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Website Editor • Apr 22, 2020

Matthew 5:17-20

How do Jesus and the Old Testament work together?

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says He did not come to abolish the Old Testament ("the Law and the Prophets") but to fulfill it.

Jesus fulfills what the Law and Prophets predicted. From the very beginning of creation, God's story has always been about Jesus. Every story in the Old Testament points to Him and helps set the stage for His arrival. Every hero -- Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David -- is just a shadow helping prepare the way for the great and Ultimate Hero that is Jesus.

On Facebook this last week, we shared that scholars believe there are over 300 Old Testament prophesies about Jesus. The chance of any one man fulfilling even EIGHT of these prophesies was estimated to be 1 in 10 to the 17th power! Even that small number is a mathematic impossibility! (Read more here >> great article that goes deep into this topic.)

Jesus accomplished what the Law and Prophets demanded. In His fulfillment of the Law, Jesus accomplished everything the Law required. For example, the sacrificial system. The very design of this Old Covenant system prepared the way for us to understand who the Lamb of God is, and His ability to take away our sin. Jesus' death accomplished the sacrificial system in such a way that it is no longer necessary. He flipped the script and changed how we view it.

The idea of Jesus fulfilling and accomplishing the Old Covenant leads us to the truth that Jesus redefines what the Law and and Prophets instructed. In verse 18, Jesus makes it very clear that He did not come to abolish the Law or set it aside, but to redefine it. Ultimately, He does this by calling us to a higher obedience to the Law with His help and power.

If we fast forward to the very last verse in Matthew -- after Jesus' death and resurrection, right before He ascends into Heaven -- His marching order to the eleven disciples, AND TO US, is this: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Jesus does not set aside commandments, He gives us commandments. He wants us to know and teach them throughout the nations.

In Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew tells of a conversation Jesus has with Pharisees who were challenging Jesus on the Old Covenant. They ask, "What is the greatest commandment?" and Jesus responds, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus summed up all the Law, all of the Old Testament, with love. Love God and love others. He redefined it.

Under the Old Covenant, God's people were given laws to show their obedience to Him and to demonstrate that they were set apart. As followers of Christ, we too are set apart! We are called to be salt and light in this dark world, following Him, paying attention to His commandments, and delighting in His law. We are called to level up to a radical obedience.

It would be impossible to do this on our own. Thankfully, we don't have to! Through the power and grace of Jesus Christ, we are able to repent from our way, turn, and put our faith and trust in Him. 

Only He has the power.

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Jesus is Much More Better

15 May, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:12-21 Adam ruined it for everyone —sin came into the world through Adam —death came into the world through sin —death spread to all men because all sinned “God has always dealt with mankind through a head and representative. The whole story of the human race can be summed up in terms of what has happened because of Adam, and what has happened and will yet happen because of Christ.” —Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Jesus is the true and better Adam “Cranfield explains, ‘That one single misdeed should be answered by judgment, this is perfectly understandable: that the accumulated sins and guilt of all the ages should be answered by God’s free gift, this is the miracle of miracles, utterly beyond human comprehension.’ The final word from God could have been “Condemned, on the basis of many trespasses.” Instead, it is “Justified, through the gift of Jesus’ righteousness.” That is why Paul declares that the gift is “much more” or “much better” than the result of Adam’s trespass.” —Daniel M. Doriani, Romans Through Jesus grace abounds and grace reigns Discipleship Questions: What are some reasons we might not like the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? What can help us embrace the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? How does that idea set us up for the good news about Jesus and what He accomplished? How does the truth from this passage build our assurance of our salvation? In what ways is what Jesus did much more powerful and better than what Adam brought us? How have you experienced the reign of grace in your life despite the reign of sin and death in the world? How can we experience the reign of grace through Jesus in everyday life?

No Fear of Judgment

08 May, 2024
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:6-11 God has already done the work needed to save us He took the initiative “God has addressed the cause of the offense… Although he is the offended party, God has removed the offense. God has extended “the olive branch.” -Jay Smith He justified us He reconciled us Reconciliation is an objective event that God accomplished by removing the barrier of sin that separated himself from humanity. This result is independent of humanity’s response although it formed the basis for an individual’s subjective appropriation.” Jay Smith Appropriate: “To set apart for or assign to a particular recipient.” Christians need not fear judgment day 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?

The Joy of Justification

29 Apr, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:1-5 We find joy in the blessings brought by justification —peace with God —access to God’s grace Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —hope of the glory of God “Christian hope is not uncertain, like our ordinary everyday hopes about the weather or our health; it is a joyful and confident expectation which rests on the promises of God, as we saw in the case of Abraham. And the object of our hope is the glory of God (2), namely his radiant splendor which will in the end be fully displayed. —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans We can even find joy in our sufferings “Various kinds of sufferings will come to us, but we can rejoice in them when we recognize that they serve a purpose: to develop our Christian character. In verses 3b–4 Paul shows how a godly response to suffering can initiate a series of virtues, culminating, strikingly, in hope. Note, however, that Paul is not saying that we should rejoice because of suffering. Evil things are still just that—evil—and we never should be happy about them. But by looking beyond the suffering to its divinely intended end, we still can rejoice in the midst of them.” —Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans —suffering produces endurance “ We know this, especially from the experience of God’s people in every generation. Suffering produces perseverance ( hypomonē , endurance). We could not learn endurance without suffering, because without suffering there would be nothing to endure.” —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans —endurance builds character —character gives us confident hope Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?
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