Jesus gave us the greatest sermon He ever preached in Matthew 5, 6 and 7. It’s my growing conviction that if we, as citizens of the Kingdom of God, began living out the values so contained, we could change the world. Could it be what’s holding up a great revival, a Kingdom of God revolution in our nation, is the Church not experiencing the values contained in these three short chapters?
Jesus is more interested in getting heaven into people, than getting people into heaven. This is why He told us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We have limited the Gospel to just getting as many people into heaven as possible, which is quite important, but it’s only the beginning of the Gospel. Eternal life begins the moment we put our faith in Christ.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge advocate of evangelism. I join the angels in heaven in rejoicing whenever someone gives their life to Christ. But it’s only the beginning. It’s like saying we get married by simply going to the altar on one’s wedding day and saying, “I do.” The wedding ceremony is not a marriage. Going on a honeymoon is not a marriage. You got married because you are in love and you desire to spend the rest of your life with the one you love.
If you have given your heart to Christ, you have entered into a marriage with the Bridegroom. You are His bride. But that’s only the beginning. The Sermon on the Mount is all about living with God and having a relationship with the One you love. It’s about a life like no other.
In my next blog we will look at the way of true happiness in our marriage to Christ.
Married to Christ,
Steve
Steve Holt M.A., D.D.
My newest book, Worshipper Warrior, can be found at www.steveholtonline.org
and www.amazon.com
