I have been led lately to study the sermon on the mount and have found this is a critical element missing from most christians walk. They are not nice suggestions, but a way of life.
Twenty years ago I read Bonoeffer's book and loved it. I did not remember it was about the sermon on the mount, but felt led to read it again and there is was again, the sermon on the mount.
I feel like I've been born again, again.
Goldminer, it really is nice having you back posting again.
One of my favorite books, probably read it four or five times over the years............Frank
Thank guys. You would not believe what a busy person I am. I own a restaurant, do photography and have an online antique store.
I love this forum and have determined to spend more time here.
When I was growing up, it was somewhat inferred that the purpose of the sermon on the mount was to bring the Jewish people under total subjection of the law, and that it was somewhat rhetorical. I have recently been blown away in my own walk when I accepted by faith that it actually was not rhetoric, but it was rather our Kings manifesto. The way he expected us to be. What a blessing. I have Cost of Discipleship on my shelf, I still need to read it. So many recommend it.
I would strongly recommend you get on with it. It has changed my life in a wonderful way. The entire church needs this truth firmly implanted in their hearts. It's all about love.
When I was growing up, it was somewhat inferred that the purpose of the sermon on the mount was to bring the Jewish people under total subjection of the law, and that it was somewhat rhetorical. I have recently been blown away in my own walk when I accepted by faith that it actually was not rhetoric, but it was rather our Kings manifesto. The way he expected us to be. What a blessing. I have Cost of Discipleship on my shelf, I still need to read it. So many recommend it.
The sermon on the mount is one of my favorite passages as well. I have lived in Matt. 5 several times in my life. Quite the contrary to what you describe, the sermon on the mount, esp. Matt. 5, clearly demonstrates that in order to be righteous through the law you have to be perfect in your self like God, which is an obvious impossibility.
Have never read the book, but I think I will put it on my list of books to read.
Travis
The sermon on the mount expresses how impossible it is to be a true Christian.
"Love your enemies"
Impossible.
"If you lust after a woman"
All fornicators.
"If you hate.."
Murderer.
Just goes to show that nobody can be a Christian by their own strength. All the power to live out the Christian life comes from the work of the Spirit within us.
Thus, NO FLESH can glory in the work of sanctification.
Salvation is all about God, saving us for His own glory, displaying Christ as glorious above all things.
It is so true impossible in ourselves, but what is impossible for us is possible with God. That sure gives me comfort.
The reason the world thinks the church is full of hypocrites is because they do not see the sermon on the mount in action very often, if at all. They see all the same traits that are in the world and they already have that.
It is time to walk the walk and Bonhoeffer's book goes a long way in giving understanding of what we are called to.
I would strongly recommend you get on with it. It has changed my life in a wonderful way. The entire church needs this truth firmly implanted in their hearts. It's all about love.
After I responded to this post last night I did get on with it Goldminer. Thanks for the encouragement.
The Sermon on the mount not only deals with man's outward behavior but the motives of the heart. The sermon on the mount convicts each and every one of us, because there is only one that has ever obeyed these teaching perfectly. Only Christ can live the sermon on the Mount, and only as we die to self and allow Christ to live His life in us and through us will we be able to obey the teachings of Jesus.
Mike
Way to go Areadymind. I pray you will be really blessed by it.
AbideinHim, you are right on. Thank God, "of God are we in Christ Jesus" 1Cor. 1:30. He will live His life through us as we yield in obedience to His word. He grace will be sufficient for all things. Not only does He give us these fantastic promises, but He lives them through us. Yet not I....
Here is a quote I loved already, "Does not our preaching contain to much of our own opinions and convictions and too little of Jesus Christ? Jesus invites all those that labor and are heavy laden, and nothing could be so contrary to our best intentions, and so fatal to our proclamation, as to drive men away from him by forcing upon them man-made dogmas. If we did so, we should make the love of Jesus Christ a laughing-stock to Christians and pagans alike. It is no use taking refuge in abstract discussions, or trying to make excuses, so let us get back to the Scriptures, to the Word and call of Jesus Christ himself. Let us try to get away from the poverty and pettiness of our own little convictions and problems, and seek the wealth and splendor which are vouchsafed to us in Jesus Christ." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship.
I am so happy you are digging in. There is a lot of treasure to found between those covers. I am glad you are sharing what is speaking to you.
It is no use taking refuge in abstract discussions, or trying to make excuses,
I appreciate this entire quote. The segment I posted here is heard so often. One could add that the main excuse one hears is that 'I talked to my preacher about this and he says..."
Thanks for the post.
ginnyrose
The reason we see all this "discussion" is it keeps us from following through. We can spend eternity disecting, disputing and analizing and then we don't have to do it because we don't understand it yet. However as Bonhoeffer said, and Jesus, just get on with it. Love needs no explanation, just manifestation.
We don't need to analize love, we just need to love. As you did it unto the least of these my brethern ye did it unto me. What you want others to do to you, do for them. It is in losing our lives that we find them. Bind up, lift up, strengthen, heal, encourage, forgive, show mercy, prefer others as better than yourself, give, listen, etc.
We are our brother's keeper or He never knew us.
Not two minutes ago, did I put down my copy of Bonhoeffers, "Life Together", because i desired to write letters to my brethern, thanking some of them, and asking that God bless them, because they took the care and love to minister to me after a no good awful day. (before reading the first 36 pages of Life Together, i was recieveing Marvelous Fruit from the Psalm 90 to Psalm 100 "collection", and read until Psalm 102, which is one of the seven 'penitential' Psalms, a Glorious Word indeed)
and i was reading Bonhoeffer, divide the concept of human love against the Reality of Divine Love IN Jesus Christ, my heart was soaring at this teaching, and i thought to myself, "where is my copy of 'The Cost of Discipleship'?!?
(God has me in a holding pattern (long boring story) and i only have 1/40th of my library...here) and i'm looking and looking, and i was able to find "Letters from Prison", which i must admit i have not yet read to date, and i see this thread!!
forgive me for blithering, but i just had to give thanks to God, for His Ministering Touch on my head, and on the brethern's head. Praise His Holy Name, His mercies are new everyday!
now i'll read the thread, in Jesus' love, neil
Beloved,
if you havent, pick up Bonhoeffers "Life Together", i believe you will find much fruit within it, its a very simple, yet complex work, not dense and "inacessible", but so simple, thats it complex....know what i mean?
in Him, neil xo
That would be sister Goldminer. For two reason's I was raised in Alaska and did a bit of that, and two, I have been saved since 1976 and have been in constant search for the vein of gold God offers to those who will search for it. When it comes to books I have some of the greatest treasures on planet earth outside of the bible. Another of my favorites is Art Katz' " Apostolic Foundations". What a awesome book.
I myself read both "The Cost of Discipleship" and "Life Together" twenty years ago, but felt of God to pick them both up again recently. I feel like I have been born again, again, as I said before. I just finished both for a second time, and feel as someone on facebook said, "I will undoubtedly read this book, The Cost of Discipleship", for the rest of my life. I too was very moved by "Life Together". I do believe God is saying something if we have ears to hear.
I have also been led to read all of George Warnock's book. I also see the why about those already.
If you can't find your book, let me know and I will send you mine. I will get another off ebay.
It is so good to find people excited about these books. I have shared them at church, but have got very little reaction. Dying isn't popular these days, is it. But oh the glorious fruit to those who embrace it.
I am so happy you shared Natan4Jesus and all the rest too. God bless you.
Yes by the way there is a Bonhoeffer page on facebook. Unfortunately nobody seems to say much on it.
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