Being blessed is more than subjective happiness that is based on circumstances. For example, in verse 3 of Matthew 5, why is someone who is poverty-stricken described as being blessed? They are in a position where they realize that they contribute nothing to their salvation. Unlike the Laodicean church in Revelation 3, they recognize their spiritual poverty outside of Jesus.
The message of a true Gospel church is that we are dead in our sins. We are totally helpless and lost. Without Jesus, all the self-help we do will doom us to hell. He is not our co-pilot because we do not have any control over our salvation. Salvation is 100% God's grace and 0% any effort of ourselves.
How then should we think, feel, and live? When we realize that we are spiritually poverty-stricken without Jesus, we will mourn over our sin because it offends our holy God. The way we think affects the way we feel and live. Mourning and repenting over our sins cannot be separated from the Gospel. |
