We talked much about the characteristics in the first 4 beatitudes, but we didn't get enough time to talk about the promises. Just a quick post to focus on 2 of the promises we didn't' discuss much:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Again, here we see the phrase the kingdom of heaven. As we've talked about, the Kingdom of Heaven represents those who will inherit internal life by their faith in Jesus Christ. With that in mind, it's interesting to see that the first characteristic (poor in spirit) is the criteria for entry into the kingdom of heaven. We defined poor in spirit as being aware of our sinfulness and that we have no merit before God. Basically, we recognize that He would be just to condemn us, and our only hope is His mercy. Really, we talked about this going even farther than justification, and that for the Christian, poor in spirit simply means a humble dependence on God for everything. I think the promise, theirs is the kingdom of Heaven, makes sense considering the message of Jesus to "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". How can we have that "complete change of mind", which is repentance, without first realizing who we really are (bankrupt in spirit).
This goes completely against the thinking in Jesus' day of many of the pharisees and scribes. At least, I assume that is why John the Baptist warns them not to rely on their status as children of Abraham (see Matthew 3). The thinking was, we're God's chosen people, don't tell us to repent. I think it is also counter to the prevailing thinking of our American culture. Most Americans can't accept a religion first realize that you have no merit and cannot earn your way out of condemnation. We're a pull it off yourself culture (i.e. American Dream). But that's not the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6b).
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied
In my opinion, righteousness is not what most people hunger for. It's certainly not what I hungered for before I experienced God's grace and put my faith in Jesus. Like many, I hungered for money, social status, possessions, great career, lots of fun, etc. The interesting thing about these things is that even though we pursue as if they will satisfy something within us, they always seem to fall very short in actually satisfying us. We get more money, we want more money and on and on it goes. Vanity, vanity all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1). Unfortunately, unless our eyes are opened to the beauty of Christ, we will keep seeking the wrong things forever, and even more unfortunately, we'll never be satisfied.
We looked at I John 2:15-17 in class. Verse 17 says the world is passing away along with it's desires. So, if we hunger for the things of the world, the obvious connection is that we'll never be satisfied (those things are passing away). But here we're promised that if we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we shall be satisfied. This agrees with the last part of I John 2:17, which says that whoever does the will of God abides (lives) forever. That's why the pursuit of God's grace to reshape our desires for Him and His ways are essential. All else is passing away. I think we must fight for this. I don't there's room for being complacent, knowing that deep down, we really desire the things of the world. I fear this for myself, and it causes me to pray and fight for God's help to love him above all else.
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Good post, Craig. Lots of good things to think about and wrestle with. What is your thinking on the use of verbs in the beatitudes? The first and last beatitude contain the verb "is". The middle beatitudes contain the verb "shall". "Is" as a verb, to me, means something that is present NOW. Jesus says things like:
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The kingdom of heaven has come near to you.
I have always thought of the "Kingdom of Heaven" being available here, now (keeping in mind that the full reign of Christ is not fully present until his return {now but not yet principle}).
When I think about the "Kingdom of Heaven" available now, it leads me to desire to live a counter-cultural life.
Yes, I know all you can see is the rule and reign of Caesar and Herod, but I am telling you there is a better "Way". The way of Jesus.
Our culture has all kinds of Caesars, Herods, Greek Philosophies, and Jewish Legalisms. We need to identify what these false "kingdoms" are and point to and live out a counter-cultural, Jesus following kind of life: what some would call "The Kingdom of Heaven".
What do you guys think? Or am I a heretic and need to be burned at the stake? If I do need to be burned, please let me know so I can get a good head start.
Grace and Peace,
Kris
Good point Kris! Based on what I've read, I believe that both are true. I believe that He was being purposeful in using both present and future tense verbs.
When Christ came to the world, the kingdom of heaven was at hand. The rule of Christ has continued ever sense through His Spirit in His children. So, I would say yes, we who follow Christ, are right now under His divine rule. We experience many blessings from that here and now. Even Christ said, he came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. However, Christ reigns in the hearts of the believer, but Satan still rules the world. Of course, God is sovereign and he is only allowing this as part of His divine plan.
But one day, the final defeat of Satan and all the rulers of the World (like you said, the Herods, Caesars, etc.) will occur. When that happens, Christ will fully reign as all His enemies will be completely defeated, we will fully experience His glory, and then all the future blessings mentioned in the beatitudes will be fully experienced.
I think we should also state though that many of the future blessings are also experienced now, even though not fully. Like mercy, we've definitely experienced mercy and forgiveness through faith in Jesus. We're definitely comforted by the Holy Spirit and God's people who love us. We see God's glory dimly through His Word. But there's so much more ahead! That's our hope, and that hope enables us to live counter-culturally. Because that hope is ours now as believers!
What no eye has seen nor ear heard or heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.
Hoping in Jesus,
Craig
Come Lord Jesus, Come!
I want to post something that touches on our subject just a bit. Though its main subject is not the beatitudes, again,it does touch on it and the pope's apparent misunderstanding of it. Sadly, and surprisingly to me, Billy Graham is the subject of this video due to his less than scriptural viewpoint that good people will go to heaven, even if they are from another religion. Anyway, check it out. The section on the pope and the beatitudes is admittedly short but worth hearing. Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC2WPR7q4pU&feature=related
Please repost that youtube link. I did not get it. Thanks, Kris
No need to repost the link 5solas. I was able to cut and paste into my browser. Thanks, vapor.
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