In last Sunday's morning sermon, "Salt & Light," Liam Goligher started tackling one of the most miquoted, misrepresented, and misunderstood passages of scripture, The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). Liam points out that there is no passage more relevant to us today.

Liam also assured us that we're going to come back to Isaiah, however Isaiah's been given some extra vacation time through January 2015. Between now and then we're going to look at the Sermon on the Mount. Christians and non Christians have varying perspectives on this sermon. It's not unusual to hear an unbeliever declare: "The Jesus I want to know is the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount not the Jesus of Paul." Which shows they've never read the Sermon on the Mount. Others, Christians sadly, believe the Sermon on the Mount is for Jews in the millennium only and not for Christians.

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus speaking and therefore the sermon has absolute authority in the lives of his people. Matthew 5:2-12 is addressed to his own people. Jesus distinguishes between the crowds and his disciples. "He opened his mouth and taught them saying…" What distinguishes God's people is that they are part of the kingdom of heaven—it belongs to them. In these verses (3-12) Jesus begins to delineate, describe, and unpack for us what it means to be his people. He is describing elements all of which describe his people. You can't pick and choose these elements. It is a composite picture of what it means to be a Christian. So, what does it mean to be a Christian? A Christian:

  • Belongs to the humble poor.
  • Mourns over sin and receives the comfort of God.
  • Is radically meek.
  • Is spiritually hungry.
  • Is merciful.
  • Is pure of heart.
  • Is a peacemaker.
  • Is persecuted for his or her righteousness.

You can stream, download, or listen to "Salt & Light" in our Resource Library.

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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Sarah Boghosian. © 2024 Tenth Presbyterian Church. Website: tenth.org