Living as Citizens of God's Kingdom: The Beatitudes

 

Summary

The "Sermon on the Mount" is a profound and challenging passage, particularly the Beatitudes, which are often misunderstood. These teachings of Jesus, found in Matthew 5:2-12, are not primarily commands but descriptions of the characteristics of those who belong to the kingdom of God. They outline the attributes of kingdom citizens, emphasizing that these are not qualities we strive to achieve on our own but are indicative of our identity in Christ. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God with His first coming, and we are living in the last days, awaiting His return when He will consummate His kingdom.

The Beatitudes describe a counter-cultural way of living, where values such as being "poor in spirit" and "meek" are celebrated. These are not natural human inclinations but are the result of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. The Beatitudes remind us that we are not the builders of God's kingdom; rather, God builds His kingdom through us. Our role is to be faithful witnesses, living out these kingdom values in a world that often opposes them.

Understanding the kingdom of God is crucial for interpreting the Bible and living the Christian life. The Beatitudes paint a picture of the perfect man, a portrait that we fall short of but strive towards through the grace of God. They challenge us to examine our hearts and motives, urging us to live with humility, mercy, and a hunger for righteousness. These characteristics are not just ideals but are meant to be lived out in our daily lives as we reflect the light of Christ to the world.

The Beatitudes also offer eschatological promises, pointing to a future fulfillment when Christ returns. Yet, they have a present reality, offering comfort and hope in the midst of trials. True joy and contentment come from the presence of the Holy Spirit, not from the absence of difficulties. As we live out these kingdom values, we are reminded that our ultimate reward is in heaven, and our lives should reflect the reality of being citizens of God's kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Beatitudes are not commands but descriptions of who we are as kingdom citizens. They reflect the characteristics that define those who belong to Jesus Christ, emphasizing that these are not qualities we achieve on our own but are indicative of our identity in Him. [04:23]

2. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God with His first coming, and we are living in the last days, awaiting His return. Understanding this is crucial for interpreting the Bible and living the Christian life, as it shapes our perspective on the teachings of Jesus and the nature of His kingdom. [06:45]

3. The Beatitudes challenge us to live counter-culturally, embracing values such as being "poor in spirit" and "meek." These are not natural human inclinations but are the result of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, calling us to live with humility, mercy, and a hunger for righteousness. [15:58]

4. True joy and contentment come from the presence of the Holy Spirit, not from the absence of difficulties. The Beatitudes offer comfort and hope in the midst of trials, reminding us that our ultimate reward is in heaven and that our lives should reflect the reality of being citizens of God's kingdom. [23:43]

5. The Beatitudes offer eschatological promises, pointing to a future fulfillment when Christ returns. Yet, they have a present reality, offering comfort and hope in the midst of trials. As we live out these kingdom values, we are reminded that our ultimate reward is in heaven. [19:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Introduction to the Beatitudes
- [01:44] - Prayer for Understanding
- [02:25] - Jesus as Teacher
- [03:10] - Misunderstandings of the Beatitudes
- [03:47] - The Place of the Beatitudes in Our Lives
- [05:01] - The Inauguration of the Kingdom
- [06:12] - Living in the Last Days
- [07:21] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
- [08:33] - Christians as Light of the World
- [09:13] - Struggles with the Beatitudes
- [11:08] - The Perfect Man
- [12:31] - Our Identity in Christ
- [13:57] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [15:15] - Counter-Cultural Values
- [16:42] - True Humility and Need
- [17:59] - The Seriousness of God's Blessing
- [19:12] - Eschatological Promises
- [20:39] - The Meaning of Being Blessed
- [22:45] - Joy in the Holy Spirit
- [25:11] - Mourning as a Christian
- [27:37] - The Promise of Comfort
- [29:49] - Misunderstanding Meekness
- [31:10] - The Importance of Truth
- [34:15] - The Danger of Pride
- [36:21] - Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
- [39:07] - Living a Life of Mercy
- [40:25] - Purity of Heart
- [44:06] - Peacemakers and Persecution
- [45:39] - The Unchanging Gospel

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Beatitudes and Kingdom Living

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 5:2-12

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the Beatitudes, and how do they describe the characteristics of those who belong to the kingdom of God? [04:23]

2. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus in inaugurating the kingdom of God, and what is our role as believers in this kingdom? [05:01]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of living in the "last days," and how does this understanding affect our interpretation of the Beatitudes? [06:12]

4. How does the sermon explain the concept of being "poor in spirit," and why is this considered a counter-cultural value? [15:58]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways do the Beatitudes challenge the natural inclinations of human behavior, and how does the Holy Spirit enable believers to live out these values? [15:15]

2. How does the sermon suggest that the Beatitudes offer both present comfort and future promises for believers? [19:12]

3. What does it mean to be a "peacemaker" according to the sermon, and how does this role reflect our identity as children of God? [44:06]

4. How does the sermon address the misunderstanding of meekness, and what is the true biblical understanding of this characteristic? [29:49]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you struggle to live out the Beatitudes? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you grow in these areas? [15:15]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding our identity in Christ. How does this understanding impact your daily decisions and interactions with others? [12:31]

3. Consider the concept of being "poor in spirit." How can you cultivate a humble and dependent attitude in your relationship with God and others? [15:58]

4. The sermon discusses the joy that comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit, even in difficult times. How can you seek and experience this joy in your current circumstances? [23:43]

5. How can you actively pursue being a peacemaker in your community, workplace, or family? What steps can you take to promote peace and reconciliation? [44:06]

6. Reflect on the eschatological promises of the Beatitudes. How does the hope of future fulfillment influence your perspective on current trials and challenges? [19:12]

7. The sermon warns against pride and encourages humility. Are there specific areas in your life where pride might be hindering your spiritual growth? How can you address this? [34:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Identity in Christ as Kingdom Citizens
The Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5:2-12, are not a list of commands but rather a description of the characteristics of those who belong to the kingdom of God. These attributes, such as being "poor in spirit" and "meek," are not qualities we can achieve on our own. Instead, they are indicative of our identity in Christ, reflecting the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As kingdom citizens, we are called to embody these characteristics, not through our own efforts, but by embracing our identity in Jesus. This understanding shifts our focus from striving to achieve these qualities to recognizing them as a natural outflow of our relationship with Christ. [04:23]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace your identity in Christ today, allowing His Spirit to naturally produce the characteristics of the Beatitudes in your life?


Day 2: Living in the Last Days with Kingdom Perspective
Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God with His first coming, and we are now living in the last days, awaiting His return. This understanding is crucial for interpreting the Bible and living the Christian life, as it shapes our perspective on the teachings of Jesus and the nature of His kingdom. Recognizing that we are in the last days encourages us to live with urgency and purpose, aligning our lives with the values of the kingdom. It reminds us that our time on earth is temporary and that our ultimate hope and reward are found in the eternal kingdom of God. [06:45]

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." (1 Peter 4:7, ESV)

Reflection: How does the reality of living in the last days influence your daily decisions and priorities? What changes can you make to align more closely with the values of God's kingdom?


Day 3: Embracing Counter-Cultural Values
The Beatitudes challenge us to live counter-culturally, embracing values such as being "poor in spirit" and "meek." These are not natural human inclinations but are the result of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. As followers of Christ, we are called to live with humility, mercy, and a hunger for righteousness, even when these values are opposed by the world around us. This counter-cultural way of living serves as a powerful witness to the transformative power of the gospel and reflects the light of Christ to those around us. [15:58]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you live out the counter-cultural values of the Beatitudes in your interactions with others today?


Day 4: Finding Joy and Contentment in the Holy Spirit
True joy and contentment come from the presence of the Holy Spirit, not from the absence of difficulties. The Beatitudes offer comfort and hope in the midst of trials, reminding us that our ultimate reward is in heaven. As we live out these kingdom values, we are encouraged to find joy in the Holy Spirit, even when faced with challenges. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in the assurance of our identity in Christ and the hope of eternal life with Him. [23:43]

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy and contentment in the Holy Spirit, regardless of your current circumstances?


Day 5: Living with Eschatological Hope
The Beatitudes offer eschatological promises, pointing to a future fulfillment when Christ returns. Yet, they also have a present reality, offering comfort and hope in the midst of trials. As we live out these kingdom values, we are reminded that our ultimate reward is in heaven. This eschatological hope encourages us to persevere in faith, knowing that our present sufferings are temporary and that a glorious future awaits us in God's kingdom. [19:12]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of future glory and reward in heaven influence your perspective on current challenges and trials? What steps can you take to keep this hope at the forefront of your mind?

Quotes

The Beatitudes are not, first and foremost, commanding us to do something. The Beatitudes are not, first and foremost, telling us to do something. What they are in fact doing is describing who we are. Now, certainly, within them we see this desire for striving after, for longing for, for moving towards and growing in, but fundamentally, what the Beatitudes are doing is describing the characteristics, the attributes, that characterize or define a citizen of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, a citizen of the kingdom of God. [00:04:10]

Jesus is the One building His kingdom. We are not fundamentally the ones building His kingdom. God is the one who builds His kingdom, and He builds His kingdom through us. He uses us, our witness, our evangelism, our light and salt that we spread and shine throughout the earth. God uses us, but ultimately He is the one building His kingdom and He is building it for His glory. We are the recipients of His kingdom. We are the citizens of His kingdom. We are the workers and co-laborers in His kingdom, but God is the one who is building His kingdom. [00:05:06]

And so, in the "Sermon on the Mount" and in the Beatitudes what we are seeing here is Jesus describing who kingdom citizens are, what our character is, how we are and how we exist. You will notice even later on in the same Sermon on the Mount where in verses 14 through 16 about being a "city on a hill" and the "light of the world." Notice that Jesus doesn't say, "You need to try to be the light of the world" or "you need to work to be the light." No, "You are the light." As Christians, we are the ambassadors of God. [00:08:05]

The Beatitudes, they paint a glorious portrait. And when we read them, we see this glorious portrait being painted before our eyes. And it is the glorious portrait, as Sinclair Ferguson says, of the perfect man. It is the perfect man, a man who is poor in spirit, a man who mourns, who is meek, who hungers and thirsts for righteousness. And we all know that we are not the perfect man. We all know that in all these things we struggle. Some of us struggle with them more, some of us less, some of us from time to time, some of us daily. [00:11:14]

The King has declared us to be His children. The King has declared that we are no longer children of darkness. We are no longer children of wrath, because the King of all creation has declared that we are now His adopted children and we are now the co-heirs of Jesus Christ, His perfect Son. We are now united to Jesus Christ, and because of that union we have the blessings, the inheritance, all that is His awaiting us. [00:12:42]

Joy is not the absence of sadness. Joy is not the absence of trials. Joy is not the absence of conflict. Joy is not the absence, even a miserable loss of a loved one. Joy is not the absence of being without a disease that the doctors say is terminal. Joy is not the absence of any worries about our spouse passing away. Joy is the presence of the Holy Spirit. The reason why we as Christians don't wallow in the mire of misery, doubt, and fear is because the Holy Spirit brings us out of it. [00:22:58]

The reason we hunger and thirst for righteousness is because God made us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. He gave us a hunger. He gave us a thirst. Just as the deer pants for the water, so God made us to pant after Him, for He is righteousness and He is the source of righteousness. Now you might say, "You know, pastor, I don't always hunger and thirst for righteousness," or "the only One who perfectly hungers and thirst for righteousness is Jesus Christ." [00:36:00]

"Blessed are the merciful." This doesn't describe someone who just shows mercy once in a while because it is the thing that we are supposed to do as Christians. "The merciful," and the way in which this is worded by Jesus is to describe the one who is living in a state of being merciful, that he is someone who because he has received mercy, shows mercy. This is one of Jesus' primary teachings in Matthew's Gospel: "because you have received mercy, show mercy." [00:39:07]

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Well, every one of us would say, "Well, we are not pure in heart. We know that the heart is deceitful above all things." Well, that is true, but that is the reason likely why Jesus speaks of the heart, because we can act pure in our outward manifestation. We can act pure for a time. We do this very well typically at conferences and on Sundays unless we get into the parking lot with other Christians who don't seem to know how to drive very well. [00:40:25]

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." These are not just peacekeepers. These are not just again the passive agents. These are those who actively seek to make peace, who are actively seeking peace and to be at peace with all men as much as it depends on us. And "those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake." Not because we are jerks, not because we are arrogant, not because we treat people like dirt, but rather we are persecuted for righteousness' sake. [00:44:06]

As Christians in this constantly changing world, we will be continually and exceedingly, and it seems with ever increasing repetition, we will be reviled, we will be held back, we will be persecuted. Jobs will be harder to come by. Our children will not have the same opportunities in many places that we did. The world is changing, but the good news is that the gospel is not changing, the Word of God is not changing, and neither should our voice, our declaration of God's truth which doesn't change. [00:45:39]

We are the kingdom citizens, and we are by the very character of being united to Christ, the meek. And we are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. And the reason we hunger and thirst for righteousness is because God made us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. He gave us a hunger. He gave us a thirst. Just as the deer pants for the water, so God made us to pant after Him, for He is righteousness and He is the source of righteousness. [00:35:59]

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Transcript
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