Marked by Grace (3)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Now listen to this:

Exodus 20:1–17 ESV

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

As with the 10 Commandments, the Beatitudes start with our interaction with God and move to interaction with others.

The people were being taught the letter of the law, Jesus points us to the heart of the law

A life marked by Grace starts with a heart transformed by Grace evidenced by a life lived by Grace.

Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.

Max Lucado

SO let’s dive in

Matthew 5:7–12 ESV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Mercy

Not getting what we deserve

Matthew 5:7 ESV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Think of what you have been forgiven and ask how can I not.

Forgiveness is a big theme through the NT appearing over 60 times - both what we have received and should give

Pure

Authentically righteous

Matthew 5:8 ESV

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Does our outward life match the inward change

Not it starts in the heart we will only be able to fake it for so long

Peacemaker

Ministry of reconciliation

Matthew 5:9 ESV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Grace livers resolve conflicts by humbly serving and loving one’s enemies.

Paul would later say:

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Righteous Sacrifice

There is a cost

Matthew 5:10 ESV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Living a life marked by Grace is counterculture.

It requires boldness in the face of adversity

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” -Jim Elliot

It may cost everything

The Reward will be Greater than the Cost

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We are the not the first that live a life of marked by grace

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Living Grace Pt 2

God’s standard for us has never changed, but the good news is through Christ live lives marked by grace.

The world is waiting for a practical demonstration of the Gospel of the grace of God!

Leonard Ravenhill

May our lives be the demonstration of Grace that our world needs.

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See you next time on Marked by Grace,

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