BEATITUDES IN CONVERSION MATTHEW 5:1-12

Introduction: For each person who decides to obey the gospel, a genuine conversion to God must take place (from without and within). Conversion is a change of heart that leads to a change of life/actions.

Introduction: Each person must also consider the kind of life he or she is committing himself to. The Beatitudes teaches us about the true heart of conversion to God as well as the kind of life change that God expects from each person.

The Process of Conversion. Fellowship with God begins with being “poor in spirit.” Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In coming to God, each person must “empty himself” of pride and arrogance and humble himself before the Lord.

Each person must recognize his/ her true spiritual condition before God as a sinner. Isaiah 6:3-5 (NASB) 3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory."4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined!, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

In Coming to God, One Must Be “Poor in Spirit.” Only those who are “poor in spirit” will God fellowship (Psalms 51:16-17)

Psalms 51:16-17 (NASB) “16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise..’”

The Procession of Conversion. As one sees his/ her spiritual condition before God, he will then “mourn.” Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” “Mourning” specifically over the sins we have committed against God.

Godly sorrow takes place when we recognize that we have sinned against God. Psalm 51:4 (NASB) “Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight, so that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, and blameless when Thou dost judge.”

Godly sorrow takes place when we recognize that we have sinned against God. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV) “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

The Procession of Conversion. The person who is poor in spirit and mourns over sin, will also be “meek.” Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Meekness is more than just being gentle or considerate it also has to do with having your strength under control. Allow yourself to be under God’s control! Meekness towards God is the act of depending upon God for our salvation.

Meekness Required for Salvation: We must learn to depend on God for salvation from now on and understand that we cannot save ourselves!

Titus 3:4-7 (NASB) 4 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

The Procession of Conversion. Once a person “empties” himself of pride, sin, and self, then he can be “filled.” Matt 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Humility, godly sorrow, and meekness leads to a desire to be right with God!

Righteousness is attained through Christ 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB) “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Righteousness is attained through Christ Gal 3:27 (NKJV) “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” 1 John 3:7 (NASB) “Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous…”

True satisfaction or spiritual fulfillment is given to those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

The New Life of the Converted. As recipients of God’s mercy, Christians practice mercy towards others. Matt 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Mercy is what God gives us as a result of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross (Eph. 2:4-7).

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NASB) 4 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Blessed Are the Merciful The mercy of God is the source of motivation to show mercy to others (Luke 6:36). Mercy (in part) is demonstrated by our willingness to forgive (Mat. 18:21-35). It is a contradiction for the Christian to receive God’s mercy and then turn around and show no mercy towards others!

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NASB) 31 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Only those who are merciful will receive mercy (Mat 18:34-35; 5:8). James 2:13 (NASB) For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. – cf. Mat. 6:14-15

The New Life of the Converted. The converted are pure in heart. Matt 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” To be “pure in heart” is to be clean and pure of sin, having a sincere and earnest devotion to God. Purity of heart is to have a pure longing for God, serving Him only (Mat 6:24). Purity of heart is accomplished only with the help of God (Ps 51:10; Act 15:9). There is a commitment to totally cleanse our hearts of sin (Mat. 12:34-35).

We must cleanse ourselves of sin so we may be able to call upon the Lord with a pure heart 2 Tim 2:21-23 (NASB) 21 “Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

For purity of heart, we must confess our sins regularly seeking forgiveness 1 John 1:9 (NASB) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

To maintain fellowship with God (or “see God” – Mat. 5:8) requires a pure heart James 4:8 (NASB) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

The New Life of the Converted. All Christians are to be peacemakers. Matt 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Children of God must “pursue peace with all men” (Heb. 12:14; Rom. 12:18). TRUE “children of God” (Mat. 5:9b; cf. 1 John 3:1) share the gospel with others so that others may have peace with God! (2 Cor. 5:18-20; Eph. 2:13-18).

The New Life of the Converted. All Christians suffer for Christ’s sake. Matt 5:10-12 (KJV) 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Blessed Are the Persecuted. In being one of Jesus’ disciples, each person takes up his cross daily (Luke 9:23). The cross stands for the suffering involved in living for Christ (Mat 10:21-22). The Christian gladly endures persecution for the sake of righteousness knowing that no form of persecution can separate him from God’s love and promise of salvation (Rom. 8:35-39; cf. Mat. 5:10-12).

Blessed Are They Who Belong to Christ’s Kingdom and Follow the Way of Christ!