The Sermon on the Mount

Animals are probably happiest when they live as animals in the natural world God created. Once people have shut them in, no surroundings however fine and no food however tasty will make them as happy as running free across open country. It is the same with people, whom God also created. However much someone owns in the world, true freedom cannot be found in it. With the world’s wealth, power and honor a person may live comfortably, but none of it can become the true joy of the soul. Human beings can be happy only in the word of God, and can know true freedom only in Christ. The word God gave us to bring that true freedom is the Sermon on the Mount. Just as the natural world is beautiful when living animals and trees are there together, so the human soul can live a holy life only when it has the word of life.

In Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus showed us what kind of life we must live to enjoy true happiness. When the disciples failed to live by his word they were afraid, but when they obeyed it they were able to live strong and courageous lives. That is what the Lord’s word is like. The grace of God is this: the more tightly you hold on to it, the stronger and more courageous you become. Our faith is the kind that grows weak when it chases the visible blessings of the world. But if we obey the Lord’s word, we can be strong and courageous, like Joshua, who took possession of the land of Canaan. The eight sayings of wisdom that Jesus spoke are the word of life that helps us live strong and courageous lives. I hope you will put the word into practice in your life, confessing that because Christ helps you, you can do it through the Holy Spirit. As you practice this word, there will be people who persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, but even those words are counted in the reward you will receive, so I hope you will rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Those who went before us in faith lived by the word even under persecution that was hard to endure, and that is why you can live a life of faith now: you are receiving that blessing. Now it is your turn to keep to that road of faith. There is only one way to do it: obey the word and walk the way of truth. I have put an appendix at the back of this book. I included it because I wanted to give you a little help as you live by faith. There are moments when it is hard to tell what a believer’s life should look like.

But if you think it through with the word at the center, you will find it is not hard at all. In a world full of spiritual darkness, hold up the word of Christ, who is our wisdom, and shine it ahead, and the way will surely come into view.

I urge you to walk the way of Christ, in how you live and in your wisdom, within the word of the Sermon on the Mount. If you walk the way of truth, the Holy Spirit will protect you and keep you. Let go of yourself at the center of your life and set Jesus Christ there instead, and it is remarkable how every answer in the world comes into view. Christ has already given you every answer you are looking for. The only difference is whether you look for that answer in the word or in the world.

I give thanks to the believers of Watercourse Church, who devoted themselves beyond their strength to publish this book. God knows the love of these believers, who carried out their mission for his work, so I believe he will let them bear much fruit to fill the kingdom of God. I earnestly hope that you who are reading this book will grow ever richer in wisdom in the word, and that by a faith that has become light you will show the glory of God.

August 2009
Cho Chun-sook, Pastor of Watercourse Church