Lessons to Learn from the Sermon on the Mount

Lessons to Learn from the Sermon on the Mount.

Active Faith – The Transforming Power of Regeneration

“I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and your deeds of late are greater than at first.” Revelation 2:19 (NASB)
The person who claims to be one of God’s elect, but whose life has not changed, is only fooling himself. Those whom God chooses, He changes. This does not mean they are perfect, but they are possessors of a new life that cannot be hidden [1].
Believers will sometimes disobey God’s commands and fail to do His will, but they will always long to obey (Rom. 7:18-20) and will manifest some true spiritual fruit of obedience (John 15:5). Genuine saving faith is by definition powerfully inclined toward obedience to God, which leads inevitably to the work of faith Paul commended the Thessalonians for (1Thess. 1:3) [2].
Believing in God for something great sounds noble enough. It’s even considered admirable. Attempting something big for Him is a good thing. But the reality of life in a sinful world is that real faith is often bloody and dirty, difficult and challenging. It’s the kind of faith that goes beyond theory to doing. It travels from your head and heart to your hands, feet, and mouth. It’s not the kind of faith you talk or write about. It’s the kind you live. It’s not hypothetical, but practical. Though invisible, others can see it. It’s a faith that works. It sacrifices and suffers if necessary. It’s bloodstained faith. The kind marked by bruises and scars. A bit frayed on the ends. Tattered and torn in places. Worn thin, but not worn out. Looking beaten, but still bold. It appears defeated, and yet it remains determined. And best of all, it’s yours. Like a favorite pair of shoes, the more it’s used, the more comfortable it feels [3].

[1]. Warren W. Wiersby, Be Bold, p.26
[2]. John MacArthur, Commentary, 1&2 Thessalonians, p. 16
[3]. Jeff Kinley, As It Was In The Days Of Noah, p. 34-35