Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”We finished up our Friday evening home small group Bible Study of the Beatitudes of the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount with the reality that there will be assailing resistance and hatred towards the people of faith in gospel of Jesus Christ because of unbelief and reject of God’s will & way: His Standards, Commandments, Decrees, Instruction, Laws, Precepts, Rules, Statues, & Teachings. The root cause of all the world’s problems is Sin, and the whole question comes down to Belief & Unbelief. This is the two world-views (metaphorically called “Light & Darkness”, appositionally called “Saved & Unsaved”, spiritually called “Regenerate & Unregenerate” in the Bible) that exists and drive the thoughts and actions of the heart of fallen mankind. John 3:16-21 explains the situation, but John 3:36 gets to the bottom-line: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”, and repeats in 1John 5:11-12.
Philippians 1:27-29 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”
I remember, when I was baptized in my early twenties with my infant son, that the Pastor put his stole over my shoulders and pulled down, then lightly slapped my face to symbolize the persecution that I shall expect, at accepting God’s Son as Savior & Lord, and becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, by the God-rejecting world. What church gives that full-truth today? Do we understand the influence of the Devil, the world in spiritual darkness and the sin nature of the flesh? Evangelist Ray Comfort says that far too often the man-centered message is deceivingly given that by accepting Jesus that our live will be improved – a dreamy prosperity gospel of blessings, without opposing revelry & hardships, which reality dashes and leads to misunderstood discontent. Mr. Comfort says that we need to be speaking in love and compassion to others about reality of our sin’s consequences when this life is over, if we do not accept God’s plan of salvation. Paul explains in Romans 13:12-14 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." & in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." & in Galatians 5:19-21 "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God."
I remember when my precious goddaughter realized what the Bible was saying, on bringing the truth of the seriousness of Sin and Salvation to a lost & dying world that does not want to hear it, stating: “You are going to be hated!” But Jesus said in John 15:18-20 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” Christ came into this "already condemned by sin" world to save all who will believe, repent and accept His offer of mercy and grace to salvation by faith. Those who choose to reject the Savior and the light of truth shall persecute those who do. God does not cause the division between holy and unholy or sacred and unsacred; they are natural contradictions.
1 Peter 4:12-16 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." Are we honoring God and pursuing righteousness in ways that mark you as being set apart for Him? We are here, in this time & place, for a reason and purpose. Glorify God and let your light of Christ shine. 1 Peter 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." Our Lord Jesus suffered for us and our salvation. Shall we not suffer for him and to His glory? 1 Peter 2:21-24 "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
2 Timothy 3:12 "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Our endurance of persecution becomes a testimony to the reality of our faith. When we stand firm in front of our opponents and are not alarmed, that’s a sign of our salvation. You realize that you have a home in heaven. Are we being persecuted for righteousness’ sake? Do people mock us because we are Christians? If not, could it be that we are not all we ought to be for Him? Are we so like the rebellious God-rejecting world (the deceived, unsaved and luke-warm) that our life doesn’t expose their sin, therefore they feel comfortable with us? Are we stepping out of our little Christian bubble and stepping out, into the world that does not knew the Lord, to be peacemakers, to show others their need to be reconciled to God? We have no need to fear when persecution or suffering comes into our lives. Remember: God is sovereign, the Almighty is in control, God holds us in His hand and God is love. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The Beatitudes begin and end with a promise “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. When we turn our hearts towards God, these attitudes will become apparent in our life. They are the mark of a true believer – one who posses the full favor of God, eternal life and the kingdom of heaven. What greater blessing could there be?!
In Christ, Brian
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