HERE COME 'DA LAW PART 2 Matthew 5:19-2O The New Testament plainly teaches that in some very important ways believers are freed from the law. But what, exactly, is our freedom in Christ? In Matthew 5:19 the Lord confronts that question and reaffirms what that freedom cannot mean. From the Beatniks in the 1950 s to the hippies of the 60 s - 70 s, the movements have been to liberalize society, making people free. The problem is that the majority of people now want no one else making rules for them or holding them accountable for what they say or do. The inevitable consequence of that philosophy is the breakdown and demoralization of society. ANTINOMIANISM - 1.in Christian doctrine, the belief that Christians are not bound by established moral laws, but should rely on faith and divine grace for salvation 2. the belief that it is impossible to apply a universal moral code because it will have a different meaning for different people Unfortunately, this philosophy has crept in to today s church at large. For fear of offending, of losing financial support, of being thought old-fashioned or legalistic, or even for fear of stepping on someone else's presumed rights or toes, there is widespread compromise with the world. There is failure to maintain God's clear standards of righteousness in His own church. In the name of grace, love, forgiveness, and other "positive" biblical teachings and standards, sin is dismissed or excused.
HERE COME 'DA LAW PART 2 Page 2 of 8 OPRAH S CHURCH worship any way and anything you want. ANY SPIRIT WILL DO. THE JESUS WANTS YOU HAPPY GOSPEL - the concept that teaches the fulfillment of the present moment. THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL Jesus wants you to have everything you want. Actually, Jesus wants you holy and the way to get there is by obeying His Word. Judges 21:25 25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. In v. 17 our Lord showed the law s PERMANENCE, its lasting without the smallest or slightest change "until heaven and earth pass away." In v. 18, Jesus had pointed out the law's PREEMINENCE, because it was authored by God, affirmed by the prophets, and accomplished by the Messiah, the Christ. Now in v. 19 He shows its PRIORITY and in v. 20 its PURPOSE Matthew 5:19-20 19 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. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. III. The Priority Of The Law And The Prophets
HERE COME 'DA LAW PART 2 Page 3 of 8 I feel we see Jesus placing PRIORITY on the LAW AND THE PROPHETS by His use of THE SCRIPTURES in His ministry. NOTE: Jesus began His ministry by quoting Scriptures 3 times to Satan. He quotes Scriptures throughout His ministry. Our Lord quoted the O.T. 87 times. 27 Books of the O.T. He ends by quoting Scriptures 3 times while dying on the cross. 1. THE USES OF THE SCRIPTURES BY CHRIST. Jesus confirmed the Old Testament stories and truths by His vast uses of its stories. Adam, Eve, creation, and marriage Matthew 19 Murder of Abel Luke 11 Noah and the flood Matthew 24 Abraham and faith John 8 Sodom, Gomorrah, and Lot Luke 17 Call of Moses Matthew 12 Often talked of the Law of Moses Manna from heaven John 6 Brazen Serpent John 3 2. THE UTTERANCES OF SCRIPTURE BY CHRIST At the beginning of his ministry Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 THROUGHOUT HIS MINISTRY At the end of His ministry Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 (same) John 19:28, 30 3. THE ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT OF SCRIPTURE BY CHRIST 333 Prophecies in Scripture about the Messiah (1) PROMISES OF CURSES
HERE COME 'DA LAW PART 2 Page 4 of 8 Genesis 3:14-15 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." Genesis 3:17 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Genesis 3:21 21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Deuteronomy 21:18-22 18 "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. 20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' 21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear. 22 "If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23... for he who is hanged is accursed of God. Deuteronomy 27:15-19
HERE COME 'DA LAW PART 2 Page 5 of 8 15 'Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' "And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen!' 16 'Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 17 'Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's landmark.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 18 'Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 19 'Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' Deuteronomy 27:20-23 SEXUAL SINS Deuteronomy 27:26 26 'Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'" Deuteronomy 28 blessings and curses 1-14 blessings 16-68 curses 248 positive commands or promises, 365 negative or curses = 613 Galatians 3:13 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), (2) PROPHECIES OF HIS COMING Psalms 22:1 22 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?
HERE COME 'DA LAW PART 2 Page 6 of 8 Psalms 22:7-8 7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 "He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!" Psalms 22:13-14 13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. Psalms 22:16 16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; Psalms 22:18 18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. John 19:30 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. In this verse in Matthew, Jesus says, 19 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. SO WHAT ABOUT OUR "FREEDOMS? Some requirements are supreme and essential; others, secondary; and still others, least. To be sure, they all belong
HERE COME 'DA LAW PART 2 Page 7 of 8 together and form a grand unit, and whoever sets aside even the least is on a spiraling course downward. James 2:10 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. We may "set aside" a word of God by our own ignorance or wrong interpretation, or to satisfy personal pleasures. What is happening in many pulpits today is manipulation of God s Word for selfish reasons. QUESTION: Are there some commandments and laws that are more important than others? Matthew 22:37-40 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." John 14:15-16 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. Lit. If you love me, you will keep my commandments 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever III. The Priority Of The Law And The Prophets IV. The Purpose Of The Law And The Prophets
HERE COME 'DA LAW PART 2 Page 8 of 8 Romans 8:3-4 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. NLT Romans 3:21-22 But God has a way to make people right with him without the law, and he has now shown us that way which the law and the prophets told us about. 22 God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same: NCV Galatians 3:24-26 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:24 24 The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for. 25 But now you have arrived at your destination: 26 By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. MSG