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
By Charles Box,