Hebrews 10:22 – Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
This is a very needful and good thing for each of us to do.
Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Psalms 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
The closer we get the cleaner we become.
We have been washed because of His mercy
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Being near to Him is more than just paying lip service
Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Humility is necessary to draw close
James 4:7-10 – 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Only God can create a clean heart
Stop trying and start allowing
This cleansing is necessary for our final delivery
Ephesians 5:26-27 – That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Let Us Hold Fast
Do not let someone else get your reward –
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Be well grounded in the scriptures and in your faith.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Our hope is in things to come – Don’t lose hope
Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Remember, God is the one who keeps you, so do not let go.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
God is faithful even when we fail –
We are called to fellowship
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
I John 1:3-4 – 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
HE WILL DO IT. Your future is totally secure – Live like it!!
1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
He secured you before the world was even created – Think about how secure you are.
We will continue our Hebrews study by looking at another key phrase. The term “Let Us” is seen 11 times. We will examine this as we consider what we need to be doing as believers in these difficult days.
Let us Fear
Hebrews 4:1 – Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
A. Fear here means to be afraid of
Ignorance of God’s word – Hebrews 2:1 – Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Failure to understand the promises to believers – Romans 16:17-20 – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
We come up short of the rest (totally trust in Christ to sustain us and complete us. – Rest appears 8 times in this chapter
A.. In our salvation – Christ alone and nothing else Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.–
B. Rest in the eternal salvation we have.Hebrews 4:5-6 -And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. – 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: –
C. Hebrews 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.– Jesus (Joshua means savior) could not give rest to God’s people. He pointed to another. Hebrew name is Joshua and the Greek name is Jesus.
D. We will enter into our heavenly home – real joy real peace, Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.–
E. Rest – Being complete in Him without works being a burden.
Learn to enjoy the journey
God has done everything necessary.
We cannot earn it even a little.
Hebrews 4: 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Satisfied with being in the will of God.
Satisfied with serving (Laboring for) Him.
Satisfied with totally trusting Him. Learn to sit at Jesus feet.
Satisfied with being used of Him
I Corinthians 9:24-27 – Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Keep the goal in mind at all times – His reward to the faithful
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
We are to keep ourselves clean – pure
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Romans 6:18-19 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Let us Labor
Hebrews 4:11 – Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Invest your time working for the right thing John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Our salvation should produce works that lead us to fulfill the will of God. Philippians 2:12-16 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
We should be glad to invest in His work –
without mudrmurings (indicates an inner complaining, silent resentment)
disputings. (inner argument with yourself about doing the will of God)
Follow God’s formula for spiritual growth
II Peter 1:5-11 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Keep in remembrance where we have come from.
We will become fruitful in our Christian walk
We will triumphantly enter into His kingdom because of the King.
The Lord has promised good to me His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.
His promised Goodness –
Psalm 23:6 – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
My secure hope in His word –
Hebrews 6:18-20 – That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Psalm 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
II Peter 1:16-21 – For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
My Shield
2 Samuel 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Psalm 144:1-15 – ( A Psalm of David.) Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
My portion (my share)
Psalm 119:57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Psalm 142:5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
Lamentations 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
The Enduring promises of God
Psalms
89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Psalm 136 1-26 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 O give thanks u the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
As we conclude our messages on God’ amazing grace, we will look at the freedom that this grace has generated in our have gone from bondage to freedom. We have gone from the lies and hatred of one father to the love and truth of another Father. We have left one family to join another. We have gone from performing to accepting. From rejection to acceptance. From death to real life. Praise God for His marvelous, glorious, never ending AMAGING GRACE. To God be the glory.
My chains are gone, I have been set free.
Romans 6:1-7 – What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
We have been delivered from a life of sinful practice.
We have been delivered from the penalty of sin forever.
Our old man has been crucified – the old man has died and a new one has replaced the old man –2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Sin no longer has dominion over me –
Daily Verse.net Romans 6:14
DOMINION: 1) to be lord of, to rule, to exercise influence upon, to have power over
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
I Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And like a flood His mercy reigns –
“God cannot clear the guilty until atonement is made. Mercy is what we need and that is what we receive at the foot of the cross.”
Billy Graham
There is no limit to GOD’S mercy.
Heartlight.org Psalm 100:5
Every day you wake up it due to His continuing mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23 – 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Even when this life is over, His mercy still lifts us up
I Corinthians 15:51-58 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Unending Love, Amazing Grace
Romans 8:31-39 – What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We can never be separated from His grace.
We can never be separated from His love.
We can never again be charged guilty for our sin.
We are forever conquerors because of Jesus Christ.
As we read this passage of scripture, we see some very important discoveries. Galatians is a book that defends justification by faith in Christ alone and warns against reverting back to the Law as a means of salvation. Verse 19 is a key verse in the law vs grace argument. The key phase being “till the seed should come”. The Law was never given to bring salvation, but to lead one to the one who could bring salvation.
Galatian 3:19 – Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Wherefore – why was the law given?
It was added because of the sin already present.
The law as given to show the depravity of man because of man’s sin.
Man is by nature (naturally) a sinner.
All the law could do was reveal the sinfulness of man.
The law is just a reflector of the sin that is already in man’s heart. It mirrors what is already there.
A mirror lets you see what is outside, but a mirror cannot clean what is on outside.
The law does not wash away sin.
The law only proves that man is indeed a sinner, incapable of keeping the law or saving himself.
It was temporarily till. Till literally means the temporary will be replaced by something else.
The something else was a somebody else, Jesus Christ.
He fulfilled the law.
Hebrews 10:1-10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Once for all. That settled it. There is no more offering for sin. He paid the bill in full once and for all.
In this passage, we learn that no sacrifice under the old covenant offered year by year can save the lost. It is impossible for any other sacrifice but Jesus to take away sin. God the Father is not eternally satisfied with burnt offerings or sacrifices as a payment for sin. Please note verse Hebrews 10:8. THE OFFERINGS MADE UNDER THE LAW DO NOT SATISFY THE JUSTICE OF GOD. ONLY JESUS SATISFIED THE FATHER AS A SUBSTITUED (PAYMENT) FOR SIN.
Isaiah 53:11
Jesus came to do the Father’s will.
Note Hebrews 10:9 (Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second) this verse tells us He came to remove the first covenant and or establish (set up) the second and permanent one. The old was not perfect in that it could not produce salvation. The second was perfect in that it is the only way to receive salvation.
John 14:6 -Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. We are made acceptable in Christ, not in our own merit or works.
Let’s look at three key words in Galatians 3:19 –
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:19
Added – To add means something else existed first and remains. Something is added to what already existed, it does not replace what existed. In this case, sin existed and the law was added. Sin still remained. The Law was not a stand alone document.
Till – The word signifies a limited time. It would last until it was over. If I announce that we are going to have workday on Saturday from 8 till 12 one could rightfully assume that at 12:00 we are finished with the work. We worked until 12:00 then we were finished. The law was established until.
Seed – The law was added until the seed came. The seed fulfills the Law, He does not add to the Law.
Matthew 5:17-20 tells us who the seed is. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 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.
The law was not abolished, it was fulfilled.
Its purpose today is the same.
It points out the sinfulness of man.
It does not save sinful man.
The righteousness of man is never enough to satisfy a Holy God. The only way to satisfy a Holy God is for us to receive His holiness through Christ.
The word fulfill means to render full or complete.
Jesus lived a sinless, perfect life, fulfilling (completing) all points of the Law.
He then took all our sins with Him to Calvary offering His blood as payment (ransom) for our sin.
He took our sin upon Himself on that Cross.
This makes it possible for us to be righteous.
2 Corinthians 5:21
This verse of scripture shows us we are made in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
We are not made worthy in our righteousness, but in His. Galatians 3:23-26 clarifies this even more. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul refers to we, our and us in verses 23-25. In verse 26 he transitions to ye.
Who is he referring to?
In verse 23-25 he is referring to his Jewish roots. He was Jewish by birth. In verse 26 he was referring to a different group, the Gentiles, who were not Jewish. They however were trying to satisfy God by keeping of the Law. It was not what God intended for them. The law just reminded them of that sinfulness until the seed came; Jesus came. These Gentile believers had fallen back to keeping of the Law as part of their salvation. Paul said this was not to be. The Law could not save, but rather was a reminder until the seed came. The Law had not passed away, but it had served its purpose. The outward observance of the law was over and that is a good thing. Jesus is the only one who ever kept the whole law.
James 2:10 plainly states that the breaking of any one law is the same as breaking all the Law. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
In Galatians 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Paul explains that the law produces a curse, IT DOES NOT PRODUCE SALVATION. Instead the law condemns. That which condemns cannot be the remedy. Jesus on the other hand did not come to condemn, but to remove the condemnation that the Law points out.
John 3:16-18 clearly shows this. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. We are saved by grace through faith.
Works, the keeping of the Law has absolutely nothing to do with one’s salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Grace received by faith, plus nothing.
Galatians 3:21 – Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
If the Law could save, then Jesus died in vain. Why would He die if the payment was already available? It wasn’t so He did.
ONE IS NOT SAVED BY THE LAW, BUT ONE IS CONDEMNED BY THE LAW. ONE IS SAVED BY GRACE.
We are bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus did what we could not do in the flesh. He fulfilled the law and took our sin debt to the cross and paid our sin debt in full. THIS IS LOVE!
