100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:07,000The law will do one of two things for you.200:00:07,000 –> 00:00:13,000It will either convince you that you are still a sinner or it will make you a Pharisee.300:00:13,000 –> 00:00:19,000The law will either humble you as a Christian or it will make you an unbearable snob.400:00:20,000 –> 00:00:26,000Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and Colin, I think we’ve all met a few snobs out there.500:00:26,000 –> 00:00:29,000Have you met any unbearable snobs?600:00:29,000 –> 00:00:31,000Well to be fair there have been a couple of those.700:00:31,000 –> 00:00:39,000You know what a tragedy when Christians convey a sort of holier than thou looking down the nose attitude to others800:00:39,000 –> 00:00:43,000who are supposed to up their game and be better than they are,900:00:43,000 –> 00:00:47,000and that is so far from the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ.1000:00:47,000 –> 00:00:49,000You don’t see anything of that in the Lord.1100:00:49,000 –> 00:00:51,000He went after the Pharisees.1200:00:51,000 –> 00:00:53,000He did and he related to people.1300:00:53,000 –> 00:00:57,000And he calls us to a humility.1400:00:57,000 –> 00:01:04,000But what a wonderful thing it is to see Christians who genuinely walk humbly with Christ1500:01:04,000 –> 00:01:08,000and do that because they really have grasped the gospel.1600:01:08,000 –> 00:01:12,000I mean our whole series is about if you really grasp the gospel,1700:01:12,000 –> 00:01:15,000it is going to have an effect on character, not just in the future,1800:01:15,000 –> 00:01:20,000but to grasp that I am a sinner whose only hope before God is through his grace1900:01:20,000 –> 00:01:26,000and this is going to produce, if I really take that in, a humble spirit and not an arrogant one.2000:01:26,000 –> 00:01:30,000Well that’s what we find in today’s message. It’s from Galatians chapter three2100:01:30,000 –> 00:01:32,000so I hope you’ll join us in your Bible if you can.2200:01:32,000 –> 00:01:37,000As we continue the message, the gospel gives you the spirit. Here’s Colin.2300:01:37,000 –> 00:01:42,000The law tells us what to do but it does not give us the means of doing it.2400:01:43,000 –> 00:01:48,000If the Gospel were forgiveness plus law,2500:01:48,000 –> 00:01:55,000we would be doomed, back under a curse,2600:01:55,000 –> 00:01:59,000which is why Paul introduces that theme so strongly in the middle of Galatians 32700:01:59,000 –> 00:02:05,000because the law cannot impart life, might as well say go boil the ocean.2800:02:05,000 –> 00:02:09,000Second, what the law can do. It can lead you to Christ.2900:02:10,000 –> 00:02:14,000What the law can’t do, it cannot impart life.3000:02:14,000 –> 00:02:18,000What the law can do, it can lead you to Christ.3100:02:18,000 –> 00:02:21,000Look at verse 23 through verse 24.3200:02:21,000 –> 00:02:26,000Before this faith, that is faith in Christ, came, we were held prisoners by the law.3300:02:26,000 –> 00:02:30,000No wonder, if you’re called to do something you can’t do. You really are a prisoner.3400:02:30,000 –> 00:02:34,000We were locked up until faith should be revealed.3500:02:34,000 –> 00:02:39,000So, the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ.3600:02:39,000 –> 00:02:44,000That we might be justified by faith.3700:02:44,000 –> 00:02:46,000You see what Paul is saying here?3800:02:46,000 –> 00:02:52,000That the primary purpose of all of God’s law is to lead you to Jesus Christ.3900:02:52,000 –> 00:02:59,000When you see the sheer impossibility of what God is calling you to do,4000:02:59,000 –> 00:03:02,000then you will see and feel your need of a Savior.4100:03:02,000 –> 00:03:05,000And the law was given for this purpose.4200:03:05,000 –> 00:03:09,000The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ.4300:03:09,000 –> 00:03:14,000Now, that is true as much for Christians today,4400:03:14,000 –> 00:03:19,000as it is for unconverted people, who we think need to hear the gospel.4500:03:19,000 –> 00:03:25,000See, many Christians have fallen into the same error as the Galatians.4600:03:25,000 –> 00:03:31,000We saw our need of Jesus to forgive our past sins,4700:03:32,000 –> 00:03:36,000but then somehow, in the church world, we come to feel that somehow4800:03:36,000 –> 00:03:40,000we are able to live a life that is pleasing to God, at least more or less,4900:03:40,000 –> 00:03:45,000with an occasional bit of forgiveness topping us up now and again.5000:03:45,000 –> 00:03:51,000In other words, we think that the Christian life is forgiveness plus law.5100:03:51,000 –> 00:03:56,000I have to ask you, do you really think5200:03:56,000 –> 00:04:00,000that God looks down from Heaven5300:04:00,000 –> 00:04:06,000and is wowed by your Christian life?5400:04:06,000 –> 00:04:08,000Really?5500:04:08,000 –> 00:04:11,000I have to tell you honestly,5600:04:11,000 –> 00:04:20,000I look at my own Christian life and ministry many times5700:04:20,000 –> 00:04:28,000and wonder to myself, what in all the world does God make of this?5800:04:28,500 –> 00:04:33,000Because it is such a mixture.5900:04:33,000 –> 00:04:36,000Isn’t that the reality?6000:04:36,000 –> 00:04:43,000Augustine, who has been given by part of the church the title saint6100:04:44,000 –> 00:04:49,000so he must have been a very good Christian, great Christian leader, wonderful teacher6200:04:49,000 –> 00:04:52,000Augustine said this6300:04:52,000 –> 00:04:57,000I do not dare to commend the works of my hands6400:04:58,000 –> 00:05:05,000for fear that you may find more sins in them than merit6500:05:06,000 –> 00:05:15,000that was Saint Augustine’s view of his own Christian life6600:05:17,000 –> 00:05:20,000My view of mine6700:05:20,000 –> 00:05:23,000You relate to that?6800:05:24,000 –> 00:05:27,000You really want to go bounding up to the Lord on the last day and say6900:05:27,000 –> 00:05:30,000Look at my Christian life7000:05:30,000 –> 00:05:32,000Not a chance7100:05:34,000 –> 00:05:37,000I do not commend the work of my own hands for fear7200:05:37,000 –> 00:05:42,000that you may find in them more sins than merit7300:05:45,000 –> 00:05:48,000the law will do one of two things for you7400:05:48,000 –> 00:05:51,000it will either convince you that7500:05:51,000 –> 00:05:54,000you are a sinner7600:05:54,000 –> 00:05:57,000or it will make you a Pharisee7700:05:58,000 –> 00:06:01,000and actually you find Christians7800:06:01,000 –> 00:06:03,000of both sorts in the church today don’t you7900:06:03,000 –> 00:06:06,000those who have a deep consciousness of their own ongoing need8000:06:06,000 –> 00:06:10,000of the Savior in their life, for them and in them8100:06:10,000 –> 00:06:15,000and others who seem kind of like a Pharisee8200:06:15,000 –> 00:06:20,000the law will either humble you as a Christian8300:06:21,000 –> 00:06:25,000or it will make you an unbearable snob8400:06:26,000 –> 00:06:28,000and of course this is of huge importance8500:06:28,000 –> 00:06:30,000for our impact on the world8600:06:30,000 –> 00:06:32,000because the world sees8700:06:32,000 –> 00:06:35,000Evangelical Christians as self-righteous snobs8800:06:35,000 –> 00:06:38,000that’s what they think of us8900:06:38,000 –> 00:06:41,000who go around calling others to be as righteous9000:06:41,000 –> 00:06:44,000as we think we are9100:06:44,000 –> 00:06:47,000and of course if we think that we are successful9200:06:47,000 –> 00:06:49,000in keeping the Ten Commandments of God9300:06:49,000 –> 00:06:52,000and all of the other callings that He lays upon our lives9400:06:52,000 –> 00:06:55,000then frankly we deserve to be dismissed in that way9500:06:56,000 –> 00:07:00,000for the intent of God’s law is not to make us Pharisees9600:07:01,000 –> 00:07:05,000but rather to lead us to Christ9700:07:06,000 –> 00:07:08,000to Christ9800:07:10,000 –> 00:07:13,000now the Galatians grasped this at the beginning9900:07:13,000 –> 00:07:15,000but clearly they lost sight of it10000:07:15,000 –> 00:07:17,000and in the end what happened was that10100:07:17,000 –> 00:07:20,000the law led them away from Christ10200:07:20,000 –> 00:07:22,000I’m trying to think of this in a picture10300:07:22,000 –> 00:07:26,000I think that their view of salvation10400:07:26,000 –> 00:07:28,000was rather like a game of pool10500:07:28,000 –> 00:07:30,000think of a pool table10600:07:30,000 –> 00:07:32,000I don’t know if you have ever heard it illustrated this way10700:07:32,000 –> 00:07:34,000as if Christ were the cue ball10800:07:36,000 –> 00:07:39,000who collided with them once at conversion10900:07:39,000 –> 00:07:41,000firing them off in a new direction11000:07:42,000 –> 00:07:44,000touched once by the forgiveness of Christ11100:07:44,000 –> 00:07:47,000as they’re now travelling on in the momentum of that past experience11200:07:48,000 –> 00:07:49,000in their own attempt to live a righteous life11300:07:50,000 –> 00:07:52,000how many Christians are just there?11400:07:53,000 –> 00:07:59,000I am not a person who needed grace once11500:08:00,000 –> 00:08:04,000I am a person who needs and can only stand in the presence of God11600:08:04,000 –> 00:08:08,000by grace today11700:08:09,000 –> 00:08:12,000I was saved by grace11800:08:12,000 –> 00:08:16,000and today I stand by grace11900:08:17,000 –> 00:08:21,000remember one of the lesser known verses of john newton’s famous hymn12000:08:21,000 –> 00:08:27,000through many dangers toils and snares12100:08:28,000 –> 00:08:30,000I have already come12200:08:30,000 –> 00:08:34,000it was grace that brought me safe this far12300:08:34,000 –> 00:08:40,000and grace, not law, will lead me home12400:08:40,000 –> 00:08:44,000so what the law cannot do12500:08:44,000 –> 00:08:46,000it can’t impart life12600:08:46,000 –> 00:08:49,000what the law can do12700:08:49,000 –> 00:08:52,000if it has its right effect in your life12800:08:52,000 –> 00:08:55,000it can lead you to Christ12900:08:56,000 –> 00:08:58,000and here’s the third thing13000:08:58,000 –> 00:09:01,000what Christ will do13100:09:01,000 –> 00:09:03,000he will give you the spirit13200:09:04,000 –> 00:09:06,000and here we come to the heart of the message13300:09:06,000 –> 00:09:08,000chapter 3, and verse 213400:09:08,000 –> 00:09:11,000I would like to learn just one thing from you13500:09:11,000 –> 00:09:16,000did you receive the Spirit by observing the law13600:09:16,000 –> 00:09:20,000or by believing what you heard13700:09:20,000 –> 00:09:23,000now here is the crucial question13800:09:23,000 –> 00:09:24,000that goes to the heart of13900:09:24,000 –> 00:09:26,000how we live the Christian life today14000:09:26,000 –> 00:09:31,000how do you receive the Holy Spirit14100:09:31,000 –> 00:09:34,000how do you receive the new life14200:09:34,000 –> 00:09:35,000that comes from above14300:09:35,000 –> 00:09:38,000how is it yours today, tomorrow14400:09:38,000 –> 00:09:40,000and for everything that you face14500:09:40,000 –> 00:09:41,000in this coming week, month14600:09:41,000 –> 00:09:44,000and however long you’re here on this earth14700:09:44,000 –> 00:09:45,000until Christ shall call you home14800:09:45,000 –> 00:09:48,000answer, not by the law14900:09:48,000 –> 00:09:52,000the law cannot impart life15000:09:52,000 –> 00:09:56,000but rather by believing what you heard15100:09:56,000 –> 00:09:58,000verse 215200:09:58,000 –> 00:10:00,000and believing what you heard15300:10:00,000 –> 00:10:01,000refers back to verse 115400:10:01,000 –> 00:10:02,000where Paul speaks about his own preaching15500:10:03,000 –> 00:10:04,000of the gospel15600:10:04,000 –> 00:10:06,000of Jesus Christ crucified15700:10:06,000 –> 00:10:07,000so what he’s teaching us here very clearly15800:10:08,000 –> 00:10:10,000is that those who believe the gospel15900:10:10,000 –> 00:10:14,000receive the spirit16000:10:14,000 –> 00:10:17,000there is no such thing, in other words16100:10:17,000 –> 00:10:18,000as a Christian16200:10:18,000 –> 00:10:21,000who does not have the Holy Spirit16300:10:21,000 –> 00:10:24,000if you have forgiveness16400:10:24,000 –> 00:10:27,000then you have life16500:10:27,000 –> 00:10:28,000Why?16600:10:29,000 –> 00:10:32,000because you receive both16700:10:32,000 –> 00:10:34,000by being joined to Jesus Christ16800:10:34,000 –> 00:10:37,000who holds them both in himself16900:10:37,000 –> 00:10:39,000he holds them in his hands17000:10:39,000 –> 00:10:40,000and when you embrace him17100:10:40,000 –> 00:10:42,000or rather he embraces you17200:10:42,000 –> 00:10:45,000both become inseparably yours17300:10:45,000 –> 00:10:49,000he died for the forgiveness of your sins17400:10:49,000 –> 00:10:51,000he rose to give life to you17500:10:51,000 –> 00:10:54,000you can’t separate the death and resurrection of Jesus17600:10:54,000 –> 00:10:57,000you can’t be saved by half of Jesus Christ17700:10:57,000 –> 00:10:59,000or receive half of salvation from him17800:10:59,000 –> 00:11:01,000you cannot have forgiveness without life17900:11:01,000 –> 00:11:03,000or life without forgiveness18000:11:03,000 –> 00:11:04,000the Christ who died for you18100:11:04,000 –> 00:11:06,000is the Christ who rose for you18200:11:06,000 –> 00:11:07,000and the promise of the gospel18300:11:07,000 –> 00:11:09,000is they will forgive your sins18400:11:09,000 –> 00:11:12,000and give you his spirit18500:11:12,000 –> 00:11:14,000that’s the gospel18600:11:14,000 –> 00:11:18,000as you have faith in him18700:11:18,000 –> 00:11:21,000not because you’ve reached a certain sort of standard18800:11:21,000 –> 00:11:25,000in your pursuit of the Christian life later on18900:11:26,000 –> 00:11:28,000those who believe the gospel19000:11:28,000 –> 00:11:30,000receive the spirit19100:11:32,000 –> 00:11:33,000now the new testament19200:11:33,000 –> 00:11:36,000makes this so clear19300:11:37,000 –> 00:11:38,000perhaps never more so19400:11:38,000 –> 00:11:40,000than when it’s put the other way around19500:11:40,000 –> 00:11:42,000put negatively rather then positively19600:11:42,000 –> 00:11:44,000Romans chapter 8 and verse 919700:11:44,000 –> 00:11:46,000listen to this19800:11:46,000 –> 00:11:47,000if anyone19900:11:47,000 –> 00:11:51,000does not have the spirit of Christ20000:11:52,000 –> 00:11:54,000he does not belong to Christ20100:11:55,000 –> 00:11:58,000if anyone doesn’t have the spirit20200:11:58,000 –> 00:12:00,000of Christ20300:12:00,000 –> 00:12:02,000he or she does not belong to20400:12:02,000 –> 00:12:03,000Christ20500:12:03,000 –> 00:12:04,000why?20600:12:05,000 –> 00:12:06,000because to belong to Christ20700:12:06,000 –> 00:12:07,000by faith20800:12:07,000 –> 00:12:08,000is to have your sins forgiving20900:12:08,000 –> 00:12:10,000and to receive the spirit21000:12:10,000 –> 00:12:13,000that’s the gospel21100:12:13,000 –> 00:12:14,000and if we haven’t grasped that21200:12:14,000 –> 00:12:15,000what it really means21300:12:15,000 –> 00:12:16,000is that we think the gospel21400:12:16,000 –> 00:12:17,000is forgiveness plus law21500:12:17,000 –> 00:12:19,000because that’s all that we’ve got21600:12:21,000 –> 00:12:22,000Paul writes to this Galatians21700:12:22,000 –> 00:12:23,000who somehow got so confused21800:12:23,000 –> 00:12:24,000as to what it really means21900:12:24,000 –> 00:12:25,000to be a Christian22000:12:25,000 –> 00:12:26,000and he says no22100:12:26,000 –> 00:12:27,000it’s not forgiveness plus law22200:12:29,000 –> 00:12:30,000it’s forgiveness plus life22300:12:30,000 –> 00:12:31,000the Christ who died for you22400:12:32,000 –> 00:12:33,000rose for you22500:12:33,000 –> 00:12:35,000and those who believe the gospel22600:12:35,000 –> 00:12:38,000receive the spirit22700:12:40,000 –> 00:12:41,000now put very simply22800:12:41,000 –> 00:12:42,000what that means is22900:12:42,000 –> 00:12:43,000if you do not have23000:12:43,000 –> 00:12:45,000the Holy Spirit living within you23100:12:45,000 –> 00:12:47,000you are not yet a Christian23200:12:47,000 –> 00:12:51,000in New Testament terms23300:12:51,000 –> 00:12:53,000so please whatever you do23400:12:53,000 –> 00:12:59,000don’t tell yourself that you are23500:12:59,000 –> 00:13:00,000because otherwise23600:13:00,000 –> 00:13:01,000you’ll deceive yourself23700:13:01,000 –> 00:13:02,000into thinking23800:13:02,000 –> 00:13:03,000that you have the pearl of great price23900:13:03,000 –> 00:13:04,000when actually you do not24000:13:06,000 –> 00:13:08,000and if you think you have it24100:13:08,000 –> 00:13:10,000you’ll no longer be seeking it24200:13:10,000 –> 00:13:12,000and then you might miss it24300:13:12,000 –> 00:13:13,000which would be the most disastrous thing24400:13:13,000 –> 00:13:15,000in all of the world24500:13:18,000 –> 00:13:20,000now actually, I’m finding more and more24600:13:20,000 –> 00:13:22,000especially in our culture today24700:13:22,000 –> 00:13:24,000among church people24800:13:26,000 –> 00:13:30,000that this is a very useful question to ask24900:13:30,000 –> 00:13:32,000to be clarifying whether people25000:13:32,000 –> 00:13:36,000have actually grasped the gospel or not25100:13:36,000 –> 00:13:38,000see, if you are talking to a25200:13:38,000 –> 00:13:40,000churchy kind of a person25300:13:40,000 –> 00:13:42,000and you say to them25400:13:42,000 –> 00:13:44,000are you a Christian?25500:13:44,000 –> 00:13:47,000then to most people today25600:13:47,000 –> 00:13:48,000you know that is like asking the25700:13:48,000 –> 00:13:50,000question are you a good person?25800:13:50,000 –> 00:13:52,000and the vast majority of25900:13:52,000 –> 00:13:54,000people will say yes26000:13:54,000 –> 00:13:56,000and then they will be slightly offended26100:13:56,000 –> 00:13:58,000that you even asked26200:13:58,000 –> 00:14:00,000of course I’m a Christian, why do you ask?26300:14:00,000 –> 00:14:02,000so you might like26400:14:02,000 –> 00:14:04,000in a situation like that26500:14:04,000 –> 00:14:10,000to ask a more subtle26600:14:10,000 –> 00:14:12,000penetrating question26700:14:12,000 –> 00:14:14,000have you received26800:14:14,000 –> 00:14:16,000the holy spirit?26900:14:16,000 –> 00:14:18,000it’s no different from asking27000:14:18,000 –> 00:14:20,000are your sins forgiven?27100:14:22,000 –> 00:14:24,000does the spirit of God live in you?27200:14:26,000 –> 00:14:28,000and you know the extraordinary thing27300:14:28,000 –> 00:14:30,000that many people27400:14:30,000 –> 00:14:32,000who think themselves Christians27500:14:32,000 –> 00:14:34,000are completely27600:14:34,000 –> 00:14:36,000bemused by that question27700:14:36,000 –> 00:14:38,000do you have the holy spirit?27800:14:40,000 –> 00:14:42,000and you know what that tells us?27900:14:42,000 –> 00:14:44,000that a great28000:14:44,000 –> 00:14:46,000number of people in evangelical churches28100:14:46,000 –> 00:14:48,000today have not grasped the gospel28200:14:48,000 –> 00:14:50,000we’re right back28300:14:50,000 –> 00:14:52,000in Galatian territory28400:14:52,000 –> 00:14:54,000thinking it’s forgiveness28500:14:54,000 –> 00:14:56,000plus law28600:14:56,000 –> 00:14:58,000not yet having grasped28700:14:58,000 –> 00:15:00,000forgiveness plus life28800:15:00,000 –> 00:15:02,000you’re listening to open the bible28900:15:02,000 –> 00:15:04,000pastor colleen smith and the important29000:15:04,000 –> 00:15:06,000message that the gospel29100:15:06,000 –> 00:15:08,000is forgiveness plus life29200:15:08,000 –> 00:15:10,000messages called29300:15:10,000 –> 00:15:12,000the gospel gives you the spirit29400:15:12,000 –> 00:15:14,000skipping the series grasping the gospel29500:15:14,000 –> 00:15:16,000if you’ve missed any of the series29600:15:16,000 –> 00:15:18,000you can go back and listen again29700:15:18,000 –> 00:15:20,000by coming online to our website29800:15:20,000 –> 00:15:22,000openthebible.org.uk29900:15:22,000 –> 00:15:24,000or finding us as a podcast30000:15:24,000 –> 00:15:26,000and those are on all main podcast sites30100:15:26,000 –> 00:15:28,000search for Open The Bible UK30200:15:28,000 –> 00:15:30,000open the bible is supported30300:15:30,000 –> 00:15:32,000by our listeners30400:15:32,000 –> 00:15:34,000if that’s something30500:15:34,000 –> 00:15:36,000do for first time30600:15:36,000 –> 00:15:38,000we still have offer open30700:15:38,000 –> 00:15:40,000if you’re able to set up30800:15:40,000 –> 00:15:42,000in the amount of 5pounds per month30900:15:42,000 –> 00:15:44,000or more or one of gift of31000:15:44,000 –> 00:15:46,00050pounds or more this month31100:15:46,000 –> 00:15:48,000I’ll have more information about that31200:15:48,000 –> 00:15:49,919later on in the programme so i hope you31300:15:49,919 –> 00:15:51,200stay around for that31400:15:51,200 –> 00:15:53,200back to the message now reading Galatians31500:15:53,200 –> 00:15:55,200chapter 3. here’s Colin31600:15:55,200 –> 00:15:57,200now here is the amazing promise that31700:15:57,200 –> 00:15:59,200Paul is established and as he goes through31800:15:59,200 –> 00:16:01,200Galatians is going to work out all the implications31900:16:01,200 –> 00:16:03,200for us32000:16:03,200 –> 00:16:05,200God’s spirit will come to live32100:16:05,200 –> 00:16:07,200in you32200:16:07,200 –> 00:16:09,200as you have faith in jesus Christ32300:16:10,799 –> 00:16:12,799to put it another way, the spiritual of Jesus32400:16:12,799 –> 00:16:14,799will come to live in you32500:16:14,799 –> 00:16:16,799if you check out Galatians chapter 432600:16:16,799 –> 00:16:18,799in verse 6 Paul says that because32700:16:18,799 –> 00:16:20,799we are sons. God sent32800:16:20,799 –> 00:16:22,799the spirit of his son32900:16:22,799 –> 00:16:24,799the spirit of Jesus33000:16:24,799 –> 00:16:26,799the holy spirit into our33100:16:26,799 –> 00:16:28,799hearts. Listen33200:16:28,799 –> 00:16:30,799God will give you33300:16:30,799 –> 00:16:32,799the spirit as freely as33400:16:32,799 –> 00:16:34,799he will forgive you since33500:16:34,799 –> 00:16:36,799you put your trust in his son Jesus Christ33600:16:37,599 –> 00:16:39,599Let’s try and grasp33700:16:39,599 –> 00:16:41,599God33800:16:41,599 –> 00:16:43,599will give you his33900:16:43,599 –> 00:16:45,599spirit34000:16:45,599 –> 00:16:47,599as freely as34100:16:47,599 –> 00:16:49,599he will forgive your sins as34200:16:49,599 –> 00:16:51,599you’ll put your faith34300:16:51,599 –> 00:16:53,599in his son Jesus Christ34400:16:53,599 –> 00:16:55,599which34500:16:55,599 –> 00:16:57,599is why Paul says in Galatians 2 2034600:16:57,599 –> 00:16:59,599Christ lives in me34700:16:59,599 –> 00:17:01,599I have34800:17:01,599 –> 00:17:03,599been crucified with Christ34900:17:03,599 –> 00:17:05,599and I no longer live35000:17:05,599 –> 00:17:07,599but Christ lives in me and the35100:17:07,599 –> 00:17:09,599life I live and the body I live by faith35200:17:09,599 –> 00:17:11,599in the son of God35300:17:11,599 –> 00:17:13,599who loved me and gave himself for35400:17:13,599 –> 00:17:15,599me. He lives within me, not just35500:17:15,599 –> 00:17:17,599he died for me, he lives within35600:17:17,599 –> 00:17:19,599me. That’s how I’m living35700:17:19,599 –> 00:17:21,599today35800:17:21,599 –> 00:17:23,599The Spirit of Jesus35900:17:23,599 –> 00:17:25,599lives36000:17:25,599 –> 00:17:27,599in me36100:17:29,599 –> 00:17:31,599I take the rest of your life to ponder36200:17:31,599 –> 00:17:33,599that36300:17:33,599 –> 00:17:35,599it’s astonishing36400:17:35,599 –> 00:17:37,599it’s forgiveness plus life36500:17:37,599 –> 00:17:39,599not forgiveness36600:17:39,599 –> 00:17:41,599plus law36700:17:41,599 –> 00:17:43,599all the difference in the world36800:17:44,599 –> 00:17:47,599Notice just very briefly36900:17:48,599 –> 00:17:51,599the two ways that he describes37000:17:51,599 –> 00:17:53,599the experience of the Christian life37100:17:53,599 –> 00:17:55,599in Galatians 2.2037200:17:55,599 –> 00:17:57,599I find this so so helpful to grasp37300:17:59,599 –> 00:18:01,599Number one it’s a life in the body37400:18:01,599 –> 00:18:03,599Number two it’s a life lived by faith in Jesus Christ37500:18:05,599 –> 00:18:07,599if you can grasp these two things, it’ll help you37600:18:07,599 –> 00:18:09,599make sense of your own experience37700:18:09,599 –> 00:18:11,599of the Christian life37800:18:11,599 –> 00:18:13,599at least it’s helped me37900:18:13,599 –> 00:18:15,599number one I live in the body38000:18:15,599 –> 00:18:17,599that means38100:18:17,599 –> 00:18:19,599that you will always find yourself38200:18:19,599 –> 00:18:21,599in conflict38300:18:21,599 –> 00:18:23,599that you will find yourself38400:18:23,599 –> 00:18:25,599at times lacking courage38500:18:25,599 –> 00:18:27,599losing heart, lamenting your inconsistency38600:18:27,599 –> 00:18:29,599you will struggle with38700:18:29,599 –> 00:18:31,599sickness38800:18:31,599 –> 00:18:33,599temptation38900:18:33,599 –> 00:18:35,599weakness, eventually even39000:18:35,599 –> 00:18:37,599death39100:18:37,599 –> 00:18:39,599a whole world of39200:18:39,599 –> 00:18:41,599mental illness belongs in this39300:18:41,599 –> 00:18:43,599category that we live this39400:18:43,599 –> 00:18:45,599life in the body39500:18:47,599 –> 00:18:49,599and how in all the world39600:18:49,599 –> 00:18:51,599am I going to do that39700:18:51,599 –> 00:18:53,599I live it by faith39800:18:53,599 –> 00:18:55,599in the Son of God39900:18:55,599 –> 00:18:57,599I exercise faith40000:18:57,599 –> 00:18:59,599in this Jesus Christ who lives40100:18:59,599 –> 00:19:01,599within me, in every circumstance40200:19:01,599 –> 00:19:03,599of my life, that means the Christian40300:19:03,599 –> 00:19:05,599life is active, not passive40400:19:05,599 –> 00:19:07,599by faith in the Son of God40500:19:07,599 –> 00:19:09,599See, when we40600:19:09,599 –> 00:19:11,599talk about grasping the Gospel40700:19:11,599 –> 00:19:13,599we are40800:19:13,599 –> 00:19:15,599not talking simply about40900:19:15,599 –> 00:19:17,599oh yes, we believe that Jesus died in rose41000:19:19,599 –> 00:19:21,599I mean believing and grasping41100:19:21,599 –> 00:19:23,599that He is with you41200:19:23,599 –> 00:19:25,599in what you’re struggling with in the body41300:19:25,599 –> 00:19:27,599right now41400:19:27,599 –> 00:19:29,599that he is at work with you41500:19:29,599 –> 00:19:31,599in these circumstances that you would41600:19:31,599 –> 00:19:33,599rather be out of and that he will sustain you41700:19:33,599 –> 00:19:35,599in them and bring you through them and41800:19:35,599 –> 00:19:37,599complete his purpose because41900:19:37,599 –> 00:19:39,599of them42000:19:39,599 –> 00:19:41,599by faith in42100:19:41,599 –> 00:19:43,599the Son of God who loved me42200:19:43,599 –> 00:19:45,599and gave himself42300:19:45,599 –> 00:19:47,599for me42400:19:47,599 –> 00:19:49,599See, the risen Lord Jesus42500:19:49,599 –> 00:19:51,599Christ comes to us42600:19:51,599 –> 00:19:53,599today42700:19:53,599 –> 00:19:55,599in all of the circumstances42800:19:55,599 –> 00:19:57,599of life that we are facing42900:19:57,599 –> 00:19:59,599that are so very different43000:19:59,599 –> 00:20:01,599and some of them feel like43100:20:01,599 –> 00:20:04,599we’re being asked to go boil the ocean43200:20:06,599 –> 00:20:08,599And he says to us43300:20:08,599 –> 00:20:10,599in the words of a great hymn43400:20:10,599 –> 00:20:12,599Fear not43500:20:12,599 –> 00:20:14,599I am with you43600:20:14,599 –> 00:20:16,599So be not dismayed43700:20:17,599 –> 00:20:19,599For I am your God43800:20:19,599 –> 00:20:21,599And will still give you aid43900:20:21,599 –> 00:20:23,599I’ll strengthen you44000:20:23,599 –> 00:20:25,599help you44100:20:25,599 –> 00:20:27,599And cause you to stand44200:20:27,599 –> 00:20:29,599upheld by44300:20:29,599 –> 00:20:32,599my righteous omnipotent hands44400:20:32,599 –> 00:20:34,599That’s not forgiveness plus law44500:20:34,599 –> 00:20:36,599That’s forgiveness plus44600:20:36,599 –> 00:20:38,599life44700:20:39,599 –> 00:20:42,599So aren’t you so glad that the Holy Spirit of God44800:20:42,599 –> 00:20:45,599is with you in everything you face this week?44900:20:47,599 –> 00:20:50,599Aren’t you so grateful that the gospel is not45000:20:50,599 –> 00:20:53,599Hey you’re forgiven, now go and do your best to work out the rest45100:20:55,599 –> 00:20:57,599Thank God it’s not forgiveness plus law45200:20:59,599 –> 00:21:01,599It’s forgiveness plus life45300:21:02,599 –> 00:21:06,599Christ gives you the Spirit as freely as he forgives your sins45400:21:06,599 –> 00:21:09,599as you believe the gospel45500:21:11,599 –> 00:21:13,599He says to you45600:21:13,599 –> 00:21:16,599Your sins are forgiven45700:21:17,599 –> 00:21:19,599And he says to you45800:21:19,599 –> 00:21:22,599you will face the challenges that are before you this week45900:21:22,599 –> 00:21:26,599knowing that I am with you and in you46000:21:26,599 –> 00:21:28,599by my Spirit46100:21:28,599 –> 00:21:30,599That’s the gospel46200:21:31,599 –> 00:21:34,599It’s grace46300:21:34,599 –> 00:21:36,599It’s life46400:21:36,599 –> 00:21:38,599and it’s for the world46500:21:38,599 –> 00:21:40,599What is it?46600:21:40,599 –> 00:21:41,599It’s grace, it’s life46700:21:41,599 –> 00:21:43,599and it’s for the world46800:21:44,599 –> 00:21:46,599Pastor Colin Smith on Open The Bible46900:21:46,599 –> 00:21:48,599with an important message there47000:21:49,599 –> 00:21:52,599that the gospel is, forgiveness and life47100:21:52,599 –> 00:21:54,599When you’re talking to someone47200:21:54,599 –> 00:21:56,599You want to ask if they know Jesus47300:21:56,599 –> 00:21:58,599Maybe instead of asking Are you a Christian?47400:21:58,599 –> 00:22:00,599Which can be a bit of a loaded question47500:22:00,599 –> 00:22:02,599to some people47600:22:02,599 –> 00:22:04,599You can instead ask, Have you received the Holy Spirit?47700:22:04,599 –> 00:22:07,599Perhaps as you listen to Open The Bible47800:22:07,599 –> 00:22:09,599you’re a little uncertain about this yourself47900:22:09,599 –> 00:22:13,599or you have some questions about what it means48000:22:13,599 –> 00:22:15,599This series and this message is all about it48100:22:16,599 –> 00:22:18,599So I hope you’ll continue to listen48200:22:18,599 –> 00:22:20,599Maybe you know a Christian friend or family member48300:22:20,599 –> 00:22:22,599that you can talk to about this48400:22:22,599 –> 00:22:24,599Or, go along to a local Christian fellowship48500:22:24,599 –> 00:22:26,599to hear more about Christ48600:22:26,599 –> 00:22:28,599and the life you can have in Him48700:22:28,599 –> 00:22:30,599with the Holy Spirit48800:22:30,599 –> 00:22:32,599Whatever your experience is48900:22:32,599 –> 00:22:34,599I hope you’ll get in touch with us49000:22:34,599 –> 00:22:36,599We’d love to hear from you49100:22:36,599 –> 00:22:38,599and you can contact us on our website49200:22:38,599 –> 00:22:40,599www.openthebible.org.uk49300:22:40,599 –> 00:22:42,599Also you can write to us at49400:22:42,599 –> 00:22:52,599www.openthebible.org.uk49500:22:52,599 –> 00:22:55,599Or you can phone us49600:23:07,599 –> 00:23:09,599If we’re not available when you call49700:23:09,599 –> 00:23:11,599leave a message for us49800:23:11,599 –> 00:23:19,599www.openthebible.org.uk49900:23:41,599 –> 00:23:48,599www.openthebible.org.uk50000:24:41,599 –> 00:24:48,599www.openthebeible.org.uk50100:25:11,599 –> 00:25:17,939Thank you for joining us and I hope we’ll see you again soon.50200:25:17,939 –> 00:25:24,140When you hear your sins of forgiven and eternal life is secured for you by grace, doesn’t50300:25:24,140 –> 00:25:28,239that give you a free license to sin as much as you like?50400:25:28,239 –> 00:25:30,280Find out next time on Open the Bible.