Holy Citizenship: Key Characteristics
Matthew 5:1-12
This morning we pick up from last quarter a series titled Holy Citizenship. We will look at key characteristics of holy citizenship. This series is under our church's annual theme of holiness. The theme verse is Exodus 3:5, where God said to Moses, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
Let me first define holy citizenship: Holy means "set apart (by God and for God)." Citizenship means 1) the status of being a citizen (a person who legally belongs to a country and has the rights and protection of that country) and 2) the qualities that a person is expected to have as a responsible member of a community.
So holy citizenship is the status and qualities of a person belonging to God's kingdom. Practically, then, all Christians would have dual citizenship. An earthly national citizenship and God's kingdom citizenship.
This morning we'll look at the key characteristics of a citizen of God's kingdom. Our text is Matthew 5:1-12. Known to some as the beattitudes from the Latin word, beatus, meaning blessed or favored of God. This will make sense when I read the text. (READ)
Before we look at the beatitudes, let me make two observations from verses 1 and 2. From verse 1, we see Jesus is talking to his disciples and there is also a crowd listening in. So the beatitudes are instruction for the disciples, the citizens of God's kingdom. But the beatitudes also serve as an invitation for the crowd, those who hear and want in.
The beatitudes are not about how-to be a citizen of God's kingdom but what are the key characteristics of a citizen of God's kingdom. How to be a citizen of God's kingdom or a child of God is found in John 1:12-13, "But to all who did receive [Jesus], who believed in his name [Jesus means Savior], he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
In other words, if we believe Jesus died on the cross to save us from the penalty of our sins, we gain a right standing with God. We become God's children. We become citizens of God's kingdom.
Here's observation 2 from verse 2: Jesus opened his mouth and taught them. Here's a good question: Can you teach without opening your mouth?
Of course. In fact, some things are more credible when demonstrated before articulated. For instance: Generosity. Kindness. Courage. We read in the book of Matthew that Jesus taught with his actions as well as with his words.
Now let's look at the key characteristics of a citizen of God's kingdom. These characteristics can be grouped into three categories: Our true condition, our new character and our King's calling.
The first key characteristic of a citizen of God's kingdom is that we see our true condition. Verses 3 and 4.
We see that we are poor in spirit. Poor spiritually. That if we are to be in a right relationship with God, it would be based on God's goodness, not our goodness. That if we are to be in a loving relationship with God, it would be because God first loved us, not that we loved God. We are poor in spirit.
We also see the consequences of our sin. Sin has spoiled our relationship with God and with others. Sin has spoiled our health and the works of our hands. And the effects of sin sadden us. We mourn.
Someone tells about a wealthy gentleman who went to visit a poor lady on a Friday afternoon. He brought along some groceries and some money to help. When he knocked on the door, no one answered. So he left.
On Sunday, he saw the lady at church. He approached the lady to give her the gifts and to tell her he had gone by on Friday afternoon. The lady replied, “Oh, I was home. I didn’t answer the door, because I thought you were the landlord come to collect rent. And I didn’t have any money.
We are spiritually like that lady, and God is the wealthy gentleman. God entered our world in the form of a man, not to collect rent. He came to give us what we need for life with Him. On the cross God paid the penalty for our sins and demonstrated His love.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Do we see our true condition? Don't stop there. See also our true God, Who gives heaven to the spiritually poor and comforts those who mourn.
The second key characteristic of a citizen of God's kingdom is that we seek our new character. Verses 5 to 9.
This new kingdom character is found first in King Jesus and then followed by the citizens of His kingdom. One thing we need to remember is that as citizens of God's kingdom, we still live in this world. We are blessed not yet by new circumstances, but by a new character.
One of my mentors often says: For every non-Christian who gets cancer, a Christian gets cancer. So the world can see the difference. For every non-Christian who has Parkinson's, a Christian has Parkinson's. So the world can see the difference.
Not new circumstances yet, but a new character. What are the traits of this new character? There are five. Let's look together.
First is seek to be meek. Vs. 5 To be meek is to be gentle, not weak. But power under control. Under God's control.
Jesus said to God the Father, "Not my will, but your will be done." Then Jesus who commanded legions of angles allowed mere mortals to arrest and crucify him. As a result the impossible became possible. The penalty for mankind's sin was paid in full.
That was power under God's control Jesus was meek. And all authority in heaven and on earth was given to Him.
A father was grocery shopping with his 3 year old son in the cart crying and tossing food onto the ground. The father with a soft voice said, "Don't yell, Joey. Calm down, Joey."
A lady shopper next to the father said, "Sir, you've got to get better control of little Joey."
The father replied, "Madam, I'm Joey."
When we are meek, we are gentle. We place our power under God's control. When we let God rule us now, we will rule with God in the future. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Second, seek to be righteous. Vs. 6 Righteousness has to do with moral living. Doing what is right. A life without sin.
The Bible tells us that only Jesus Christ lived without sin. But on the cross, he willingly exchanged his righteousness for our sins. As a result, if we willingly meet Jesus at the cross, we are able to exchange our sins for his righteousness.
But can we talk? I'm living nowhere close to sin-free. I am living more righteous, and here are some motivations: 1) guilt from sin, 2) the fear of being found out, 3) and the model of Jesus' life.
1 John 3:2 reminds us, "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when [Jesus] appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."
In other words, God's children, sometimes pursuing righteousness appears elusive. But don't give up. One day, when we see Jesus, we will be like Jesus. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Third, seek to be merciful. Vs. 7 Being merciful has to do with forgiving and giving. Forgiving those who wrong us. And giving to those in need.
Jesus modeled and facilitated God's mercy toward mankind. By his life, he modeled forgiveness and generosity. By his death, he made possible God's forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.
As a citizen of God's kingdom, we have the promised future mercy of God on judgment day. Look often to that promise and it will be easier to grant others mercy. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
Fourth, seek to be pure in heart. Vs. 8 Pure in heart is an undivided heart. A heart with a single allegiance. Beating for an audience of one.
In the temptations of Jesus recorded in Matthew 4, Satan sought to divide Jesus' heart. To worship God the Father or self. To worship God the Father or Satan. Jesus overcame with an undivided heart for God the Father.
The difference between a divided heart and an undivided heart are the words, or and only. A divided heart worships and serves God or .... God or money? God or pleasure? God or power? God or __________? An undivided heart worships and serves God only. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Fifth, seek to be peacemakers. Vs. 9 Peacemakers proactively restores broken relationships with people and with God.
Jesus, the Son of God, is the great Peacemaker. By his sacrifice, He made a way to reconcile sinful mankind to a holy God. But the way has to be accepted by each individual.
Romans 12:18 reminds us: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Sometimes it's not successful because it doesn't depend on you. One or more involved doesn't value unity or doesn't know how to achieve biblical unity. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
The third key characteristic of a citizen of God's kingdom is that we serve our King's calling. Verses 10-12.
Someone tells the story of the King of a great country. Sadly his people were becoming more corrupt each year. So He sent his most trusted men into the cities and villages to restore justice and peace.
When the King’s men didn’t return at the specified time, the King disguised himself as a civilian and went to see what had happened to his trusted men. To his disappointment, everywhere he went, he could not tell his men apart from all the other men. They, too, had become corrupt.
This is not to be the case for the citizens of God's kingdom. We are to seek our new character while we are about the King's business in this world. To restore justice and peace, even if it stirs up questions, disagreements and maybe even persecution.
In Lieghton Ford's book, Good News is for Sharing, he wrote:
Archaeologists digging in the remains of a school for imperial pages in Rome found a picture dating from the third century. It shows a boy standing, his hand raised, worshiping a figure on a cross, a figure that looks like a man with the head of an ass. Scrawled in the writing of a young person are the words, "Alexamenos worships his God." Nearby in a second inscription: "Alexamenos is faithful." Apparently, a young man who was a Christian was being mocked by his schoolmates for his faithful witness. But he was not ashamed; he was faithful.
If the records of our lives were uncovered, what would they reveal? Regardless of whether persecution was involved. Would we be found as faithful citizens of God's kingdom?
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
