Jesus fulfilled the law

Many believers would say in defense of keeping the law of Moses that Jesus said he didn't come to destroy the law. While Jesus did say this, lets read the whole verse to understand it in it's context.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17

Jesus didn't come to destroy the law but to fulfill it!

Even when God gave Moses the law in Exodus 20, he knew that man could never keep it, so he immediately provided a means by which he could still bless them. Read in Exodus 20:24- 26

‘You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. ‘If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it. ‘And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’

God knew that man could not keep the law so immediately after giving the law to Moses he tells him to build an alter. He gives us the reason... so he can come and bless them. The law had many curses if you did not obey, so God in his mercy gave them a way that He could still bless them. Knowing full well that man could never obey the law perfectly by his own efforts God is showing them he could still bless through blood sacrifice on an alter made without self efforts. This is why he says you shall not use cut stones (self effort) that you would use your tools on or you will profane it.

This is the same reason in Genesis that God accepted Abel's offering and not Cain's. Cain's offering reeked of self effort. Cain's offering was probably a visually beautiful arrangement of fruits and vegetables. To the natural man, Cain's beautiful fruit and vegetable arrangement looked so much better than the blood offering that Abel brought. This is the appeal of our flesh. The bible states that Cain was quite the gardener but God's way is that we can not be acceptable to God with mans efforts. This is self righteousness, not His righteousness.

Galatians tells us that the law was our schoolmaster (Gal 3:24) to bring us to Christ. To show us our transgressions and to bring us to an end of ourselves, where we realize our need for a savior. once faith (In Christ) has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (Gal 3:25). The Pharisees had made the law something they could keep, lowering its standard. When Jesus came he brought the law back to its high standard by telling them:

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: Matthew 5:20-22

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28

What was Jesus doing? Many people use Jesus words to preach law because after all Jesus was the greatest law preacher ever!! I'll give a minute while all my grace friends gasp... This is why so many misinterpret scripture without rightly dividing what Jesus was doing.

Jesus was bringing the law back to its proper standard where man would realize that he could never keep it. But come to an end of themselves and realize their need for a savior. If you are trying to live under the law, I know for certain you are living a rollercoaster life of defeat. Listen closely to this message and ask the Lord to reveal the truth of the gospel to you.

Think of the law like a mirror. If you look in the mirror and you see a blemish, you can not tell the mirror its lying. It is simply exposing your flaw, this is what the law does. But at the same time, it would be foolish to try and use the mirror to remove the blemish. In the same way, the law is holy just and good, however it was never meant to make you holy, just and good.

The law is a composite whole, if you fail at one point you've failed at all. Some will say, while I don't think under the new covenant we need to keep the 613 ritual laws... just, you know, the big ten. Many of those same people are going out to eat on Friday night or doing Saturday morning yard work in violation the Sabbath day. They would say "Oh no, were not under that one..." Okay so just the big nine? You see what we've done? Its the only thing we can do with the law is lower the standards!

As stated before, the law was our schoolmaster (Gal 3:24) to bring us to Christ. Once Christ has come you are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The fact is that the new covenant calls the law the ministry of death and condemnation.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 2 Cor 3:7

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 2 Cor 3:9

The only part of the law that was written and engraved on stones was the ten commandments.

For if that which is done away (the law) was glorious, much more that which remains (the Spirit) is glorious. 2 Cor 3:11

Earlier in the same chapter in verse 6 we find what an able minister of the new testament is:

Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6

The letter of the law produces death but the Spirit gives life. Today, our obedience is to the Spirit and obedience to faith (right believing), and not to the law.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom 8:2

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that the laws that God has now written on our hearts (Heb 8:10) is the mosaic law. Because just two verses later it states when he made the new, he made the first old. Jesus said you don't put new wine in old wine skins or it will burst! The law of sin and death was the mosaic law. The law of the Spirit of Life is the Holy Spirit.

On the first Pentecost God gave the law from Mt Sinai, and 3000 people died. On the first Pentecost after the cross, God gave the Holy Spirit and 3000 people were saved. The letter kills but the Spirit gives life.

We find in Hebrews that the law was just a shadow of good things to come. And also that the sacrifice of bulls and goats could never take away sins.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrew 10:1-4

The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins but we find out in verse 14 of Hebrews 10 that Jesus did it once and for all. The law was the shadow, Jesus is the substance !!

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

Not only did Jesus one sacrifice at the cross take away our sins but he removed the ordnances that were against us (the law).

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:14

The next verse says:

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15

The devil is called the accuser of the brethren. Have you ever wondered why the serpent didn't just tell Eve to kill Adam in the garden? Because he could not. He can only tempt with God's law. There was only one commandment at that time. Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Only after death came through sin do we see the first murder. The devil (the accuser) uses the law to accuse us. This is why Paul says here that Jesus removed the ordnances that were against us and in thus doing he's spoiled principalities and powers. The law was nailed to the cross! Where there is no law there is no transgression.

Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15

Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: Galatians 3:13

Jesus not only took away your sins he also remove the weapon that satan can use to accuse you in the future. He fulfilled the law perfectly in our place. It was His obedience and through faith in what He did that we are made the righteousness in Christ Jesus.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes. Romans 10:4

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners (Adam), so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:19

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17

The law demanded righteousness from sinful man. But grace imparts righteousness to sinful man. The law condemns the best of us and grace saves the worst of us. The law was given by Moses but grace and truth came in the person of Jesus.

Because Jesus fulfilled the law completely on your behalf when you believe in Him and His finished work by faith you receive the abundance of grace and his free gift of righteousness. Grace and Righteousness in Christ can not be earned but they are only accomplished through faith in his perfect sacrifice at Calvary.

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17

It's NOT by your law or rule keeping but by the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness (His righteousness) that you will reign in life. These are FREE but you have to receive them by faith.

Grace & Peace

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