Sermon on the Mount
Today we began the Beatitudes. Verse three starts with the poor in spirit. Being poor in spirit is required for salvation, spiritual growth, and God’s approval. How does one become poor in spirit? How do we become totally dependent on Him?
Luke 18:10-14 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Without poverty of spirit no one enters the kingdom of heaven. No one is saved that believes that there is something in them that would make God prefer or accept him.
