What You Are Before God (Part 2) (Matthew 5:6-7, Psalm 11:1-7)
Rev. William L. Barron, August 6, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
We are sinners, turned in upon ourselves. We need forgiveness that can only come from God. A prerequisite is that we must get rid of our sinfulness, realizing that we are sinners before God. For His people, Jesus paid for sins past, present and future. By His grace, we can understand the presence of God. Being selfish people, we must move from self- to other-orientation. Whatever the situation, it's not about me, it's about Christ. The way we treat others is a reflection of our relationship with Jesus. What is righteousness? It is conformity to God's way. It is a desire to be in conformity with God's will, to hunger and thirst for that. Also, we are to live right with other people. There are three dimensions. First, doing right is only done by Jesus. God's righteousness is Jesus, and we must do things His way. This is a gift from God. Second, when we look at Christ, we let Him be our savior. He takes away the desire of sinning; Christ becomes the desire of our heart. There is no cheap grace; we are bought with a price. There is no salvation without obedience and submission. We are in a relationship with each other. Third, we are merciful; this is an outcome of righteousness. Since God is merciful, we are also. What God has done for us we must display toward others. Mercy for them is a mark of God's mercy on us. The opposite of mercy is selfishness.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Growth In The Threefold Grace Of God | None | What You Are Before God (Part 3) » |
Matthew 5:6–7 (Listen)
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
(ESV)
Psalm 11 (Listen)
To the choirmaster. Of David.
11:1 In the LORD I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?
4 The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD’s throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The LORD tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.
(ESV)