(In this second delivery on blessings in the Bible, the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount are reviewed).
Johan Malan, Mossel Bay, South Africa (August 2013)
The beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount were in the first place given to Israel with a view to enlightening them on God’s standard to obtain entry into the kingdom of heaven. At that stage the Chosen People, who had been living under the law for 1 500 years, were under the impression that they were much better than the Gentiles and were assured of a place in heaven. However, through this sermon the Messiah demonstrated to them the standard with which they should comply if they wished to be members of His kingdom. Most of them did not live up to this standard.
Since this service was delivered before the crucifixion of Christ, it only contains broad spiritual principles and standards without any reference to the gospel of the cross. In the further teachings of Jesus to Israel He clearly stated to them that only He can forgive sins (Matt. 9:2; Luke 7:47), and that He Himself is the door to the kingdom of God: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9).
After we have been saved by virtue of the gospel of the cross, our lives must still conform to the general standards and spiritual principles set out in the Sermon on the Mount. These eight characteristics are indicative of the fact that we are truly saved (2 Cor. 13:5), that we have the witness of the Holy Spirit about salvation in our hearts (Rom. 8:16), that we were renewed in our minds (Rom. 12:1-2), and are of service to the Lord in His kingdom (Matt. 3:8, Jas. 2:14, 26).
The first blessing in this sermon of Christ fixes our attention on the point of entry to His kingdom. Of what nature should our disposition be when we enter into His kingdom through the narrow gate? He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3).
Spiritual poverty refers to the fact that in your human nature there is nothing that is of any value to God, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23; cf. Isa. 64:6). When you glory in any of your own attributes or achievements, you still do not realise your spiritual poverty and have not yet reduced yourself to nothing in the sight of the Lord.
Paul was an educated and very religious man who thought he walked blameless according to the law, but he discovered the futility of all these things. He said: “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil. 3:8-10). Paul had to stop trusting in his own virtues and become nothing before the Lord – fully prepared to die with Christ as a precondition to walk with Him in newness of life.
The message of spiritual poverty is so important that the Lord Jesus further explained it in a parable: “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14). Self-exaltation and self-justification stand in the way of true repentance and a change of heart.
That was the same message as the one given to Nicodemus: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). He first had to abandon everything that he had done and achieved in life to become poor in spirit before the Lord, as only then he would be able to walk with Christ in a new life. The old things must first be reckoned as worthless and pass away before everything can become new by way of a spiritual rebirth.
Have you become spiritually poor to the point of fully abandoning your own abilities to save yourself? Only then will you be able to enter in through the narrow gate (Luke 13:24). However, many people prefer not to follow this way and continue to boast in their own achievements, e.g.: “I am baptised and confirmed in a Christian congregation, I have believing parents and try to live as upright as I can.” Such a person has not become poor in spirit and has no testimony of rebirth, which is the beginning of a completely new life.
The Lord Jesus, in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom, knowledge and spiritual riches, laid down His glory, humbled Himself and became utterly poor to the point of dying on the cross as a lowly servant – all with a view to saving our souls: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that You through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9; cf. Phil. 2:5-8).
If we become poor in spirit by dying to our religious self-justification and have nothing to glory about, then alone the Lord Jesus can save our souls by grace and make us co-heirs of His heavenly kingdom. We will then gain spiritual riches which no one can take away from us. The filling of the Holy Spirit will strengthen the consciousness of these spiritual riches, thus enabling us to share it with others while serving the Lord.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4). The condition of mourning suggests that the person is fully under the impression of the hopeless situation from which he cannot save himself, while the comforting refers to God’s intervention to change the situation for the better.
The Lord wishes us to fully realise the lamentable condition of spiritual and mental depravity in which the world has been for thousands of years. Because of the Fall, all people are on a path leading away from the Lord and His righteousness (Rom. 3:10-12). However, not all of them are mindful of the dark situation in which they find themselves, and for that reason they do not really look for a solution. Those who do realise their serious predicament and mourn because of their lost state, will be saved and comforted by the Lord. They are blessed! The others ignorantly persevere on their way to perdition.
Have you been convicted of your sin and mourned about it? Then alone the Lord will change your fortunes, bring you up out of the horrible pit and comfort you (Ps. 40:1-4). David prayed to the Lord: “Hear my prayer, O Lord and give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears” (Ps. 39:12). After the Lord has saved and comforted a sinner, there are songs of praise on his lips: “For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling” (Ps. 116:8).
It is only the Holy Spirit who can convict a person of his sin and lost state, as well as the fact that the Lord Jesus alone can save him. But it is important that a sinner will have a broken heart and contrite spirit – under full conviction of the seriousness of his problem – as then only will he trust the Lord in faith to be merciful towards him and save him: “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as has a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
The same principle of remorse over sin applies to New Testament times: “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:10). Sorrow according to the will of God produces tears because of your sinfulness and lost state. However, the Holy Spirit does not only convict you of your sin, but also of the mercy of Christ, and enables you to appropriate His gift of grace by faith. The divine conviction of sin therefore leads to repentance and the confession of sin, as well as the sure promise of salvation by the Lord. A deep and perpetual comforting is experienced by all who have confessed and forsaken their sins under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Worldly-minded people who have not yet been confronted by the gospel message, also have sorrow because of difficult circumstances which may weigh them down; but they are seeking other solutions to their problems because they do not know the way to the Lord’s throne of grace. However, no person can be delivered from the power of sin and depravity without Christ, which accounts for the fact that the sorrow of the world produces death. There are no techniques which a person can apply to free himself from the power of Satan, or to renew his heart and attain eternal life. No matter how hard he tries – he ever moves closer to eternal death.
Only the Lord Jesus promises full salvation, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died tot sins, might live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24). Only then, the tears for sin will be replaced by the praises of the redeemed: “You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. ... You shall surround me with songs of deliverance” (Ps. 30:11, 32:7).
When a Christian yields to temptations and starts sinning again, he must go through the same process of conviction of sin and repenting with tears. The evening before the crucifixion of Jesus, Peter denied Him under the pressure of hostile people. He then remembered the warning of Jesus: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. So he went out and wept bitterly” (Matt. 26:75). He obtained the forgiveness and comforting of the Lord and was completely restored spiritually.
What happens to those who have not come to the Lord with tears of sorrow? Many of them wilfully belittled and rejected His grace, and go through life without Him. Such people continuously resist the calling of the Holy Spirit, while some of them not only grieve Him but even blaspheme the Spirit of God by their actions. He then departs from them. The consequence of such people’s choice is that they forfeit the Lord’s comforting and will only fully realise their problem when they are struck by the judgements of the Lord.
The spiritually hardened rich man only came to his senses in Hades, when he wanted to warn his family but then it was too late (Luke 16:23-25). Esau disregarded his birthright by which he would have inherited the blessings of the Lord, and sold it for a pot of lentil soup. He also discovered his serious mistake when it was too late for tears: “For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Heb. 12:7). There cannot be true sorrow over sin without the Holy Spirit’s work of convicting. Esau’s tears were prompted by a worldly, emotional reaction when he realised what he had lost. During this late stage of his life he merely suffered from self-pity, and that does not lead to the salvation and comforting of the Lord.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). This characteristic alludes to the fact that a person has a tender and teachable spirit, which induces him to be receptive to instruction on the spiritual and moral principles of the kingdom of heaven. Those who react positively to instruction of this nature will be co-heirs with Christ when He reveals His kingdom on earth during His second coming (Rom. 8:17; 2 Tim. 2:12). They will rule with Him on earth (Rev. 5:9-10; 20:6).
Christ’s kingdom is not expanded by might, nor by power, but by means of spiritual conviction and free choices by lost people who hear the gospel and are invited to enter in. Those who are prepared to humble themselves before the authority of God’s Word and to be instructed by it, become members of this kingdom. Proud and arrogant people who are engaged in establishing their own kingdom on earth and to promote their own, selfish interests, are not meek and can therefore not inherit Christ’s kingdom.
The Jews practised a self-exalting and self-justifying religion based upon law observance, and for that reason were not appropriately predisposed to receive Jesus as Messiah and King, and to become part of His kingdom. He said to them: “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). Their hearts were hardened (the opposite of meekness) and because of their erroneous theology and humanistic self-image they rejected the Messiah and His gospel.
Today, many people still practise a traditional form of godliness which is fraught with doctrinal errors, and then declare people saved in terms of their own views and formalistic traditions. Three of the most common errors in deceived churches are: (a) the denial of the virgin birth and deity of Jesus, (b) denial of the divine inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, and (c) baptismal regeneration (the erroneous assertion that people are saved by the rite of baptism). They disregard Christ and His Word while exalting themselves and imposing their distorted views upon their members: “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9). All such efforts are in vain.
When we are confronted with the pure gospel message of the Bible there is no room for denominational or theological arrogance – only for the unconditional acceptance of what the Bible says on salvation: “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:23). We should also proclaim this message to others with meekness and gentleness. Christ said: “... learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29; cf. 2 Cor. 10:1; Eph. 4:2).
A gentle and teachable spirit is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and therefore a characteristic of a sanctified life (Gal. 5:22-23; 6:1; Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:11-12). A person who is not humble and meek has a hardened heart and cannot understand or accept the Word of God (Mark 6:52; Acts 19:9; 2 Cor. 3:14). We are admonished not to harden our hearts against the gospel: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do no harden your hearts” (Heb. 4:8).
The moment a person again allows sin into his life, his heart gradually becomes hard, insensible and apathetic towards the Bible and the righteousness of the Lord. While that happens, he will lose his meekness, receptiveness to teaching, and willingness to honour Biblical precepts: “But exhort one another daily ... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). God’s attribute of righteousness emerges from His holiness and commits Him to act in a fair, caring and righteous way towards all people. Because of this, He offers His saving grace to all who trust Him in faith to deliver them from their unrighteousness and sin. But God’s righteousness tolerates no sin, from which it inevitably follows that He will judge unrepentant sinners.
Righteousness among people implies in the first instance the full acceptance of God’s provision for salvation and a just life, as well as a character and lifestyle that are in accordance with God’s will. To such people, God will reveal Himself and enable them through His Holy Spirit to live according to the dictates of His righteousness.
When we accept God’s righteousness we fully associate with the following facts about His Person and character:
· God is holy, being Himself the personification of everything which is true, just, good, honourable, pure and orderly. It is His desire that people who were created after His image will also demonstrate these characteristics. That is the reason why He says: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16).
· God’s righteousness causes Him to hate sin and judge sinners. “[God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). When Christ returns to earth as Judge and King of kings during His second coming, He will judge and make war in righteousness” (Rev. 19:11).
· God’s grace demands the redemption of all repentant sinners, but His righteousness demands the death penalty upon sinners. Both these demands were met through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He bore the punishment for our sins, and now His righteousness and holiness can be imputed to us by way of rebirth and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Saved people do not glory in themselves but in the righteousness of God which His Son has given to us as a gift of grace. Only such people become sons and daughters of the heavenly Father as there is no other way to be reconciled with the Father. Without the Lord Jesus, not even the best person on earth, neither the most law-abiding person in Israel, can comply with the standard of God’s righteousness. That is why nobody can come to the Father but by Him and by virtue of His atoning death.
Most of the orthodox Jews did not know God, and tried to fill the spiritual void in themselves by human efforts of law observance. Because of their deceptive form of righteousness they rejected faith in Christ, despite the fact that the latter was the only way to receive God’s righteousness: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:3-4).
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, ... even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe” (Rom. 3:21-22). Paul himself had abandoned all efforts to base his righteousness on his good, law-abiding life, and instead trusted solely on faith in Christ (Phil. 3:8-10). In this new life he became conformed to the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and in Him he pursued the upward call of God in his spiritual life (Phil. 3:14).
Many members of Christian churches make the mistake of trusting in their good lives and church membership, thinking that these things will render them acceptable to God. In the process they establish their own righteousness without a clear testimony of rebirth and a new life in Christ. Such people do not hunger for the righteousness of God and are consequently never filled spiritually. They are absent from Bible study meetings and do not show serious interest in further acquainting themselves with the righteousness of God. They do not understand the doctrine of salvation, and usually also reject the doctrine on sanctification. Like Israel of old, they build their lives upon the sand of self-justification and doubtful experiences (Matt. 7:21-23).
A hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ is the mark of a true Christian. To people like that, the Lord reveals Himself and He also uses them in the expansion of His kingdom on earth.
The following are the last four beatitudes in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7). Mercy can be described as help in need – regardless of what nature a person’s needs may be – without expecting anything in exchange for it. The giver does an undeserved favour to the receiver.
One of the characteristics of a member of the Lord’s kingdom is that he is merciful to others. He forgives, helps, cares and loves people because he himself received mercy from the Lord. Should he not be inclined to do to others what the Lord has done for him, he will be a failed witness for Christ and an unworthy follower of Him.
We are living in a world in which people generally are hard, unforgiving and unapproachable, and in which you will receive very little if you don’t pay for it. However, the Lord does not expect His children to show attitudes of selfishness, heartlessness and vindictiveness as these have no place in His kingdom. An unforgiving person cannot expect to be forgiven by the Lord (Matt. 6:15).
The same principle also applies to the showing of mercy in other spheres of life. In the parable of the unforgiving servant we are told of a person whose large debt was cancelled by his master, but subsequently the servant mercilessly prosecuted his own debtor without having compassion on him. “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses” (Matt. 18:32-35).
Mercy can be shown with regard to both spiritual and material needs, and of these two spiritual needs are by far the most important. The biggest need of lost humanity is of a spiritual nature, and that is what the Lord in the first place has mercy on. David prayed: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Ps. 51:1-2).
The only condition which the Lord attaches to a prayer request of this nature is that the person must confess and forsake his sins (repentance): “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Prov. 28:13; cf. 1 John 1:9). The Lord saves a sinner by regenerating and completely renewing him through His Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5).
The Lord’s tender mercies are endless on all who approach His throne of grace in prayer: “His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50). “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
The second area of human needs is on the material level, and should also be prayed for because the Lord provides in all our needs. That does not mean that all our problems will vanish miraculously, but the Lord does come to our help – even if He only gives strength to bear our cross and to remain steadfast in the midst of adversity. We have to pass through the sweet and sour of life together with the Lord while entering into the kingdom of God through many tribulations (Acts 14:22; cf. 2 Cor. 11:24-27).
Always remember that the spiritual need of people is vastly more important than their material need, and is therefore the main concern in the showing of mercy. The parable of the Good Samaritan was in the first instance used to answer a question to Jesus on what a person should do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25-37). The first requirement to obtain this life is love towards God and love towards your neighbour. The second question was aimed at a clarification on who our neighbour is. In the parable it is vividly demonstrated that any person who is in dire need should be helped to survive the crisis in which he finds himself.
The unfortunate person who was lying next to the road is a description of all the people along life’s journey who have been attacked by the great Robber, Satan, and then left to their fate. The passers-by who only had a form of godliness (the priest and the Levite) were not inclined to helping the unfortunate victim. The Samaritan, a member of a group who were despised and regarded as outcasts in Israel, helped the dying man, nursed his wounds and assisted him to continue his journey and reach his destination.
The priests and Levites in Israel did nothing to alleviate the spiritual need of their own people. Still worse: they rejected the Messiah who is the Saviour of Israel and the whole world (John 1:29), and treated Him as an outcast. But He was the One who offered deliverance and salvation to all people who are captives of Satan. The wine and the oil which He used to nurse their wounds, refers to His blood by which He cleanses people of their sin (1 John 1:7), and to His Holy Spirit who was given to regenerate lost people, care for them and comfort them.
If the scribe who asked the questions to Jesus was himself a follower of the Messiah, he would have been able to go out and proclaim the mercy and saving grace of our great Saviour to people who are blinded captives of the kingdom of darkness. However, this scribe was unsaved and himself in need of the Good Samaritan to deliver him from the power of darkness before he would have been able to help others.
When we proclaim spiritual mercies to the lost, we should also try to meet their material needs as far as possible. The Lord has blessed us and we have the obligation to also meet other people’s secular needs: “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). Help others as far as possible, but first and foremost the fellow-believers: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). If any member of the body of Christ suffers, then all the members are suffering: “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, and those who are mistreated, since you yourselves are in the body also” (Heb. 13:3).
“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). When a person comes over from the darkness of being lost, into the kingdom of God, his sins are not only forgiven but his heart must also be cleansed and filled with the Holy Spirit. We should, therefore, not only strive to become believers but also saints (Spirit-filled believers). There are certain steps of dedication that should be taken if we wish to honour the command to holiness. Complying with this command will enable us to play a positive role in promoting the peace of God in society, and also give us boldness to appear before the Lord in a worthy state: “Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
The most important command which God gave to Israel in the Old Testament is: “I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44). This command also applies to us in the New Testament: “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). True holiness which reflects the image of God, can only come from inside, from a sanctified heart, when the principles of God’s righteousness have been written on the tablets of a believer’s heart. It determines the norms of your life, it changes your personality and way of life for the good, and transforms you into a true disciple of Christ.
Holiness cannot be artificially instilled from the outside by the learning and mimicking of certain patterns of behaviour, and then trying to observe them in an association with a carnal heart: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Gal. 5:17). In a full surrender, the old fleshly nature must first be delivered to be crucified, and then only will we be spiritually fully renewed in our mind. The Holy Spirit will then enable us to put on the new man which is created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:22-24). This deeper work of sanctification is also described as “complete sanctification” (1 Thess. 5:23).
Have you seriously considered the command towards sanctification? Please note that this command is only given to believers who have already become professing members of Christian churches. Paul says to the Ephesians: “Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). To the Thessalonians he says: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification. ... For God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 4:3, 7-8). To the Corinthians he says: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). Sanctification should become a way of life: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).
If we really wish to see God spiritually, all stumbling-blocks must first be removed: “Therefore, ... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1-2). Only after we have overcome all these hindrances will we really be able to see. David realised this important fact long ago, and gave the answer to his own question: “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. ... He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Ps. 23:3-5).
David fully realised that if a believer is tempted and again falls into sin, he grieves the Holy Spirit and also loses his pure heart. He himself was in such a situation but prayed earnestly for forgiveness: “Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:9-11).
We must flee away from the lusts of sin and rather strive after purity of heart. The young Timothy was encouraged to “flee youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22). While engaged in this way of life we should prepare to appear before Christ without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:25-27). God wants to sanctify you but your full cooperation is needed before it will become a reality in your life.
An active expectation on the second coming of Christ is an important part of a Christian’s motivation to take further steps of dedication in order to appear before the heavenly Bridegroom in an unblemished state: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). We are living in a hostile world which has become alienated from God because of the Fall. The sinful state in which all people are born explains the fact why they are at enmity with God. However, the Lord calls all lost people back into His kingdom by making peace with Him by virtue of the atoning death of Jesus Christ. All the children of God are called to be peacemakers who should actively be engaged in proclaiming the good news that sinners can make peace with God, because He is our peace (Rom. 15:33; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 4:9).
All who have been reconciled with God experience His peace in their hearts: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Chris Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). This is a kind of peace which the world cannot give to anyone; that is why the Lord Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). His peace, which follows upon the forgiveness of sin and being born again, is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ...” (Gal. 5:22).
Divine peace is the result of no longer having to run away from God for fear of His judgements on sin, because the sins which have previously condemned us are forgiven and atoned for: “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18-19). We have been commissioned to further proclaim the message that sinners can make peace with God.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that the peace which we promote as Christians renders us secular pacifists who are not supposed to offer resistance to anything or anybody. That is not the case at all. Our Christian convictions are at variance with a depraved world which lies in the sway of the Evil One. Because of this situation, we must stand firm spiritually and resist all the evil by which we are confronted. Jesus said about this situation: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). Divisions even occur within families, and that places a responsibility on us to defend Christian principles without any compromise, because the honour of the Lord Jesus is at stake (Matt. 10:35-37).
With a view to this conflict, our spiritual defence should be increased: “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). False doctrine should be resisted, regardless of who proclaims it and what the consequences of our opposing views may be: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:2-5). It is inherently part of our commission “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
Misguided pacifists are those people who interpret the promotion of peace as a command not to offer any resistance to anything, including the non-Christian religions, and to view humanity as inherently good and peace-loving. They do not recognise the mutual hostility between the kingdoms of God and Satan, and try to establish a form of world peace which is based on compromise. The false prophets in Israel also proclaimed a false peace of this nature: “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, Peace, peace! when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14).
There will only be visible peace on earth after Christ has returned as Prince of Peace, destroyed His enemies and established a government of righteousness: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever” (Isa. 9:7).
In the meantime, we should continue unabated to lead people from the darkness of sin into the light of Christ’s kingdom, so they can also receive the peace of God in their hearts. As for our relations with people in a deceived and divided world, we should continue with our role as peacemakers but without any compromise on Christian principles: “Repay no one evil for evil. ... If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:17-18). Should people reject you because of your convictions, then so be it. Biblical principles should never be thrown overboard for the sake of good relations with enemies of the cross.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12). This eighth and last beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount is repeated to emphasise its importance, and also to elaborate on it a bit more.
The righteousness of God’s kingdom is contrary to the unrighteousness of a depraved world which is under the authority of the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2; 6:12; 1 John 5:19). Most people love darkness rather than the light (John 3:19), and that is the reason why the minority of Christians who find themselves on the narrow way, are persecuted.
By this clear warning against the persecution and negative reactions which all true Christians can expect, the Lord Jesus draws our attention to a very important dispensational fact, i.e. the continued rejection of His kingdom on earth. The entire dispensation between His first and second coming is characterised by the antagonism and hostile reactions of the deceived and unbelieving majority. The rejection with which Jesus met during His first coming would continue towards Himself and His minority of true followers right throughout the church age. He often warned them against it:
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me” (John 15:19-21).
Christ informed His disciples about these things so that they could learn to find their peace and joy in Him, despite the fact that they would be persecuted in the world: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The fact that Christ has overcome the world means that on the cross He has broken the spiritual power which the devil and his kingdom had over fallen humanity. Christ became man, “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14-15). In this way the possibility of the spiritual deliverance of all people was ensured – that is the reason why all who received Jesus Christ as Saviour are no longer slaves of sin; they are free.
However, that does not mean that the devil and his kingdom ceased to exist during the first coming of Jesus. To the contrary – although he is a defeated foe, he still “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8-9). We must put on the full armour of God and resist him. The devil is still “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30) because he controls the vast majority of the world population.
As long as this state of affairs prevails, the Christian minority will remain under pressure and even be openly persecuted. “All who desire to lead a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). We should therefore not expect a carefree life in which we reign as little kings over our inheritance, while devoting all our energy to becoming as wealthy, prosperous and happy as possible in this sinful world. The prosperity gospel is completely erroneous and is in actual fact used by the devil to destroy people’s faith (1 Tim. 6:7-12; Luke 16:13).
During the church dispensation we should not pursue power, high positions and a trouble-free life (Mark 10:42-45). At present, the kingdom of heaven functions in a hidden form in the midst of an apostate world. When Christ comes again, the situation will drastically change. Those who now suffer with Him by being rejected by the world, will then reign with Him: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ... If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us” (2 Tim. 2:3, 12). To the Christians in Rome, Paul says that if we suffer with Him we also will be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17; cf. Phil. 1:29).
Peter likewise emphasises the fact that during the church dispensation the kingdom of heaven will not be revealed as a visible structure of government on earth, but as a spiritual reality it will be strongly resisted until Christ comes again. During this period we must be prepared to share in His sufferings, humiliation and rejection, to ensure that we will reign with Him when He returns as King of kings: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:12-13).
Our character is not formed by prosperity, miracles, wealth, power and the measure of influence that we have over other people, but rather by trials, testing and the way in which we react to hostility, adversity and problems. In this way we learn steadfastness, perseverance, and the need of waiting on the Lord for deliverance, thus becoming partakers of His holiness (Heb. 12:10).
Do you understand the principles on which the kingdom of heaven functions during the church dispensation? Do you have the attributes, characteristics and spiritual power to be a worthy disciple of Jesus Christ? Are you guided by the Holy Spirit and are your priorities correctly determined? Then alone will you be complete as a man of God, “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17).
(To be continued)