Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings
• What is this series about?
• An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors
identified in the New Testament as “blessed”
• A look at Christian conduct and characteristics
that will enrich our lives with lasting joy
• A look at the condition of those who lack
these qualities
• Outline (Matthew 5:7)
• “Blessed are the merciful”
• “For they shall receive mercy”
• The cursed life
• Blessed are the merciful (Matt. 5:7)
• Mercy (definitions)
• Webster: “kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could
be treated harshly”
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary: “compassion for the miserable”
• Vine’s Dictionary: “the outward manifestation of pity”
• Mercy is the demonstration of compassion
• Helping the helpless, forgiving the sinner
• Examples of how we are to be merciful
• 2 Kings 6:21-23 – feeding the enemy
• Luke 10:30-37 – as the good Samaritan who aided a Jew
• Matt. 18:33 – as a king forgave his servant’s debts
• For they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7)
• God has been extremely merciful to mankind
• “HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO
FEAR HIM” (LUKE 1:50)
• God offers mercy to all (Rom. 11:30-32)
• God is “rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4)
• God saves us “according to His mercy” (Titus 3:4-6)
• We have a sympathetic high priest (Heb. 4:15-16)
• God’s promise: “merciful to their iniquities” (Heb. 8:12)
“Be merciful, as your Father is merciful”
(Lk. 6:36)
• The cursed life: Cursed are the merciless…
• “The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel
man does himself harm” (Prov. 11:17)
• Matt. 18:33-34 – punishment on the slave who did not
mercifully forgive
• Matt. 23:23 – Woe upon those who neglect mercy
• “Judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no
mercy” (Jms. 2:13)
• Summary
• To be blessed with mercy from God, we must be
merciful to others
• The active demonstration of compassion and
forgiveness, just as God has demonstrated
compassion and extended forgiveness to us
• The unmerciful should not expect mercy from God
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall receive mercy!
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Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34)
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Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9)
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Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27)
Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)
Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21)
Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10)
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Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37)
Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12)
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Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12)
Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32)
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That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9)
Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey
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2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36
Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly