Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 56)
Introduction:
1. In addition to "visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction," "pure and undefiled religion before God" includes "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). 2. We are presently examining instructions from God's Word that will help us to remain free from the world's spots. 3. In this lesson we are concentrating on several principles that relate to the 4th Beatitude in Matthew 5:6 -- "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." 4. Because righteousness is the opposite of worldliness, pursuing righteousness plays a key role in keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.
Discussion:
I. LET US FIRST CONSIDER SOME GENERAL MATTERS THAT RELATE TO "RIGHTEOUSNESS"
A. Righteousness: "integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness, correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting" B. On his own, man is not righteous (Romans 3:10). C. The Scriptures show how and when God makes us righteous (Romans 6:3-4, 17-18). D. After we become His children, God wants us to live righteously (Titus 2:11-12). E. Those who live righteously enjoy great blessings, including: 1. the necessities of life (Matthew 6:33) 2. assurance that our prayers are answered (James 5:16b; 1 Peter 3:12) 3. eternal life (Matthew 25:46). F. According to these passages, "being filled with righteousness" is extremely important.
II. THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US HOW TO BE FILLED WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS
A. We must not be filled with our own righteousness. 1. Our righteousness must please God (Matthew 5:19-20). 2. Self-righteousness is condemned in the Bible (Matthew 9:10-13). B. We must "hunger" and "thirst" after righteousness. 1. Hunger: "to seek with earnest desire" 2. Thirst: "to desire earnestly" 3. The tense of these words is important. a. The tense indicates present and continuous action -- "they which are hungering and thirsting." b. In essence, Jesus was teaching: "Blessed are those who are craving and longing after righteousness, for they shall be filled with righteousness" (see 1 John 3:7). 4. Jesus set the proper example for us to follow (John 4:34). C. The first 3 Beatitudes will motivate us to hunger and thirst after righteousness. 1. A person who is "poor in spirit" is aware of his unrighteousness. 2. A person who "mourns" regrets his condition, and he has a constant desire to improve. 3. A person who is "meek" is submissive to God and His will. 4. These 3 Beatitudes will lead us to crave and long after righteousness. D. Practical suggestions include: 1. studying and meditating upon God's Word regularly (1 Peter 2:2) 2. praying regularly (1 Thessalonians 5:17) 3. worshiping regularly and associating with Christians (Acts 2:42) 4. staying focused (Philippians 3:13-15).
