New Humanity: Blessed are those who are Persecuted for Righteousness Sake

The Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:1-12 have often been experienced as either frustrating idealism (I could never be like this) or oppressive legalism (if I do this, then God will love and accept me). The truth is that they are neither. The Beatitudes are what happens when Jesus gets hold of our lives. When this happens, we are transformed into the people we were created and redeemed to be.