Page Theee: “Blessed Is …” 05/27/2012
My question is this. What does it mean practically speaking?
First, it’s a term that’s used to describe a condition that human beings experience and enjoy. Jesus says “Blessed are …” and describes that blessedness as it pertains to a person.
Second, it’s a God-given condition as opposed to something we attain to. And the reason is simply this. God is the “blessed God.” And it is He Who is the Source of all blessedness. And the “blessed God” extends that blessed condition to the likes of us. Hallelujah!
II Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;…”
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:…”
I Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,…”
Third, blessedness is something that pertains to our relationship to God; in particular those who is near to God. There is a Greek word that is used to describe “earthly fleeting happiness.” [Found in “Theological Dictionary of the NT” by Kittel; Vol. 4 and page 366]. But it’s not the one used by Jesus, Paul, James, John, or Peter in the NT.
When it comes to your relationship to God, happiness is experienced by those who are trusting Him; those whose sins have been completely forgiven, those who have been declared righteous in His sight.
In Romans chapter four, the Apostle Paul quotes one of the Psalms of David, Psalm (Psalm 32). Here’s Romans 4:6. “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
So, you are only happy in the sense of blessed if and when you have a saving relationship with God. Just having the Father/child relationship with Him puts you into a blessed state.
First, then, blessedness is a term that describes people.
Second, it’s a God-given condition.
Third, it’s a term that describes those who are in a right relationship with God.
Fourth, then, blessed is not just something you feel at the moment. The way we often use the word today is like this. “I feel happy now because I just won the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes and have a million dollars in the bank.” That is not the idea of happiness that’s found in your Bible. You see, it’s a condition of being in a right relationship with God; not a feeling that you’ve gotten because something has gone well for you.
The idea is that you don’t find your “blessedness” merely in the condition of having a large measure of earthly possessions or things that bring you temporary happiness. You do find it, though, in knowing a personal, loving Heavenly Father Who always has your best interests at heart.
Fifth, blessedness means you can bear the troubles of your life with true spiritual strength. Here’s how James uses it in his Epistle. James 1:12. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” The Christian who “endures the temptations and trials of this life” are counted as “blessed.”
And here’s James 5:10. James 5:10 “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
(11) Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” As you can see here; this is one of the few places where we have the word translated “happy” instead of “blessed.”
C.S. Lewis puts it this way. “I haven’t always been a Christian. I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” [Found on www.charltonteaching.blogspot.com].
You see, being an enduring Christian; one who faces his troubles with confidence in the LORD is one who is counted “blessed.”
First, it’s a term that’s used to describe a condition that human beings experience and enjoy. Jesus says “Blessed are …” and describes that blessedness as it pertains to a person.
Second, it’s a God-given condition as opposed to something we attain to. And the reason is simply this. God is the “blessed God.” And it is He Who is the Source of all blessedness. And the “blessed God” extends that blessed condition to the likes of us. Hallelujah!
II Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;…”
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:…”
I Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,…”
Third, blessedness is something that pertains to our relationship to God; in particular those who is near to God. There is a Greek word that is used to describe “earthly fleeting happiness.” [Found in “Theological Dictionary of the NT” by Kittel; Vol. 4 and page 366]. But it’s not the one used by Jesus, Paul, James, John, or Peter in the NT.
When it comes to your relationship to God, happiness is experienced by those who are trusting Him; those whose sins have been completely forgiven, those who have been declared righteous in His sight.
In Romans chapter four, the Apostle Paul quotes one of the Psalms of David, Psalm (Psalm 32). Here’s Romans 4:6. “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
So, you are only happy in the sense of blessed if and when you have a saving relationship with God. Just having the Father/child relationship with Him puts you into a blessed state.
First, then, blessedness is a term that describes people.
Second, it’s a God-given condition.
Third, it’s a term that describes those who are in a right relationship with God.
Fourth, then, blessed is not just something you feel at the moment. The way we often use the word today is like this. “I feel happy now because I just won the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes and have a million dollars in the bank.” That is not the idea of happiness that’s found in your Bible. You see, it’s a condition of being in a right relationship with God; not a feeling that you’ve gotten because something has gone well for you.
The idea is that you don’t find your “blessedness” merely in the condition of having a large measure of earthly possessions or things that bring you temporary happiness. You do find it, though, in knowing a personal, loving Heavenly Father Who always has your best interests at heart.
Fifth, blessedness means you can bear the troubles of your life with true spiritual strength. Here’s how James uses it in his Epistle. James 1:12. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” The Christian who “endures the temptations and trials of this life” are counted as “blessed.”
And here’s James 5:10. James 5:10 “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
(11) Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” As you can see here; this is one of the few places where we have the word translated “happy” instead of “blessed.”
C.S. Lewis puts it this way. “I haven’t always been a Christian. I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” [Found on www.charltonteaching.blogspot.com].
You see, being an enduring Christian; one who faces his troubles with confidence in the LORD is one who is counted “blessed.”