Title: Jesus, the Fulfiller of the Law
Contents Today's text, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish it, but to complete it." I know that these words are difficult to understand at first glance.
This is because we who live in the New Testament age have some objection to the word 'Law' and regard it as unnecessary remnants of the Old Testament.
But didn't the Lord say that He would perfect the Law and the Prophets? No, he is more emphasizing that this is the purpose of coming to this earth.
Therefore, we should not neglect this important word or make mistakes in grasping its meaning.
Law and Prophets
Then, we must first understand the meaning of the law and the prophets that the Lord spoke of.
If we understand the fundamental spirit of the law, we cannot think of the law as being necessary in the Old Testament times.
The law is the corporation that awakens the will of God first.
Without the law, it is impossible to understand God's disposition. Also, without the law, there is no realization of sin, so the law is an instrument that leads to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
In other words, without the law, people do not understand sin. Those who have realized their sins through the law will see the grace of Christ's forgiveness.
That is why the Apostle Paul said that the law itself is good. Also, the law can be thought of as a commandment in terms of the New Testament concept.
In this way, the law is the Word of God itself.
Only through the law can we know God.
God has revealed Himself to this law and made it known. So Jesus is saying that he did not come to abolish this law. Rather, it is the fact that he came to complete it.
So what is a prophet?
He said he came to complete the prophet!
The Old Testament prophets rebuked the people who fell into sin and proclaimed God's will.
On the other hand, he was in charge of important tasks of prophesying the coming Messiah.
Among these functions, if you think about the law and the prophet today, you can see that the prophet here is mainly introduced as a reminder of the law and rebuking the people who have departed from the law.
Jesus is emphasizing what to teach and what to do, even if it is the smallest commandment.
So, historically, what did the prophets mainly do?
Aren't they the ones who shouted that they would return to the Lord, and thus become a law-abiding people?
Their cry is that Jesus will now complete.
How do you fulfill the law and the prophets?
Now let's think about how to complete the Law and the Prophets.
First of all, some people will think like this.
The requirement of the law is to keep it, but looking at the history of the Old Testament, people could not keep it well. Therefore, it is sometimes interpreted to mean that Christ came to this earth to fulfill the requirements of the law through death and resurrection.
Then we would be the result of making the Lord's death so meaningless.
Also, the grace of the Lord can be interpreted in conjunction with the abolitionism theory. In other words, just as the Lord has perfected the requirements of the law itself, Christians no longer have to keep the law.
It can be seen that this trend is a general phenomenon for Christians today.
In many people's subconscious mind, because they believe in the merits of the cross, they think that the requirements of the law have been fulfilled by their faith itself. Even though they are still living a life that is contrary to the law and commandments.
These evils will become important contents that must be corrected in this era.
Consider how the Lord perfects the law and the prophets.
We know that we can grasp the will of the Lord to make perfect through the words of verse 18 that immediately follow the text.
“Truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one jot or tittle of the law will pass away, but all will be fulfilled.”
Also, as shown in verse 19, "He who forsakes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others in the same way will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Through this, the Lord shows very clearly how to perfect the law.
How is the Lord going to perfect the Law and the Prophets?
The answer is that those who believe and follow the Lord will not only believe and depend on the merits of the cross, but will now actively and actively keep even the smallest things of the law because they have faith.
To perfect means to satisfy the original requirements and God's will by keeping the law itself by all Christians.
how do you perfect
How will Jesus make our lives a people in the midst of the demands of the law and the truth, the long cry of the prophets?
It will first be the love of the cross.
In fact, those who realize the love of the cross and live with confidence in that love will be able to satisfy the requirements of the law.
When many sinners and prodigals realize the love of the cross, they give their lives for the Lord who died for them, and change their lives according to the requirements of the law.
The Lord knew that those who realized the love of the cross would now perfect the law.
Those who love me will keep my commandments, and those who have my commandments and keep them are the ones who love me, as the Gospel of John says.
Consider the apostle Paul.
He took the lead in capturing, imprisoning, and killing believers in Jesus Christ, and he was proud of himself as a Pharisee and his many learnings must have always been his pride.
However, when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and realized the love of the cross, he regarded all his wealth, honor, and knowledge as waste, and only Christ wanted to be honored.
Isn't it that the Lord came to this earth to carry the cross and bear the atoning death?
Jesus, who will show such love and sacrifice, well knew that if anyone realized that love, he would lead a life of total devotion, a life that perfects the law, like the Apostle Paul.
Anyone in the Old Testament would have considered the law as burdensome and heavy.
But what about after Jesus came to this earth?
Now you will come to love the law voluntarily and positively, and to obey it.
Who among those who received the love of the cross considers the law burdensome?
Also, now the Lord gives the Holy Spirit to the saints to make them obey and follow the law according to the teachings of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is like a prophet, reminding us of the necessity and spirit of the law every day and leading us to become law-keepers.
As I said before, the law is like a commandment, and you can see that it is the word itself.
It is the fact that these laws are kept and perfected only by those who are moved by the Holy Spirit and who realize and are convinced of the death of the Lord on the cross.
We hope that we understand the Lord's plan well and that there is no misunderstanding in the gospel.
A review on the misunderstanding of these words
As we have seen so far, the saying that the Lord did not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to complete it cannot and should not be interpreted in any way.
Because the Lord is so wise and knows all the future history of human beings until the end of the world, He knew well that many people would misrepresent His death.
To warn against such a thing, the Lord spoke as in the text.
Look at the present reality.
In the confession of faith that Christians love the cross, they are not moving toward a life that fulfills the law.
They seem to think that simply believing in the cross has already fulfilled the requirements of the law.
This is truly the greatest tragedy of Christianity.
Even though the Lord was concerned about this very part and told me not to think that I came to abolish the law or the prophets.
Let us not forget that it is only in the observance of the law that we perfect the law and the prophets.
False gospel almightyism is making it look like you just have to believe in the merits of the cross even if you don't keep the law. Of course, that belief is an intellectual belief, and it is a formal belief.
Because true faith has the power to keep the law.
Remember, as I said, the law refers to the commandments.
Let us now remember this concern of the Lord and consider whether we are now living a life that fulfills the requirements of the law.
This is because the Lord truly came to this earth to fulfill all the commandments, that is, the law revealed in the Bible.
power to perfect the law
Now, one last and perhaps some repetition, where does the Lord's power to perfect the law rest?
I have told you that it is possible only through the love of the Lord Jesus and the Word.
Only by pouring out love upon us, the Lord is making the original requirements of the law fulfilled through those to whom this love has been poured out.
Only those who love the Lord fervently will love the law and commandments.
The cry of the prophet was also a harsh rebuke to obey the law, and even this rebuke is the result of fulfilling the request of the prophet through love.
Now think about whether you are in love with the law.
Consider the earnestness of your heart to cherish and cherish the commandments of the Lord.
Only when this heart is burned with us can we obey the law of Christ.
I don't know if the Lord's commandments and laws are a stumbling block to you. So that it does not become an obstacle, in other words, whether it is a burden on your life.
If the word of the Lord becomes a burden and seems to trouble my life and to redeem it, then there is something wrong with your love.
Your words are sweet like honey, and your commandments and ordinances are lovely, so we should not only meditate on them day and night, but also live by them.
If we do not obey this law and the requirements of the prophets, this command to keep and obey the Word, we have no hope.
Our faith is revealed as a lie, and your faith life is completely unacceptable to God.
We would like to conclude this verse by thinking of Cain and Abel.
Cain was a man who offered sacrifices without obeying the law. On the other hand, Abel kept the law and offered sacrifices.
How would you know?
Cain lived an evil life. Because he lived an evil life, that habit was ingrained into his body, and he was burned with envy and jealousy, blushing because God did not accept his sacrifice. He also stoned his only brother, Abel, to death.
The spirit of the law is not to do evil to your neighbors.
However, Cain, who could not normally meet the requirements of the law, did not hesitate to commit envy and murder.
We look back on whether we are doing such worship or profession of faith like Cain did, and we earnestly pray that your faith will become a living faith that keeps the law and obeys the commandments. End.