To The Nines (3) 4/7/2019

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To The Nines

The “Blessings”
This attitude should be in you.
All of these character traits are marks and goals of all Christians. It is not as if we can major in one to the exclusion of others, as is the case with spiritual gifts. There is no escape from our responsibility to desire every one of these spiritual attributes.
Further, it seems likely (as many commentators ancient and modern have suggested) that he deliberately went up on the mountain to teach, in order to draw a parallel between Moses who received the law at Mount Sinai and himself who explained its implications to his disciples on the so-called ‘Mount of the Beatitudes’, the traditional site of the Sermon on the northern shores of the Lake of Galilee
Matthew 5:9 NIV
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
On this level, the “peacemaking” refers probably to the reconciliation of heaven and earth with God.
We're not so much peace makers between people but peacemakers with God and people.
Blessed are the peacemakers: This does not describe those who live in peace, but those who actually bring about peace, overcoming evil with good. One way we accomplish this is through spreading the gospel, because God has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). In evangelism we make peace between man and the God whom they have rejected and offended.
“It is the devil who is a troublemaker; it is God who loves reconciliation and who now through his children, as formerly through his only begotten Son, is bent on making peace.” (Stott)
We commonly think of this peacemaking work as being the job of one person who stands between two fighting parties. This may be one way this is fulfilled; but one can also end a conflict and be a peacemaker when they are party to a conflict; when they are the injured or the offending party.
The reward of peacemakers is that they are recognized as true children of God. They share His passion for peace and reconciliation, the breaking down of walls between people.
We should share his passion for peace and reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18–20 NIV
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Ephesians 2:16 NIV
16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Colossians 1:20–21 NIV
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
Romans 8:14 NIV
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Matthew 5:10 NIV
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are persecuted: These blessed ones are persecuted for righteousness’ sake and for Jesus’ sake (for My sake), not for their own stupidity or fanaticism. Peter recognized that suffering might come to some Christians for reasons other than their faithfulness to Jesus (1 Peter 4:15–16), and this is not what Jesus addressed here.
We should not suffer from our own sin or fanaticism.
1 Peter 4:15–16 NIV
15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
In Matthew 5:10 they are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; in Matthew 5:11 they are persecuted for the sake of Jesus.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake: Jesus brings insults and spoken malice into the sphere of persecution. We cannot limit our idea of persecution to only physical opposition or torture.
Persecution is not our goal. We do not set out antagonize people with the Gospel. We share it in love and all sincerity not provoking.
Matthew 5:11–12 NIV
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
These “Be-Attitudes” describe the character of the citizens of God’s kingdom.
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