Along with my earlier "PREDESTINATION" posts:
Mt. 5:1-12 is God's predetermined route for His children.
The way, the life of a Christian is more than a momentary trust in God. There must be a moment of time when a person puts his/her trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus for salvation, but that moment must be followed by a life of faith.
We saved by grace through faith (Ep. 2:8-9),
We live by faith (Ro. 1:17; He. 10:38) and
We only continue to be the children of God by faith (Ga. 3:26).
Signposts and Mile Markers Along the Way
Signposts and Mile Markers Along the Way
CRINGING (Poor in Spirit). The route of salvation begins with the realization that we are totally bankrupt before God. We have violated His law, we are guilty of rebellion and we have no way to satisfy the justice of the Living God.
MANIFESTED GRIEF (Mourning). This true guilt leads us to a grief that is too great to conceal and results in mourning, weeping, open misery. Again, this is a situation that has no other relief than through trusting Christ alone for deliverance.
Often the enemy of our soul fights us at this very point. Satan knows that godly sorrow for sin will lead us to faith in Christ.
DETERMINED GENTLENESS (Meekness). Realizing our lost estate and God's Gift of love, we gladly humble and yield ourselves to the mighty hand of God. We become willing and happy servants (slaves) of God as well as blessed children of God. As His child, I gladly yield to His will and His way.
Sadly, I believe that some folks allow pride to rise up and hide or squelch their mourning or reassert their independent stance after having been snatched from the jaws of Divine judgment, as if they are able to stand in the presence of the Living God, on their own merit.
PURSUIT OF PERFECT PURITY (Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness). It is as natural for a new believer to desire life giving sustenance as it is for a natural infant to desire air, food, drink, love, comfort. The healthy newborn believer wants the milk of the word, and the healthy growing believer wants the meat of the word. The want of a healthy Christian is a strong drive, an obsessive desire.
When a believer finds himself/herself without a strong desire for the things that lead to and increase righteousness, then that person is spiritually sick and actually turning away from God. We should never lose our hunger and thirst for God. Even though we are filled, we are always desiring more of God and His holiness.
COMPASSIONATE, TENDER HEARTED (Merciful). The person who is transformed...
from a cringing and condemned anarchist to a loyal subject of the King;
from upheaval to peacefulness and joy;
from a boasting usurper to a satisfied servant:
from a sinner to a saint, is also transformed...
from a brash, intolerant, unsympathetic, self oriented, judgmental person into a loving, sensitive, tender hearted, compassionate, merciful person. Salvation changes us from the inside out, changes us into the likeness of Christ, changes our view and what we do.
Too often people see these Christlike qualities as weaknesses. Also these qualities must be held onto tightly, since the ways of the world and the wiles of the wicked one want to obliterate them from our lives. The communicable traits of God are despised and rejected by the world. However, the way of the faithful is the way of God. In fact, Jesus is the WAY, and in Him we see God.
PURITY OF HEART (Pure in Heart). This is where the path of God takes the faithful. We are born again so that we might be purified. God purifies His people through the blood of His Son, through the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit and through the washing of the word (the Holy Bible). This is the goal of salvation for the earthbound believer. This is the qualifier for heaven. This is the requirement for seeing God.
Purity of heart, entire sanctification is often denied by those who claim to be Christians. However, the Bible is totally clear that holiness of heart is God's requirement for here and heaven; holiness of heart is the provision of God, through His Son, His Spirit and His word; holiness of heart is the proof of our relationship with God; holiness of heart is the predestination for any and all who will come to Christ for salvation. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
AGGRESSIVE NONVIOLENCE (Peacemaker). Nonviolence is the New Testament standard of Christian faith. When we trust God, we do not trust the arm of flesh. When we love God with the whole heart, we love our enemies. When we are forgiven, we forgive.
This does not make us antagonistic to law and order or justice and punishment. We recognize we live in a fallen world that requires human force to combat evil. But God provided the State with the tools and charged the State with the responsibility to protect the righteous and punish the wicked. At the same time, God has called HIs people to peace and mercy and longsuffering and kindness in the face of hatred and violence.
As the confessing church has turned to human confessions and contrivances, the truth of Christian nonviolence (not to be confused with pacifism) has been been traded away and lost. However, from the time of the Church's birth until today, those who move into the depths of Christlikeness realize that believers are to be givers of life rather than takers of life. We are not to do battle with sword or carnal weapons, but with the sword of the Spirit. The World is to deal justly and definitely with evil as the keeper of the peace. The Church is to fight spiritual battles and wield spiritual weapons, conquering darkness and making peace with the enemies of God.
PERSECUTED FOR THAT WHICH IS RIGHT (Righteousness Sake) There are two kinds of persecution that Christians suffer. Christians suffer for doing the right thing. This means that they do not even have to mention the name of Christ, and still be oppressed and abused for doing that which is right. Christians suffer socially, financially, vocationally, relationally, physically, educationally, medically. This has been true since the early Church, when believers could not take certain jobs, because society and government had interwoven idolatry into medicine, education, sports, business. As a result Christians were considered to be enemies of society and the State and religion. We see this today with society and government forcing Christians out of business because they refuse to do that which is either morally or spiritually wrong.
PERSECUTED, REVILED AND FALSELY ACCUSED (for Christ's sake). Believers who stand for the name and cause of Christ are persecuted at different levels. Persecution can include financial as well as physical assaults. Christians are lied about and falsely accused by the enemies of the cross. Satan wants to destroy the witness of believers, in spite of the facts. Actually, the word MARTYR comes from a Greek word which means "witness." To be an honest and active witness for Christ is to be a martyr, at some level.
