Identifying Believers Part 2

Conduct and character are inseparable before God. Characterizing the conduct of those who have been born again will be their willingness to forgive as they have been forgiven, and to show mercy.

In the “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus was dealing with matters pertaining to His coming earthly kingdom that had been foretold in the Old Testament. Who will get to enter that kingdom is at the heart of the issue He was addressing. He was indentifying believers who will be a part of that kingdom by describing what these people are and what they will receive upon entering. Essentially it is His character that those entering the kingdom will have their character conformed to. Righteous character will result in righteous conduct. That makes the heart, the core of each person's being, the primary issue. Outward practices, conformities, and forms of religion do nothing to please God. He knows the heart of man so there is no fooling Him, and no point in trying to give the appearance of worshipping or being religious, until it is made new by being born again.