The Features of the One who has the Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12)
 
1)Time-limited life and life’s priority
-In the last week, there was a Brazilian Soccer Team’s (Chapecoense) airplane crash in Colombia. 71 of 77 people died. Anyone among them did not expect death before boarding the plane. Remember that our life is the time-limited life. On earth, we cannot live forever.
Proverb 27:1  Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
-Therefore, we should set life’s priority up correctly. We as children of God have to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matt.6:33). When we believe in Jesus Christ, God’s kingdom comes upon us and we are righteous (Luke 17:21; Gal.2:16)
Colossians 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
-God wants those who have the Gospel and stake their lives for the Gospel. If so, what are the feature of the one who has the Gospel and stakes his/her life for the Gospel?
-In the Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus especially said to His disciple who devoted their lives for Him and the Gospel (vv.1-2).
 
1.the poor in spirit (v.3)
-What is a meaning of “blessed”? “Blessed” means happiness, rest, peace, and well being in good relations with God. This is not physical success, but spiritual blessing between God and His children.
-“The poor in spirit” is the person of the Gospel. They are the people of God and children of God in the kingdom of heaven. Who is “the poor in spirit”? He/she realizes his/her powerlessness and total depravity and needs God’s help. Spiritually, they have nothing. Only God is their unique hope. This person is the person who has the Gospel.
 
2.those who mourn (v.4)
-Who are “those who mourn”? Why did they grieve for?
2 Corinthian 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
-They mourn not physical or world things, but their wretched sin before God. They sorrow over their spiritual loss due to sin. Those who have the Gospel recognize the misery of sin and repent sin with their whole heart. God gives His comfort and forgiveness to them.
 
3.the meek (v.5)
-What is a meaning of “meek”? It is called as “gentle.” If you are the child of God, you will be bear the fruit of “gentleness” as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:23). Who is one of the representative figures for gentleness? Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
-Therefore, gentleness or meekness point out that they help others not with self-centered mind, but with the Gospel-oriented mind. They humble themselves and do not insist on their thoughts over others. They have a mindset of God’s servants who help spiritually others.
-They will “inherit the earth.” It is expanded to God’s kingdom (Ps.37:11). 

4.Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (v.6)
-In this verse, righteousness is not social justice, but righteousness of God. Why do we need the righteousness of God? It is because we are sinners before God.
Romans 3:22-23, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe  For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
-If they come to God, sinners need the righteousness of God. “Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” are people who  have faith in Jesus Christ and receive God’s righteousness.
-Accordingly, they will be filled and satisfied by God alone. God is the source of righteousness and blessing.
5.the merciful (v.7)
-Mercy is based on love of God toward His people through covenantal relationship. God’s mercy was revealed in incarnation of Jesus Christ for our salvation.
Ephesians 2:4-5, But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
-Because God’s children received God’s mercy, they are the merciful. The forgiveness and kindness are our merciful attitude for others. We can enjoy God’s mercy for our lives.

6.the pure in heart (v.8)
-“The pure in heart” means inner moral purity and uprightness and singlemindedness. They hate hypocrisy and deceit because they are the holy people of holy God. Furthermore, their mind is not divided. One single mind for God. Therefore, “they shall see God” (cf. Rev.22:4).

7.the peacemaker (v.9)
-God’s children are “the peacemaker.” It is because Jesus Christ is “Prince of Peace” (Isa.9:6). This role of “the peacemaker” can be extended to the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation
-We as the children of God and the ambassadors of Christ share the Gospel of reconciliation to the lost people.
 
8.Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (v.10-12)
-God children can receive persecutions and difficulties because of their faith (v.10). For Jesus’ sake, they received persecutions like the prophets had received (vv.11-12). This persecution indicates that they are the people of God in God’s kingdom.
-The faithful in Hebrews 11 is the representative figures who endured persecution for righteousness’ sake.
 
Conclusion
1)The person of the Gospel has three concentration.
-They concentrate on God’s Word and covenant. With it, they focus on prayer. Then, with its answer, they devote themselves to testimony of living God.
-We can do these through 3 todays: Today’s Word, prayer, and evangelism. Everyday we should meditate upon the pulpit message and its biblical passage. From message, we can find a small practice and what we should do or not. Furthermore, we can pray with the message, personal prayer topics, and church announcements. In our schedules, we can relay the Gospel to others. Remember that God works in the Word and answers to prayer and saves souls. Today’s Word, prayer, and evangelism are the method to stay in the work and direction of God in our lives.