Christ Fulfills the Law - 1

Discipleship – 3
The disciple of Christ: broken of self will, self-sufficiency and self centeredness; emptied of self to be filled with Christ; digging deeply into God’s resources to live Christ’s abundant life; the ultimate well being, better than riches, power and fame; becomes a person of great value to themselves, to God and to people with whom they come in contact. They are like salt that flavors, preserves, heals, melts coldness and stimulates thirst for Godly living. And they become light, dispelling darkness and fear, removing ignorance and prejudice, and illuminating Christ’s way to abundant living.

Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount” now takes a shift. From the topic of discipleship, Christ talks about His being the fulfillment of the Law (the Old Testament,) not doing away with the Law.

When you think of Law, what comes to your mind? The Big Ten Commandments: No other gods beside God; no idolatry; no “swearing;” keep the Sabbath holy; honor parents; don’t murder; don’t commit adultery; don’t steal; don’t lie about your neighbor; don’t covet.

Or do the sundry list of laws as recorded in the first five books of the Bible come to mind? Like: “You shall not round off the side growth of your heads, not harm the edges of your beard,” Leviticus 19:27

I suspect all of us see the fallacy of the pharisee’s list of hundreds of laws and don’t even bother to consider that pharisaical, hypocritcal legalistic means to following Christ. Their focus was following an external set of man-made rules instead of facing their inward sins. Not unlike the extreme Calvinists or Wesleyans who pound the pulpit hard pronouncing their doctrine as the only real truth, often not facing inner sins of pride, resentment, etc. An external, shallow, debilitating system of following God.

An example of a significant Old Testament “law passage” is:
Psalm 19: 7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

We'll examine "law" more tomorrow.