Blessed in Christ

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:20 – “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

Introduction

All Saints' Sunday and Reformation Day Connection

All Saints’ Sunday reminds us of those who now rest in God’s promises fulfilled in Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of every blessing. Reformation Day commemorates Martin Luther’s rediscovery of the gospel: that salvation and blessing come not through our efforts but solely through Christ’s work for us.

Christ’s Gift in the Beatitudes

Each year as we celebrate this season of all saints Sunday the week following reformation and it is fitting that Luther had nailed his 95 thesis on the door that particular day. During that time all saints Sunday was celebrated much like we now celebrate Easter or Christmas, it is always the Sunday in which the majority of the congregation actually shows up to church. Aside from that as we look at the saints who have gone before we find no better text than the beatitudes. For you notice at the end that is clearly states that we are blessed when the world hates us, persecutes us and even kills us for the sake of the gospel.

As we set the context for this passage we see that this is early in Jesus ministry, that people at this time were gladly listening to him and eager to see what this was going to turn out to be.

Matthew 5:1–2 (ESV)

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

As then we too now listen to learn from Jesus we need to pay attention to what he is saying for we have a full part of the knowledge of knowing the rest of the story. All to often though the greater context will get lost and the old nature takes over and we want to read this as if it is some sort of rules we can follow like the ten commandments, maybe Jesus will give us a better way to live.

I. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Right off at the begging of this we can see how this is impossible to be something we can obtain to. Jesus begins with, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What does it mean to be poor in spirit? How can a person become poor in spirit? Clearly it isn’t really something we obtain to but rather a condition we are in.

As we look at our lives we see that we are poor especially when it comes to faith. We doubt, we fear, the cares of the world have brought us down, working 40+ hours a week, endless responsibilities. we barely have time for ourselves let alone devotion to God on a daily basis. In points even more to our need for complete dependence on God, recognizing that we have nothing to offer and everything to receive. Our spiritual poverty is real; without Christ, we are utterly bankrupt. The Law leads us to see that we are guilty and have no hope, for the Law condemns us and shows us we are guilty.

But here’s the good news: in our poverty, Jesus comes to us with the fullness of His grace. He gives us His righteousness, securing our place in His kingdom. Martin Luther understood this once wrote, “I am a poor beggar telling other beggars where to find bread.” In Christ, we receive the Bread of Life, freely given, without cost.

II. Blessed are Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:4 ESV

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” We think we can get behind this one for we know what it is to mourn. In fact just yesterday we had a funeral here, we mourn for those we have lost for we know we have to continue on in this life without them. They however have the greater part, for they now rest, we are comforted knowing this that even in death we live, we have died to self and now live in the rest Jesus has won for us. Mourning here though refers to more than just that, it is a deep sorrow we feel over sin and the brokenness of this world. It’s the grief that comes from knowing how far we have fallen from God’s perfect design.

Yet, Jesus promises comfort. He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, overcoming sin and death through His resurrection. On this All Saints’ Sunday, as we remember loved ones who have died in the faith, we grieve, but not without hope. Jesus has defeated death and promises that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

III. Blessed are the Meek

Matthew 5:5 ESV

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Jesus declares, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Meekness is often misunderstood as weakness, but it is strength under control. It is a quiet confidence rooted in God’s sovereignty. Jesus, the King of kings, exemplified meekness by humbling Himself and being obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Through His humility, Jesus has secured our inheritance. The new heavens and new earth are not rewards we earn but gifts we receive through His sacrifice. We are co-heirs with Christ, blessed beyond measure.

IV. Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Jesus promises, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Our desire for righteousness is a longing that only God can satisfy. In Christ, we are filled with His righteousness, given to us by faith.

We have all tried to seek out righteousness through our own efforts yet we find it futile. When the word worked in us we discovered the truth of God’s grace. Righteousness is not something we earn; it is a gift from Jesus, who fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf.

V. Blessed are the Merciful

Matthew 5:7 ESV

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

Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Mercy is not something we produce on our own; it flows from the mercy we have received from Jesus. He has forgiven our sins, washed us clean, and shown us compassion we did not deserve.

VI. Blessed are the Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8 ESV

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

Jesus proclaims, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Purity of heart is a gift that Jesus gives through the cleansing power of His blood. We are made new, not by our own efforts but by the Holy Spirit, who transforms us.

A pure heart is one wholly devoted to God, undivided and sincere. Christ purifies our hearts, enabling us to see and know God personally.

VII. Blessed are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 ESV

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

Jesus calls peacemakers blessed, “for they will be called children of God.” True peace comes from Jesus, the ultimate Peacemaker, who reconciled us to God through His cross. He made peace by shedding His blood, ending the hostility between us and God.

As children of God, we are blessed to be agents of His peace in a broken world. We share the good news of reconciliation and point others to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

VIII. Blessed are Those Who are Persecuted for Righteousness

Matthew 5:10–12 (ESV)

“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.

Finally, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus Himself endured persecution for our sake, and He reminds us that following Him may bring suffering. Someone once said that “the church was built on the blood of the martyrs.” The more I look at what is going on the world, the more I dive into scripture and see the wonderful light o f the gospel the more I cannot help but see the truth of this. That everything is a spiritual battle, a war that is raging not only around us, but even within us. The world hates us this message of the truth of God’s word, simply because it convicts them of the truth, shows that he alone is righteous, and most of all that he is God and we are not. Meaning we loose all control, even to the point of loosing everything, even our very lives for we know that what awaits is so much greater than anything we can experience here in this life.

For we know that in Christ, even persecution cannot take away our blessing. We are secure in His love, and our reward in heaven is unshakeable. This is the ultimate truth of the gospel message, that everything in this life is rubbish compared to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

The blessings of God’s Grace

As we see then that the beatitudes are not something we can aspire to, or accomplish but rather they are how the gospel is proclaimed to us. they are the blessings of God bestowed upon us through Jesus his only begotten Son, who overcame death and the grave, who took our sin, and offers us forgiveness from all our sins, by simply trusting in that promise, that if you believe in the only begotten Son, you will be saved.

Freely he has given, freely you receive, so come a partake of this free gift. Given to us in this bread and wine, his very body and blood for the forgiveness of all your sins, and the promise of eternal life with him! Amen