Book review 24: The sermon of the Lord Jesus Christ on the mount (the constitution of the Kingdom of heaven ON EARTH).

Part 1
The ladder of God’s blessing bringing grace

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Introduction

Tit. 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
This study tells us about that, what God has given to His covenant children (and wher we have to take consciously part in), by our Lord Jesus Christ, through sharing the redemptive power of His death and resurrection which He has accomplished in the crosspoint of the ages. This study further tells us what He asks from us.

God’s purpose with His covenant children

• 1 Cor. 2:7-12, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
• Gen. 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”
  

He wants to recreate men, who at the end will have the same glory as His eternal Son.

• Eph. 1:3-10, “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times (i.e. in the end-time) He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven (the deceased souls), and which are on earth; even in Him.”
• 1 Jn. 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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.”
  

He wants to allot His covenant children – they, who have made a covenant with the Lord God – with His perfect salvation bringing grace, which He, especially in the end-time, wants to share out in all perfection here on earth.

• Hab. 2:14, “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
• Rev. 14:6, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”
  

This great purpose has been remained, even after man has fallen in sin by the temptation of satan[1], by which all offspring of Adam and Eve are born in original sin.

• Ps. 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
• Eph. 2:1-10, “And you [hath He quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
• Rom. 8:20-21, “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the child­ren of God.”

He will accomplish this salvation bringing grace in His covenant children, till His final purpose is achieved.

• Eph. 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
• 2 Cor. 5:17, “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

With “in Christ” is meant “living in the perfect Christ nature”.

• Mt. 13:43, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
• 1 Jn. 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
• Rev. 21:1-7, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven (this is not one action, but a continual communication with the throne of God in heaven) prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with (in) them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, either shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.”

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The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

He alone is the by our Father God given Person, Who will bring us up to God’s ultimate aim. Here on earth He works in us trough His Holy Spirit.

• Jn. 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
• Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
• Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
• 2 Cor. 3:17-18, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
• 1 Tim. 2:5, “For [there is] one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus;”
• Hebr. 9:11-15, “But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
• Zech. 4:6, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

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Jesus’ Divine heritage

By the proclamation of Jesus’ Divine Testament – His Gospel. He offers all men His Divine heritage, obtained by the death and resurrection of the Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We partake in this Divine heritage by:

1. Our faith in the redemptive and perfecting power of His shed Blood on Golgotha,
2. Our faith in the almighty redemptive power of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who shares with us His heritage by and through His Holy Spirit,
3. Our perfect repentance of all sins to God,
4. Our confession of our guilt,
5. Our daily surrender and opening of our being, by which He is able to enter our body, soul and spirit to accomplish His salvation bringing grace,
6. Continually fleeing from the might of sin and sinful circumstances, struggling in the power of the Holy Spirit against the temptations of sin, never leave the first love, the love for God and for our Lord Jesus Christ.

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By E. van den Worm

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[1] We write the word satan not with a capital, as it is not a name, but a word meaning opponent or adversary, accuser.

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