The Beatitudes Part Two

 

The Beatitudes Part Two

Matt 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Christ taught that we are to be the salt of the earth. Salt is still the most used seasoning in the world, and without salt, food would be very tasteless. Christians are to be the seasoning of the world by reflecting the attributes of Christ. If there is spiritual compromise in your life, you have lost your flavor and are good for nothing. If you are a hypocrite, the world will know it, and you will be trampled underfoot by men. I have heard many people scoff at those who profess to know Christ but act, talk, or joke like the world. We must all be careful to maintain a good testimony before everyone because the world is watching. You may be a person’s only lifeline for salvation, and you may push people toward or away from Christ.

Christ said that we are the light of the world; a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Some people try to hide their faith in order to fit in with the crowd, but if you are truly born again, this is impossible. Christ said that if you deny him before men, he would deny you before his Father in heaven. That is why we must confess Christ before men not only verbally, but also by our lifestyle. Christ also said that they don’t put a lamp under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that it can give light to the whole house. He said to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Do you bring reproach or glory to Christ? If you will allow the Holy Spirit to shine through you, you may draw people to Christ. If you show love instead of hate, or patience instead of anger, or diligence instead of laziness, you will be an example to a world that has lost its way.

Matt 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

 Jesus Christ fulfilled every letter and stroke of the Law and wiped out the requirements of it, as well as took it out of the way through his death upon the cross (Col 2:14-17).  The Lord’s atonement provided for a new covenant that is based upon faith, as well as grace (unmerited favor). The Law, or attempting to live by the Law is not wrong, but the Law is no longer a requirement for salvation.  The Law given to Moses by angels was necessary to teach us about sin, it was our school master, and as children the Israelites were kept by it, but as children they were also slaves to it (Gal 3:19-25).  But through Christ’s atonement upon the cross we have now been justified by faith and are no longer slaves to the Law, but free men who are sons, heirs of God (Gal 4:1-7). To put the heavy yoke of the Mosaic Law upon the necks of free men is to bring them under bondage, as well as a curse (Gal 3:10-14). The apostle Paul said that to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage by trying to be justified by the Law will make you estranged from Christ, as well as fallen from grace.

The early new testament Christians, as well as Christians  today were and are being influenced by those who teach that we are required to keep the Mosaic law.  The apostles and elders of the church at Jerusalem, under the leadership of James, the brother of Christ, made a decree concerning this matter. They were all in agreement that the keeping of the Law should not be required of the Gentile Christians. They only asked that they would abstain from sexual immorality, eating food sacrificed to idols, eating of things strangled, as well as the consumption of blood.  No further requirements were put upon these new converts.  But the new testament is clear that we need to be born again in order to be truly saved.  To be born again, we must repent and turn away from our sins, as well as, live a separated lifestyle from that of the sinful world.  We must truly make Jesus Christ the Lord of every area of our lives. The Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in one statement, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body, and soul, as well as love your neighbor as yourself.” 

 The Jerusalem Decree

Acts15:19  Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,  20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.  21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23 They wrote this letter by them:  The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—  25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.  28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:  29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?  2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3: 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”  11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”  12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”)

 

Matt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. 27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

The Lord looks upon the heart of each one of us, and he has made it clear that the sin of the mind, or the eyes, is as serious as the action. If you are angry, or hate your brother without cause, you are guilty of murder. If you call your brother Raca (dumb head, or idiot), you shall be in danger of the council, or if you call him a fool, you shall be in danger of hell fire. God expects his children to pursue peace with all men, and name-calling, which results from anger, is forbidden with God. God’s Word also says that it is possible to be angry and not sin, but we are not to let the sun go down upon our wrath. In other words, we are to make peace, as soon as possible with the trespasser. If they refuse to make peace, we are to still forgive them in our heart before the day is ended. Bitterness dries up the bones according to God’s Word. It is also a medical fact that people who are angry and bitter a lot are candidates for cancer, heart attacks, strokes, as well as other diseases. In verses 23 and 24, Christ said, that when you bring your gift to the altar, and then remember that your brother has something against you, go and be reconciled with your brother then come and offer your gift. This passage shows that grudges against others, will hurt your relationship with the Lord, as well as cut you off from his blessings. Quiet often, not forgiving others will also block a person from healings, as well as hinder their prayers from being answered.   

 If you look upon a woman to lust after her, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. The Lord emphasized how serious the sins of the mind are, by saying that it would be better to pluck your eye out, or cut off your hand off, if they cause you to sin, rather than to be cast into hell. Sexual lust, pornography, as well as hate, will send you to hell, unless you repent and turn from them. There is no grace for un-repented sin.