(The is the final delivery in the series of three articles on blessings in the Bible).
Johan Malan, Mossel Bay, South Africa (August 2013)
The importance of the eight beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount is confirmed by the fact that God’s salvation, as well as other manifestations of His grace, is the source of all blessings in the Bible. During His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus often referred to divine blessings, and gave specific examples of people who are blessed by God.
God revealed Himself to humanity through His Word. All who hear it, accept it, and walk accordingly, are described as blessed. In the Old Testament, God’s Word was proclaimed by Moses, the prophets and God-fearing kings of Israel. In the New Testament, God revealed Himself in His fullness through His Son. One of His names is “the Word of God” (Rev. 19:13). John says: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus also described His disciples as blessed because they had seen and heard Him, a privilege which the prophets desired to have (Luke 10:23-24).
Mary was called blessed because she believed what the Lord had said to her before the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:45, 48). What a privilege of having been used in this way by the Lord! Peter was called blessed when he received a revelation from the Father that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16-17).
After the ascension of Christ, new revelations from God were received and proclaimed by the apostles, until the full revelation of God’s will for humanity was completed with the writing of the book of Revelation. After that, the Bible as God’s Word is proclaimed by all Christians under the guidance of the Holy Spirit: “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2). The blessings of the Lord Jesus still rest upon everyone who hears and accepts His Word: “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28).
The words of the Lord are spiritual food by which people are built up in the most holy faith: “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (Luke 14:15). All Christians are called witnesses of Christ, who have been sent out to serve the bread of life to people everywhere. Many people will, to their own detriment, refuse this spiritual food, but to many others it will be a heavenly feast (Luke 14:16-24).
Israel played a vital role as a special people of God from whom the Messiah and Saviour of the world was born. Jesus said to the woman at the well in Samaria: “... salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). With this statement He did not mean that the Jews lived exemplary lives religiously, but that He Himself (the Saviour) was born as a Jew from the house of David. John the Baptist said of Him: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Paul said that Israel is a people among whom God was incarnated as Jesus Christ (Rom. 9:5).
Salvation (the highest spiritual blessing) is in the Messiah Himself; that is why He said to the woman at the well: “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). During the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, He said: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive” (John 7:37-39).
The fact that the Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah, directly gave rise to the Great Commission in which Jesus sent His disciples with the message of salvation to every people, language, tribe and nation (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15). In this way, Israel’s blindness was to the advantage of the Gentile world. Paul said about Israel: “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:11). Because we have received the blessing which was in the first place meant for Israel, we have the obligation to win them back for the kingdom of God. We should make them jealous by the way in which we serve the Messiah through the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is destined to awake spiritually when they will all be gathered around the Messiah (Rom. 11:25-26); Zech. 12:10). Only then will they be blessed as a nation.
A special blessing has been pronounced upon those who do not only hear God’s Word but also obey it by ordering their lives according to it and by proclaiming it. Jesus led his disciples from the darkness of spiritual ignorance and moral depravity into the full light of the knowledge of God and His righteousness. Subsequently, He further instructed them in God’s Word to make them a living testimony of His righteousness. He declares His disciples blessed if they follow His example: “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ... If you know these things, happy [blessed] are you if you do them” (John 13:15, 17).
James says: “Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas. 1:22). If the people of the world are to receive the blessings which God has in store for them, disciples of Christ should not only be passive listeners of the Good News but active witnesses. They have a very important role to play in God’s programme of changing the destiny of a lost world. Jesus said:
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:13-16).
A fully transformed life should bear the likeness of Jesus Christ, be conducted in the power of the Holy Spirit, and be sufficiently skilled in the Word to be able to properly portray and proclaim its truths. Only that will make a difference in the world and help people to obtain the blessings of God. The faithful disciple must first be blessed before he can introduce others to the blessings of the Lord. This important principle applied right through the long history of God’s revelations: “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deut. 28:2).
After the coming of Christ, the door has been opened widely to all nations to share in these blessings. God “has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). Christ is the living Word of God and His disciples are to follow His example by proclaiming it. Salvation and deliverance from sin is the first blessing, but that will be followed by many more blessings to those who truly obey the Word.
The Lord declares us blessed if we believe in Jesus Christ and maintain a relationship with Him. We should believe that He comes from the Father, as man was born from a virgin, is Himself God and one with the Father, died for our sins and rose from the dead, ascended to heaven where He intercedes for us, and will come again tot take us to heaven. We accept all these facts by faith without having seen Jesus as the Son of Man. Initially, Thomas would not believe that Jesus is God who rose from the dead. However, after he had seen Him he said: “My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:28-29).
The disciples had to proclaim the message of faith in Jesus to the entire world: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). The blessing of the great Saviour rests upon all who believe. Those who don’t believe are under the judgement of God.
Shortly before His ascension, Jesus gave all believers the blessed hope of an eternal home in heaven: “In My Father’s house are many mansions. ... I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:2-3).
The apostles proclaimed the message of Jesus Christ’s saving grace everywhere. It was the glad tidings that all people can obtain salvation through faith in the Name of Jesus. However, there are conditions attached to receiving this blessing, as well as certain implications and commitments of which believers should be mindful. These implications and commitments, however demanding they may be, do not weigh up against the everlasting glory which will be revealed to us.
Faith in God is the critical factor in the salvation of man: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). We must have changed hearts and lives, together with the prospect of eternal life in heaven with the Lord. Peter says the ultimate purpose of faith is the salvation of our souls (1 Pet. 1:9).
The message of the apostles on faith in Jesus was clearly conveyed, as in the fearless testimony of Peter before the Jewish Council: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). There is only one source of salvation and blessing, and that is faith in Jesus Christ.
Our faith in Christ should not only be confined to our salvation but be the driving force of our entire earthly life, from which it follows that everything should be done by faith: “The just shall live by faith” (Heb. 10:38). Faith in Christ is a shield to protect us against unbelief and other attacks by the enemy (Eph. 6:16), but it is also a weapon for victory: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5). Such a person is indeed blessed.
Already during Old Testament times, the works of the law were the consequences of a relationship of faith, and did not have saving power in themselves. Paul confirms that this situation still applies to New Testament times: “Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin” (Rom. 4:6-8).
What a wonderful privilege! “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23-24). This salvation, or blessing, cannot be earned – it is too precious and can only be appropriated by faith.
Since the salvation of the Lord is so profoundly different from the values and ideals of an evil world, it is continuously questioned and rejected, and its supporters even persecuted. However, persecution of this nature should not discourage Christians but rather give rise to feelings of joy and blessedness because they are worthy to suffer for Christ (Luke 6:22-23).
The Jewish Council severely persecuted the apostles, but they were not deterred by it: “And when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:40-42).
The same principle also applies to us: “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:14-15).
Temptations and testing are experienced by all Christians. If we carry our cross in a worthy manner we are called blessed: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jas. 1:12).
Christians should also entertain and proclaim the correct teaching with regard to their future expectation. Knowledge about the future will help them to be prepared for what is coming. It is so exceedingly important to pay attention to biblical eschatology that the Lord often calls us blessed if we look ahead and prepare to fulfil our future role in His kingdom. The following seven blessings are mentioned in Revelation:
1. The truth of biblical prophecies. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3).
The Lord does not want us to entertain wrong prophetic expectations since a person’s preparations for the future are determined by his understanding of biblical prophecies. The following reactions are typical of four different expectations:
· Some people expect the manifestation of a Christian kingdom on earth before the second coming of Christ, and exert themselves to promote it. They ignore prophetic warnings on a great falling away in the last days, and try everything in their power to foster ecumenical ties with a view to establishing a global movement for Christian unity.
· Other people expect a worldwide tribulation under the reign of the Antichrist, and are of the opinion that the church is destined to pass through this period to suffer under the tyranny of this dictator. Many of them are engaged in preparing safe places of refuge for Christians. In their end-time orientation, they have an Antichrist expectation and not a Christ expectation. According to them, Christ will only appear at the end of the tribulation period; consequently, a meeting with Him does not feature in their preparations for the immediate future. Their actions have a wrong focus and are not in the interest of a better relationship with Christ.
· A large number of people have no clear biblical expectation of the future and only live for the things of this world as if there will be no end to it. Because of their lack of insight they will accept any world leader – also a religious one – who promises peace, unity, and economic prosperity to all. They will eventually find themselves among the deceived masses of people who will follow the Antichrist in amazement (Rev. 13:3). What a serious error!
· A relatively small group of believers are correctly informed on the future and realise that there will not be a transformation to a Christian kingdom right now, but rather a major falling away which will culminate in the revelation of the Antichrist. However, they accept the promise that we are not destined for the coming tribulation and divine judgements, and therefore prepare to be caught up by the heavenly Bridegroom (Luke 21:36; John 14:2-3; 1 Thess. 4:16-18). They are called blessed because they heed the prophetic word and live like people who expect their Lord any day. This understanding of the prophetic word has a positive outcome since “everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). Through sanctification they prepare to depart with Him to heaven, fully confident of the fact that they will not remain behind to try and flee away from the Antichrist.
It is critically important to correctly understand biblical prophecies, and for that reason Paul says: “Do not despise prophecies” (1 Thess. 5:20). Blessed are all who pay attention to this important matter.
2. Prepared for a certain future. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them” (Rev. 14:13).
This blessing is specifically meant for the martyrs of the great tribulation, as death will save them any further persecution and suffering (cf. Rev. 6:9-11). Their works – among which will also be the willingness to die for their faith (Rev. 2:10) – will follow them and lead to rewards of grace before the judgement seat of Christ. They will also rule with the Lord Jesus in His reign of peace, which will be established shortly after the tribulation period (Rev. 20:4).
In a more generalised sense, this blessing also applies to all Christians, since all who die in Christ are blessed and will be resurrected in glorified bodies during the resurrection of the just (1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-53). Subsequently, we will all receive rewards of grace before Christ’s judgement seat (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).
3. Readiness for Christ’s sudden coming. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he should walk naked and they see his shame” (Rev. 16:15).
The coming of the Lord Jesus will be suddenly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. At that moment it will be too late to prepare for His coming, and that is why we should always be in a state of readiness for His coming. Salvation and sanctification are often metaphorically likened to a garment: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts” (Rom. 13:14).
In Matthew 22:1-14, our uniting with Christ is likened to a royal wedding feast. During biblical times, kings provided wedding garments to be worn by the invited guests. Sometimes there were people who thought that their own garments were appropriate (self-righteousness) and then failed to put on the king’s garment. We read about one such case in this parable:
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:11-13).
There are today also many people who think that they are Christians because they lead a good life and also belong to a church. However, their spiritual “nakedness” will be revealed when the Lord comes, as they will be thrown out (left behind) at that moment when Christ comes for His bride. That will be a big embarrassment and shame to them.
If we wish to be blessed, we should ensure that we not only have a wedding garment which the Lord alone can give to us, but we should also be watchful by preserving it in a clean and spotless state. At the moment when we appear before the Bridegroom we must be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:25-27).
4. The bride of the Lamb. “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (Rev. 19:9).
The invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb does not only imply that believers have put on the Lord Jesus (imputed righteousness), but also that they have done works under the guidance of the Holy Spirit by which they have beautified their garments (cooperative righteousness). In Revelation 19:8 it is said: “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.” It was given to her by the Holy Spirit to do works that are acceptable to God because His Son is glorified in this way and His kingdom on earth is expanded. These works are the gold, silver and precious stones with which we build upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, after repentance (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
What an honour to be invited to the illustrious occasion of the marriage supper of the Lamb, what a privilege to be empowered and motivated by the Holy Spirit to do works that are in keeping with repentance and in harmony with the garment of righteousness, and how prudent to watch and pray to be worthy for this wonderful appointment.
5. The certainty of the first resurrection and our position as kings together with Christ. “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6).
All who have already been saved by Christ are receiving with it the most wonderful promises to look forward to. After our earthly life with all its challenges, which can only be surmounted by the power of the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ, follows the unspeakable blessing of eternal life. It will all start during the resurrection of the just at the end of the church dispensation. Over all these believers the second death has no power – that is why they are called blessed. The first death is the death of the body at the end of our earthly life – we are all mortal people. But the second death is eternal death in the lake of fire, and that will be the destiny of all the unsaved people who will be resurrected after the Millennium to appear before the great white throne and receive their judgement (Rev. 20:5, 11-15).
The first resurrection occurs in phases and includes all believers who lived prior to the beginning of Christ’s millennial reign. This resurrection started with Christ’s own resurrection, and all who believe in Him will also share in it:
“For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterwards those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Cor. 15:16-24).
Those who will be resurrected when the Bridegroom comes to take His congregation away before the tribulation period, will already be in heaven before the first seal of God’s judgements upon the unbelievers is broken. They will look forward to returning with Christ to the earth after the tribulation to reign here as kings (Rev. 5:9-10).
The martyrs of the tribulation represent the after-crop and form part of the first resurrection as they will also be resurrected before the start of the Millennium. They are also blessed and will be co-rulers with Christ and the other saints during the reign of peace. John says: “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4).
The reiteration of the promise on the first resurrection in Revelation 20:6 has specifically been done with a view to those who will not be part of the rapture and will only be born again during the tribulation period. Although they are saved at a very late stage they are still of Christ’s kingdom and will also share in its blessings.
6. The sureness of Christ’s public coming. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:7).
The repeating of the first blessing in this prophetic book (Rev. 1:3) is done for a very specific reason. Revelation starts with a review of church history (Rev. 2 & 3). It was (and still is) important that all believers of all time have a strong expectation on the coming of Christ. The blessed hope on His coming helps us not to become overly involved with the things of the world, and to prepare ourselves on eternal life by doing things that have value for eternity. In this way we are laying up treasures in heaven.
Believers who spend all their time, attention and money on secular things, are spiritually poor and will appear before the Lord with empty hands (1 Cor. 3:15). If we are thus inclined, we are spiritually wretched: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Cor. 15:19; emphasis added).
The repeating of Christ’s imminent coming is specifically done for the sake of those who will only be saved during the tribulation period. At the end of this ominous time Christ will come again – this time in public so that every eye shall see Him. Many people from Israel and the nations will only then be saved (Zech. 12:10; Matt. 24:29-30).
7. Obedience to His commands. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:13-14).
The statement: “Blessed are those who do His commandments” (v. 14) should be properly understood. In various other translations, this scripture is rendered as follows: “Blessed are those who cleanse their garments” (Amplified Bible; cf. NIV and RSV). This statement is closely associated with what is said about the martyrs: “[They] washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14).
When the concept “commandments” is used it should be interpreted in a New Testament context with a view to doing God’s will with regard to the Lord Jesus (Matt. 7:21). That involves, among others, to be reconciled to Christ through cleansing by His blood (Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19) and also to observe His New Testament law of love (John 13:34). The final request in the High Priestly prayer of Jesus was that His disciples would be filled with His love: “I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26).
Can you imagine a more blessed existence than this? Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was:
· that they would be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man;
· that Christ will dwell in their hearts through faith;
· that they will be rooted and grounded in His love;
· that they will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height of the love of Christ which passes knowledge; and
· that they may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Blessed is everyone who can testify about this.
When we read in the Bible about blessings it mainly refers to spiritual blessings which God alone can bestow upon people. They are aimed at restoring, strengthening and maintaining fallen man’s broken relationship with God, and to ultimately ensure him about his eternal existence in heaven. The more a person becomes part of God’s plan for his life by striving to reach higher levels of dedication in his Christian calling, the more he will be blessed and established in the truth of God’s Word.
To be blessed implies an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, since He is the source of all blessings. The essence of the Christian faith is rather a personal relationship with the Saviour, than a religious system which is based upon certain rules and rituals. Christ is everything to us – our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30) – in short, our entire life. He delivers us from sin and gives us new life, new principles of living, as well as the power of the Holy Spirit to give expression to it. We are not the slaves of a set of rules and laws according to which we should live. A blessed person is somebody in whom the mind and typical actions of the Lord Jesus can be seen.
Since the birth of Jesus He was introduced as the Saviour of Israel and the world. The angel said to the shepherds of Bethlehem: “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Zechariah said that Jesus came “to give knowledge of salvation to His people” (Luke 1:77).
The name “Saviour” (Gr. Soter) is derived from sozo, which means to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well, make whole (Strong’s Concordance: 4982 and 4990 in the Addendum: Greek Dictionary). These actions include all the aspects of divine blessings which one can think of. The great Saviour has indeed come to bless broken people by redeeming them and making them whole, as well as protecting them against the adversary of our souls.
The role of the Lord Jesus as Saviour is not confined to Israel as His saving grace is offered to all people in the world. He is indeed “the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42). During Old Testament times, God already said that His Son would come for the salvation of the entire world: “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isa. 49:6).
Since only God can bless and save people, and Jesus Himself as God the Son is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, His deity should explicitly be recognised. This fact should also be evident from the way in which we address Him – not only as “Jesus” but as the “Lord Jesus”. Peter describes Him as “our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:1), and adds to this: “... for so entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:11).
Unfortunately, there were many people in Israel, particularly among the scribes, who refused to recognise the deity and Messiahship of Jesus, and took offence because He described Himself as God. “Jesus answered them, Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me? The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God” (John 10:32-33).
Because of their ignorance and wrong beliefs a large number of Israelites, and particularly their spiritual leaders, did not obtain the blessing and salvation which the Lord Jesus in the first instance offered to them. His blessings are not for those who reject Him. He said: “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me” (Matt. 11:6).
For those who abide in Christ, there is the prospect of a fruitful existence here on earth, as well as the blessed expectation on Christ’s second coming: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
The blessed hope to which Titus refers, is the rapture. The blessedness of this event is not only due to the fact that we will go to heaven when Christ comes, but also that we will escape the wrath of the coming day of the Lord (the tribulation period): “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9). We already experience the blessedness of salvation and sanctification, but we also expect the untold glory in a glorified body, as well as eternal life in the New Jerusalem into which no unrighteousness will ever enter (Rev. 21:1-7, 27).
While we are waiting on the fulfilment of promises on our future blessedness, everything possible should be done during our earthly lives to achieve the full purpose for which the Lord has placed us here. We should lead holy lives to the honour of God, while being dedicated witnesses of Christ for the salvation of souls and the expanding of His kingdom. Our usefulness may be hampered by sin, fleshliness, passivity, ignorance and worldliness. To what extent do you seriously regard the command towards holiness and serving the Lord?
The qualitative nature of our blessedness depends upon the degree to which we identify with Jesus Christ, are obedient to Him, and grow up to spiritual maturity in Him. Paul says we should grow up to “the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:13-14). Peter confirms this admonition and says: “But grow up in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Blessedness is not in the law, not in a set of rules, not in a church, and not in human efforts towards a good life – it is in Jesus Christ alone, in whom we can grow up towards all the fullness to which a merciful God has called us.
(The end).