JesusOnline.com

MENUMENU
  • Discover
    Evidence
    • About God
      • Has Science Discovered God?
      • Was Life Created by Design?
      • Accident or Intelligent Design?
      • Does God Exist?
    • About Jesus
      • The Jesus of History: Man or Myth?
      • Was Jesus a Real Person?
      • Is Jesus God?
      • Was Jesus the Messiah?
      • Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
      • More Questions…
    • About the Bible
      • Is the Bible True?
      • Are the Gospels Reliable?
      • The Gospel of Barnabas: Secret Bible?
      • Are the Gnostic Gospels Factual?
      • Is the Bible Infallible?
      • The Bible’s Buried Secrets
    • Related Videos
      • “God Evidence” Videos
      • “Jesus Evidence” Videos
      • “Bible Evidence” Videos
  • Meet
    Jesus
    • Why Jesus?
    • The Gift of Heaven
    • Jesus’ Resurrection and You
    • Are You Going to Heaven?
    • Related Videos
  • Follow
    Jesus
    • Next Steps
      • Discover New Resources
      • Explore God’s Word
      • Connect with Believers
      • Why Grow?
    • Living for Jesus
      • Born Again as a New Creation
      • Trusting by Faith
      • Abiding in Christ
      • Embracing Your New Identity
      • Loving God Wholeheartedly
      • Pursuing Truth in God’s Word
      • Depending on the Spirit’s Power
      • Obeying God Faithfully
      • Connecting with God’s Family
      • Resisting the Enemy
      • Advancing Christ’s Kingdom
    • Time in God’s Word
      • Read eBible
      • Download Bible
      • Devotionals
      • Key Verses
      • Bible Study Tools
    • Related Videos
      • “Next Steps” Videos
      • “Living for Jesus” Videos
      • “Time in God’s Word” Videos
  • Find Hope
    & Love
    • #GODisHOPE
    • FOREVER LOVED!
  • More
    • Share Jesus
    • Join Community
    • Download App
    • Contact Us
    • Search
  • Translate

Humility

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:1-3)

Jesus begins this famous sermon with the commendation that one is fortunate and fully satisfied who has the realization and understanding of their own poverty of spirit. It is important that we fully grasp the fact that in and of ourselves we possess no inward ability to please God. This poverty of spirit is ranked first among the Christian graces. Indeed, God’s kingdom of glory is prepared for such as these. The kingdom of earth is for the high and lofty, but the kingdom of heaven is for the humble.

“The fact of the matter is that we cannot cast off restraint, run riot, please ourselves and be completely hedonistic without a price having to be paid. The human price is the destruction of relationships; the spiritual price is a breach with God.” -John Blanchardte

The foundational principle of Christ’s kingdom is poverty of spirit. Anything else we may muster up will always come up short. All of our “righteousness,” Scripture states, is as filthy rags. We must possess an absolute sense of certainty that our “flesh” cannot even begin to experience any type of holiness. Those that embrace the knowledge that in and of themselves they are hopeless and helpless to stand before a Holy God, rightly have a firm understanding that they lack the power within to do anything to change their predicament. It makes no difference whether one is rich, poor, famous, gifted, intellectual, or whatever, the doorway into the kingdom of heaven is poverty of spirit. It is by our humility that Christ can accomplish His work. I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Church in Ephesus:

Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:12-13)

Those who consciously and fully depend upon Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross on their behalf are blessed. We all fall short of God’s standard of holiness–there are no exceptions. Paul tells us in Romans:

What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:9-12)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

“To be lowly in our own eyes is to have humble thoughts of ourselves, of what we are, and have, and do; it is to be as little children in our opinion of ourselves … It is to be willing to make ourselves little, to do good … It is to acknowledge that God is great, and we are small; that He is holy and we are sinful; that He is all and we are nothing. To shun all confidence in our righteousness and strength, that we may depend only on the merit of Christ and the spirit and grace of Christ.” -Matthew Henry

Apart from belonging to Christ and being filled with His Spirit we are unable to stand before a Holy God. We are lost without a Savior. And that is precisely what Jesus is–our Savior! Often preaching in our day is focused upon a person’s determination, or the beauty of their character, or their gifting–things easily noticed and applauded by man. This, however, puts the emphasis on flesh rather than on Jesus. We can never enter the kingdom of heaven based on the virtue of our own goodness! One can only enter as a pauper. Jesus is the One who produces the inspiring in the commonplace. It is His treasure in our “jars of clay.” Believers in Christ have been rescued by God from the dominion of darkness through the blood of Jesus. We have been brought into His kingdom by the Son He loves and in whom we have redemption. Praise Him!

Paul tells us:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:21)

Take It to Heart

“We comfort the afflicted sinner in this manner; Brother you can never be perfect in this life, but you can be holy. He will say, ‘How can I be holy when I feel my sins?’ I answer, ‘You feel sin? That is a good sign. To realize that one is ill is a step and a very necessary step, toward recovery.’ ‘But how will I get rid of my sin?’ he will ask. I answer: See the heavenly Physician, Christ, who heals the broken-hearted. Do not consult the Quack doctor, Reason. Believe in Christ and your sins will be pardoned. His righteousness will become your righteousness.” (Martin Luther)

Next

   Follow Jesus
  •   Overview
  •   Discover New Resources
  •   Explore God's Word
  •   Connect With Believers
  •   "Next Steps" Videos
  •   Overview
  •   Born Again as a New Creation
  •   Abiding in Christ
  •   Embracing Your New Identity
  •   Loving God Wholeheartedly
  •   Pursuing Truth in God's Word
  •   Depending on the Spirit
  •   Obeying God Faithfully
  •   Connecting with God's Family
  •   Resisting the Enemy
  •   Advancing Christ's Kingdom
  •   "Living for Jesus" Videos
  •   Overview
  •   Explore the Bible
  •   Bible Study Tools
  •   Bible Study Courses
  •   Devotionals
  •   Key Verses
  •   "Time in God's Word" Videos
  •   Overview
  •   Pride vs. Humility
  •   Fear vs. Faith
  •   Anger vs. Forgiveness
  •   Overindulgence vs. Moderation
  •   Dissatisfaction vs. Contentment
  •   Deciet vs. Honesty
  •   Divisiveness vs. Harmony
  •   Rebellion vs. Obedience
  •   Irresponsibility vs. Dilligence
  •   "Next Steps" Videos
  •   "Living for Jesus" Videos
  •   "Time in God's Word" Videos

We like you.
Like us back on social media!


Copyright © 2022   |   JesusOnline Ministries   |   Contact Us   |   Sitemap   |   Privacy Policy   |   Website Terms of Use Policy

TAKE JESUSONLINE WITH YOU
  GET THE FREE APP NOW