Characteristics Of A Spiritually Healthy Believer, Part 2

Matthew 5: 3-9 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Last Sunday we started looking at the 7 characteristics of the spiritually healthy believer. The King of Kings went up a mountain and sat down. Here He is teaching those who come to Him what is expected of the believer under the New Covenant.

Salvation is a gift received of God, but once received it brings you into the Kingdom of Heaven/ Kingdom of God. Citizens of the Kingdom are under a standard of behavior.

To review, the first four characteristics are:

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

1 I am spiritually impoverished before God. I must be born again of God. We all fall far short of God’s holiness, and have no hope of justification before God apart from faith in the Cross of Calvary. None can be saved unless they first repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that MOURN: for they shall be comforted.

2 To be saved, one must REPENT. You must realize your natural standing before God, and grieve. This is not a reference to mourning over some sad thing that happened in your earthly experience. It is a reference about grieving for your deficiencies before God, about wanting to be better than you are in God’s presence. Humans are emotional creatures. This is not a reference to worldly sorrow (sorry that you got caught) but a reference to godly sorrow. The Bible says:

(2 Corinthians 7:9-10 KJV) Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that YE SORROWED TO REPENTANCE: for YE WERE MADE SORRY AFTER A GODLY MANNER, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10] For GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE TO SALVATION not to be repented of: but the SORROW OF THE WORLD WORKETH DEATH.

Repentance is preceded by godly sorrow. Our Lord Jesus said, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the MEEK {praos}: for they shall inherit the earth.

3 Those saved by Grace are not wild eyed, but self controlled. To be “meek” (praos) means to have a gentle spirit. To have self control. To be meek doesn’t mean to be weak. Meekness is controlled strength. Not letting someone push your buttons. Trusting that God will look after you. When Jesus was reviled, the Bible says “reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). The meek understand that God is our Shepherd, and nothing comes to the sheep except it come through Him.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

4 Those who are saved hunger not for more sin, but for more God. Those who are God’s children by faith pursue not sin, but righteousness. They want to be more like Jesus. To those who pursue righteousness, Jesus said, “they shall be SATURATED {chortazō}”. If you work with God, God will fill your desires.

The reason many who profess Christ are like chaff in the wind is because they have no desire for the righteousness that comes by faith. They saturate themselves with other things. They want to be heroes, but don’t want to work with God the Holy Spirit, so they are only zeroes.

Follow the examples that the ancients have given us. The Prophet said:

(Isaiah 51:1-2 NKJV) Listen to Me, YOU WHO FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock [from which] you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit [from which] you were dug. [2] LOOK TO ABRAHAM YOUR FATHER, And to SARAH WHO BORE YOU; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.

God blessed Abraham for following Him. God gave him and his progeny the Promised Land, while taking it away from the native pagans living there. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness” (1 Corinthians 10:26). It is God Who gives life to all, who sets the boundaries of the people (Acts 17:26; Deuteronomy 32:8).

Though Abraham fell many times, He was constantly looking for God. Abraham stepped out on faith, believing the promise of God. When Lot and his family was abducted by an alliance of four Mesopotamian kings led by Chedorlaomer, King of Elam, ABRAHAM TOOK 318 TRAINED MEN against FOUR COMBINED ARMIES, defeating the Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim, Horites, Amalekites, and Amorites. Destroying massive forces in the Valley of Siddim, Abraham recovered Lot and his family.

God fought for Abraham! Abraham followed God.

Those Who Are Saved Exhibit Mercy To Others

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

The Psalmist wrote of God our Father:

(Psalm 18:25-27 NKJV) With the MERCIFUL You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; [26] With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. [27] For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty {rûm, high or lofty, prideful} looks.

God our Father showed us compassion by sending His own Son to the Cross for us. The Holy Spirit, sinless and pure, shows us loving compassion by coming to us and causing us to be born again. Our offenses against God are infinite – something we can never pay back. But the offenses of others toward us are finite.

Not too long ago we studied the Parable of the Wicked Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. In that parable the King (representing God) forgave a servant ten thousand talents, a lifetime of indebtedness. “the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt” (vs 27). But then that same servant went out, and demanded immediate payment of one hundred denarius (a very small sum), and cast his servant in prison when he could not pay. When the King heard about this, Jesus said, “his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (vs 34-35).

After teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus told us:

(Matthew 6:15 KJV) But if YOU FORGIVE NOT men their trespasses, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.

At the foot of the Cross our Lord and Savior paid our immeasurable debt against God. As children of the Kingdom of God we are to default to mercy, not retaliation. We are to be like Christ in how we deal with others. Richard Chenevix Trench (1807 – 1886), the author of Synonyms Of The New Testament stated:

“the Christian stands in a middle point, between a mercy received and a mercy yet needed. Sometimes the first is urged upon him as an argument for showing mercy—’forgiving one another, as Christ forgave you’ (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32) … thus, while he is ever to look back on the mercy received as the source and motive of the mercy which he shows, he also looks forward to the mercy which he yet needs, and which he is assured that the merciful… shall receive”

There is not a day that we as believers do not fail God in some way or another. We always need mercy. If we want mercy, God demands that we show mercy daily to those around us. Showing mercy does not mean to justify bad behavior – but it means to “turn the other cheek” rather than raise the fist when you are offended.

The Christian Is Pure In Heart

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the PURE {katharos} in heart: for they shall see God.

Word Study: The word translated “PURE” is the Greek katharos, which means “to be cleansed, freed from corruption, blameless”. When a person comes to Christ, God writes His Law on the hearts of His people. God promised that under the New Covenant:

(Jeremiah 31:33 LSB) But this is the covenant which I will cut with the house of Israel after those days, declares Yahweh: “I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM, and ON THEIR HEART I WILL WRITE IT; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

In the Book of Hebrews, the Apostle quotes this verse twice (Hebrews 8:10; 10:16) to emphasize that Christianity is not a DIY religion. The Christian is supernaturally changed by God from the inside out. Jesus told the Pharisees:

(Matthew 23:26-28 KJV) [Thou] blind Pharisee, CLEANSE FIRST THAT WHICH IS WITHIN THE CUP AND PLATTER, that the outside of them may be clean also. [27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited {MAUSOLEUMS}, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

If the heart is not given to God, nor cleansed by God, then you shall never see God. A good picture of the cleansed heart is in Enoch and Noah:

(Genesis 5:24 KJV) And ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: and he [was] not; for God took him.

(Genesis 6:9 KJV) These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] NOAH WALKED WITH GOD.

Those who are pure in heart walk with God daily. They pursue the light, not sin. The Bible says:

(1 John 1:6-7 KJV) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE, and DO NOT THE TRUTH: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

(1 John 3:6 KJV) Whosoever ABIDETH IN HIM SINNETH NOT: WHOSOEVER SINNETH HATH NOT SEEN HIM, NEITHER KNOWN HIM.

(3 John 1:11 KJV) Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. HE THAT DOETH GOOD IS OF GOD: but HE THAT DOETH EVIL HATH NOT SEEN GOD.

Yes, Christians occasionally step into sin – we are all broken. But the Christian does not pursue nor justify sin. We pursue God. We love Jesus. We know what it cost Jesus to pay for our sins, so we do not chase after nor condone the darkness.

As Ambassadors, We Are To Lead Others To Peace With God

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS: for they shall be called the children of God.

Under the Old Covenant man made peace with God through the animal sacrifices of the Law. The Peace Offering required an animal – male or female – offered without blemish before the Lord. It could be a bullock, or a lamb, or goat without blemish. Regardless as to the animal, before it was killed:

(Leviticus 3:2 NKJV) … And HE SHALL LAY HIS HAND ON THE HEAD OF HIS OFFERING, and kill it [at] the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. (also Leviticus 3:8, 13)

By laying the hands on the head the offering received the judgment of God. It was “an offering made by fire to the Lord” (Leviticus 3:3).Yet not all of the offering was burned. The sacrifice was offered to God, then the worshiper and his family shared in a fellowship meal.

The slain animal represented reconciliation and peace with God. The slain animal was consumed by both God and man. “A sweet savor unto the Lord” (Leviticus 3:5)

Under the New Covenant, “we have PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Romans 5:1). Under the Old Covenant the animal was brought, the hand laid on the head of the animal, then it’s blood was shed. Under the New Covenant Jesus Christ Himself came forward – of His own accord – to purchase our peace with God. The Bible says:

(Colossians 1:19-23 LSB) For in {Jesus Christ} all the fullness [of God] was pleased to dwell, [20] And THROUGH HIM TO RECONCILE ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF, having MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS–through Him–whether things on earth or things in heaven. [21] And although you were FORMERLY ALIENATED AND ENEMIES IN MIND AND IN EVIL DEEDS, [22] but now He RECONCILED YOU IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach– [23] if indeed you continue in the faith firmly grounded and steadfast, and NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL, which you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

God the Son “laid down His life for His sheep” (John 10:15). The Father sent the Son, but the Son willingly came.

John 10:19 (HCSB) No one takes {my life} from Me, but I LAY IT DOWN ON MY OWN. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.

Jesus willingly came, and offered Himself for us. When we receive Him as Lord and Savior we are “putting our hand on the head of the Sacrifice”. Jesus doesn’t merely give us peace – HE IS OUR PEACE:

(Ephesians 2:13-16 LSB) But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been BROUGHT NEAR {to God} BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. [14] For HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE, who made both [groups] one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition [15] by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create the two into one new man, making peace, [16] and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having IN HIMSELF PUT TO DEATH THE ENMITY.

The Lord’s Table is a picture of the Peace Offering. It is at that Table that we drink the Cup, and symbolically eat the flesh of Christ. Jesus told us, “Unless you EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN, AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). We have peace with God – not because of our works – but because of Jesus and what He did on Calvary.

“The God of Peace” only has peace with us through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

Throughout the Old Testament and under the Old Covenant, God was called “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, for- giving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6). But only in one place do we see God called “The God of Peace”. This is in Judges chapter 6, when God calls Gideon to lead Israel against the Midianites.

Gideon was hiding out in a wine press, thresh wheat there for fear of the Midianites. Amusingly the Bible says:

(Judges 6:12 NKJV) … the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD [is] with you, you mighty man of valor!”

He’s not now a “mighty man of valor”, but God has called him and will make Gideon into one. Gideon argued and doubted that it was God Who he was talking to. Then God had him make a peace offering – “And the Angel of the Lord departed out of Gideon’s sight” (Judges 6:21). Gideon cried out, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face”. Then we read:

(Judges 6:23-24 NKJV) Then the LORD said to him, “Peace [be] with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” [24] So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it THE LORD IS PEACE {YHWH-Shalom}

Who was the “Angel of the Lord”? I believe that was an Old Testament manifestation of Jesus. When the Messiah came, He would be “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 29:11 The LORD will bless His people with peace.

(Hebrews 13:20-21 KJV) Now THE GOD OF PEACE, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, [21] Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We who believe in Christ have peace with God. He is the “God of peace”. This is a favorite title that Paul gave God (Romans 15:33; 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20). Our God is the God of Peace. He seeks to reconcile the world to Himself through faith in Christ.

We are His Peacemakers.
We bring others to the peace of God through sharing the Gospel.

We Are To Be Peacemakers – Sharing Christ – Though The Enemies Of God Will Hate Us

The SEVEN (a number representing completeness) Characteristics of the Spiritually Healthy believer in Christ are in verses 3-9. As God’s “Peacemakers” we should not expect our duties to be easy. The world is locked in the dark grip of sin and Satan. Jesus said:

(John 3:20 LSB) For EVERYONE WHO DOES EVIL HATES THE LIGHT, and does not come to the Light LEST HIS DEEDS BE EXPOSED.

(John 15:19 LSB) If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, but I CHOSE YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, because of this THE WORLD HATES YOU.

The world treats genuine Christ following Bible believing Christians like Ahab treated Micaiah, son of Imla.

Ahab told Jehoshaphat: “ There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, but I HATE HIM, because HE NEVER PROPHESIES GOOD CONCERNING ME BUT ALWAYS EVIL” (2 Chronicles 18:7 LSB). The Seven Characteristics of the Christian are hated by the world. If we would compromise, if we would compliment and speak the lie that the serpent spake in the Garden of Eden, then the world would love us. We can be a Church – like one who’s sign said out front “YOU belong HERE”. But do you? Have you recognized your way is a waste. Do you realize how broken you are in God’s eyes? Do you realize you are at war with God, and are under His wrath without Jesus? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness, or are you looking for every loophole to justify your sin? Do you have peace with God through Jesus?

These last three verses are a summary of what you can expect from the world if you are Kingdom Minded:

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Jesus repeats Himself, tying verse 10 back to the beginning of the discourse:

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Those who recognize their brokenness and their total inability to fix themselves, they run to Jesus – not to the world. And they will be persecuted for it. If you live RIGHTeously – not to the LEFT of God but RIGHT in His sight – you WILL BE HATED. But you must not hate back. They will do with you just what they did with Jesus.

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall REVILE YOU, and PERSECUTE YOU, and shall SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY, FOR MY SAKE.

It’s going to happen. They will tell lies about you. Love them anyway. Do good to them anyway. Tell them about Jesus. Jesus says that our attitude should be to:

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN: for SO PERSECUTED THEY THE PROPHETS which were before you.

You are not prophets. You are priests of the Kingdom of God (Revelation 1:6). You represent God to the world. Be peacemakers. Lead others to Jesus. Do good, for “GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN”. Amen.