THE BIBLE SPEAKS DAILY (OCTOBER 21st, 2024)

THE BIBLE SPEAKS DAILY (OCTOBER 21st, 2024)

TODAY'S TOPIC: Faith and The Law.

TODAY'S VERSE: Matthew 5:17-19.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Whether Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets or to perpetuate them, it is time to get back to the rules of Faith! 

Some are still teaching: 

a. The continuity of the Law of Moses, Matthew 5:17; 

b. That Jesus did not dismantle the law and give a new one; 

c. That He only took away the ceremonial aspects of the law. 

d. That the provisions of the Law of Moses is still binding on Christians.

e. That without the practice of all, or some of the provisions of the Law of Moses, one cannot make Heaven.

1. Therefore, some asked, is it really true that Jesus fulfilled: 

a. The promises of the Law of Moses?

b. The prophecies of the Law of Moses? 

2. They asked also whether the Law, and all of its provisions have passed away?

3. That weather we can only please God today, by following the New Covenant (Testament) revealed through Jesus Christ, and ratified by His blood?

Answers to all these questions are going to be supplied by the marvelous wisdom GOD! (The Bible). THE ONLY PROVISO IS WHETHER WE ARE READY TO BELIEVE THE BIBLE ALONE, AS THE SOLE REVEALER OF THE WILL OF GOD, IN THIS PRESENT DISPENSATION!!!

"LAW" FULFILLED.

When Jesus said he came "to fulfill the Law," was he talking about the "Moral Law," the "Ceremonial Law," or all the Law? 

Those who contend that he came just to fulfill the "Ceremonial Law" have a problem with the context, for the next verses talked about murder, anger, lust, adultery, divorce, telling the truth, resisting evil, and loving your enemies (Matt. 5:21-48). Were these moral laws, or, were they ceremonial laws? No!

Jesus also said that he came to "fulfill the Prophets." Was he referring to some of the Prophets, or all of the Prophets? He speaks of all the Prophets!

John said, "For the law was given through Moses" (John 1:17), and Paul said that the law given "four hundred and thirty years" after the promise, was intended to last "till the seed should come" (Gal. 3:17, 19). Did God mean to say that "the ceremonial law was given till the seed should come"? Whatever Jesus affirmed about the Law, he also affirmed about the prophets in Matthew 5. If he meant that he would perpetuate the Law, it must also mean that he would perpetuate the Prophets. 

Whatever "fulfillment" did for one it did for the other! (Jesus used the expression "law and prophets" to include the whole Old Testament system (Matt. 7:12; 22:40). 

The Hebrew writer said God "spoke in time past to the fathers by the Prophets" but "has in these last days spoken to us by His Son" (Hebrews. 1:1, 2). 

We are not to "hear" Moses or the Prophets anymore, in this Dispensation, but the Son of God!

FULFILLED, NOT DESTROYED.

What is the difference between destroying and fulfilling? 

a. God told Moses he would "raise up for them a Prophet like you" (Deut. 18:18). When Jesus came, did he destroy that prophecy or fulfill it (Acts 3:22, 23)? 

b. Zechariah said that Jesus would rule both as a Priest and a King on his throne (Zech. 6:13). When Jesus came, did he fulfill that prophecy, or destroy it? 

When these prophecies were fulfilled, what happened to them? 

When one says that we are no longer under the law and the prophets, he is saying that Jesus Christ brought them to an end by fulfilling them. Christ did not come to annul the purpose of the law and the prophets. He did not bring them to naught by failing to fulfill them. He did not abolish them in the sense that one abolishes a promise by refusing to fulfill it. But he did bring the law and the prophets to an end by fulfilling them.... If Christ perpetuated one part of the law, he perpetuated all of the law, since none was to pass until all was fulfilled.

But, what about the prohibition against "breaking one of the least commandments" (Matt. 5:19)? 

a. First, would one of "the least" be moral or ceremonial? Jesus had just said that "one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (v. 18). 

b. Second, was Jesus saying that even the least commandments would continue after the law was fulfilled? No, he was saying that those who have the disposition, under either law, to ignore "the least commandments" do not have the right attitude toward God's word. 

Paul said, "But now the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets" (Rom. 3:21). 

Just as surely as righteousness is through Faith in Christ, the Law and the Prophets having accomplished their purpose, and though they have historical value, they have "passed away."

Read: "...For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second..." Hebrew 8:7.

Read: "...In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away..." Hebrew 8:13.

The blood of Christ did not ratify the promise to Abraham. 

It was in effect for two thousand years before it was fulfilled. 

The blood of Christ did not ratify the First Covenant. It was ratified by the blood of animals (Exod. 24:7, 8; Heb. 9:19), was fulfilled and passed away. 

The fact that there are similar principles in both Covenants, does not mean that we obey these because they are in the law of Moses ... Moses was inspired of God to reveal the Old Covenant to Israel, but God speaks to us today through his Son (Heb. 1:1, 2). We obey these principles not because they are in the Law of Moses, but because God has placed them in the NEW TESTAMENT of Jesus Christ, for us all, in this present dispensation!

TODAY'S PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Father, open the eyes of my understanding, my inner eyes, so that I can be  diligent to present myself approved to God, as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. That I may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Precious Father, heal the Sick and bless the Needy, AMEN!

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Thanks.