TEXT:  Matt. 5:1-12

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE “BLESSINGS,” OR “BEATITUDES,” ARE WELL KNOWN.

B.      BOTH THE BLESSINGS AND THE TRAITS ARE COMPOSITES.

C.      SERMON’S THEME (5:20).

I.      THE PURE IN HEART (vs. 8).

A.      PURE, katharos, “PURE AS BEING CLEANSED,” “FREE FROM IMPURE

          ADMIXTURE, WITHOUT BLEMISH, SPOTLESS.”  ALSO TRANSLATED “CLEAN.”

B.      GOD, THROUGH JESUS AND THE WORD, CLEANS US AND MAKES US PURE.

          1.       The sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-14;  1 John 1:6-7;  Heb. 9:22-23).

          2.       The Word (Eph. 5:26).

                   a.       The apostles (John 15:3).

                   b.       God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16;  James 1:21).

                   c.       Must be obeyed before it can clean (1 Pet. 1:22).

C.      OUR LIVES MUST BE PURE.

          1.       Worthy of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27).

          2.       Separate from sin (1 John 2:1;  2 Cor. 7:1).

          3.       Example to the world (Phil. 2:14-16;  1 Pet. 2:9).

          4.       Two distinct ideas:

                   a.       Not contaminated.  Unalloyed.

                             - by sin (1 Thess. 5:22) – wrong motives.

                             - by error (2 Cor. 11:1-4).

                   b.       Not distracted:

                             - can’t serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24;  1 John 2:15).

                             - can’t misplace priorities (Matt. 6:33;  Rom. 12:9).

                             - look back (Luke 9:62).

D.      HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS?

WHAT WE DO IS A PRODUCT OF WHAT WE ARE?

          1.       We must strive for a pure heart (Prov. 22:11;  2 Tim. 2:21-22).

          2.       How do we accomplish this?

                   a.       Again, through obedience (1 Pet. 1:22-23).

                   b.       Feeding on his pure word (1 Pet. 2:1-2).

                   c.       Avoiding temptation:

                             - People (1 Cor. 15:33) – Friends!

                             - (2 Cor. 6:14ff.) Relationships.

                             - Unwholesome activities (1 Thess. 5:21-22).

                             - Affections (Rom. 12:9).

                             - Pressure to conform (Rom. 12:2).

                             - Wrongful priorities (2 Tim.2:3-4;  1 Tim. 6:9-10).

                             - Human philosophy (Col. 2:8),  through the media, friends, books,

                                      entertainment (Phil. 4:8).

          3.       We can control our minds! (Phil. 4:8).

E.      WHAT IS OUR AIM – THE PURPOSE OF PURITY?

          1.       A direct relation between purity and usefulness (Titus 2:14;  John 15:2).

          2.       We are lights (Phil. 2:14-16;  1 Pet. 2:11-12;  1 Pet. 2:9).

          3.       That we be like him (1 John 3:3).

          4.       Heaven awaits (2 Cor. 6:17 – 7:1).

F.      BUT WE MUST PURIFY OURSELVES (1 Pet. 1:22).

VI.   REWARD:  THEY SHALL SEE GOD (vs. 8).

A.      TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY (1 John 3:1-2;  Rev. 22:1-5).

B.      REFERS, ALSO, TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF HIS CHARACTER.

          1.       God declared by Jesus (John 1:18).

          2.       We are to imitate him (1 Cor. 11:1;  Eph. 5:1-2).

C.      PURIFYING IS PREPARATORY (1 John 3:3).

CONCLUSION:  HAVE YOU PURIFIED YOURSELF TO MEET JESUS?