Worship at Mercy Baptist Church

Matthew concludes his compilation of Jesus' teaching, The Sermon On the Mount. Matthew concludes the message with the promise of hope and the waring of eternal wrath. Jesus tells the hearer of his message they build on one of two foundations, the solid rock with leads to eternal life or sand with leads to eternal wrath. The question must be asked; "What are you building on?"

Matthew is concluding the message of Jesus' Sermon On the Mount. In the prior passages Matthew relays the warning of Jesus' teaching to His followers and the difficulty in entering the Kingdom of Heaven. In today's message we unpack the most fearful words ever spoken, "I knew you not ...away." This warning to the "religious" who concentrate on outward appearance, one's own works and even a different path to the Kingdom are confronted with he words of Jesus, "I knew you not..."

Who are you turning to in your Christian walk. Justin McHolland unpacks Col 3:1-4. Christ changes us Christ is sufficient.

Jesus is not teaching of just some random acts of kindness towards others. What Jesus is teaching, is that the radically changed life of the disciple would display welcoming grace to all people: the Opening of Our Hearts in Hospitality to Others. For we have received much, therefore we give and save others much.

Jesus teaches the culmination of the Sermon on the Mount with the Golden Rule. His teaching of treating others as you WISH to be treated. As a recipient of God's mercy, grace and forgiveness...the Believer is to reflect what he has received. This is our duty. Jesus then teaches the challenge of being a follower, a narrow road we traverse. This is all done by the grace and strength of our Savior Jesus Christ

Matthew 7:7-11 must be interpreted in context. The context of Jesus teaching is the radical change of the Believer from sinful rebel to righteous Saint. Jesus is teaching not a prosperity gospel, name it claim it gospel. He is teaching that we ask, seek, knock on the door of heaven to receive spiritual gifts in the process of sanctification. We must earnestly seek God in obtaining these eternal gifts, and God gives only the best of gifts.

Matthew writes of Jesus' teaching on the Sermon On the Mount. Jesus moves from the Principles of Righteousness to Principles of Grace. The Born Again Believer is changed to reflect the holiness and glory of Christ. If the Believer were to judge, they would be usurping the authority of God. God calls us to display and give mercy and grace, as we have been given. Today we unpack what Jesus calls us to be Image Bearers of Mercy and Grace.

At the beginning of the New Year we face many uncertainties. Now, more than ever we need to turn and trust Jesus. The same Jesus who calmed the storms of the seas calms the storms of the Believer's life.