OR WHOM IS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT? - J. C. O'Hair

 

 OR WHOM IS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT?

Pastor J. C. O’Hair

The question is often asked, “how does the Sermon on the Mount, Christ’s commands in the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of Matthew, fit into ‘the dispensation of the grace of God’ which the same Christ revealed to ‘the apostle of the Gentiles.’ (Romans 11:13 - Ephesians 3:1 to 3) some years after He delivered His Sermon on the Mount?”
It is agreed that there is little or no grace for the sinner in Matthew 5 to 7. God’s Word is clear, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10). If righteousness could be attained by man’s doings, then Christ died in vain. (Galatians 2:21 and 3:21).
One important truth for any one in this age of grace to learn is, that no child of Adam can practice “the ethics of Jesus” until he first receives “the Divine nature of Jesus.” Christ said, in very plain language, “except a man be born from above he cannot see (understand) the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). This same truth is told in different language in I Corinthians 2:14 and Romans 8:8.
The Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and He was born sinless. In His perfect life Christ was the embodiment and exemplification of His own ideal perfect philosophy; and Christ did perfectly what He commanded in Matthew 5:48, “be thou perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” In Hebrews 10:10 and Hebrews 7:19 and Hebrews 10:14 we are told how to be made perfect.
All human beings have descended from fallen, sinful Adam and have not been conceived by the Holy Spirit, but conceived in sin, shapen in iniquity.
God’s message for such is, “by grace are ye saved through faith; not of yourselves; not of works” - “brought nigh to God by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:8 to 10 - Ephesians 2:13 - I Peter 3:18). “Ye are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26). Christ clearly revealed to and through Paul that Divine sonship, the new creation, for sinners is absolutely without man’s doings, but by the doing of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Christian is God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS. (Ephesians 2:10).
Then the question: “should the Christian do the good works in the Sermon on the Mount?” These chapters in Matthew, like all other chapters in Matthew, should be interpreted and appropriated and applied in the light of God’s message and program of grace. (II Timothy 1:9 - Romans 11:6 - Ephesians 3:1 to 4 - Titus 3:5 to 8). No obedient, spiritual, intelligent child of God will ignore or eliminate or disobey any command given by Christ, on earth, that is compatible with His later “grace” program for members of the Body. Such a child knows also that some teachings in Christ’s Sermon brought over would pervert the gospel and frustrate the grace of God. (Galatians 1:8 to 12 - Galatians 2:21).
The “forgiveness” petitions in the “Our Father” prayer should be studied in the light of Colossians 2:13 and Ephesians 4:32. And all of the Sermon on the Mount should be studied in the light of Colossians 2:11 to 16 and Romans 14:17. Compare Matthew 18:32 to 35 with Ephesians 4:32.
Surely Christians should be pure in heart; poor in spirit. They should be meek. But they will not inherit the earth. They have something better. (Matthew 5:5 - Ephesians 2:6 and Ephesians 1:3 and Colossians 3:3 and 4). Christians should be peace-makers; but this will not make them God’s children. They are God’s children because Christ was the Peace-maker. (Matthew 5:10 - Colossians 1:20 and 21).
Some Christians have taught that the program of the Sermon on the Mount has been postponed until the Millennium. But in the Millennium God’s people will not be persecuted for Christ’s sake. (Matthew 5:11). Christians should let their light shine and do unto others the right thing. (Matthew 5:16 - Matthew 7:12). (Philippians 2:15 and 16 - Romans 12:10). In the Sermon on the Mount Christ was not speaking to members of His Body. In Paul’s Epistles He was. The spiritual standard in those Epistles is certainly as high as the standard in the Sermon on the Mount.

Posted By – Cecil Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

 

If you are blessed by this Bible Messages  please E-mail it to your friends.