CCCZion

Everyone should be quick to listen . . . and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20)

It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Jesus, in Matthew 5:30)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Jesus, in Matthew 6:15)

“This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ‘

Matthew 6:9-13

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

What’s lost is nothing to what’s found, and all the death that ever was would scarcely fill a cup. (Frederick Buechner)

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 5:1-4)

Give legalism a try? An interesting thought from Pastor Mike Woodruff: “Legalism is an ugly thing, but I wish everyone would give it a try. Why? Because only those who have tried really hard to be really good know how really bad they are. Many think we sin because we’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. No. We sin because we are sinners. It’s important to understand what we are up against, otherwise we might think we can be rescued by a coach or an example instead of a Savior. Think I am wrong? Give legalism a try.”

Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

(Jesus, in Matthew 5:20)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-16

The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best-known of the teaching of Jesus. It is the nearest thing to a manifesto that he ever uttered. No two words sum up its intention better than the expression ‘Christian counter-culture.’ (John Stott)

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:1-12