The Final Beatitudes

Q: What does the Bible say about the Beatitudes?

The Beatitudes are promises of blessedness given by Jesus to those who embody certain spiritual qualities. The Beatitudes are found in Matthew 5 and represent the declaration of supreme happiness and eternal bliss for various character types, such as the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the merciful. Jesus pronounces these blessings not based on worldly standards but speaks to the internal realities of the heart and the condition of one's relationship with God. For example, the poor in spirit, who know their utter dependence on God, are promised the kingdom of heaven, highlighting that true richness comes from recognizing one's spiritual need. Similarly, each Beatitude underscores a profound promise that rewards those who embody these characteristics with eternal blessing.

Q: How do we know the promises of the Beatitudes are true?

The truth of the Beatitudes is affirmed by their foundation in Jesus' teachings and the fulfillment of God's promises throughout Scripture. The promises of the Beatitudes are rooted in the character of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of truth. Each Beatitude reflects a divine principle that aligns with God's overall plan for redemption and sanctification. For instance, the promise that those who mourn will be comforted illustrates God's compassion and His assurance that He does not leave His people in their sorrow. Additionally, throughout the Bible, including in Revelation, God reaffirms His commitment to bless those who embody these spiritual qualities, highlighting the consistency of His character and the truth of His Word.

Q: Why is understanding the Beatitudes important for Christians?

Understanding the Beatitudes is essential as they reveal the values of the Kingdom of God and guide Christian living. The Beatitudes serve as a vital teaching of Jesus that distinguishes the values of the Kingdom of God from earthly standards. By understanding the Beatitudes, Christians learn the heart attitudes that God blesses, enabling them to cultivate traits such as humility, mercy, and peacemaking. Furthermore, they provide a framework for believers to examine their own lives and behaviors in light of God's expectations, prompting spiritual growth and deeper reliance on His grace. The promise of eternal blessing for those who live according to these values encourages believers not only in their personal faith but also in their interactions within the body of Christ and the wider world.

Q: What does Revelation say about the final Beatitudes?

Revelation contains a series of final Beatitudes that affirm blessings for those who uphold the teachings of Christ. In the Book of Revelation, particularly in chapter 22, additional Beatitudes reinforce the promises of God for His people. For example, Revelation 22:14 declares, 'Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life.' This highlights the continuation of blessedness for those who obey God's Word. These final Beatitudes encapsulate the culmination of God's promises throughout Scripture, affirming that those who persevere in faith and persist in living according to His commandments will receive eternal rewards. They serve as a reminder of the hope and glory that await believers in the fullness of God's Kingdom.

Do you know what a beatitude is? You're familiar with the beatitudes our Lord gave in the Sermon on the Mount, but do you know what a beatitude is? A beatitude is the sure and certain promise of immortal bliss, eternal happiness, and supreme delight.

Our Lord Jesus pronounced nine Beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount. Let's look at them in Matthew 5. He pronounced nine Beatitudes. That is, he declared supreme delight, eternal happiness, and immortal bliss to nine distinct characters as he sets them forth here in Matthew 5.

In verse 3, he says, blessed, blessed, supremely, eternally happy and blessed. Blessed are the poor in spirit, not the materially poor, not those who are physically poor. They may or may not be blessed, but blessed are those who are poor in spirit, who know themselves to be nothing but helpless, bankrupt sinners before God Almighty. for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When a man thinks he's rich, he's poor indeed. When a man knows himself to be poor, he's rich indeed. For that man who knows that he has no righteousness, no merit before God, nothing but sin and corruption and guilt and depravity, he is blessed of God, eternally blessed with supreme delight because his is the kingdom of heaven.

I tell you without reservation that every sinner in this world Every man, every woman who knows himself to be a sinner, who knows himself to be guilty, bankrupt, and helpless before God, that person is born of God. That person who is absolutely destitute of righteousness, destitute of goodness, destitute of hope in himself, that person is born of God. His is the kingdom of God.

Then our Lord says in verse 4, eternally, supremely, immortally blessed are they that mourn. Those who mourn over their condition of sin. Those who mourn over their depravity. Not merely men who acknowledge by creed, I'm a sinner. But men and women who know themselves to be sinners so that their hearts are grieved by their sin. Those who have seen Christ crucified in the behalf of sinners and are made to mourn for him as one mourns for his only son.

Blessed are they that mourn. Those whose hearts are broken and contrite over sin. For they shall be comforted. Find me one whose heart's broken, I'll show you one who's about to be comforted. Find me one whose heart is contrite, I'll show you one whose heart is about to be eased. Find me one who mourns over his sin, and I'll show you one who soon shall rejoice in the knowledge of sin forgiven.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek. Meek. I could spend a long time talking about that. Meekness is not a show of humility. Meekness is not what the world calls meekness. I'll give you an example. Perhaps you can relate to it. People of Eastern religions, mystical religions, the Hindus, the mystics, and so on, they have a great appearance of meekness. They kindly shuffle their feet and walk with their heads down, and they appear to be very, very meek people. Religious people often appear to be very meek. They outwardly speak meekly and talk meekly, but inwardly they're proud and arrogant people.

Meekness here, when it talks about meekness, it is a man or a woman, one who knows what and who he is before God Almighty and knows what and who God is. That's a meek man. Moses was not a coward. Moses was not a wimp. Moses was not a pushover. But Moses was the meekest man the earth has ever seen. That's meek. Moses knew himself to be a sinner, called and chosen of God, redeemed by blood, an heir of heaven, a man sent of God with a work to do, and he did what God required him to do. That's meekness. That man, that woman who knows the will of God and does it, regardless of cost or consequence, that's meekness.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. They shall inherit that new heaven and new earth which Christ Jesus shall make in the last day.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness. Do you? Do you long for perfect righteousness? Does your soul hunger and thirst for that righteousness of God which is in Christ Jesus, not only to be imputed to you, but to be so fully imparted to you that it is all you are, so that you are yourself righteous before God, perfectly holy, blameless, without sin, in the sight of the holy God and in the presence of God. Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Oh, to be like Christ. To be without sin. To be perfectly holy.

They shall be filled. That's a promise. Blessed. Sure, certain, absolute promise of God. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. They shall have what they desire.

Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the merciful. Those who are merciful are kind, thoughtful, forgiving, lenient, and easy, for they shall obtain mercy. Our Lord Jesus speaks to his disciples in chapter 6, in verse 14, and he says, If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Now, he's not making your mercy to be the condition of his mercy. But he is declaring that his mercy produces mercy. In other words, that man, that woman who has experienced God's forgiveness is forgiving. That one who has experienced God's mercy is merciful. That one who has experienced God's grace is gracious. This is not just saying this is what believers ought to be. This is what they are. If you and I know the grace of God, we're merciful.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. In the last great day, God shall deal with them according to mercy, and yet His mercy will be perfectly righteous.

Blessed are the pure in heart. The pure in heart. Those who have been given a pure heart. Those whose hearts have been made pure by grace. Those who have been given a divine nature, made partakers of the divine nature. Those who have been born of God, they're pure in heart. In their hearts they delight in and love and rejoice in that which is pure. For they delight in, love and rejoice in Jesus Christ and in all that he is.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. They shall see Him whom they hold in their hearts to be precious. They shall see God.

Verse 9, blessed are the peacemakers, those men and women who promote peace. Those men and women who mullify. Those men and women who take away wrath. Those men and women who take opposing factions and bind them together. Those men and women who conciliate one another. Those men and women who make peace between brethren. who make peace in the family of God. Those men and women who say, now, it's all right. Just forget that. It's all right. Let's bind our wounds and let's walk together in peace. Promoters of peace.

Blessed are the peacemakers. He's not talking about those who make peace in the world. That's the job of a politician. Now, that's all right. It's great to make peace in the world, but he's talking about folks who make peace in God's kingdom. Blessed are the peacemakers. For they shall be called the children of God. They shall be called, rightfully called, the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake. That is, persecuted by men, not because they are worthy of persecution, not because they're mean-spirited, not because they're hateful, but persecuted for righteousness' sake. Persecuted because of the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, which they preach. Blessed are they who are persecuted because they proclaim the righteousness of God in Christ and men will not have it and so they persecute those who proclaim his righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. And it does happen. If it hasn't happened yet, mark it down. It shall happen. If you belong to God, and you bear faithful witness to Jesus Christ and the gospel of his grace, men shall revile you. Men shall speak ill of you. Men shall speak falsely of you. They will invent lies to spread about you. They will slander your character, your name, and your reputation, and do anything they can to prevent your word from being believed.

Blessed are you, blessed are you. The other day, Shelby and I were in one of the stores here in town, met some lady, and she was gonna introduce me to her. And she's got my name, I said, yeah, I've heard of him. That's all right, that's all right, I've heard of him. And I'm fairly confident as to what she's heard. I've been made aware of things, you know.

Blessed are you, blessed are you. You're on the job, and somebody's Comes by and they say, well, what's that fellow's name? That's Buddy Darty. He goes out there at Grace Baptist Church. They think they're the only ones who've got truth. Yeah, I know. I know. Can't trust him. Can't trust him. Watch out for him. Watch out for him.

Blessed are you. Blessed are you if the reviling is over the gospel you believe. Blessed are you. Blessed are you when men shall revile you, persecute you, say all manner of evil against you falsely. For my sake rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Now those are the pronouncements of blessing which our Lord gave in Matthew in the Sermon on the Mount. Turn over to Acts chapter 20. Acts chapter 20. There is another beatitude which our Savior gave which had been lost in the shuffle somehow or other. It had not been written down, but the Apostle Paul had it recalled to his mind by the Spirit of God and Paul gives it to us in Acts chapter 20 and verse 35. It's what some have called the lost beatitude.

The Apostle is giving his final word to the Ephesian elders and he says, I've showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak. to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Now, everyone knows that it's more blessed in this world to be rich and have the means to give than it is to be poor and have nothing to give. You don't have to have a college education to figure that out. But the words of our Lord mean this. It's more blessed to give to others than it is to receive from them. It's more blessed to give what we have, be it little or much, for the good of others than it is to keep and increase that which we have.

Many give for hope of gain so that they might get more. That's the Philosophy of the religious age, you know, you lay up treasure in heaven and it'll collect interest for you. Philosophy of the age is you give and God will increase your giving and so you'll get rich by giving. Sow your seed faith in my pocket and you'll get more. That's the philosophy of the religious age.

God's people give according to their ability to do good and they give hoping for nothing in return. It is more blessed to give our labor to those who need it than it is to be paid for our labor from those who need it not. It's more blessed to give and labor for those who are grateful and appreciative. That's true. But it is even more blessed and more honorable to give and labor for those who are ungrateful and unappreciative for then the gift and the labor is given to God alone. Now that's real blessedness. That's real honor. And the promise of blessedness is that we behave in this world as God our Father has behaved toward us and we give freely, cheerfully, without desiring anything in return.

Now look at the text here in Acts 20 verse 35. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Paul says, I've showed you all things how that so laboring You ought to support the weak, to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

This text tells us three things about God's children in this world. First, God's saints are honest, hardworking men and women. They work for their living. They work hard. And while they work, they work not for their employer, but they work for their God. And let me speak plainly to you young people. Hear me well. It is only right that you should seek to make a way so that you can provide for your families in this world in a honest and diligent manner. But do not ever get the notion that you are above any kind of labor or that your position in society somehow makes you better than another. I'm telling you that all labor that is honest labor is good labor. And I have in my time done a good portion of most of it. There's nothing embarrassing or humiliating about janitorial service any more than there is something embarrassing or humiliating about being president of Blue Grass Foods. Nothing embarrassing about it. Honest labor is good labor. And God's servants in this world labor not for that man for whom they work, but rather for God whom they serve.

Let me try to illustrate it for you. Buddy and Mark work together. I guess you're the only two people here who do. You work together over at Matthews. I don't have any idea what either of you make, it doesn't matter. But let's suppose Buddy works for $15 an hour and Mark works for $5. Let's suppose they're doing the same job. It is the responsibility of both. to labor with equal diligence and honesty in order that you might honor God our Savior and honor Him in your attitude and in your speech and in your deportment. It's God our Father for whom we labor, God our Father whose name we seek to bear and bear honorably. It's God our Father who watches over us and we look to Him and are answerable to Him alone. I readily grant that a man who is in the position of taking care of employees ought to treat them just as he would desire that God should treat them in heaven and treat them with generosity and kindness and fairness. But that matters not as far as our responsibility is concerned. Our responsibility is the same. God's people are honest, hard-working, laboring men and women. All of them are. If a man will not work, neither should he eat. If a man does not provide for his own household, that man has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.

Then the apostle tells us that God's people work not to enrich themselves, not to get gain, not for material prosperity, but rather they work to support the weak, to support the poor, the needy, and the work of the gospel.

Turn over to Ephesians 4. Let me show you this. Ephesians 4 and verse 28. Listen to what the apostle says. Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good. It doesn't matter what kind of work it is. If it's honest work, it's good work. Working with his hands the thing that is good. For what purpose? That he may have to give to him that needeth. That's the object of the believer as he labors, so that he may use what he has to care for his family, to care for the family of God, to care for the work of the gospel, to support the weak, the poor, and the needy, particularly the widows, the homeless, those who are destitute and without the ability to care for themselves.

But then thirdly, God's saints in this world who give with willing and cheerful hearts are blessed of God. It is more blessed to give than to receive. The fact that they give with willing hearts freely and cheerfully is proof that they are loved of God. Our giving does not cause God to love us. Our giving does not cause God to look upon us with favor. Our giving does not in any way improve our standing before God, but rather our giving is the proof that God does love us and that God has blessed us.

God loveth a cheerful giver. giving men, giving women, shall be constantly supplied by God with the ability to give and take care of those things which are needful and those things which are necessary.

The Apostle Paul in writing to the Philippians, as they gave out of their necessity. Here's a poor church. There were large, wealthy churches around in that day, just as there are in ours. But here's a poor congregation, a congregation of poor, uneducated men and women in Philippi, men and women who were despised and looked down upon. They didn't have much. They didn't have much. But Paul was in prison, and the wealthy and the rich cared nothing for him. But these poor men and women got together and made up some goodies. I don't know what they did. I'm speculating. I don't imagine that would have done him much good for them to have sent anything but food and clothing. And so they made up some garments for him and made some food for him and sent it down to Rome. And Paul says, out of your necessity. You've abounded toward me in everything. Oh, how thankful I am for that gift which was sent to me by your pastor from you as a sweet-smelling savor unto God. And I realize that you gave out of your necessity. But be assured of this. My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. And I tell you that He will.

God's people, as they give, supplied by God with the ability to give, to give to take care of that which is needful, the work of the gospel, the needs of the destitute among the family of God. God's people are supplied as they have a heart to give. I've often used the illustration. I have often looked at a situation, missionary comes along, man I I say, boy, I'd like for us to help him. I want us to. I want us to take care of him. I want us to do what we can to help him. And I start looking at the monthly financial statement. Well, he's not there. No, we can't do anything. How many times? How many times? I start to calculate my bills for this month and start to calculate what's got to be taken out of my my own pay. And I well, no, I can't. I can't help. But I will tell you something, never yet have I reached in my pocket to find something to give but what it was there to give. Never, never, never yet have we as a congregation sought to take care of the needs of a missionary and his family in foreign soil laboring for the cause of Christ when it was not there.

Though we make our commitment to do what we can, the money is there to take care of the needs. Why? because God supplies our needs as we, with willing hearts, give to supply the needs of God's people. Generous, open-hearted, open-handed men and women, those who give willingly and cheerfully because they love Christ are blessed with God's unspeakable gift, Jesus Christ himself, and blessed with everlasting glory. Blessed, our Lord says. Blessed is the man. The woman who gives, blessed, more blessed to give than to receive.

Now these are the Beatitudes of our Lord. His sure, unconditional promises of supreme happiness and eternal bliss to his people. These Beatitudes, the blessedness promised, are not conditioned upon the character and conduct of those to whom the promises are made. But rather, our character and conduct is the result of His blessing bestowed. He hath blessed us. Because He hath blessed us, this is what we are. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Now, I've said that just to introduce my subject for this evening, and I'm going to be very brief. But tonight, I want to show you the final Beatitudes, the very last ones. I love the Beatitudes. Promises of blessing, blessing, blessing, immortal delight, supreme delight, eternal glory, promised of God. To whom is it promised? Let's look in the book of Revelation.

Last week, while I was reading through the scriptures, preparing for the message I preached last Sunday evening, I came across these seven statements of blessedness, these seven final Beatitudes in the Book of Revelation. Let's begin in chapter 1, verse 3. Supreme happiness, eternal bliss is connected with the public ministry of the Word. Look here at Revelation 1, 3. Blessed is the man, blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein, blessed. Now, I doubt not at all that there was in the New Testament, as we practice here, a considerable amount of time spent in the public reading of the Word. And so the Apostle John is declaring that there is a blessedness connected with the reading of God's Word.

But Mr. Gill suggests, and he was a scholar in the languages, he suggests that the word readeth here implies to read with explanation, to read by expounding. And so he is telling us that there is a blessedness connected with the reading of God's Word as a man preaches the gospel of Christ. You see, the faithful gospel preacher, simply reads the Word and gives out the meaning. That's what it is to preach. We do not read the Word and read into it our meaning. We do not read the Word and ignore the meaning, but rather we read the Word and simply explain the meaning. The pastor is one who comes and reads the Word and preaches the Scriptures so that a man is blessed of God by the explanation of the Word.

That man who reads is blessed. blessed with grace himself, blessed with gifts, with knowledge and understanding, blessed in the preparation of the Word, and blessed in the preaching of the Word. There is a particular blessedness connected with the gifts and callings of God to the work of the ministry.

I have the privilege that none of you have. I have the privilege of spending my days and evenings because of your generosity, because of your open-heartedness and open-handedness. I have the blessed privilege of spending my life studying the Word of God, reading the commentaries and reading the theology books and reading the Word, seeking to understand the Scripture so that I can communicate the Word to you.

And it's hard sometimes to determine which is most blessed. the preparation of the preaching. You know something about what I'm talking about, Lindsey. You prepare a word, you prepare the message, and oh, what blessings. How God ministers to your heart as you prepare. And then when you preach the word, if God gives you some liberty, oh, what blessing in preaching. I get done here on Sunday evening, or on Tuesday evening, and most of the time, I go home Just wound up. I mean, just wound up. I have thoroughly enjoyed what I've done today. Simply preaching the Word. Declaring to men and women the Word of God with some measure of understanding and liberty from God Himself.

And there is this blessedness connected with the ministry of the Word itself. But John is here told to write down this, that they are also blessed that hear the words. Those who hear the words. Those who hear the word of God, faithfully read, faithfully proclaimed, are blessed in the providence of God. For this is the means of God's grace. How blessed you are in God's providence for the privilege of hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully declared to you three times every week. How blessed of God you are.

You say, well, that's That's taking an awful lot on yourself. Not at all. Not at all. I tell it to men and women wherever I go. If they have a faithful pastor, if men and women are given of God a faithful pastor who preaches the gospel of God's grace, who gives himself to the study and preaching of the Word, Before I leave that place, if I'm there once or if I'm there for seven days, I tell them, you're blessed of God. You're blessed of God. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that bring glad tidings, that preach the gospel of peace, that say to Zion, thy God reigneth. How blessed of God. For this is the means of grace. Without this, there's no salvation. Without this, there's no instruction. Without this, there's no hearing from God.

Those who hear the gospel in faith with understanding hearts are blessed with divine grace and blessed with eternal life. And they that keep the word, keep it. You remember how our Lord gave the parable of the sower? People hear the word of God differently. Some folks hear it like a wayside hearer. Some of you will hear it that way tonight. You come in here and your mind's on a thousand things. And the gospel is cast out like precious seed, and it kind of falls on your heart and has no effect. The birds of the air, Satan comes and devours the word, has no effect. Some hear it like the stony ground hearer. They hear it and say, yes, God, that's so. And it springs up. It looks so promising. There's a plant in the Lord's vineyard. But it grows up, shoots up quickly, shoots up rapidly, shoots up with fan fire, and shoots up with a lot of glitter and all those things. But then there's some persecution, some affliction, some trial arises. The sun beats down on that plant and it's got no root. It withers and dies.

Some hear it like the thorny ground hearer. The word is cast into their hearts and the word has some effect upon their hearts, makes some change in their lives, but it's all a temporary change, a temporary effect, because gradually the cares of this world, like thorns, choke out the word.

But blessed is he that keeps it, who keeps it. whose heart has been thoroughly prepared by the Spirit of God, and he receives the Word into good soil, soil made good by the grace of God Himself, the regenerating power of the Spirit, and he keeps the Word. He cannot let it go. The Word becomes a part of him. The Gospel is that upon which he lives and by which he lives.

But then turn over to Revelation 14. Revelation 14. There is a blessedness connected with the reading of the Word. the public ministry of the word, but here in Revelation 14, supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to all who die in the Lord.

Revelation 14, verse 13, I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.

This is a great indescribable blessedness connected with death. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

My dear friend died in the Lord yesterday. Boy, she's had some troubles. She's had some troubles. When Brother Gary Shepherd was kicked out of the church down in Jacksonville for preaching the gospel of God's free grace, she, along with a few others, left. Left church she was raised in. Left church her mother was in. Left church all her friends were in. She said, this is the gospel we believe. And when she left, trouble began with the family. Trouble. Trouble. Because she had left their God, left their religion, and trouble on top of those troubles continued to assault her. Had trouble of suffering with cancer for nearly two years, just after she gave birth to a child.

But tonight, she rests from her labors. Rests. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God, a keeping of the Sabbath, rest. We rest in Christ Jesus now by faith, for we rest in his sacrifice. We rest in his providence, for we rest in him knowing that he does what's best, but oh, for that blessed rest, that blessed keeping of the Sabbath when we have finally ceased from our works and ceased from our labors and enter into perfect rest.

And then the scripture says here their works do follow them. Some folks say their works go before them. The text doesn't say that. The works do not go before us so as to make a way for us. Our works do not go before us so as to increase our riches when we get there. Our works do not go before us so as to merit a crown for us. Others say, well, we'll carry our works with us when we go. No. No, it doesn't say that we carry them with us. We do not carry our works with us as though these are the things by which we hope to gain access with God. But rather, our works follow us. We shall die in the Lord and enter into rest. And having entered into rest, then our works follow us. Those works that we have performed in the name of Christ, walking by faith on this earth, bring forth honor and praise unto God our Savior forever and forever. There are works which are performed by his grace, works which he performs in us, works which are performed for the honor of his name, and works which he himself accepts, having been performed by faith in Jesus Christ the Lord.

But thirdly, look in Revelation 16. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to those who persevere in the faith.

Revelation 16 15
Behold I come as a thief
Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments
lest he walk naked and they see his shame

Blessed is the man who watches over his soul blessed is he Somehow there is a connection in the faith of Christ between this thing of confidence in Christ and carefulness with regard to our own souls.

I say to every man and woman here, myself particularly, Let's never become presumptuous and carnally secure, resting upon anything we've experienced, said, believed, or done. Don't do it. Watch over your soul. Watch over your soul. Make certain you're in the faith. Make certain you're in Christ Jesus. Make certain of your election and your calling and your redemption. Make certain of it.

Blessed is he who watches with expectant heart for his Lord to come. Blessed is he that keepeth his garments, that is, keeps the garments of salvation. He that endures to the end, the same shall be said. The man who continues steadfastly, clinging only to Christ, trusting only Christ, trusting only his blood, only his righteousness, never gaining one ounce of any kind of hope except Christ alone, that man is blessed. He keeps his hope. He keeps his garments. He keeps the garments of salvation, the blood and righteousness of Christ.

If you hold fast the hope to the end, you're saved. That's right. If you let go, it's because you never were saved. That's just, that's the teaching of scripture. I've known Oscar Bailey a while. He known me a while. If we continue We're in the faith. If we don't continue, it's because we never were in the faith. That's just teaching a scripture. He that endures to the end, that's the fellow who's saved.

I asked Ralph Barnard one time, come sobbing and crying, said, Brother Barnard, do you reckon I'm saved? He said, I don't know. Come back in 30 years and I'll give you some kind of answer. And I'm about inclined to agree. Give it a few years, let's see. Give it a few years, let's see.

Fourthly, turn over to chapter 19. Revelation 19, verse 9. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to all who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Look at what it says. And he saith unto me, write it down, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. What does that mean? Well, it's not talking about the general call. Now, I'm issuing that to you now. Every time I preach the gospel, I call you, every one of you. Come on to the marriage supper. Come on to the gospel feast. Come on to Jesus Christ. Come, eat his righteousness, drink his blood, trust him, rest in him, believe on him. I'm calling you. I'm calling you. But that call may be not a blessing but a curse to you. That's right. For if it does not bring repentance, it will bring condemnation. That call may not be a blessing at all. But here the apostle says, the Lord tells John to write down, write it down now, blessed are they which are called. What's he talking about? He's talking about folks whom God the Spirit calls. And if God the Holy Spirit calls you, you're blessed. You're blessed.

A few months ago, Jay and his wife, Lisa, came back, told me they wanted to confess Christ in baptism. I've been calling you for eight years, nine years almost. Been calling you. Every time you hear me, come on to Christ. He came back, told me God had called him. That makes a difference, you see. That makes a difference. Blessed are they which are called. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee.

Fifthly, look in chapter 20. Supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised to those who are born of God. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. On such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years. Reign with him forever. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.

Now you know what that is, don't you? The first resurrection is the new birth. We are raised by the power of God's Spirit from death to life in Jesus Christ. And being raised of God, the second death has no power upon us. We're priests of God and we'll reign with Christ forever. I have been raised, resurrected representatively when Jesus Christ rose from the grave. The Apostle tells us in Ephesians 2, we were quickened together with Christ. I rose in him, for he arose as my representative. And I have been raised from the dead spiritually when God came to me by the power of his word and the power of his spirit and gave me life and called me from death to life in Christ Jesus.

The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of Man and they that hear shall live. God make it to be so this hour. And I shall be raised literally and personally when Christ comes the second time. Raised, this body shall be raised from corruption into incorruption, from mortality and death to immortality and life through Jesus Christ the Lord.

Now look at the sixth blessing, chapter 22. Verse seven. Supreme happiness. Eternal bliss is promised to all who keep and obey the words of Christ written in this book. Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. I can't give them all to you. Let me just give you four of them. Turn back to chapter three.

Now, here's the word. He says, if you keep, if you obey what I've said in this book, you're blessed of God. You're blessed of God. Oh, may you be blessed of God, blessed eternally, blessed, blessed with supreme delight, blessed forever in the presence of God. Here's what he says, chapter 3, verse 18, I counsel thee, buy of me gold, tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Come on, buy of Jesus Christ. Without money and without price, buy of Him the precious gold of His grace. Buy of Him the white garment of His righteousness. Buy of Him by simple faith. Trust Him. Just trust Him. Would you be righteous? Would you be righteous in the sight of God? Would you obtain the grace of God? Buy of Jesus Christ without money and without price. Come and buy of Him by simple faith. Here's another word that he gives, chapter 3 and verse 20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me.

I know that's talking particularly to a local church, so let's address it to a local church. The Lord Jesus knocks he doesn't have to but he chooses to it's his house and if the doors ever opened he'll have to open it but still he knocks and he says Bobby Estes you open the door I'll come in sup with you if with nobody else I'll sit down with you open the door will you open to him come on in come on in

The word is equally applicable to you who hear my voice tonight. If God the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart by the word that I preach, the Son of God knocks. Now, I grant and you know that if you open your heart's door to him, it's because he has opened your heart's door by his grace. But I'm here to tell you, you're going to have to open your heart's door to him. Open the door. Open the door, and he will come in. He will. He will. He'll sup with you, and you'll sup with him. He'll make himself known to you, just as you make yourself known to him, and he will feast with you as you feast upon his grace. That's what he says, isn't it, Bob? Open the door. I counsel you. Blessed is he that obeys the word. Open the door.

Chapter 19, verse 4. Here's what he says to us. Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, that you receive not of her plagues. I touched on this this morning. Come out of Babylon. Come out of Babylon. It is a climactic thing. You must decide yourself to part with natural religion, to part with heathen religion, to part with pagan freewill works religion. No, this is wrong. I'll not walk in it. And yet at the same time, Rex, you're gonna have to come out every day, every day, because Babylon's part of you. It comes from you. It comes from me. And our natural tendency is towards self-righteous works religion and every day we come out. Come out. Come away from this. Come away from this. Have no part with this. Deny it. Deny it as you would any evil of your heart. Deny all notions of self-righteousness, all notions of personal holiness, all notions of personal good and cling only to Christ Jesus.

He gives another word in chapter 22. And verse 17, here's his counsel. The spirit and the bride say come, and he that heareth say come, and let him that is a thirst come, and whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely. You fellows, we are told You fellas don't believe in whosoever will. Well, I don't believe in whosoever will. I believe in God, our sovereign Savior. But I do believe whosoever will. I not only believe it, I preach it. And I preach it to you now. Are you thirsty? Are you thirsty for grace? Thirsty for pardon? Thirsty for forgiveness? Thirsty for righteousness? Thirsty for life? Come to Jesus Christ and drink, whoever you are. Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely.

And the Lord says, blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. One last beatitude. Chapter 22, verse 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to eat of the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. Here supreme happiness and eternal bliss is promised unconditionally to all who obey the commandments of God our Savior. Oh, what does that mean? Does that mean that he promises we'll be blessed if we keep the whole law? Well, yes and no. Yes and no. He does not promise blessing to legal obedience, but he does promise blessing to faith, for by faith we keep the law. By faith we do. We keep his commandments. We keep them, every one of them. Keep them all perfectly. By faith in Christ Jesus, we offer to God the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, which fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law. And we offer to God the perfect atonement of Christ's sacrifice, which fulfilled every demand of the justice of the law.

His commandments that we're commanded to obey are very simple. This is his commandment, that you believe on his son. Do you believe? Do you believe? believe on his son and that you love one another as he gave us commandment. Do you? If we obey his commandments, all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, look at what it says, they have the right. The right. They have the right to eat of the tree of life. They have the right to the tree of life. They have the right to enter in through the gates into the city.

Brother Dave Coleman here a while back had somebody to enter into that store out there in the middle of the night, and they didn't have a right to enter. Is that correct? They didn't have a right to enter. Now if Dave goes over at 3 o'clock in the morning and he enters in, that's all right. You've got a right to enter. He's got a key. He's got a title deed. Well, he and the bank, I suppose, but he's got a right to enter. It's his store. It belongs to him. It's only right that he should enter. And I'm telling you that you who believe on Jesus Christ the Lord, in spite of all your personal unworthiness, have a right in God's eyes, by God's grace, according to God's own justice, through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, you have the right to live forever. Have title deed. Here it is. Jesus Christ the Lord. our righteousness, and all who believe shall enter in through the gates into the city."

What shall I say? Would you be partaker of these blessed beatitudes? Would you know this eternal, immortal, supreme delight, this blessedness? Believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned. Will you believe? Will you believe? I hope some of you will. Maybe I spoke to your heart. Maybe God spoke to your heart. Through my feeble words, believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You'll be saved. Some of you choose not to. I pray God he'll have mercy and preserve you to hear it one more time and cause you to believe that you may be blessed forever. Amen.

The Final Beatitudes

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The Final Beatitudes

What does the Bible say about the Beatitudes?

How do we know the promises of the Beatitudes are true?

Why is understanding the Beatitudes important for Christians?

What does Revelation say about the final Beatitudes?

Sermon Transcript

About Don Fortner

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