Beatitudes From The Epistles

 

     All serious Bible students are familiar with that section of scripture where we find Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. A part of that sermon is that teaching that we call the "Beatitudes." (Matthew 5:3-12) Those that follow the principles set forth by Jesus will be blessed or will enjoy "true" happiness. The epistles also contain powerful beatitudes:

 

      Blessed are the forgiven: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered." (Romans 4:7) Forgiveness is the great need of all that have been ignorant of God's law or who have simply violated God's law through unrighteousness. When sins are forgiven they are literally sent away from the life of that person. The person is truly blessed who has sins covered over by the blood of Jesus! Without the blood of Jesus there is no forgiveness of sins.

 

      Blessed are those who endure temptation: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12) Temptation comes to everyone. Those that persevere and endure these tempta­tions will be blessed with a crown of life. These trials of one's fidelity, integrity and virtue are the proving ground for eternity. The crown of life is the blessing promised to those that endure the temptations of life.

 

      Blessed are those who learn and do: "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25) Those who look carefully into God's book with the intent to obey will be blessed. These blessings are promised, not to the talker, but to the doer. The doer is one who obeys or fulfills God's perfect law of liberty.

 

      Blessed are those that persevere: "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." (James 5:11) To endure is to persevere or to "hold fast to." Steadfastness, constancy or endurance must mark the life of a Christian. Christians must remain loyal to the faith even through great trial.

 

      Those who do the Lord's commandments will be blessed with an entrance into heaven and with the tree of life. (Revelation 22:14)  To become a Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), be­lieve in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized to be saved. (Acts 2:38)

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P. O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA

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