.29800:13:34,500 –> 00:13:37,299Back to the message now, here’s Colin.29900:13:37,299 –> 00:13:40,059The gospel is the power of God30000:13:40,059 –> 00:13:42,020for the salvation of those who believe.30100:13:42,020 –> 00:13:44,099That’s 1 Corinthians 1, 18.30200:13:44,099 –> 00:13:46,260That’s the significance of the word redemption.30300:13:46,260 –> 00:13:48,140It’s a power word.30400:13:49,020 –> 00:13:52,299The gospel is about more than forgiveness.30500:13:52,299 –> 00:13:55,020The gospel is about the ability of Jesus Christ30600:13:55,020 –> 00:14:00,020to release a person from deeply ingrained patterns30700:14:00,059 –> 00:14:01,979of compulsive behavior.30800:14:01,979 –> 00:14:04,799If Jesus Christ can’t do that, who can?30900:14:05,760 –> 00:14:08,520Now, in order to explore this together,31000:14:08,520 –> 00:14:10,820I want us to turn to Romans and chapter six31100:14:10,820 –> 00:14:12,080and that’s where we’re going to be31200:14:12,080 –> 00:14:15,320for the substance of our time this morning.31300:14:15,320 –> 00:14:18,400Romans and chapter six.31400:14:18,400 –> 00:14:20,479I want us to discover three things there31500:14:20,479 –> 00:14:22,200that are really crucial to knowing31600:14:22,200 –> 00:14:25,479who you are and then being yourself.31700:14:25,479 –> 00:14:28,900The first is stated wonderfully clearly in verse 1431800:14:28,900 –> 00:14:31,099though it runs right throughout the chapter.31900:14:31,919 –> 00:14:34,400Romans chapter six in verse 14,32000:14:34,400 –> 00:14:39,400sin is not your master.32100:14:40,080 –> 00:14:41,979Romans six verse 14,32200:14:41,979 –> 00:14:46,979sin shall not be your master.32300:14:48,000 –> 00:14:49,380Now I think, just look at that.32400:14:49,380 –> 00:14:52,020That is one of the most triumphant,32500:14:52,020 –> 00:14:55,780marvelous statements in all of the New Testament.32600:14:55,780 –> 00:14:59,400Sin, the apostle says to those who are in Christ,32700:14:59,400 –> 00:15:04,020shall not be your master.32800:15:05,140 –> 00:15:06,640Sin is a power.32900:15:07,900 –> 00:15:10,280And when it gains a grip in a person’s life,33000:15:10,280 –> 00:15:11,979it doesn’t want to let go.33100:15:12,900 –> 00:15:15,299And Paul has been describing what this is like33200:15:15,299 –> 00:15:17,460in chapter five and verse 21.33300:15:17,460 –> 00:15:21,260He says, sin reigned.33400:15:21,260 –> 00:15:24,539It reigned, it was ruling,33500:15:24,539 –> 00:15:26,619it was like a tyrant.33600:15:26,619 –> 00:15:28,380It bossed you about.33700:15:28,380 –> 00:15:31,219It was in the driving seat of your life.33800:15:31,219 –> 00:15:34,219Sin was calling the shots.33900:15:34,219 –> 00:15:36,700It used to be your master.34000:15:37,780 –> 00:15:41,419But now notice what he says in chapter six and verse two.34100:15:41,419 –> 00:15:45,320We died to sin.34200:15:45,320 –> 00:15:46,979We died to sin.34300:15:48,020 –> 00:15:50,640Now see that in your Bible and notice what he says.34400:15:50,640 –> 00:15:53,619He doesn’t say we ought to die to sin.34500:15:54,559 –> 00:15:57,719He doesn’t say we need to die to sin.34600:15:57,719 –> 00:16:01,359He says we died to sin.34700:16:01,359 –> 00:16:04,380He’s talking about something that has happened.34800:16:05,539 –> 00:16:07,539It’s the same in verse five.34900:16:07,539 –> 00:16:12,359We have been united with Christ in his death.35000:16:12,359 –> 00:16:14,140That’s verse five.35100:16:14,140 –> 00:16:16,979Or verse six, we know that our old self35200:16:16,979 –> 00:16:20,059was crucified with him.35300:16:20,059 –> 00:16:23,460Not should be crucified or needs to be crucified.35400:16:23,460 –> 00:16:26,520But we know our old self was crucified.35500:16:26,520 –> 00:16:29,799He’s talking about something that has happened.35600:16:31,080 –> 00:16:33,400And then he says in verse 14,35700:16:33,400 –> 00:16:36,739sin shall not be your master.35800:16:36,739 –> 00:16:39,000Now, whatever it is precisely that Paul means,35900:16:39,000 –> 00:16:41,219and we’ll get to that in just a moment,36000:16:41,219 –> 00:16:43,479he is clearly talking about something36100:16:43,479 –> 00:16:47,080that has already happened to the Christian believer.36200:16:47,080 –> 00:16:48,679Not something that needs to happen,36300:16:48,679 –> 00:16:50,599something that has already happened.36400:16:50,599 –> 00:16:53,919We died, our old self was crucified,36500:16:53,919 –> 00:16:55,599and it’s as a result of this36600:16:55,599 –> 00:16:59,059that sin shall no longer be your master.36700:16:59,059 –> 00:17:01,320In other words, when you are in Christ,36800:17:02,159 –> 00:17:07,160you stand not only in an entirely new relationship with God,36900:17:07,359 –> 00:17:12,040but also you stand in an entirely new relationship with sin.37000:17:12,040 –> 00:17:14,599Sin used to be your master.37100:17:14,599 –> 00:17:18,119It used to reign over you.37200:17:18,119 –> 00:17:20,900But now you have died to the reign of sin.37300:17:22,060 –> 00:17:25,420Now, we read what the Apostle says here,37400:17:25,420 –> 00:17:27,479and we relate it to our experience.37500:17:27,479 –> 00:17:29,199We all know that we still struggle with sin.37600:17:29,199 –> 00:17:31,800We struggle with temptation, we fail often,37700:17:31,800 –> 00:17:34,260we fight the battle every day, and so forth.37800:17:34,260 –> 00:17:38,839Sin seems pretty much alive, sometimes very powerful.37900:17:38,839 –> 00:17:42,439So what does he mean, what is this thing that has happened38000:17:42,439 –> 00:17:45,339that we died to sin?38100:17:45,760 –> 00:17:48,619Well, perhaps a picture will help us.38200:17:49,719 –> 00:17:51,079I want you to imagine for a moment38300:17:51,079 –> 00:17:53,180that you’re traveling down a road,38400:17:54,040 –> 00:17:58,000and on one side of the road, you see a high fence.38500:17:58,000 –> 00:18:02,479On the other side of the road, you see an open field.38600:18:02,479 –> 00:18:04,920There are people behind the fence,38700:18:04,920 –> 00:18:07,199and there are people in the field.38800:18:07,199 –> 00:18:08,920You’re curious, so you get out of your car,38900:18:08,920 –> 00:18:11,959and you take a closer look, and you discover39000:18:11,959 –> 00:18:16,699that the fence is actually part of a huge cage.39100:18:16,699 –> 00:18:18,939There’s lots of room inside the cage,39200:18:18,939 –> 00:18:21,780but there’s no way that the people in the cage39300:18:21,780 –> 00:18:23,739can actually get out.39400:18:24,900 –> 00:18:26,359As you stand and as you watch,39500:18:26,359 –> 00:18:29,339you notice that there’s a man in the cage.39600:18:29,339 –> 00:18:32,760He’s obviously in charge, and he seems to be angry.39700:18:32,760 –> 00:18:36,060He’s shouting orders at various people.39800:18:36,060 –> 00:18:38,099He’s telling them what to do.39900:18:38,099 –> 00:18:41,000Sometimes, the folks in the cage seem to protest,40000:18:41,020 –> 00:18:42,300but you notice as you watch40100:18:42,300 –> 00:18:46,099that eventually, they always do what he tells them.40200:18:47,319 –> 00:18:49,459Now, that’s a picture of what the apostle40300:18:49,459 –> 00:18:50,939is describing here.40400:18:50,939 –> 00:18:53,979Sin reigned.40500:18:53,979 –> 00:18:56,839Sin ruled.40600:18:56,839 –> 00:19:01,839You were in a position where sin told you what to do.40700:19:01,839 –> 00:19:03,800Now, the Bible speaks about this in many ways.40800:19:03,800 –> 00:19:05,979It says in Colossians, for example,40900:19:05,979 –> 00:19:10,020you belonged to the kingdom of darkness.41000:19:10,060 –> 00:19:13,040You lived in the realm where darkness reigned.41100:19:14,180 –> 00:19:19,180You were in an environment that was under its control.41200:19:20,800 –> 00:19:23,479It’s stated most clearly in Galatians chapter three41300:19:23,479 –> 00:19:26,380in verse 22, where Paul says,41400:19:26,380 –> 00:19:31,380the whole world is a prisoner of sin.41500:19:31,540 –> 00:19:32,939Think of that.41600:19:32,939 –> 00:19:37,900The whole world is a prisoner of sin.41700:19:38,780 –> 00:19:43,780The whole world, Paul is saying, is in the cage.41800:19:45,280 –> 00:19:46,939It’s in the cage.41900:19:46,939 –> 00:19:49,979It’s a prisoner of sin.42000:19:51,500 –> 00:19:56,040Now Paul says we died to sin.42100:19:57,000 –> 00:19:59,199Now, what happens when you die?42200:20:00,599 –> 00:20:05,599Well, when you die, you move from one realm to another.42300:20:06,060 –> 00:20:08,219When you die, physically,42400:20:08,219 –> 00:20:10,260you will be translated from this world42500:20:10,260 –> 00:20:12,119into the immediate presence of the Lord Jesus.42600:20:12,119 –> 00:20:14,180You will immediately move from one realm to another.42700:20:14,180 –> 00:20:16,239That is what death is.42800:20:16,239 –> 00:20:20,459Death involves a translation from one realm to another.42900:20:20,459 –> 00:20:22,359You will have nothing more to do with this world,43000:20:22,359 –> 00:20:23,800but you will find yourself43100:20:23,800 –> 00:20:26,619in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.43200:20:27,680 –> 00:20:30,880Now, you see, the Apostle Paul uses that43300:20:30,880 –> 00:20:34,280as a way of describing what has already happened43400:20:34,339 –> 00:20:37,239to you in Jesus Christ.43500:20:37,239 –> 00:20:39,160When you came to faith in Christ,43600:20:39,160 –> 00:20:41,160you came to be in Christ,43700:20:41,160 –> 00:20:45,319you died to sin.43800:20:45,319 –> 00:20:47,760You were in the cage,43900:20:47,760 –> 00:20:50,619but the person in the cage died.44000:20:52,099 –> 00:20:54,920Now you are alive to Christ.44100:20:54,920 –> 00:20:56,719You’ve popped up in a new life,44200:20:56,719 –> 00:20:57,560not in the cage,44300:20:57,560 –> 00:21:00,219but out there in the field.44400:21:00,219 –> 00:21:02,719When you came to faith in Christ,44500:21:02,780 –> 00:21:06,619you were translated from the one realm into the other.44600:21:06,619 –> 00:21:07,699You died to sin,44700:21:07,699 –> 00:21:10,079you’re alive with Jesus Christ,44800:21:10,079 –> 00:21:12,900you are no longer in the same position.44900:21:12,900 –> 00:21:14,380You are not in the cage,45000:21:14,380 –> 00:21:15,859you are in the field.45100:21:15,859 –> 00:21:17,719Sin is still your enemy,45200:21:17,719 –> 00:21:21,300but it is not your master.45300:21:22,300 –> 00:21:25,219The angry man may still shout instructions45400:21:25,219 –> 00:21:27,180across the road,45500:21:27,180 –> 00:21:29,579but when he does,45600:21:29,579 –> 00:21:31,680you do not need to feel45700:21:31,780 –> 00:21:33,520that you must do what he says.45800:21:33,520 –> 00:21:37,500You are no longer under his power.45900:21:37,500 –> 00:21:39,959He is no longer your master.46000:21:39,959 –> 00:21:41,479He’s still your enemy,46100:21:42,579 –> 00:21:44,579but you’re in an entirely different46200:21:44,579 –> 00:21:46,560position in regard to him.46300:21:48,160 –> 00:21:49,739You’re listening to open the Bible46400:21:49,739 –> 00:21:51,199with Pastor Colin Smith46500:21:51,199 –> 00:21:53,900and a message called You Are Free.46600:21:53,900 –> 00:21:55,719Focusing on the truth that sin46700:21:55,719 –> 00:21:58,660is not your master once you are in Christ.46800:21:58,819 –> 00:22:01,859And next time we’ll see how Christ sets us free46900:22:01,859 –> 00:22:04,619and how to be who you are.47000:22:04,619 –> 00:22:06,300If you’ve missed any of the message47100:22:06,300 –> 00:22:08,260or any of the series so far,47200:22:08,260 –> 00:22:09,839you can go back and listen again47300:22:09,839 –> 00:22:11,540by coming online to our website47400:22:11,540 –> 00:22:15,520that’s openthebible.org.uk.47500:22:15,520 –> 00:22:18,459You can also find Pastor Colin’s messages as podcasts47600:22:18,459 –> 00:22:20,939and those are on all the main podcast sites,47700:22:20,939 –> 00:22:24,400search for open the Bible UK on the podcast site47800:22:24,400 –> 00:22:27,800or follow the link from our website.47900:22:28,239 –> 00:22:30,599Also on our website and available as a podcast,48000:22:30,599 –> 00:22:32,900you can find, Open the Bible Daily.48100:22:32,900 –> 00:22:35,280It’s a series of short two to three minute48200:22:35,280 –> 00:22:38,859daily reflections, based on Pastor Colin’s teaching48300:22:38,859 –> 00:22:41,459and read in the UK by Sue McLeish.48400:22:41,459 –> 00:22:43,920There’s a fresh one on the website everyday48500:22:43,920 –> 00:22:46,760and if you subscribe as a podcast,48600:22:46,760 –> 00:22:49,359you’ll receive regular reminders.48700:22:49,359 –> 00:22:52,000You can also receive a daily email reminder48800:22:52,000 –> 00:22:55,359if you sign up for Open the Bible Daily.48900:22:55,359 –> 00:22:59,280Open the Bible is supported by our listeners financially.49000:22:59,280 –> 00:23:01,119We do depend on people like you49100:23:01,119 –> 00:23:03,479to keep Pastor Colin Smith’s messages49200:23:03,479 –> 00:23:05,439on the radio and online.49300:23:05,439 –> 00:23:07,660So if you already support us in that way,49400:23:07,660 –> 00:23:09,400thank you very much.49500:23:09,400 –> 00:23:11,020If that’s something you’re considering49600:23:11,020 –> 00:23:12,719starting to do this month,49700:23:12,719 –> 00:23:15,040if you’re able to set up a new direct debit49800:23:15,040 –> 00:23:17,380of five pounds per month or more,49900:23:17,380 –> 00:23:20,219or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more,50000:23:20,219 –> 00:23:22,640we’d love to say, thank you by sending you50100:23:22,739 –> 00:23:24,160Pilgrim’s Progress,50200:23:24,160 –> 00:23:26,439John Bunyan’s, classic allegory50300:23:26,439 –> 00:23:29,439about the Christian life which so many have enjoyed50400:23:29,439 –> 00:23:31,680and benefited greatly from reading.50500:23:32,599 –> 00:23:33,420Along with the book,50600:23:33,420 –> 00:23:36,939we’ll send you a specially printed open the Bible bookmark50700:23:36,939 –> 00:23:39,180and an open the Bible pen.50800:23:39,180 –> 00:23:41,839Colin, I’ve heard that this is one of your favorite books.50900:23:41,839 –> 00:23:43,760It absolutely is,51000:23:43,760 –> 00:23:47,280in fact, if I was stranded on a desert island51100:23:47,280 –> 00:23:49,479and I was only allowed to take one book51200:23:49,479 –> 00:23:52,079apart from the Bible, of course,51300:23:52,079 –> 00:23:55,579then my choice would definitely be51400:23:55,579 –> 00:23:57,800John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.51500:23:57,800 –> 00:23:58,640Here’s why.51600:23:58,640 –> 00:24:01,000If you’ve got one book besides the Bible,51700:24:01,000 –> 00:24:02,380you would want to have something51800:24:02,380 –> 00:24:04,900that was enjoyable, compelling.51900:24:04,900 –> 00:24:05,739You’d want to have something52000:24:05,739 –> 00:24:07,479that you would keep coming back to52100:24:07,479 –> 00:24:09,079and you’d want to have something52200:24:09,079 –> 00:24:11,640that did you lasting good52300:24:11,640 –> 00:24:14,619and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress52400:24:14,619 –> 00:24:17,560has fulfilled all of these things in my life.52500:24:17,560 –> 00:24:19,900It really is a treasured book52600:24:19,939 –> 00:24:22,239and I’m absolutely delighted52700:24:22,239 –> 00:24:24,699that we are able to offer this month52800:24:24,699 –> 00:24:27,180John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.52900:24:27,180 –> 00:24:29,859It is a book that you will treasure53000:24:29,859 –> 00:24:33,180and every Christian home ought to have a copy.53100:24:33,180 –> 00:24:36,260So we’d love to send you a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress53200:24:36,260 –> 00:24:39,300to say thank you for setting up a new direct debit53300:24:39,300 –> 00:24:42,140in the amount of five pounds per month or more53400:24:42,140 –> 00:24:45,959or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month53500:24:45,959 –> 00:24:48,520in support of Open the Bible.53600:24:48,520 –> 00:24:49,859Full terms and conditions53700:24:49,900 –> 00:24:54,819are on our website that’ s at opensibil.org.uk53800:24:54,819 –> 00:24:57,459For Open The Bible and for Pastor Colin Smith53900:24:57,459 –> 00:25:00,099I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll be able to join us again54000:25:00,119 –> 00:25:00,859very soon.54100:25:06,300 –> 00:25:08,199Your progress in the battle against sin54200:25:08,199 –> 00:25:11,359depends on the position from which you fight54300:25:11,359 –> 00:25:14,420Discover what yours is next time on Open The Bible