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Matthew 5:3-10 – The Beatitudes to Live Like God
Focusing on God’s attributes should not lead to a theoretical, impractical, ivory tower, sitting in the balcony Christianity. As seen in Paul (i.e., Romans, Colossians), theology precedes practical living as the foundation precedes the walls and roof. Today’s Christians want “how to” sermons and books with step by step instructions. “Give me books on finances, seminars on marriage and sex.” They want to be competent Christians without the character. What is often left out is we learn “how to” by learning “how to” be like God. That is why Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount with the attributes of God as described in the Beatitudes. Jesus’ instructions are the greatest “how to” book every written, but it begins with how to be like God. People today want to bring God down to our level by making Christianity just a life better lived with God than without God. Jesus wants to bring us up to God where life is better lived like God than unlike God.
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