1. New Spiritual Life in Christ – Maintain Spiritual Life
The Beatitudes
New Spiritual Life in Christ – Maintain Spiritual Life
Matthew 5:7 NKJV 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

2. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy
How to Obtain Mercy:
Poor in spirit (humility)
Mourn – realized sin & need for Christ
Meekness – determined God’s will would be his own will
Hungering & thirsting for righteousness – plans to follow Jesus
Brought to Baptism & life as a disciple of Christ
Obtained mercy of God – John 12:48; Luke 6:36

3. WHAT IS MERCY? What it is NOT: Turning heads & refusing to SEE EVIL
Smiling at sin & winking at lawlessness
A flabby, easygoing person who forgives everything at the drop of a hat
God is Merciful but Not Like That:
Both Righteous & Just
Mercy Must include RIGHTEOUSESS & JUSTICE
Matthew 18:23-30

4. WHAT IS MERCY? Mercy is: Compassion coupled with Action
Good Samaritan example of Mercy
Love in action toward those in need
Those in trouble – like good Samaritan
The Sinful – Luke 23:34
Those who have wronged me- Acts 7:59,60

5. WHAT IS MERCY?
Mercy is:
Mercy relieves Spiritual wants as well as Physical Needs
Do I reach out gladly toward the needs people have?
Not: Do I Serve – done in disgust
Not: Do I extend Pardon – with contempt
It is Wanting to Serve & pardon
Romans 12:6-8

6. WHAT IS PROMISED THE MERCIFUL?
James 2:13 “judgment without mercy to one who has shown no mercy”
Matthew 6:12 “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”
“They shall obtain mercy”
Through Christ by Gospel to those who:
Are humble; sorrow for sin; willingly submit; hunger & thirst for it.
Mercy is conditioned: Galatians 6:7

7. WHAT IS PROMISED THE MERCIFUL?
“Dead in our trespasses & sins” God showed mercy in Christ – Ephesians 2:1
We are to spread this same benevolence of spirit as we travel through our lives
He who will not live mercifully will die by the justice of God - James 2:13 “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

8. GOD IS MERCIFUL
2 Chronicles 30:9 "if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion… the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him."
We Must Be – Luke 6:36 "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

9. THE PROMISE: “THEY SHALL BE FILLED”
Happy because they know they shall be filled
We are united by Faith & Trust in God’s Word with Christ in Baptism & we are filled – accounted righteous
The Relationship & Freedom from Sin that fills the hungering soul brings the Blessedness Jesus promised
IF we Hunger & Thirst for things of the flesh we will be filled – but not true happiness