“For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Vs46-48).”
We are to behave ourselves as God commands, so that we can be like Him, doing the will of God from the heart, in conformity to His image.
God makes us like Himself in regeneration. Now, live like it. All that is commanded is what you are, and it is what we’re to pursue, if we believe.
1. We are faithful to the marriage covenant because God has commanded us to be – “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery” (Matt 5:32). It has nothing to do with what I want, etc. It has everything to do with God who is faithful to me. And, if God’s glory in Jesus Christ isn’t enough to rule us, then we don’t believe the glory we profess. The grace of God TEACHES us to obey Him, even as it teaches us that obedience was earned for us at the cross, that when the Son of God DIED, He procured to Himself the right to give obedience to all of His people, and He, by the Spirit, brings obedience to pass – “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). This isn’t puny man made grace that can be stopped; this is God’s grace that teaches His elect to walk uprightly, even as He teaches us Christ died for us.
Now, when we have home problems, we remember the love of Him who loved us, and we get STRENGTH, not from the situation or the spouse, but from God’s WORD of command and God’s GRACE to perform. Grace doesn’t change the fact that men live holy in God’s eyes; grace is the way.
2. God is a King, and we are to speak the truth always, “But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil” (Matt 5:33-37). We are not people who swear and then say truth, but without an oath, we speak the truth, and our yes is yes and our no is no.
God sees truth as beautiful, for He saved us by it, keeping His word. And, if He values truth, then He makes us TRUTHFUL, like Himself. Salvation ends in our absolute conformity to God, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:2).
3. We go the extra mile that God goes with us, “You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also… and whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two” (Matt 5:38-41). We help men from the heart, not because we are keeping tabs, but because we are judged by the law of freedom. We are free from getting our merit, so we don’t deal with men according to what we think they deserve. We deal with God in Christ, so we also look to Christ in dealing with men who have sinned against us.
We are not those who sit back and say, “All hope is lost. I will be mean.” I’ve heard of pastors trying to be as mean as possible to discourage people from the ministry, but you only disobey God. Let us walk as He gave us commandment and leave the Judge of all the earth to sift between the evil and the good – “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). The God of glory pays all who hate Him to their face, and He will exact revenge. But, don’t let their evil keep you from God.
4. God is good to the just and the unjust, and we are to be that way too, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt 5:44-45). We are not to have a church face or a face among the church members, and then be cruel to people that we esteem below us, “For if you love them which love you, what reward have you… and if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans so (Matt 5:46-47).” Just as God is GOOD to the wicked and the just, even so we love men who are good and men who are bad. We don’t look down our nose to anyone, but we seek to do everyone good by the grace of God in Christ.
Until I have seen everyone believe, there is growth in my prayers, rather than condemnation. Rather than point the finger at others, we REPENT and grow ourselves, doing good to sinners because God does good to us. He loved us when we were unjust, made us righteous, forgives our sins, and helps us now. He didn’t wait on a merit system that we performed, and we won’t either.
God makes us like Himself in regeneration. Now, live like it. All that is commanded is what you are, and it is what we’re to pursue, if we believe.
1. We are faithful to the marriage covenant because God has commanded us to be – “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery” (Matt 5:32). It has nothing to do with what I want, etc. It has everything to do with God who is faithful to me. And, if God’s glory in Jesus Christ isn’t enough to rule us, then we don’t believe the glory we profess. The grace of God TEACHES us to obey Him, even as it teaches us that obedience was earned for us at the cross, that when the Son of God DIED, He procured to Himself the right to give obedience to all of His people, and He, by the Spirit, brings obedience to pass – “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). This isn’t puny man made grace that can be stopped; this is God’s grace that teaches His elect to walk uprightly, even as He teaches us Christ died for us.
Now, when we have home problems, we remember the love of Him who loved us, and we get STRENGTH, not from the situation or the spouse, but from God’s WORD of command and God’s GRACE to perform. Grace doesn’t change the fact that men live holy in God’s eyes; grace is the way.
2. God is a King, and we are to speak the truth always, “But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil” (Matt 5:33-37). We are not people who swear and then say truth, but without an oath, we speak the truth, and our yes is yes and our no is no.
God sees truth as beautiful, for He saved us by it, keeping His word. And, if He values truth, then He makes us TRUTHFUL, like Himself. Salvation ends in our absolute conformity to God, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:2).
3. We go the extra mile that God goes with us, “You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also… and whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two” (Matt 5:38-41). We help men from the heart, not because we are keeping tabs, but because we are judged by the law of freedom. We are free from getting our merit, so we don’t deal with men according to what we think they deserve. We deal with God in Christ, so we also look to Christ in dealing with men who have sinned against us.
We are not those who sit back and say, “All hope is lost. I will be mean.” I’ve heard of pastors trying to be as mean as possible to discourage people from the ministry, but you only disobey God. Let us walk as He gave us commandment and leave the Judge of all the earth to sift between the evil and the good – “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). The God of glory pays all who hate Him to their face, and He will exact revenge. But, don’t let their evil keep you from God.
4. God is good to the just and the unjust, and we are to be that way too, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt 5:44-45). We are not to have a church face or a face among the church members, and then be cruel to people that we esteem below us, “For if you love them which love you, what reward have you… and if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans so (Matt 5:46-47).” Just as God is GOOD to the wicked and the just, even so we love men who are good and men who are bad. We don’t look down our nose to anyone, but we seek to do everyone good by the grace of God in Christ.
Until I have seen everyone believe, there is growth in my prayers, rather than condemnation. Rather than point the finger at others, we REPENT and grow ourselves, doing good to sinners because God does good to us. He loved us when we were unjust, made us righteous, forgives our sins, and helps us now. He didn’t wait on a merit system that we performed, and we won’t either.
