Senior Pastor David Rose unpacks the opening verses of Matthew 5. Here we see Christ call His disciples away from the crowds to teach them about kingdom character. He promises blessings on those who have no righteousness of their own, who mourn over their sin, and humbly submit to His lordship. He promises true fulfillment for those who seek His righteousness and empowers believers to reflect Christ’s character to a broken world.
When Jesus called the disciples away from the crowds, it was to teach them the true character of His kingdom.
Like Bro. David said in this sermon, Christ blesses those who recognize their need for Him—the “poor in spirit.” When we acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy and come to Him in faith, we receive the complete righteousness Christ offers. He mourns with us over sin and gives us His own unfathomable comfort (Matthew 5:4).
It is by humbling ourselves under God’s mighty hand that we are exalted in Him (Matthew 5:5). And it is in hungering and thirsting after Christ that we will be filled (Matthew 5:6). All of this points to our utter dependence on God for salvation. It is only because Christ bore our sins in His body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24) that we can approach Him, lacking nothing. In Christ, we are empowered to live fully for Him (Ephesians 2:8-9) and to impact our communities.
The gospel is embodied in the work and Person of Jesus Christ—His sinless life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection for unrighteous people. He delivers us from sin’s penalty and frees us from its power so we may walk in newness of life, bringing hope to a broken world. All glory belongs to Him alone.