100:00:00,020 –> 00:00:03,520Copyright しゃーない200:00:03,520 –> 00:00:11,200We want to build our own righteousness so that we can establish our independence from God.300:00:11,200 –> 00:00:14,320Which is why the law is always so attractive to us deep down.400:00:14,320 –> 00:00:19,000Okay, what does God want from me? Tell me how much it is! Tell me what I have to do.500:00:19,559 –> 00:00:23,360Welcome to, Open The Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.600:00:23,360 –> 00:00:26,760And Colin, I think that’s an idea most of us can understand.700:00:27,000 –> 00:00:32,799Yes, we say, so what do I have to do? But really, we should be so grateful for grace.800:00:32,799 –> 00:00:37,639Yes, you know, I think that we all have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the law.900:00:37,639 –> 00:00:44,040No body will ever say, oh, I just love the law. I’m a legalist. I’ve never met that person.1000:00:44,040 –> 00:00:51,279And yet, on the other hand, there’s an instinct within human nature that wants to be able to make a claim over God.1100:00:51,279 –> 00:00:55,720To be in the position of saying, God owes me. And that runs very, very deep.1200:00:55,720 –> 00:01:02,200It comes from a sense that I’ve earned the right, and I’ve earned better, perhaps, than I think I have received.1300:01:02,200 –> 00:01:06,160And all of that is exalting ourselves and robbing God of His glory.1400:01:06,160 –> 00:01:10,720Obviously none of us want to own up to that, but, as you say, we all have that tendency.1500:01:10,720 –> 00:01:16,720So when we begin to see that happening, are there some red flags, early-warning signs that we should watch out for?1600:01:16,720 –> 00:01:22,680Yes, I think, every time I get in a position of feeling that God owes me something better than I’ve got,1700:01:22,919 –> 00:01:26,980that means that I’ve slipped away from the position of grace,1800:01:26,980 –> 00:01:33,220I’ve lost sight of what He’s given me, and I’m back in the old law thing trying to lay claim to Christ.1900:01:33,220 –> 00:01:36,519And that happens, you know, Lord, why did you allow this?2000:01:36,519 –> 00:01:39,199That really is me saying you owed me better.2100:01:39,959 –> 00:01:43,239Every time I complain, that is at the root of it.2200:01:43,239 –> 00:01:48,599So this is a really important place for watching our own souls on a daily basis.2300:01:48,599 –> 00:01:52,519Am I getting to the place where I’m thinking that God owes me better?2400:01:52,680 –> 00:01:58,440At that point, I’ve lost sight of grace because grace means He’s given me more than I ever deserved.2500:01:58,440 –> 00:02:02,440Well, we’ll continue to look at the subject of grace in today’s message,2600:02:02,440 –> 00:02:05,480which is called, The Gospel is Worth Defending.2700:02:05,480 –> 00:02:07,400So we’re in Galatians chapter two.2800:02:07,400 –> 00:02:09,880I hope you’ll join us in your Bible if you can.2900:02:09,880 –> 00:02:11,000Here’s Colin.3000:02:11,000 –> 00:02:14,199Now, I don’t play today, and we’ll actually continue it into next week,3100:02:14,199 –> 00:02:15,960also, God willing, is really very simple.3200:02:15,960 –> 00:02:19,160And I hope that it might be useful to help us all grasp the gospel,3300:02:19,160 –> 00:02:21,160which is what this whole series is all about.3400:02:21,720 –> 00:02:22,800What’s the gospel?3500:02:23,800 –> 00:02:25,080Let me give you it in three headings.3600:02:26,600 –> 00:02:27,399It’s grace,3700:02:28,199 –> 00:02:29,000it’s life,3800:02:30,279 –> 00:02:31,479and it’s for the world.3900:02:31,479 –> 00:02:33,240And if we can get hold of these three things,4000:02:33,240 –> 00:02:35,080and hold them in our minds and in our hearts,4100:02:35,080 –> 00:02:36,440and understand them well,4200:02:36,440 –> 00:02:39,080we will have a good grasp of the gospel of Jesus Christ.4300:02:39,080 –> 00:02:40,279Let’s say them together.4400:02:40,279 –> 00:02:41,559It’s grace,4500:02:41,559 –> 00:02:42,759it’s life,4600:02:42,759 –> 00:02:44,039and it’s for the world.4700:02:44,039 –> 00:02:44,520OK.4800:02:44,520 –> 00:02:45,160One more time.4900:02:45,160 –> 00:02:46,440It’s grace,5000:02:46,440 –> 00:02:47,160it’s life,5100:02:47,720 –> 00:02:49,399and it’s for the world.5200:02:50,279 –> 00:02:50,2795300:02:51,000 –> 00:02:55,080Let’s move to Grace verses 15 and 16.5400:02:56,520 –> 00:02:59,320Now one word dominates this paragraph,5500:03:00,039 –> 00:03:02,279and it is the word Justified.5600:03:03,080 –> 00:03:04,839Let me read these verses for you.5700:03:07,000 –> 00:03:08,839We who are Jews by birth…5800:03:08,839 –> 00:03:09,160Of course,5900:03:09,160 –> 00:03:10,600that was Peter and Paul.6000:03:11,479 –> 00:03:13,080And not Gentile sinners.6100:03:13,080 –> 00:03:14,279That’s said with irony.6200:03:14,279 –> 00:03:17,559Because that was the way Gentiles were so often described.6300:03:17,720 –> 00:03:21,320We who are Jews by birth and not gentile sinners6400:03:21,320 –> 00:03:25,320know that a man is not justified by observing the law,6500:03:25,320 –> 00:03:27,000but by faith in Jesus Christ.6600:03:27,559 –> 00:03:30,039So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus,6700:03:30,039 –> 00:03:34,839that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law.6800:03:34,880 –> 00:03:36,199Because by observing the law,6900:03:36,199 –> 00:03:38,119no one will be justified.7000:03:38,119 –> 00:03:39,960So whatever this word means…7100:03:40,520 –> 00:03:44,440These Great Statements about what it means to be justified.7200:03:45,240 –> 00:03:46,759Now Justified, very simply,7300:03:46,759 –> 00:03:48,039is a legal word.7400:03:48,919 –> 00:03:51,160It belongs to the law courts7500:03:51,160 –> 00:03:54,360where a person may be pronounced not guilty7600:03:54,360 –> 00:03:58,279and cleared of all charges before the law.7700:03:59,080 –> 00:04:03,320The opposite of Justified would be Condemned.7800:04:04,919 –> 00:04:06,520So these two words, of course,7900:04:06,520 –> 00:04:08,919point us forward to the last day8000:04:08,919 –> 00:04:11,639when God, our Creator and our Judge8100:04:11,639 –> 00:04:14,360will pronounce the final verdict8200:04:14,360 –> 00:04:15,800on every one of our lives.8300:04:17,720 –> 00:04:22,679And one day you will hear, I will hear,8400:04:22,679 –> 00:04:24,119every person who has ever lived8500:04:24,119 –> 00:04:26,519will hear the verdict of God8600:04:26,519 –> 00:04:28,040and that verdict will be summed up8700:04:28,040 –> 00:04:28,760in one word.8800:04:28,760 –> 00:04:30,920It will either be Justified8900:04:31,880 –> 00:04:34,359or it will be Condemned.9000:04:35,320 –> 00:04:38,359That’s how it will be on the last day.9100:04:40,119 –> 00:04:42,119Now, nobody wants to be condemned9200:04:44,279 –> 00:04:46,200so obviously the question is9300:04:46,279 –> 00:04:48,200how can I be justified?9400:04:50,040 –> 00:04:53,000And Paul gives us the clearest possible answer9500:04:53,799 –> 00:04:55,799to this most important question9600:04:55,799 –> 00:04:56,679in these verses9700:04:56,679 –> 00:04:58,519and he gives it in two ways9800:04:58,519 –> 00:05:01,079first negative and then positive9900:05:01,079 –> 00:05:02,920he gives the negative three times10000:05:02,920 –> 00:05:04,679and then he gives the positive three times10100:05:04,679 –> 00:05:05,559let me read it twice10200:05:05,559 –> 00:05:06,600because it’s so important10300:05:06,600 –> 00:05:08,279there isn’t a bigger question than this10400:05:08,279 –> 00:05:10,440how do I know that on the last day10500:05:10,440 –> 00:05:12,920I will hear the verdict of God Justified10600:05:12,920 –> 00:05:15,000and not hear the verdict of God Condemned10700:05:15,000 –> 00:05:15,720could there be a bigger question?10800:05:16,920 –> 00:05:20,440How can I be justified?10900:05:20,440 –> 00:05:23,079Well here’s the negative answer first11000:05:23,079 –> 00:05:26,279You cannot be justified by observing the law11100:05:27,480 –> 00:05:29,000Let me just read these verses again11200:05:29,000 –> 00:05:29,799See it in your bible11300:05:29,799 –> 00:05:30,920verse 15 and 1611400:05:30,920 –> 00:05:32,359We who are Jews by birth11500:05:32,359 –> 00:05:33,640and not Gentile sinners11600:05:34,440 –> 00:05:37,079We know that a man is not justified11700:05:37,079 –> 00:05:38,519by observing the law11800:05:38,519 –> 00:05:40,200but by faith in Jesus Christ11900:05:40,200 –> 00:05:41,640We too have put our faith in Christ12000:05:41,640 –> 00:05:42,760that we may be justified12100:05:42,760 –> 00:05:43,720by faith in Christ12200:05:43,720 –> 00:05:45,880and not by observing the law12300:05:46,040 –> 00:05:47,720because by observing the law12400:05:47,720 –> 00:05:49,160no one will be justified12500:05:49,160 –> 00:05:49,959three times12600:05:49,959 –> 00:05:52,519You can’t do it by observing the law12700:05:53,559 –> 00:05:54,440You can’t do it12800:05:54,440 –> 00:05:55,160in other words12900:05:55,160 –> 00:05:58,760on the basis of the quality of your life13000:05:58,760 –> 00:06:01,079not even the quality of your Christian life13100:06:03,720 –> 00:06:05,320How then can you be justified?13200:06:05,320 –> 00:06:07,720Let’s read it with the positive emphasis this time13300:06:07,720 –> 00:06:08,760He says positively13400:06:08,760 –> 00:06:12,279We are justified by faith in Christ13500:06:13,399 –> 00:06:14,600We who are Jews by birth13600:06:14,600 –> 00:06:16,040and not Gentile sinners know13700:06:16,839 –> 00:06:19,480that a man is not justified by observing the law13800:06:19,480 –> 00:06:22,040but by faith in Jesus Christ13900:06:23,239 –> 00:06:26,279we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus14000:06:27,399 –> 00:06:31,720that we may be justified by faith in Christ14100:06:34,519 –> 00:06:36,359Why could there be any more important question14200:06:36,359 –> 00:06:37,160in all of the world14300:06:37,160 –> 00:06:39,079than the issue we’re on right now?14400:06:41,000 –> 00:06:42,600let me attempt an illustration14500:06:42,600 –> 00:06:44,440to try and encapsulate14600:06:46,200 –> 00:06:48,200what Paul is saying to us here14700:06:48,200 –> 00:06:49,480in a way that we can grasp14800:06:51,880 –> 00:06:54,839Karn and I have been married for 26 years14900:06:55,959 –> 00:06:57,239and in all of that time15000:06:57,239 –> 00:07:00,200we have only lived in two houses15100:07:01,079 –> 00:07:01,799loved them both15200:07:02,679 –> 00:07:04,519we lived for 16 years15300:07:04,519 –> 00:07:06,519on Old Park Avenue15400:07:07,079 –> 00:07:09,079in Enfield North London15500:07:10,200 –> 00:07:11,559and for the last 10 years15600:07:11,559 –> 00:07:13,880we have lived on North Brighton Place15700:07:14,600 –> 00:07:15,959here in Arlington Heights15800:07:17,399 –> 00:07:19,480Now we have loved living in both of these homes15900:07:19,480 –> 00:07:21,640but there is one significant difference16000:07:23,399 –> 00:07:26,200The home that we lived in in England16100:07:27,000 –> 00:07:28,600belonged to the church16200:07:30,359 –> 00:07:32,279the home that we live in here16300:07:32,279 –> 00:07:33,640belongs to us16400:07:33,640 –> 00:07:35,959or at least that’s a kind of euphemism16500:07:35,959 –> 00:07:37,000we have a mortgage16600:07:37,000 –> 00:07:37,880you understand16700:07:38,519 –> 00:07:40,119and one day16800:07:40,119 –> 00:07:41,079we hope that it will16900:07:41,880 –> 00:07:42,839we’re working on it17000:07:44,040 –> 00:07:47,399Now there are many differences in these two situations17100:07:49,079 –> 00:07:51,559One of them involves taxes17200:07:53,720 –> 00:07:55,720living in our own home like everyone else17300:07:55,720 –> 00:08:00,119we are liable to pay the taxes on the property that we own17400:08:01,000 –> 00:08:02,440and don’t you just love it17500:08:03,320 –> 00:08:05,320when twice a year17600:08:05,320 –> 00:08:09,720that personalised communication comes to you17700:08:09,720 –> 00:08:13,480with your own very individual PIN number17800:08:13,480 –> 00:08:17,640telling you how much you can pay for the privilege of living17900:08:17,640 –> 00:08:21,559in your own house for half of one year18000:08:25,480 –> 00:08:29,000Now I have to tell you, for 16 years in England18100:08:29,559 –> 00:08:32,919we didn’t pay a cent or even a penny of property tax18200:08:33,880 –> 00:08:34,679Why?18300:08:35,640 –> 00:08:37,960Because our home was owned by the Church18400:08:38,919 –> 00:08:42,919and the property tax bill was sent direct to the trustees18500:08:42,919 –> 00:08:43,880Great!18600:08:46,119 –> 00:08:50,119You know, I honestly looking back don’t think that I ever saw18700:08:50,119 –> 00:08:53,640a property tax bill for the house we lived in all the years we were there18800:08:53,640 –> 00:08:57,000though I was deeply thankful for the provision that was made18900:08:59,960 –> 00:09:02,760Now when it comes to fulfilling God’s demands19000:09:02,760 –> 00:09:11,000you pay your own dues or someone else pays them for you19100:09:12,119 –> 00:09:17,400And Paul is saying every attempt to pay your own dues19200:09:17,400 –> 00:09:20,039before God will ultimately fail19300:09:20,039 –> 00:09:20,840That’s what he’s saying19400:09:21,479 –> 00:09:25,080No one will be justified by observing the law19500:09:26,760 –> 00:09:31,239So if you attempt to build the house of your own righteousness19600:09:32,200 –> 00:09:36,119you will be faced in the end with taxes that you cannot pay19700:09:36,119 –> 00:09:38,039that are more than your total net worth19800:09:39,880 –> 00:09:42,760You will find on the last day that the total value of your19900:09:42,760 –> 00:09:50,679entire best efforts in life fall far short of the debt that you owe to God20000:09:50,679 –> 00:09:52,359You will therefore be bankrupt20100:09:52,919 –> 00:09:56,599the house of your righteousness will be foreclosed20200:09:56,599 –> 00:10:00,039and you will be cast out forever20300:10:01,559 –> 00:10:02,679Fearful prospect20400:10:04,039 –> 00:10:05,159Now here’s the gospel20500:10:07,239 –> 00:10:11,159Recognizing the prospect of that awful ultimate reality20600:10:11,880 –> 00:10:15,080you can sell the house of your own righteousness20700:10:16,359 –> 00:10:20,840And you can move into the house that was built by and belongs to Jesus Christ20800:10:20,840 –> 00:10:25,719It’s his house but he offers it to you and he invites you to move in20900:10:25,880 –> 00:10:29,080When you move in since it is his house in which you live21000:10:29,080 –> 00:10:33,640he is liable for all the taxes so that when the bill is due on the last day21100:10:34,760 –> 00:10:41,159it will be presented to him and not to you and he has already provided for its payment in full21200:10:43,880 –> 00:10:45,159Now that’s the gospel21300:10:47,320 –> 00:10:48,679Here’s the problem21400:10:51,479 –> 00:10:54,679Grace sounds marvellous21500:10:56,359 –> 00:11:03,080but there is something deep within us all that would rather earn than receive21600:11:05,960 –> 00:11:12,440Now you think about the position that Karan and I have been in and are in with these two houses21700:11:14,679 –> 00:11:16,280Now let’s have some honesty21800:11:17,320 –> 00:11:22,840Do you think we were in a better position living in the house owned by another in London21900:11:23,159 –> 00:11:29,400or living in the house that we will come to own here by ourselves22000:11:31,799 –> 00:11:34,599Oh don’t look like it’s such a hard question! it’s perfectly obvious22100:11:34,599 –> 00:11:36,840to me of course we’re in a better situation now22200:11:38,679 –> 00:11:42,359Got my own house? there isn’t one of you who would disagree with that22300:11:42,359 –> 00:11:52,359you’re just trying to be spiritual22400:11:52,840 –> 00:11:57,640and that’s our problem with the gospel, it’s against every instinct of nature22500:11:59,799 –> 00:12:03,559Grace sounds great but we prefer works22600:12:05,719 –> 00:12:11,000it makes us feel more secure because we find faith very difficult22700:12:13,080 –> 00:12:15,159You’re really gonna trust the guy who owns the house?22800:12:15,640 –> 00:12:18,599and trust your life and your destiny to him22900:12:20,280 –> 00:12:21,479as opposed to build your own?23000:12:23,640 –> 00:12:24,140really?23100:12:26,760 –> 00:12:33,159We want to build our own righteousness so that we can establish what our independence from God23200:12:35,880 –> 00:12:39,000which is why the law is always so attractive to us deep down23300:12:39,000 –> 00:12:41,159okay what does god want from me tell me how much it is23400:12:41,880 –> 00:12:45,640Tell me what I have to do lay it on the line, give me the check box23500:12:47,479 –> 00:12:51,479whatever the list is I’ll do it no matter if I have to do two jobs I’ll do it23600:12:52,520 –> 00:12:58,520just tell me what it is, what do you require of me? Make it clear, lay it out23700:13:01,479 –> 00:13:07,400Believing the gospel goes against every instinct of your nature and mine23800:13:07,880 –> 00:13:14,119and the hardest thing about Grace is that at the deepest level of our being we don’t want it23900:13:16,840 –> 00:13:21,799And some of us have spent years trying to pay24000:13:21,799 –> 00:13:27,880our dues to God and finding out that we can’t doesn’t sound to us the least bit like good news24100:13:27,880 –> 00:13:35,479at all. And you see that is where Paul was for many years himself is it not? He talks about it24200:13:35,479 –> 00:13:39,960in Philippians in chapter three. If anyone thinks he has reason to put confidence in the flesh I’ll24300:13:39,960 –> 00:13:44,760tell you I have much more you know the way I was born of the tribe of Benjamin and raised24400:13:44,760 –> 00:13:50,919as a Pharisee and so forth and so on. But he says whatever was to my profit that that whole24500:13:50,919 –> 00:13:55,559thing that I try to build up, to offer to God I now realise it was just a loss24600:13:57,320 –> 00:14:02,359and I’ve discarded it for the sake of Christ because I want to be found in Christ24700:14:02,440 –> 00:14:07,640not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that which is24800:14:07,640 –> 00:14:13,960through faith in Jesus Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith24900:14:16,520 –> 00:14:19,640You see this?25000:14:19,640 –> 00:14:28,840The taxes on the house of your own righteousness are way too high, you cannot pay them on the last day25100:14:29,799 –> 00:14:36,919you need to move into that other house which was built by the savior25200:14:38,280 –> 00:14:48,039and belongs to him and that involves trust it involves faith it involves saying I’m25300:14:48,039 –> 00:15:00,520hanging it all on you and not on me and his house is called grace25400:15:03,000 –> 00:15:07,400and he has built it at the cost of his own death and his resurrection25500:15:07,400 –> 00:15:14,679and he invites you to come in and to take occupancy and he offers it to you without price25600:15:15,400 –> 00:15:27,880for time and for eternity you will never be evicted from his house. It’s the gospel25700:15:29,080 –> 00:15:34,679its grace its life and it’s for the world25800:15:35,239 –> 00:15:40,679helpful look there at what the gospel brings life and light and it’s for the world25900:15:41,559 –> 00:15:46,119message today is called the gospel is worth defending. It’s part of our series Grasping26000:15:46,119 –> 00:15:50,119the gospel and if you’ve missed any of the series or if you want to go back and listen again26100:15:50,119 –> 00:15:55,559you can do that by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk26200:15:55,559 –> 00:15:59,400back to the message now we’re in Galatians 2 here’s Colin26300:15:59,400 –> 00:16:04,200now we have only a few minutes so we’ll just touch very briefly on its life and then we’ll26400:16:04,200 –> 00:16:08,440come back to complete this God willing next week but look at verse 20 that really focuses26500:16:08,440 –> 00:16:15,159in on the theme of life by the way have you ever noticed that moving house changes your life26600:16:16,039 –> 00:16:18,679is there anyone here who thinks the moving house is a small thing26700:16:21,159 –> 00:16:25,239you know the idea that becoming a Christian is saying a pious little prayer and then having26800:16:25,239 –> 00:16:28,919it all signed sealed and delivered for heaven and that that’s all that’s to it is plainly26900:16:28,919 –> 00:16:33,320ridiculous anyone who’s moved house knows their moving house is a life changing event27000:16:33,320 –> 00:16:40,119Galatians chapter 2 and verse 20 is all about life the word life or live is here27100:16:40,119 –> 00:16:45,559five times in this one verse that’s know so well and is so precious to so many Christian27200:16:45,559 –> 00:16:49,559believers it’s a wonderful wonderful verse and we just touch on it we’ll come back to27300:16:49,559 –> 00:16:55,960it next time I have been crucified with Christ and i no longer live but Christ lives in me27400:16:55,960 –> 00:17:00,919and the life i live in the body i live by faith in the son of god who loved me27500:17:00,919 –> 00:17:06,599and gave himself for me so it’s quite plainly about this whole marvelous matter of life27600:17:06,599 –> 00:17:10,920Now I want you to notice these two dimensions of the gospel which we picked up for the first27700:17:10,920 –> 00:17:17,479time last week It is the death of Christ for me but it is the life of Christ in me as well27800:17:17,479 –> 00:17:22,520and these two things are tied together as much as the death and resurrection of Jesus are tied27900:17:22,520 –> 00:17:26,920together. There is no Jesus who rose who did not die there is no Jesus who died and did28000:17:26,920 –> 00:17:33,160not rise Jesus is the Savior who died and rose again and to be a Christian and to belong to him28100:17:33,160 –> 00:17:37,880is to be covered by his death and to be filled with his life that is the gospel28200:17:38,520 –> 00:17:43,560why you can’t just say it it’s grace and it’s for the world it’s grace it’s life and it is28300:17:43,560 –> 00:17:49,400for the world the death of Christ for me and the life of Christ in me28400:17:51,400 –> 00:17:56,119as I say we’ll pursue this next time but simply to say this that the gospel brings you28500:17:56,119 –> 00:18:01,959into the power of a new life that’s why it cannot be just beginnings it’s not just abc28600:18:01,959 –> 00:18:08,760it is the a to z of the Christian life it’s all by grace grace we come in grace we stay in28700:18:11,239 –> 00:18:15,079it’s all about life life that is imparted by the power of the28800:18:15,079 –> 00:18:20,359spirit of the living Lord Jesus Christ for us and in us from here to eternity28900:18:20,359 –> 00:18:23,800Christ Lives In Me that’s the gospel29000:18:26,520 –> 00:18:28,040now you see some people have what29100:18:30,680 –> 00:18:37,079I like to call the spit and polish view of the gospel you know what that is it goes like this29200:18:38,599 –> 00:18:42,439well we all have our sins and failures but we’re basically all right at heart and29300:18:42,439 –> 00:18:48,119obviously none of us is perfect so each of us needs really basically a good wash and that’s29400:18:48,119 –> 00:18:52,680what Jesus Christ does for us but when that happens we’ll scrub up pretty nice29500:18:52,920 –> 00:18:55,959so there’s the spit and polish view of the gospel29600:18:59,079 –> 00:19:02,359the bible makes it clear that you and I need a lot more than a good wash29700:19:03,959 –> 00:19:05,479we need a complete renovation29800:19:07,239 –> 00:19:11,800and the gospel goes far deeper than a quick lick of paint over the surface as it were29900:19:11,800 –> 00:19:16,760or a quick cleanup on the outside it is about a complete makeover on the inside30000:19:19,319 –> 00:19:21,160when Jesus Christ comes to live in30100:19:22,040 –> 00:19:29,400in your life your life is like a house that needs everything doing to it not30200:19:29,400 –> 00:19:31,400just a quick lick of paint it needs new plumbing30300:19:31,400 –> 00:19:33,479it needs new wiring it needs new joist30400:19:33,479 –> 00:19:36,760it needs new fitting it needs new siding it needs new roofing30500:19:36,760 –> 00:19:39,959and the gospel is more than forgiveness more than a wash up30600:19:41,239 –> 00:19:43,319it is Christ restoring your mind30700:19:45,079 –> 00:19:50,520to love the truth in your heart to beat for him and for others30800:19:52,119 –> 00:19:56,599and your spirit to be alive towards him in worship not for an hour or two a week30900:19:56,599 –> 00:19:58,680but for every day and for every hour that you live31000:20:00,040 –> 00:20:04,520to direct the desires of your heart it’s about Christ touching and healing31100:20:04,520 –> 00:20:09,160painful memories and redirecting self-centered dreams31200:20:10,760 –> 00:20:14,119it’s about Jesus Christ making you what God intended you to be31300:20:14,119 –> 00:20:18,680Jesus Christ is not interested in putting a quick lick of paint on the house of your life31400:20:18,760 –> 00:20:20,359he is the master builder31500:20:20,359 –> 00:20:22,119he is the loving restorer31600:20:22,119 –> 00:20:27,079and when he comes to live within you as you come as it were to live within him31700:20:27,079 –> 00:20:29,000both of these are biblical pictures31800:20:30,599 –> 00:20:33,479he undertakes a complete restoration31900:20:35,239 –> 00:20:39,319so that he can make his home in and with you for all eternity32000:20:41,079 –> 00:20:43,959Christ lives in me32100:20:43,959 –> 00:20:47,319and it’s the presence of the life and therefore the power of Jesus Christ32200:20:47,319 –> 00:20:50,439that puts you in an entirely different position32300:20:52,359 –> 00:20:56,040to face all the challenges of life in this world32400:20:56,760 –> 00:20:57,800so what’s the gospel?32500:20:58,760 –> 00:21:00,040It’s grace32600:21:00,040 –> 00:21:01,079it’s life32700:21:01,079 –> 00:21:02,199and it’s for the world32800:21:02,199 –> 00:21:03,640we’re getting it one more time32900:21:03,640 –> 00:21:05,079it is grace33000:21:05,079 –> 00:21:05,800it’s life33100:21:06,599 –> 00:21:07,719and it’s for the world33200:21:07,719 –> 00:21:11,640if we can grasp these things they will be transforming33300:21:11,640 –> 00:21:14,280have you grasped the gospel of grace?33400:21:14,520 –> 00:21:19,400are you still trying to earn favour with god33500:21:21,160 –> 00:21:23,959are you ready today to trust yourself33600:21:23,959 –> 00:21:25,400this difficult thing to do33700:21:26,760 –> 00:21:29,800into the hands of Jesus Christ33800:21:31,239 –> 00:21:33,319and move into the house of his righteousness33900:21:35,560 –> 00:21:36,680and trust yourself34000:21:36,680 –> 00:21:37,160your hopes34100:21:37,160 –> 00:21:38,040your dreams34200:21:38,040 –> 00:21:38,680your family34300:21:39,880 –> 00:21:40,920your eternity34400:21:41,719 –> 00:21:42,280everything34500:21:43,239 –> 00:21:43,719to him34600:21:45,400 –> 00:21:47,239have you grasped the gospel of life34700:21:49,079 –> 00:21:51,959or are you really just holding on to few religious traditions34800:21:51,959 –> 00:21:54,599that make little difference to who you really are34900:21:56,520 –> 00:21:58,839and have you grasped that the gospel is for the world35000:22:01,160 –> 00:22:03,640or are you thinking that our calling is35100:22:03,640 –> 00:22:05,479that we gather together with a few people35200:22:05,479 –> 00:22:07,000who are basically like ourselves35300:22:07,000 –> 00:22:09,640and then enjoy the warmth of our fellowship together35400:22:10,439 –> 00:22:13,079now grasping the gospel will change your life35500:22:15,000 –> 00:22:16,760and it will transform the church35600:22:17,719 –> 00:22:20,599you’ve been listening to Pastor Colin slhmith on Open The Bible35700:22:20,599 –> 00:22:24,040with a message called The gospel is worth defending35800:22:24,040 –> 00:22:26,520It’s from our series, Grasping the gospel35900:22:26,520 –> 00:22:28,520and I hope as you listen that you36000:22:28,520 –> 00:22:30,439indeed have grasped the gospel36100:22:31,000 –> 00:22:34,920We’ve heard from Chris, a regular listener from South Yorkshire36200:22:34,920 –> 00:22:37,079and he’s been in touch, he writes36300:22:37,079 –> 00:22:41,239I’ve been listening to your program on Premier Christian Radio for years36400:22:41,239 –> 00:22:43,239I never miss a broadcast36500:22:43,239 –> 00:22:47,000I’m pretty sure that I got saved listening to one of your sermons36600:22:47,000 –> 00:22:49,280I’m very grateful for your preaching that36700:22:49,280 –> 00:22:52,040simply teaches what the Bible says36800:22:52,040 –> 00:22:53,239My friends and I who listen together36900:22:53,239 –> 00:22:55,619are so grateful you pointed us to37000:22:55,619 –> 00:22:57,959the hope we find in Jesus37100:22:57,959 –> 00:22:59,880Thanks for that message Chris37200:22:59,880 –> 00:23:01,719and we hope that you’ll continue listening to37300:23:01,719 –> 00:23:03,680Open The Bible with your friends37400:23:03,680 –> 00:23:05,959Just a reminder that we love hearing about37500:23:06,760 –> 00:23:09,640from our listeners so if you’d like to get in touch37600:23:09,640 –> 00:23:11,780this is how you can do it37700:23:11,819 –> 00:23:13,680You can write to us at37800:23:13,680 –> 00:23:21,079Open The Bible PO box 1420 Cheltenham GL 50 9PG37900:23:21,079 –> 00:23:22,760Again, that address is38000:23:22,760 –> 00:23:28,079Open The Bible P.O. box 1420 Cheltenham GL 50 9PG38100:23:28,079 –> 00:23:33,760Open The Bible is supported entirely by our listeners38200:23:33,760 –> 00:23:37,020and if that’s something you’re considering doing this new year for the38300:23:37,020 –> 00:23:40,160first time we have an offer that I hope you’ll like38400:23:40,199 –> 00:23:44,540If you’re able to set up a new direct debit to the work of Open The Bible38500:23:44,540 –> 00:23:47,079In the amount of £5 per month or more38600:23:47,079 –> 00:23:49,819or a one-off gift of £50 or more38700:23:49,819 –> 00:23:54,079we’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of the classic book38800:23:54,079 –> 00:23:57,400Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan38900:23:57,400 –> 00:24:01,239Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham with details39000:24:01,260 –> 00:24:06,619We’re thrilled to be able to give away a free Open The Bible UK pen, bookmark39100:24:06,619 –> 00:24:13,300and an updated copy of the timeless classic Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan39200:24:13,300 –> 00:24:17,880I honestly believe that this book will inspire you and give you hope39300:24:17,880 –> 00:24:21,500even if you’re currently going through a difficult time39400:24:21,500 –> 00:24:26,219And amazingly, John Bunyan did not write this book from an ivory tower39500:24:26,219 –> 00:24:28,979but from a grim English prison39600:24:28,979 –> 00:24:30,979He knew what suffering was39700:24:31,420 –> 00:24:34,160so we would love to send you these free gifts39800:24:34,160 –> 00:24:37,800both to encourage you and to say thank you for your donation39900:24:38,199 –> 00:24:41,219So this book Pilgrims Progress is our gift to you40000:24:41,219 –> 00:24:43,719if you are able to set up a new direct debit40100:24:43,719 –> 00:24:45,719to the work of Open The Bible40200:24:45,719 –> 00:24:47,719in the amount of £5 per month.40300:24:47,719 –> 00:24:52,119or more, or a one-off gift of £50 or more this month40400:24:52,119 –> 00:24:54,119For all terms and conditions and details40500:24:54,119 –> 00:24:59,160are on our website, that’s at openthebible.org.uk40600:24:59,199 –> 00:25:01,439For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith40700:25:01,439 –> 00:25:03,439I’m David Pick and I hope you will join us again40800:25:03,439 –> 00:25:05,439next time