Enjoying Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, where Martyn Lloyd-Jones says the point of this teaching to Christians is not "do these things and you'll be a Christian" but "do these things because you are a Christian."
We've just finished BSF study on Revelation and I learned a new insight about the millennium kingdom that comes before the new heaven and new earth. In the millennium kingdom, the devil is bound and the "world" is gone - but we still have the flesh. The sermon on the mount has been regarded to some as only valid for millennium, but we see it's themes take us through the message of Jesus, "have faith in the kingdom of heaven."
Purpose in praise and prayer, illustrated in salt and light (Psalms 34; Matthew 5:12-19)
Suffering for peace and righteousness is easy, His burden is light (Matthew 5:3-10,11:30)
Sometimes we're Saul, sometimes we're Ananias (Acts 9)
- Seeking (with a salty thirst): His Kingdom and His Righteousness (Matt 5:6,13,6:33, Jer 29:13)
- God blesses characteristics of people with promises (Matthew 5:1-12)
- 21-26) Anger/Danger/Curse Hell, reconciliation not murder/prison: empty way of ancestors, murder occurs in the heart, reconcile before sacrifice, settle differences with adversaries.
- 27-30) adultery, lust eyes and hands/Whole Body Hell X2
- 31-32) Simple Divorce is Adultery
- 33-37) vows to LORD/Yes, I will or No, I won't - maybe is from the evil one.
- 38-42) Eye for eye revenge, vs non resistance, physical (cheek), property loss (coat), work (mile), money (borrow)
- We are adopted into God's family and he has requirements for us living in his name.
- It's interesting to see that we start out with the Kingdom of Heaven, the three dangers of hell, traditional decision making (fight or flight) and end with Love your enemies through prayer that brings us back to the Beatitudes "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him. Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 5:3
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