The Basics of Being a Christian

The Basics of Being a Christian

November 6, 2005

Introduction

This morning, I want to ask you a question, "How would you describe the Christian life?" What is that makes you say someone is fine Christian? What caused you to say that? Where do we turn for a good answer? It's easy to say, "the Bible," but where? Early in Jesus ministry, He delivered the Sermon on the Mount. It is placed early in the gospel account of Matthew.

This morning, we want to look at some of the basic parts of that sermon. We don’t have time to study every verse, or every concept, but let’s look at a few key thoughts as we try to answer the question, “How do you describe the Christian life?”

Body

I. It begins with attitudes.

(Mat 5:1-8 NKJV) "And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. {2} Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

{3} "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

{4} Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

{5} Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

{6} Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. {7} Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

{8} Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

A. I believe these are the gateway attitudes of being a Christian.

1. These are the essential attitudes which Jesus is looking for.

2. The poor in spirit—the humble.

Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

a. The contrast between poor and having the kingdom of heaven.

b. The poor in spirit are teachable.

c. Thayer’s definition: “destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture which the schools afford (men of this class most readily give themselves up to Christ’s teaching and proved them selves fitted to lay hold of the heavenly treasure)

B. The essential attitude of mourning--over spiritual problems.

Matt 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

1. Are you a mourning type person? Can you mourn?

2. Some cannot, or will not mourn over anything.

a. Do we mourn about our own sins and shortcoming.

b. Do we mourn or have compassion for the spiritual shortcomings of others.

(Gal 6:1-2 NKJV) Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. {2} Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

C The essential attitude of being meek, humble, or teachable.

Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Meek: Thayer’s definition: 1) mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness

1. It's the Mary attitude, not the Martha attitude.

(Luke 10:38-42 NKJV) "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. {39} And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. {40} But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." {41} And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. {42} "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."".

a. It’s sitting at the feet of Jesus, so to speak, and learning from Him.

b. It is a description that Jesus used to describe Himself.

(Mat 11:28-30 NKJV) ""Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am (gentle) and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."."

c. Moses was described as a meek man.

(Num 12:3 KJV) "(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)"

(Num 12:3 NKJV) (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

d. Meekness is not to be confused with weakness, but Jesus took a word that was not looked upon with honor, and gave honor to it.

D. The essential attitude of hunger for righteousness.

Matt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled..

1. Hunger is the strongest drive in man. It is essential to preserve life.

2. Our spiritual hunger is essential to our spiritual lives, or we will die spiritually.

E. We must be merciful.

(Mat 5:7 NKJV) Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

1. Merciful in judgments.

(James 2:12-13 NKJV) So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. {13} For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2. Mercy in things we do to help.

(James 2:14-16 NKJV) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? {15} If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, {16} and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

F. We must be pure in heart.

(Mat 5:8 NKJV) Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

1. The pure life is being challenged today.

2. It is so important to be on guard as to what we watch and what we dwell upon.

3. We have an amendment to vote on Tuesday, and I would encourage all of you to vote for that amendment.

II. How does all of this come about?.

A. It comes about by quietly seeking to be right with God..

1. It is the quiet good works produced from a sincere desire to help others for the right reasons.

(Mat 6:1-6 NKJV) ""Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. {2} Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {3} "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, {4} "that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. {5} "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {6} "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

B. It comes about by judging ourselves first and others with love and understanding.

(Mat 7:1-5 NKJV) ""Judge not, that you be not judged. {2} "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. {3} "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? {4} "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? {5} "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Conclusion

We began this morning by asking, "How would you describe the Christian life?" What is that makes you say someone is fine Christian? Where do we turn for a good answer? What is the real emphasis that Christ put on life

This morning, we’ve looked at the first of the beatitudes:

Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

{4} Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

{5} Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

{6} Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. {7} Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

{8} Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

We concluded by saying that Christ’s emphasis was for us to look at our own lives first, and then we could see to help others. It is a principle that always works. It is so easy to shift our focus and look at others.

It’s my understanding that for many years, Hershey’s Chocolate did not advertise. It was the philosophy of the company that if they made the very best chocolate bar that those who ate it would tell others. May we concentrate on being attractive Christians?

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