Key Kingdom Virtues

<p>Luke Johnson writes: “The Pharisees were indicted for false legal piety, they did not keep the deep moral demands of the law and prophets even as they posed as their protectors. As Money-lovers, they tried to both serve God and Mammon.” Now Jesus turns to the disciples with positive instruction concerning the demands of the Gospel.</p><p>There are four matters which Jesus addresses: </p><ol><li>The presence of scandal</li><li>The demands of forgiveness</li><li>The power of faith</li><li>The attitude of service</li></ol><p>These are not matters of comfort,  rather they show the difference between living a kingdom of God kind of life and using religion as a means of disguising sin.  </p><p>The first two are very radical statements:</p><ul><li>Scandals are necessary </li><li>They show the need for repentance and forgiveness</li><li>Forgiveness is necessary </li><li>This demonstrates the power and presence of God’s character in a life</li></ul><p>The response of the shocked disciples is, how can we do that?</p><ul><li>Jesus reply is twofold:</li><li>to focus on the importance of faith in a believers life</li><li>to fulfill the purpose of God in service and obedience</li><li>This is in direct opposition to the self-justifying attitudes of the Pharisees </li></ul><p>This reply begs the question, how do I get this kind of faith?</p><p>            The righteous shall live by faith</p><p>            The empowerment of the Holy Spirit enables us to have mustard seed faith</p><p>            The confrontation in Jerusalem, and the start of a new era is coming into focus</p><p>Your response to sin and scandals, will determine how your spiritual walk is governed. The objective here is not perfection, but humility and love motivating your actions. </p>