Sermon XXXI - The Mystery of Godliness in Adoption - Matthew 5:10
the same Father who is the Father of Jesus Christ is my Father. Oh, blessed are the peacemakers! They shall be called the children of God.
SERMON XXXI
OR The Mystery of Godliness in Adoption "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." -Matthew 5:10
Indeed, they are heirs of everything, the entire inheritance. Among humans, the more one possesses, the less others have. If a father, even a wealthy one, gives a large portion to one child, the younger ones receive less. Or if the father decides to divide his inheritance, one may receive a lot while the other receives only a little. However, among the children of God's inheritance, it is not so. No child of God receives less because another has more. Each one inherits everything in God, in Christ, in heaven. It is the inheritance of every child of God in one way or another, for the benefit of all.
Sixthly, another aspect to consider is that in Christ, there are far greater privileges for the child of God than in former times. This is one of the mysteries of the Gospel. It is true, "Is not Ephraim my dear son?" The saints in earlier times were children of God, but in the time of the Gospel, they have far higher privileges and prerogatives than before. This is a part of the mystery of the Gospel.
Formerly, God had children in their non-age, under tutelage. Even the most eminent saints were like children in their non-age, and they did not come into their inheritance. But we, in comparison to those who have reached maturity, are like children. This is clearly explained in Galatians 4. "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." So it seems that until Christ came, the adoption of sons was not possible. Why were the saints not children before Christ came? In terms of how God treated them, they were not considered children. They were not sons in the sense of being mature and able to enjoy their inheritance. However, they were sons in the same way that the sons of kings, when they are young children, have tutors and governors who treat them like other children of ordinary people. God did not reveal much to them about the excellence of their inheritance at that time. Just as noble men and princes entertain their children with trinkets, rattles, and toys, not revealing their future possessions until the children reach maturity, so it was with the saints. In comparison to the ordinances of the Gospel and the privileges of the Gospel, what the people had under the Law were like rattles, trinkets, and toys given to amuse children. That is why the Holy Spirit refers to even those ordinances as beggarly rudiments. But now, through Christ, we have been redeemed so that we may receive the adoption of sons and come to enjoy a significant portion of our inheritance. It is a special part of the children's inheritance to have the Gospel clearly revealed to them and to receive the blessings and privileges of the Gospel. We will discuss this in more detail shortly. Thus, we have explored the mystery of godliness in our adoption.
And the benefits of being children, or the privileges that we have by being children, are very great and numerous. I remember Luther in his commentary on Galatians 4:7 saying, "If we only knew what this privilege was, all the riches of all the kingdoms in the world would be as filthy dung to us." That's his expression. The greater the pomp and glory of the world, the more we would despise it if we truly understood the excellence of this privilege of being children. There are great privileges in it. In 1 John 12, it says, "To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God." He gave them authoritative power to become the Sons of God, so they may claim it and assert it. They have a kind of authority and privilege in becoming the Sons of God.
Now the first privilege of a child of God is this: great honor is bestowed upon them. Just as the dignity of the Father determines the honor and dignity of the child, if the father is a yeoman, so is the child regarded. If the father is a gentleman, so is the child. If the father is a duke, prince, or monarch, the child is honored according to the father's honor. Being a child of God must necessarily be honorable. The children of great men on earth are honored, but the children of the infinite God must have honor surpassing them by virtue of their birthright. The reflection of the Father's honor shines upon them. It's what David expressed in 1 Samuel 18:22. When some came to discuss marrying Saul's daughter, David asked, "Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?" Now, Saul was a wicked man, and it was only a son-in-law relationship. If that was considered such a great honor and privilege, how much more is this?
Secondly, the second privilege of the children of God is that they are freed from all kinds of bondage. They are freed from a spirit of bondage and from all forms of bondage. They are no longer bond-
slaves as every person is by nature. You know what Christ said, "Do the children pay tribute or strangers? The children of the kingdom are free." They are not in the same servitude as others. They are not even servants in the traditional sense. They are at a higher level than servants. Although being a servant of God is a great privilege, they go beyond that. In Galatians 4:7, it says, "Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a Son." They go beyond the position of a servant in the house of God. Moses had the great honor of being called "Moses, my servant," but the least believer in the time of the Gospel possesses a greater privilege: they are a Son. There is no longer a spirit of servility but a freer spirit in the child of God. In Romans 8:14-15, it says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father." I will speak more about the spirit of adoption later. But for now, I only want to demonstrate their privilege in being delivered from the spirit of bondage. They no longer serve God in a mercenary way as before, nor do they serve out of a slavish fear. Even the godly people among the Jews, as stated in Hebrews 2:15, were subject to bondage throughout their lifetime due to the fear of death. There was a spirit of bondage and fear in the hearts of God's people in earlier times. Now, God expects His children to serve Him from a different motive—out of a principle of love, as befits children. We will discuss this further when we address the duties of children as they are the children of God. Indeed, they were also under the bondage of a more burdensome form of worship—the bondage of the Law. But now, the children of God are freed from that. They are free from the bondage of sin and the bondage of the Law. That is the second privilege—they are free from bondage.
Thirdly, the third privilege is the complete fatherly love with which they are embraced. God, who is the infinite, glorious, first being,
embraces them with complete fatherly love. All the love that has ever existed in any parent towards their children is like a single drop in the infinite ocean of fatherly love that God has for His people. Those of you who are fathers or mothers know what the love of a parent towards their children means. If you are godly, when you experience that natural affection and love for your children who are born from your body, you should strengthen your faith by considering this: If I, as a parent, have such affection and love for my children, how much more affection and love does God the Father have for His children?
Why does God take on the title of Father if not to provide a foundation for the faith of His people to look up to Him and witness
His love? His love is as complete as the love of all parents in the world combined towards their children. Yet, even the natural affections of all the most loving and tender-hearted parents in the world, if united in one parent, would still pale in comparison to the love of God the Father towards His saints. That is the third privilege.
Fourthly, the fourth privilege of the children of God is their rightful claim to the creatures, which is restored to them by virtue of being children. The Jews were deprived of a great part of the comfort of the creatures, but now the children of God have their rightful claim restored, renewed, strengthened, and increased. Their right to all comforts in all creatures is affirmed. It is true that Adam had a right to the creatures initially, but through sin, he lost it. Therefore, all mankind lost their right to the creatures.
You may ask, "Are wicked people then usurpers when they make use of the creatures? Do they have no right?"
I admit that this has been taught at times—that though they have a right before men, they have no right before God, and they are usurpers. However, there may be a misunderstanding in that view.
While it is true that we have lost all our rights, that must be acknowledged, if God, through a free donation, grants them the right, gives the creatures back to wicked people, gives the earth to the children of men, we cannot say that they are usurpers if they have received it as a free gift from God during His season of bounty and patience towards the wicked. But still, they do not have the same right that the children of God have. Their right is merely by donation, whereas the right of the child of God is partly by purchase and partly by inheritance. They have a claiming right, whereby they can boldly and in a holy manner assert their ownership of all good things from all creatures that they need, as their own. A wicked person may have many comfortable things in the world for their immediate sustenance, and I dare not say that they are usurpers if they obtain them lawfully. For in His bounty and patience, God does give these things to wicked people. We say, "What is freer than a gift?"
However, no wicked person in the world can claim these things and say, "Lord, these are mine, they are my inheritance, my purchase."
This is the privilege of the children of God. If a criminal, through their offense, has forfeited their estate and all rights to the good things in a kingdom, but if those in supreme power, in their benevolence, grant them some provisions for their last meal before execution, we cannot say they are usurpers. They have a right to it; it is given to them, even though they have forfeited everything. This is the difference in right between a child at their father's table and a criminal on the night before they go to the gallows. This is the distinction between the rights of the two before the Lord. Therefore, when you look at your possessions and see your houses furnished with good furniture, when you look at your tables and see them filled with abundant dishes, consider what right you have to all these things in relation to God. Is it merely the right of donation, as a criminal may receive to sustain them before execution, or is it the right of children? If you are children of God, you approach your
tables as you would approach your father's table. It is the provision that your Father has made for you, and that is how you should regard it. This is the privilege of the children of God. Oh, how blessed it is to be a child of God then!
And then the sixth privilege of a child of God is this: they have free access to their Father's presence. They can come into their Father's presence at any time, and as long as they are recognized as children, they can come with comfort. God does not treat His children like
David treated Absalom, saying, "Let him not see my face." No, God loves to have His children in His presence. It is part of the redemption through Jesus Christ that we can approach God's presence. We have access through Jesus Christ, and we can always come and stand before our Father. This is a great privilege that those who are children of God cherish.
Sixthly, by being children of God, they come to have the image of God renewed in them. A father communicates some of his nature to his child, but a father cannot communicate all the good things he desires to his child. A father with wisdom cannot transfer his wisdom to his child, and a father with holiness cannot pass on his holiness to his child. However, God can communicate whatever He pleases to His children. He shares His image with them, the very essence of His glory. The reason a father cannot share wisdom and holiness with his child is that he begets the child as a human being, not as a human being already possessing those qualities. But when God begets a child, if He begets a child for Himself, He must beget the child in a way that resembles Himself in some manner. God Himself is holy and infinitely wise. Holiness and wisdom are inherent to His being; they are not accidental attributes. Therefore, all who are children of God, having His image upon them, are like God in the very aspects that constitute His excellence—His holiness and wisdom. They share
in the life of God. Every parent begets a child, and the parent makes the child partaker of their life. The very life of God primarily consists of His holiness and His act of directing everything towards Himself as the ultimate end.
Seventhly, a child of God has the Spirit of God communicated to them. We see this in the previous scriptures, Romans 8:14, 15, and 16. We are led by the Spirit, being Sons. We have received the Spirit of Adoption, by which we cry, "Abba, Father." In the mentioned passage, Galatians 4:6, it says, "Because you are Sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father.'" A learned man made an observation on this verse, saying that it does not state, "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your minds to give you knowledge and understanding," but rather, "into your hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father.'" The Spirit of His Son, who now rules in the heart, God has sent into it. This is a great blessing from God— to receive His Spirit. This Spirit enlightens the mind, sanctifies the heart, reveals the deep counsels of God to the soul, and guides the soul on the path of eternal life. This is the privilege of all Sons—they share in the Holy Spirit. I recall in one of the Gospels, Jesus said,
"How much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him." Another version says, "How much more will your heavenly Father give the Spirit to those who ask." This signifies that the Spirit of God encompasses all good things. Oh, blessed are those who partake in the Spirit of God, who are not led and driven by their own spirits but by the Spirit of God.
Eighthly, the privilege of God's children is that they receive His protection. God, as their Father, provides for them and safeguards them. If any of your children are in danger, what do they do? They run to their father or mother and complain to their father. The father, to the best of his ability, protects his children. Therefore,
there is a natural instinct in the children of God to seek refuge in their Father's protection. Indeed, a carnal heart, when wronged, can only resort to rage, frustration, and seeking revenge. But a child of God's response is to go and pour out their grievances to their Father, to tell God about all the wrongs done to them, all the slanderous accusations. They immediately go to their Father and lay their complaints before Him. There is a significant verse in Psalm 109:4, where David says, "For my love, they are my adversaries." What then? They are my adversaries, and God knows I only intend good for them. There is no bitterness or rage in my spirit towards them.
Yet, they are driven by a wicked spirit. What then? But I pray. You have it written in your books, but I give myself to prayer. "But give myself" is added in another translation to complete the meaning.
They are my adversaries, but am I an adversary to them in return?
No. But I pray. They are my adversaries because of my love. But I know what to do. What will you do? I know what He will do. It's as if David is saying, "I will go to God and inform my Father about all of this. I will turn to prayer; that will be my help and refuge." This is the privilege of God's children—they have the protection of their Father.
He will safeguard them from all the wrongs and injuries inflicted upon them.
Ninthly, lastly, they will have a kingdom. We are made kings and priests to the Father through Jesus Christ. So, my brothers and sisters, we can say about this matter of being children, of adoption, just as the Apostle did in Romans 8. After speaking about the benefits of both justification and adoption together, he concludes by saying, "What then shall we say to these things?" What shall we say after considering all this? These things are real, they are certain truths. What shall we say about these high prerogatives and privileges of the children of God? Oh, who would not be a
peacemaker when they have such a blessing as this? But faith is required to make these things a reality to the soul.
Lastly, one thing I want to mention about their privileges is the compassion of God towards them as a Father. God has compassion on them in their sins and afflictions. In Psalm 103, it says, "As a Father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him."
There is a well-known passage in Malachi 3:17, "And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels;
I will spare them as a man spares his only son who serves him." If you have a servant who displeases you, you can dismiss them, but you will not be so quick to turn away your child or disinherit them. A man with a father's affections will never disinherit his child, even if the child returns to him despite their faults. This is the state of God's children. If they were in any other relationship to God, they might be cast off. For example, a wife may be divorced by her husband and never be welcomed back, no matter how remorseful she is, if she commits adultery or impurity. In Jeremiah 3:1, it says, "They say, if a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man's, shall he return to her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted?" She can never return to him. However, it is not the same with a child. A child can never be in such a disposition that they are incapable of receiving their Father's love. No other relationship can be so wholly lost that there remains no possibility of receiving the benefits of that relationship. But a child can never lose the capacity to receive some fatherly love as long as they live. Even if they are disobedient children, upon their return to the Father, even if they have been prodigal sons, some form of fatherly affection will be stirred. No parent in the world who possesses natural affection can completely withhold love from their child. If they were certain that their child's heart has changed, their affection would flow towards them. This is the relationship of a child—I emphasize that it can
never be entirely lost, and there will always be the capacity to receive some Fatherly love. A servant may be expelled from service, making it impossible for them to be received back, and likewise, a wife.
However, this is not the case with a child. This is their privilege.
But now, if you ask me what I should say about these things, well, I shall speak about these specific privileges. I have listed ten privileges, and I may mention nine or ten duties that follow from our being children.
Firstly, let us learn to conduct ourselves in a manner befitting the children of the Most High. We should demonstrate that we are of noble lineage, not possessing a base, vile, and sordid spirit. In Acts
17:11, it is said of the Bereans that they were more noble than those in Thessalonica. The word used implies that they were of better breeding, more noble. Oh, let all those who are children of God reveal their lineage through their holiness and gracious conduct before others. It is unbecoming for the children of royalty to be engaged in squalor or behave in a base manner. Instead, they should conduct themselves according to the status of their Father, as befits the children of God. Therefore, the children of the living God must carry themselves in a manner that is above the world, above the vanities of the world. They should view these things as too insignificant and lowly for them. It is exceedingly inappropriate for a child of God to have a downtrodden spirit due to a lack of worldly comforts, as if they were utterly ruined. Oh no.
Instead, live according to this standard. Regard your Father as the Lord of heaven and earth and understand that all power, goodness, excellence, and treasure that He possesses, you have a right to in some way or another. So, when affliction befalls you, do not allow your heart to sink immediately as if you were utterly destroyed.
Remember your relationship—you are a child, and God protects you and is responsible for providing for you and doing you good. There is a significant statement in 2 Samuel 13:3 about Jonadab: "Now
Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me?" He noticed that Amnon's countenance was dejected, and he appeared sickly due to a sorrowful heart. So, he asked, "Why are you, a king's son, so dejected in spirits? Don't you have enough that belongs to you to comfort your heart as a king's son?" This should be the attitude of the children of the living God. If you believe that you are a child of God, that God has adopted you and set His heart upon you as a child, oh, why should a lack of a few external comforts depress you?
You may argue, "If I were a child of God, He would not let me lack these things." Oh, you are mistaken in this. God has other ways of expressing His fatherly love to you than through these external things. A sick and weak child might say the same, "If my father loved me, why wouldn't he give me such and such food?" But the child requires medicine. Don't you love your child when you give them medicine instead of what they cry for? If God is your Father and you are His child, will you not allow Him to nurture you as His child, just as you care for your own child? Indeed, let me say more to you than this: Even without outward comforts, you may experience the same fatherly love that Jesus Christ, His Son, had. Won't that suffice? You may say, "That will indeed suffice." Notice in John 17:26 how God's love worked towards Jesus Christ, His Son. Did He not allow Him to lack many external comforts in this world? There was a time when
He hungered and needed bread. The Devil would have wanted Him to doubt His Father's care. Oh no, although the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, He did not have a place to lay His
head. You have a just as comfortable dwelling as Christ did. Christ was thirsty and had to ask a woman for a little water to drink. There are very few of you who face more dire circumstances in terms of worldly things than Christ did. Yet, do you not think that God the Father loved His Son? Won't that love suffice for you, the same love that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had? Although you are a child, you are no less dear to God than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was to the Father. Oh, therefore, raise your spirits in the absence of all outward comforts in this world, for you are a child and have an inheritance to come in the future.
Secondly, there must be reverence. "If I am a father, where is my honor?" says God. And if you call on the Father, who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. It is true that we are children and thus freed from the bondage of the law. Nevertheless, we must still have reverence for the Father, walking before Him with filial respect.
Thirdly, if God is a Father, then there must be love for Him.
Whatever you do, do it out of love. Do not be mercenary. A servant does not care to do anything beyond what they will be paid for. But a child does not think this way. They do what they do out of love. Oh, that we could offer all our obedience out of love for God, so that we need not argue by saying, "Must we necessarily do this or go to hell?
Can no one be saved unless they strictly adhere to this?" It is a base spirit to argue in this manner. No, what suffices for a child is what pleases the Father. Let any minister of God expound on any point and show someone with a child-like disposition that it will please
God, that it will be deemed acceptable by God, and, oh, a child will seek the pleasing and acceptable will of God. They do not fulfill their duty merely for wages. Most people, however, render their service solely for wages. Otherwise, what is the reason why, during times of
prosperity, you are not as devoted to serving God as when you are lying on your sickbed or deathbed? Why do people on their sick and deathbeds cry out, "Oh, if only I could live, then I would serve God better. I would not live in sin as I have done before"? Why? It is because they fear going to hell. But if it were out of love, when I have the greatest prosperity of all, this would captivate my heart even more. Oh, then you will abound in service when you serve out of love.
Fourthly, and furthermore, you must be obedient to God. Love must be the motive, and in all your ways, you must be obedient children.
In Ephesians 5:1, it says, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." A command of God should hold more weight for you than all else in the world. Let me provide you with an example used by the Holy Spirit to illustrate children's obedience to their parents—the obedience of the sons of the Rechabites, which the Holy Spirit records to honor them. In Jeremiah 35:5-6, it says, "And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever."
That was argument enough. This was a long time after the command, and although Jonadab had no authority to impose it on his sons, their obedience professed their duty to their father. Because their father commanded them, they would never drink wine, even if they were allowed to. Oh, the command of a father should have a strong hold on us if we profess ourselves to be children.
Fifthly, another duty is to trust in our Father and rely on Him. When the Father promises something, the child relies on Him. A child relies on their father for provisions and all necessary things. When a child desires something from their father, they don't need to present persuasive arguments; it's enough to call him "Father." The word
"Father" holds enough persuasion to overcome all arguments. When a stranger wants something, they must provide reasons to obtain it.
But a child doesn't need to because they are their father's child. And if a child has angered their father and the father is angry with them, the child still trusts in the father and relies on his fatherly love. There is no better way to obtain something from the father than to cast oneself upon his fatherly love. There is a significant difference between the confidence of a stranger and the confidence of a child, and a great difference between the confidence of one born again by the Spirit of God, the confidence of a child, and the confidence of a stranger. I'll provide you with a Scripture about the confidence of the children of God relying on their Father and His grace and mercy despite their offenses. In Isaiah 64:6-7, it says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities." Then in verse 8, it says,
"But now, O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Even though we are all unclean and our righteousness is like filthy rags, and we fade away like a leaf, and there is none who calls upon God's name or stirs themselves up to take hold of Him, we are all wicked and vile, and God has consumed us, yet, O Lord, thou art our Father. This is the answer to everything. Thou art our Father, and she still relies on God as a Father. Oh, this title of Father is a mighty rock of faith, a strong foundation of faith for all the saints that God is their Father. Oh, then trust in Him, rely on Him for provision, for help. Wouldn't it be a great dishonor for any father if his children went to all the neighbors to beg for bread and said, "My father will not give it to me, and I will starve despite having a father"? This would be considered a great dishonor. Parents want their children to look to them for provision
and leave them to provide for them. So, if you call God Father, let God alone provide for you, and rely on Him just as the heart of a child relies on parents for everything it needs. Therefore, even if you encounter great sufferings, continue to exercise faith in God as a Father. There is a promise to strengthen the faith of a child. In 2
Corinthians 6:18, it says, "And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Notice that it is an exhortation to come out from false worship, to separate oneself, to touch no unclean thing, and God will receive you and be a Father to you, and you shall be His sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty. If we seek to worship God as a Father and separate ourselves from all false worship, we may suffer greatly, face opposition and hatred from others, and encounter difficulties in the world. Yet, says God, even if others cast you out, even if your own parents are against you, I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. I am the Lord
Almighty, capable of doing good to you, able to help you and meet all your needs. Therefore, do not be afraid. Rely on Me, trust in Me, for I am your Father, says the Lord Almighty.
Again, if you are children, then delight in the presence of your Father. Make use of the spirit of adoption, come before your Father often. When you pray, do not approach it as a mere duty but go to prayer as children go to their father. Oh, God takes great delight in the spirit of adoption. I remember Luther's expression about it. He said that the word "Father" holds more elegance before God than
Demosthenes or Cicero had in all their elegant orations. It pierces the heavens and fills them with its sound. Oh, make use of the spirit of adoption, love to be in the presence of your Father. Even if God, your Father, seems angry with you, do not leave His presence. A child with a childish disposition, not a base and sordid disposition, will not be cast out of the Father's presence. You can read in Psalm
51:11, even when God was angry with David, he pleaded, "Cast me not away from thy presence." It was as if he said, "Let me be in your presence, even if it means facing your frowning countenance."
Cherish duty as your privilege, to be often in prayer before your Father. Those of you who pray as a mere task, who do not understand the meaning of the spirit of adoption, who do not experience your hearts leaping within you when you go to God in prayer, surely you should fear that you are not yet among the number of children.
Seventhly, if you are God's children, be zealous for Him. A child would be zealous for the honor of their father. Yes, a child would fight for their father even if the father is angry with them. A servant would not do the same for their master. I recall the story of Crassus' son. Once, when he saw his father in danger, he was unable to speak, but when he saw a soldier about to kill his father, his natural affection broke through the barriers of his speech, and he cried out,
"Oh, spare Crassus!" He had never spoken before, yet when he saw his father in danger, his lips opened, and he cried out, "Oh, do not kill Crassus." It should be the same with you. Even if you have never spoken a word in your life, when you see your father dishonored, cry out, "Oh, spare the honor of God! Do nothing that dishonors God!"
Even those of you with meek and quiet spirits, who are willing to endure anything concerning yourselves, when you see your father attacked, your spirits should boil within you. If you were truly children, you would act in this manner.
Eighthly, and you would imitate your Father. Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy. Show forth the image of your Father. It is an honour for a child to resemble their father, and a father loves their child even more for it. I remember it was said of Theodosius' son, that good Emperor, that he would never die as long as his son lived.
We say of certain individuals, "So-and-so will never die as long as this child is alive." This should apply to all the children of God. They should strive to display the virtues of the One who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). They should conduct themselves in such a way that everyone who interacts with them is reminded of God. There should be the image of God in the child, so that whenever they are seen, people are reminded of God. I have heard from the Word how holy God is, and God and Jesus Christ possessed a meek and quiet spirit. I have heard much about God from His Word, and whenever I witness the holy conduct of someone, it reminds me of God. They are undoubtedly led by the Spirit of God, which is the evidence of being a child (Rom 8). If we are led by the Spirit of God, we are the sons of God. Among other things, in terms of peaceableness, be like your Father. If you want evidence that you are begotten from above, I say, show forth the gracious Spirit of God within you by loving peace. This way, you will not only be the children of God and have comfort in your own souls that you are the children of God, but you will also be called the children of God. And that's the next point, that this is a great blessing, not only to be the children of God, but to be called the children of God. And this is the duty of all those who are the children of God, to walk in such a way before others that they may be called
God's children, so that the thoughts of others may be convinced and say, "Truly, these are the children of the living God."
Ninthly, let the children of God walk towards one another as children of the same Father. While it is true that the children of wild persons who have no education at all, but are rude, may fight with one another, and their parents might overlook it because they are rude and uncultured, if people of any rank and standing in the world who have received proper upbringing witness their children quarrelling and fighting in front of them, it would be extremely distressing to
them. It is enough that the children of the world quarrel and fight among themselves; let those who profess God to be their Father, O let them not quarrel and fight in the presence of their Father.
Certainly, the Spirit of God cannot bear it. But let us move on to what remains.
"They shall be called the children of God."
They shall not only be so, but be accounted as such in the world before others. That's the point.
Doctrine: It is a great blessing not only to be God's children but also to conduct ourselves in such a way that convinces all those with whom we live that we are the children of God, so that in their consciences, they shall acknowledge us as God's children and call us so. It was a great part of the glory of Christ himself, not only to be the Son of God, but to be declared as the Son of God (Rom 1:4). "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." He was the Son of God, and that was glory. He was also declared to be the Son of God, which was a special part of His glory. Likewise, it is a great addition to our glory to be called the Son of God. Christ emphasized this, desiring the world to know that God had sent Him. He often spoke of it. Why was it not enough, O blessed Saviour, that you knew the Father had sent you, and the Father knew He had sent you? No, He wanted the world to know that the Father had sent Him. This is something the saints should value as a great blessing from God, that even the world should know the relationship they have with God, that they are the children of God. They shall be called so by walking in such a way that people are forced to acknowledge them as God's children. Through this,
First, a great deal of glory comes upon themselves, as they are honoured in the consciences of others.
Secondly, through this, their Father is glorified as their lives reveal to whom they belong. Moreover, their profession is glorified, and the mouths of wicked individuals are silenced. Their consciences are convicted. Much good is accomplished through this. Those who not only possess grace but also manifest it to convict others are of great use in the places where they live. Even the most wicked and vile would say, "If they were all like these individuals, then I could have good thoughts of them. Then we would not know what to say against them." They would be ready to listen to anything said when there is a conversation that is convincing. It will be a means to restrain their malice against others when they see that at least some walk in a manner that manifests nothing but the image of God. Oh, it is a great blessing to be someone who compels even wicked individuals to call them God's children. Therefore, let us First, know that it is not enough to have grace in the heart and say,
"What do I care for people, as long as I have a good conscience?" No, it is the duty of all to walk in such a way that they may be called the children of God. Therefore, it is not enough to have grace in the heart; it must also be evident.
Secondly, how vile are those who profess a close relationship with God, yet walk in such a way that nothing of God appears in them?
Through their scandalous and wicked lives, they make people think that persecuting them is doing God a service. Especially in these times, when God's children should walk as children, they should be conscious of walking in a way that convinces the world. Woe to those who are offensive! Woe to those who are stumbling blocks, not only to themselves but also to all who are on the same path. The world is
inclined toward offenses and delights in them. Therefore, God's children should strive to be even more inoffensive. We will discuss each of these points in more detail, as well as the main point if we ever reach verse 16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." For now, I only address this in relation to the text, particularly regarding peacemaking. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Peacemaking is a very convincing attribute. Therefore, those who hope to be children of God should demonstrate it by having peaceful and gentle dispositions. Some individuals, whom we hope belong to God, possess such rough and harsh natures that there is little evidence of God's Spirit within them. They display nothing but an evil, proud, perverse, and contentious spirit within their families and in all their interactions. This is unacceptable. Those who profess to belong to God should manifest themselves as His children in this regard, by being peaceable, meek, gentle, and loving. All you professors of religion, make conscience of this. It is often said of many religious individuals that they are proud and froward if crossed in any way.
There is no quietness, humility, gentleness, meekness, patience, or love seen in them. Learn from the connection between peace-making and being called the children of God to take out this lesson today. As in many other things, you should manifest yourselves as God's children, especially in demonstrating a gentle, meek, patient, and loving spirit in your families and in the places where God has placed you. Furthermore, it is not only about having peaceable spirits, but about being peaceable in a way that manifests the Spirit of God within you. Some people naturally have a peaceable spirit because they cannot endure trouble and avoid troubling others. They live quietly among their neighbors, avoiding conflicts. However, this does not always come from a gracious disposition but from a dull and sluggish spirit.
Question: But you may ask, when is a person of such a peaceable disposition that they manifest themselves as a child of God in their peaceableness?
Answer: Firstly, when our peaceableness does not hinder our duty. A person may love peace but also love to fulfill their duty. They can be peaceable among people and still be active in the performance of their duty to God. They can actively engage in the cause of God and the public good while maintaining a peaceful approach. Some people think that the only way to be peaceable is to do nothing, allowing things to go whichever way they will. They avoid putting themselves in uncomfortable situations. While they may be commended as quiet and peaceable neighbors by some, God will never acknowledge them as His children based on this kind of peaceableness. The true peaceableness of a child of God lies in the ability to be active and diligent in fulfilling their duty while maintaining meekness, tranquility, and peacefulness. It is an excellent balance between a lifeless and sluggish spirit and a violent and furious spirit. Led by the Spirit of God, a person knows how to be active and diligent in their duty while carrying out their work with meekness, tranquility, and peacefulness. This is the true mark of a child of God.
Secondly, when a person has a peaceable disposition and aims more for God than their own tranquility. Some individuals have peaceable dispositions, but why? It is merely because they dislike trouble and desire peace. However, when a man or woman considers this, they realize that dishonor is brought upon God and numerous sins are committed between brethren through disturbance, discontent, and unrest. Therefore, in order to prevent such great sin and honor God,
I will deny myself even if it goes against my fleshly desires. I acknowledge that my flesh is inclined to seek revenge and make those who have wronged me aware of their wrongdoing. But in order
to prevent sin and bring honor to the name of God, I will set aside my own interests, endure wrongs, walk peaceably with others, and strive for peace with them as well. This peaceable spirit demonstrates that I am a child of God who aims for God and denies myself. Some individuals would be peaceable if it serves their own purposes.
However, I choose to be peaceable myself and make peace with others, even if I gain nothing from it. I consider it my good to be wrapped up in the glory of God, and thus I make peace because I do not want the name of God to suffer. This is the kind of peace-maker who shall be called a child of God.
Thirdly, such a peace-maker is like God Himself, as we find recorded in Scripture that making peace is attributed to God. It is as follows:
Firstly, God is willing to be at peace with those who are unworthy.
Secondly, even to those who have wronged Him. It is not enough to say that they have wronged me and they are unworthy; you should strive for peace with them. For God causes His sun to shine upon the unjust as well as the just, and we are commanded to love our enemies so that we may be declared as the children of God. Thirdly,
God initiates the work of peace. If God had not begun the work of reconciliation between mankind and Himself, what would have become of us all? Now, those who desire to be such peace-makers as to evidence that they are children of God should not stand and say,
"He has wronged me, let him yield first." No, if God had said that, what would have become of us? But God yields first. Oh, now you should be a child of God in this, to strive for peace as God does and initiate it first with them. Even if they do not fulfill their duty by initiating peace with you, you should still begin with them as a child of God ought to do, who desires to be like their Father.
Lastly, be a peace-maker who loves the peace that God loves and delights in. Your Father loves truth, but He loves truth, peace, and
holiness together. Do not allow anything against holiness in the pursuit of peace. God does not want any of His children to commit any sin for the sake of peace, to save themselves or others from trouble. He does not want them to obtain peace through sin. It is true that one cannot buy peace at too high a price, except through sin. But committing any sin to gain personal peace or the peace of others, in that regard, you are buying gold at too high a cost. This is not the kind of peace-making that befits a child of God. Blessed are those who are peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.
And that concludes our discussion of the ninth verse. Now, let us move on to the tenth.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10
It's a peculiar kind of blessing, just like the others. Some of the other blessings may seem strange, like the first one: Blessed are the poor and those who mourn. It's unexpected that they should be considered blessed. And now, those who are persecuted. Isn't it equally surprising that they should be the most blessed people in the world? Christ begins with the poor and ends with the persecuted when revealing who the most blessed individuals are. My brethren, consider whether the wisdom of Christ aligns with the wisdom of the world or not. When describing a blessed person, would you start with the poor and end with the persecuted? Oh, the wisdom of Christ is not in accordance with the world's wisdom. His thoughts on blessedness differ from those of the world.
Secondly, it is remarkable that Christ needs to speak of the blessedness of those who are persecuted after mentioning the blessedness of the previous traits. What? Blessed are the peacemakers, and blessed are the persecuted. What connection is there
between these two? Or what link can there be? For if a person has a peaceable disposition, who will harm them? Surely, they will escape persecution from everyone. Perhaps there are some individuals
(though godly) who have a turbulent and hot-tempered nature, and they may be persecuted. But will the peace-makers be persecuted?
Will those who, in the places where they live, cause no harm to others but instead strive to do all the good they can, be persecuted?
Yes, indeed, even these, if they are godly, even these, if they are righteous, must not think they can escape. None who are truly godly and righteous, even if they have the most peaceful and peaceable dispositions in the world, must not assume they can evade persecution. Therefore, these two traits are linked. Yes, this blessedness that follows persecution is added to all the previous ones to indicate that a person can possess all the previous traits and yet be a persecuted individual. For example, a person can have a humble and impoverished spirit and still be persecuted. A person can have a mournful spirit, mourning for their own sins and the sins of others, and still be persecuted. A person can have a meek spirit and still be persecuted. A person can hunger and thirst for righteousness. A person can be merciful and still be persecuted. A person can have a pure heart, devoid of selfish motives, and still be persecuted. Yes, a person can be a peace-maker and still be persecuted. Such is the wickedness of the world and the vileness of human nature that nothing can prevent them from persecuting the saints, even if they possess impoverished, mournful, meek, pure, merciful, and peaceable hearts. This is the connection between these traits.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted"; the word translated as persecuted, δεδιωγμένοι, comes from διὠκω, which means a hard and persistent following of something. It is used sometimes in a positive sense. The same word found here and in other Scriptures is used in a positive sense. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5:15,
"Follow that which is good," the Greek word used is the same. It also appears in Hebrews 12:14, "Follow peace," and in 1 Corinthians 14:1,
"Follow after charity." Therefore, it means to pursue something so diligently that one does not stop until they achieve their desired outcome. The Apostle Paul uses it in this sense in Philippians 3:14: "I press towards the mark; I persecute the mark," indicating the zeal with which he pursued his goal. In an unfavorable sense, it means to follow something thoroughly. Now, if you want to understand what persecution is, it is simply this: an unwavering pursuit of harming and destroying someone. When individuals eagerly pursue an evil cause and relentlessly follow someone to harm them, refusing to cease until they achieve their intentions, they can be said to persecute these individuals. Persecution is not merely causing harm to someone; there is a distinction between wronging someone and persecuting them. They may wrong someone in a single act, or they may accidentally harm them. However, persecution involves continually following and relentlessly pursuing a person or woman, seeking to harm them. Oh, blessed are those who are persecuted, those whom the world's persecutors target and eagerly seek to harm.
This is for righteousness' sake. It is not the punishment itself that makes a martyr; it is the cause. Those who are followed hard for their sins, their wickedness, those who suffer for evildoing, those who suffer for being evildoers, they are not blessed in this sense. God does not want them to suffer in that way; it is a part of God's curse upon them that as they do evil, they shall suffer evil. The blessed saints strive to avoid suffering for wrongdoing; they would rather endure all the evil in the world than commit the slightest transgression. There is a significant difference between these two scenarios.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
If you observe, the same promise is made to those who suffer persecution as to those who are poor in spirit. Ambrose, commenting on this passage, says that one promise pertains to the soul's blessing.
The poor in spirit will have their souls blessed forever in the kingdom of heaven. The other promise pertains to bodily afflictions, for those who suffer persecution. Even their bodies will go to heaven. But I believe this interpretation does not fully capture the meaning intended by the Holy Spirit here. I would interpret it differently.
Those who are poor in spirit consider themselves unworthy of anything. They seem to be among the lowest ranks of all the saints of God. The poor in spirit feel dejected when confronted with their poverty. On the other hand, those who endure persecution belong to the highest ranks. The martyrs who suffer for Jesus Christ are glorious beings. Someone who feels dejected due to their own poverty may say, "I am a person of low spirits. I am unable to overcome my difficulties. I am unworthy for God to even look at or regard me." However, there are others with exceptional spirits who can endure any opposition. They can endure the confiscation of their possessions, imprisonment, reproach, and even shed their blood.
Yes, they are truly blessed. Now, take note that the same promise is given to both the dejected, those who feel unworthy, and those who suffer martyrdom for Jesus Christ. A weak and impoverished
Christian can achieve the same glory as the most glorious martyr ever did. Therefore, this same promise is attached to both.
Furthermore, this promise is given to those who are persecuted because those who endure persecution in this world have their names cast out as filth and vile. They are regarded as wicked and ungodly individuals. The laws of kingdoms and the ruling spirits are often against them. However, Christ tells his disciples not to be troubled, even though they suffer injustice in the kingdoms of the world and are condemned as evildoers, as if they were the
troublemakers in their communities. "Be not troubled, for yours is the kingdom of heaven." As I recall, Luther said in another context, upon hearing the determinations against him in Nuremberg, "It is otherwise concluded in heaven than in Nuremberg." Likewise, those who are persecuted can find comfort in the fact that even though the kingdoms of the world stand against us, the kingdom of heaven belongs to us. There is another court where everything will be reexamined, and in that court, the enemy will be defeated.
Secondly, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. By enduring persecution in this world, even though you suffer the loss of your reputation, liberties, possessions, and perhaps even your life, do not be discouraged because the kingdom of heaven belongs to you. It is the path to that kingdom, which will compensate for everything. You will receive as much glory as the affliction you endured while suffering. It will be proportionate to your suffering. I recall a story about the Emperor Caligula. When Agrippa, who had previously suffered and been cast into prison for advocating on his behalf, came to the throne, one of the first things Caligula did was release Agrippa and present him with a golden chain that weighed as much as the iron chain he had worn in prison. Similarly, Christ says, "Yours is the kingdom of heaven." Consider the suffering you endure in this world, for your reward awaits in the kingdom of heaven. And this is the meaning behind this blessedness.
Now, there are three main points in this verse that I want to address.
First, it is essential to understand that all disciples of Christ, no matter how blameless their conduct in the world, must expect to face persecution, and that persecution will be for the sake of righteousness.
Secondly, even though they experience persecution, they are and will be blessed in their suffering. They should not be disheartened or troubled by their sufferings because, amidst it all, they are blessed and will continue to be blessed.
Thirdly, this is the great blessedness of the saints, and particularly of those who endure persecution: they will inherit the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven will be their reward.
I had intended to discuss the first point, but I see that I cannot proceed with it. Instead, I will only elaborate on a passage in Timothy: "All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Pay attention to the phrase "all who desire to live godly."
You may argue that they can be godly but lack wisdom in their actions, and therefore bring suffering upon themselves. However, it is not about wisdom alone. It applies to all who are determined to live a godly life, regardless of the consequences. For example, someone in a household may start thinking, "My ways and the ways of this family are not good. I wish I could do better. But if I do, my master or mistress will hate me, and my friends will hate me.
Therefore, I must be cautious about what I do." However, all who desire to live godly, even if they desire the love and acceptance of their master, mistress, and friends, know that whatever they suffer, they see it as the way of God. They are resolved to pursue this path.
Furthermore, all who desire to live godly understand the significance of the term "godliness" in English. It represents the nature and work of grace in the heart. It means living from a godly principle unto the glory of God. To live godly is to be determined that the guiding principles of one's life will not be of a carnal nature or based on worldly wisdom. Instead, they will be godly principles received from
God. The aim is to live in a way that brings praise and honor to God.
They have resolved not to live for themselves anymore, but for God.
All who desire to live godly.
Those who content themselves with mere wishes will not face persecution. They may claim to have a good heart towards God and argue, "Why should I trouble myself with public displays in the world as long as I have a good heart towards God?" Such individuals may avoid persecution. However, for those who desire to live godly, that is, to manifest it in their lives and conduct, persecution is inevitable.
Lastly, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus must be prepared to face persecution. There is a kind of religious profession that people can have without undergoing any suffering. This refers to refraining from gross and notorious sins. This kind of godliness may be accepted in the world, but it is not in Christ Jesus. It does not manifest the power, life, and effectiveness of the Spirit of Christ.
However, those who truly desire to live godly in Christ Jesus must expect to endure persecution. The more fervent and zealous they are, the more they should anticipate suffering. Individuals who maintain a moderate and cautious approach, avoiding suffering at all costs, are not exhibiting the zealous spirit of Christ. If they were truly zealous, they could not avoid persecution. All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. This is a lesson Paul learned directly from Christ, even though he did not live during Christ's time.
Christ appeared to him, and he received the Spirit of Christ. No doubt, Paul was familiar with this sermon of Christ, forewarning all disciples that they must expect persecution. As soon as Paul was converted, he was told that he would suffer great things for the sake of Jesus' name (Acts 9:16). Paul, a young convert, was informed right at the beginning of his journey with Christ about the great sufferings he would endure. The Lord Christ trains converts in this aspect from
the very beginning. This is an important point for young followers of the faith to consider: all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus must be prepared to face persecution.