Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Kingdom Living

Rev. Terry Gorden · December 3, 2022

Matthew 5:1-12

sharonrpc.org/sermons/kingdom-living

Summary

The Beatitudes describe objective blessedness grounded in God's favor and inner spiritual reality rather than changing circumstances.
Jesus cares about outward obedience but presses beneath actions to the desires and affections of the heart.
To be poor in spirit is to recognize complete spiritual helplessness without Christ, not to possess or lack material wealth.
Smyrna appears materially poor but is spiritually rich, while Laodicea boasts in wealth and self-sufficiency without seeing its true poverty, blindness, and nakedness.
Salvation is entirely God's work: sinners are not merely sick and needing assistance but dead and unable to contribute merit to their rescue.
Recognition of spiritual poverty leads Christians to mourn the filth and offense of their sins while also trusting Christ's mercy and forgiveness.
Genuine mourning includes repentance, confession, restitution where possible, sorrow for others' sin, and comfort from God rather than hopeless remorse.
Biblical thinking shapes feeling and action, so the gospel must be both announced in words and displayed in a changed life.

How does objective blessedness differ from a passing feeling of happiness?
Do I recognize that I bring no merit or saving power to God, or do I still think I only need Christ's assistance?
In what way can material poverty hide spiritual riches, and material wealth hide spiritual ruin?
What would it mean for a church to absorb its culture's self-sufficiency as Laodicea did?
Does my response to personal sin include real grief, confession, turning, and restitution where possible?
How can mourning over another person's sin move from condemnation to compassionate desire for salvation?
When I mourn sin, am I seeking comfort in Christ's mercy or sinking into hopeless remorse?
Do my gospel words and outward life agree with one another?

Beatitude: A declaration by Jesus of the objective blessedness God gives to people marked by kingdom grace.
Poor in spirit: Aware of having no spiritual wealth, righteousness, or ability to offer God apart from Christ.
Total inability: The sinner's inability while dead in sin to produce saving merit or change the heart without God's Spirit.
Mourning over sin: Godly grief over sin as offensive to the holy God, joined to confession, turning, and hope in mercy.
Repentance: Turning from sin to God with grief and hatred for sin, purpose of new obedience, and practical efforts to make wrongs right.
Imputed righteousness: Christ's perfect righteousness counted to the believer rather than any righteousness produced independently.
Objective blessedness: God's settled favor that remains true even when a Christian's emotions or circumstances are painful.