1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:10,160 My message today will hopefully be brief, but I trust that at 2 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,840 the same time it will provide an immense amount of clarity to 3 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,440 what we believe as followers of Jesus Christ. 4 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:21,040 And my prayer is that this clarity will instill a 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:28,320 confidence, confidence in your peace, in your boldness, and in 6 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,400 your proclamation of the truth, the truth that you have given 7 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:37,120 your life to. I believe, and I hope it's fair 8 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:42,000 to say, that in most Bible preaching, teaching churches 9 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:47,360 that people understand the centrality of the message of the 10 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:52,160 gospel, that they are able to explain the essence of the 11 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:55,680 message of salvation. Not to say that in those 12 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,120 churches everybody believes the gospel or has been transformed 13 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,480 by the gospel, but that they are able to articulate the key 14 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:08,160 components of what makes us different as Christians who 15 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:14,280 follow Jesus Christ. That being said, I'm not sure if 16 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,320 there is an equal level of clarity among professing 17 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:24,760 Christians about how they can explain what is demanded of them 18 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:28,320 in terms of practical, practical obedience to the Word of God. 19 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,320 What I mean by that is, if you were to ask different believers, 20 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:39,880 what does your life look like or what do you abide by in terms of 21 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:45,600 trusting God, yes, but also living for Him, what do you turn 22 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,240 to? What are you obligated to? 23 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,400 What standard do you surrender to or ascribe to? 24 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,960 I think you would get a variety of answers, especially when you 25 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:02,920 factor in the Old Testament. And some groups will argue that 26 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:08,199 the Old Testament is to be obeyed perfectly, and they will 27 00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:12,160 cite the words of Jesus from Matthew 517, where he famously 28 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,000 said that he did not come to abolish the law of the prophets, 29 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:21,000 but to do what fulfill them. And then you have others who 30 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,560 would say that the Old Testament has 0 practical relevance to us 31 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,800 as followers of Jesus in the new covenant. 32 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:33,600 And at best, it's a historical document that you can make, you 33 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,000 know, reference to, especially if you want to explain 34 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:40,760 redemptive history or show how Jesus was predicted hundreds of 35 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:45,240 thousands of years ago. And there are others who 36 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,680 understand that the Scriptures tell us, especially in Second 37 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:53,760 Timothy 316, that all Scripture is breathed out by God, all of 38 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,080 it. And it is useful for not just 39 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:01,000 understanding who Jesus is, understanding how God was going 40 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:05,160 to save humanity, but for practical purposes in our 41 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:09,360 teaching, in our correction, in our ultimate maturity, all of 42 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,400 Scripture, including the Old Testament. 43 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:16,440 And So what they try to do is then reconcile, reconcile the 44 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,680 commands that you find in the old covenant with the commands 45 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,720 that we have in the new, especially because the new 46 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,840 covenant is God's revealed will for today and for the rest of 47 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:31,960 the age. And so that mentality has led 48 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:37,240 many to develop what is known as the threefold division of the 49 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,560 law. What I mean by that is that you 50 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:45,800 have people who have this view that we have to do something 51 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:50,640 with the Old Testament, and the best way to go about it is to 52 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,640 look at it in three different categories. 53 00:03:55,200 --> 00:04:01,280 And so you have the moral law, and then you have the ceremonial 54 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,320 law, and lastly you have the civil law. 55 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:07,920 Now, this is probably something that you've heard taught or 56 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,480 you've probably even used to explain to someone who who 57 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,840 wanted to know what commands from the Old Testament are 58 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:19,399 binding on Christians. And so this has become popular 59 00:04:19,399 --> 00:04:22,560 in recent times. And I'll try to summarize what 60 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,840 these three different elements of the law consists of. 61 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,880 So when you talk about the moral law, what people mean by that is 62 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,480 we're we're discussing the most important and enduring aspects 63 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,040 of God's commands. And they are summarized really 64 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,880 in the 10 commandments. This deals with his eternal 65 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,160 nature, his character, His Holiness. 66 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,640 And so it is applicable and it is timeless. 67 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,600 It is bound for all time and all people. 68 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:51,760 And then you have the ceremonial law. 69 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,160 And the ceremonial law focuses on the rituals and the the 70 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,120 rights that are related to Israel's worship and they 71 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:04,680 include the sacrifices and it's generally seen as fulfilled in 72 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:09,560 the person of Jesus Christ. And so those rights and those 73 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,880 those things that were done in the temple no longer are 74 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,360 applicable to us because they were fulfilled in the person of 75 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,480 Jesus Christ. That's the ceremonial law. 76 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:24,720 And then you have the civil law. And the civil law deals with the 77 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:30,880 commands that are issued for daily life in ancient Israel 78 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,920 society. And so really, they're all those 79 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,960 specific commands that are outside of the 10 commandments, 80 00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:43,520 and they include also the judicial punishment for those 81 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:49,120 who disobey such laws. And those who explain this would 82 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,520 also clarify that they have no relevance to our modern context 83 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,040 for a variety of reasons. So that's really a general 84 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,280 summary of this threefold understanding of the law in the 85 00:05:59,280 --> 00:06:01,000 Old Testament. You have the moral, the 86 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,320 ceremonial, and the civil. Why the distinction? 87 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,680 Because those who hold to this explanation will then followed 88 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:11,000 up with this, that there is a continuity with one out of the 89 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,720 three of those categories, the moral law. 90 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,880 The moral law is still standing because it reflects God's 91 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,920 holiness, it reflects His character, and the 10 92 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,800 commandments really reflect the bedrock of who He is. 93 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:31,040 Therefore, it must continue on for all time for all people, 94 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,080 especially Christians. Whereas the ceremonial and the 95 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:40,440 civil law dissolve. They have been dissolved because 96 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,880 Jesus Christ in His personal work fulfilled much of it, and 97 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,760 we received clarity in the subsequent teachings of His 98 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,200 Spirit appointed and inspired apostles. 99 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,320 So in essence, that distinction is made so that people can know 100 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,160 how to interpret the Old Testament in terms of practical 101 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,760 obedience. I am bound to the moral law, no 102 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,840 longer to the ceremonial or the civil. 103 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:13,040 As helpful as that explanation may be, it has challenges. 104 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,960 There are challenges with that explanation for a variety of 105 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:21,600 reasons, but here's the overarching 1 that try part 106 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,040 division is not found anywhere in the Bible. 107 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:30,200 Nowhere in the old or in the new will you find any author 108 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:39,160 explaining or categorizing laws in those three ways, which is 109 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:43,160 the reason why even those who believe this view and explain 110 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:47,560 this view have internal debate. And the main debate is, well, 111 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,560 how do we know which law belongs to which category? 112 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:53,800 Which one fits under the moral, which one fits under the 113 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:54,560 ceremony? Which one? 114 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:56,280 And some are clearer than others. 115 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,960 But let me give you one example of how this can be problematic. 116 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,320 So you have the moral law, which is ultimately represented in the 117 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:07,120 10 commandments, but then we no longer have the ceremonial or 118 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,800 the civil. Those are just shadows. 119 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,320 But then even if you look at the 10 commandments that we heard, 120 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,400 as we heard just a few weeks ago, you have one of them that 121 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:18,200 is treated in the New Testament as a shadow. 122 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,520 Which one is that? Observe the Sabbath. 123 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:27,040 And so why is that one treated as something that is fulfilled? 124 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:31,280 What about the other nine? And then you can see how people 125 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:35,799 can go back and forth on this. So I'm aware that there can be 126 00:08:35,799 --> 00:08:38,840 some people here who have found great comfort in that threefold 127 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,640 understanding of the law, are now uncomfortable by what I am 128 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,720 saying. But I want to encourage you 129 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:47,120 today. Why? 130 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:51,680 Because I believe there is a better answer from the Bible and 131 00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:55,920 helping us comprehend and be more confident regarding what it 132 00:08:55,920 --> 00:09:00,640 is that we subscribe to, what it is that we abide by in terms of 133 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,000 God's demands for us in practical obedience. 134 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:09,000 And here's what I discovered even over the years, that there 135 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:13,960 is another law mentioned in the Bible that is rarely bought up 136 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,480 and brought up in this discussion and even really 137 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:21,400 expounded on in general. Let me show it to you Galatians 138 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,480 chapter 6. Look with me at verse 2. 139 00:09:38,790 --> 00:09:42,950 Paul tells this group of believers bear one another's 140 00:09:42,950 --> 00:09:47,990 burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. 141 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:57,040 Fulfill the law of Christ. Law refers to a system of 142 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:02,840 regulations, of instructions, of commands that determine the 143 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,080 behavior, actions of those who are subject to it. 144 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:09,440 That's what a law is. And So what Paul is alluding to 145 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:14,720 here is that there is a set of teachings that are authoritative 146 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:20,480 and they come from Christ. And this is helpful. 147 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,160 So now we understand that there's this law called the law 148 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,560 of Christ. And interestingly, there's only 149 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:28,240 one other place where that phrase law of Christ appears in 150 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,200 all of the New Testament. And when we look at it there, we 151 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,880 receive even greater clarity of what this law consists of or how 152 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,400 it contrasts to something else. So I know I just told you to go 153 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:40,800 to Galatians, but go to 1st Corinthians. 154 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,440 Now in Chapter 9, I want you to look at this verse with me 155 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:56,760 beginning in 19, and we'll read down to verse 21. 1st 156 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:01,360 Corinthians 919 Paul writes For though I am free from all, I 157 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:05,720 have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of 158 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,360 them. To the Jews I became as a Jew in 159 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,400 order to win Jews. To those under the law, I became 160 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:17,040 as one under the law, though not being myself under the law, that 161 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,760 I might win those under the law. To those outside the law, I 162 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,800 became as one outside the law, not being outside the law of 163 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:28,840 God, but under the law of Christ, that I might win those 164 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:33,240 outside the law. So here Paul has explained to 165 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,040 these believers the depths of his sacrifice, what he is 166 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:40,920 willing to do in order to win anybody to Christ. 167 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,800 And in general, he's saying here, I'm very pliable and I'm 168 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,640 willing to adapt to my circumstances and contexts and 169 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:53,280 my audience as long as my adaptation never compromises the 170 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,280 message of the gospel or or any clear principle from God's word. 171 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,560 What Paul is saying is I'm willing to become like my 172 00:12:01,560 --> 00:12:06,200 listeners in order to obtain and win their ear without any 173 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:10,880 hindrance on my part, any obstacle that I create. 174 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,440 And so he understands that he has freedoms in Christ, but he's 175 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,920 not willing to implement those freedoms in the presence of 176 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:23,200 those who don't live by those freedoms so that again, he can 177 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:27,920 have their attention and they can hear the gospel without any 178 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,400 obstacles. And so as he breaks this down, 179 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:36,520 which I want to say first, that there there's a call for wisdom 180 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:40,640 here because there's a very fine line between the wisdom of this 181 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,520 approach and compromise. Because there's a lot of people 182 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,280 here who would quote Paul's words to try to justify anti 183 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:50,280 biblical methods to get the gospel out. 184 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:51,920 But that's not what we're talking about. 185 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:53,560 I just have to get that out there. 186 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,200 The main reason why I turned to this tax is because within it 187 00:12:57,560 --> 00:13:03,320 you have Paul making a distinction between the law of 188 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:08,560 Christ and a different law. Notice at verse 20 what he says 189 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,200 and speaking about the Jews, he says that he is willing to 190 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,120 become as one under the law. Pause. 191 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:16,360 I'm willing to become as one under the law. 192 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,160 What law is he speaking about? The Jewish law. 193 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:22,360 That's the context. I'm willing to become as one 194 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,080 under the law. For what reason that I might win 195 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:30,160 those who are under the law. So here's how you can translate 196 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:34,880 this. I am willing to change and 197 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:40,480 become adaptable to the customs of the Jewish law in order to 198 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,680 minister to those who live by it. 199 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:45,520 And he's not compromising anything. 200 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,160 But I want you to notice what he says in the middle, he 201 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:53,120 clarifies, though not being myself under the law. 202 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:59,000 So though I may adapt, and though I may enter into the 203 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,440 synagogue or enter into certain feast or honor certain 204 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:06,240 celebrations in order that I can be with those who live by these 205 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,520 things and then present the gospel, I want to make sure that 206 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:11,680 you know that I am not under that law. 207 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:18,920 So is Paul lawless, Is it just this kind of whatever you feel 208 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,840 you need to obey God with? He'll honor that because you 209 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:22,800 live by grace? No, Look at the next verse. 210 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,360 Look at verse 21. Now to those outside the law, I 211 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,680 became as one outside the law. Now he's talking about the 212 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:31,120 Gentiles. He dealt with the Jews. 213 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,520 I'm willing to become like a Jew to an extent so that I can win 214 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,200 the Jews. But now I'm talking about the 215 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,520 Gentiles. So those who are outside the 216 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:43,280 law, I became as one outside the law, not being outside the law 217 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:49,080 of God, but under the law of Christ that I might win those 218 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,720 outside the law. So what is he saying here? 219 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:57,240 So I'm willing to be like a gentile, that I can win an 220 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,760 audience with the gentiles. And it says no. 221 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:04,760 Paul is anticipating a rebuttal or a concern from his readers. 222 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,360 So wait, you're willing to be like a gentile? 223 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,840 And you know, there's negative connotation in the minds of the 224 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,960 early readers here because Gentiles, especially to the 225 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:18,840 Jewish audiences like heathen. So wait, you're willing to loose 226 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,120 live and just kind of do what you want? 227 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:25,280 And, and before they even can entertain the thought, Paul also 228 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:29,240 reminded that I am not escaping even temporarily or even for a 229 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,640 moment, God's righteous decrees from my life. 230 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:36,560 And I want to clarify to you that I am under a law, even 231 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:40,080 though I might be like a Gentile, but I'm under the law 232 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:44,080 of Christ. That would have been a perfect 233 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:48,520 time for him to say that I'm under the law of Moses, that I'm 234 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,960 under the Sinai covenant, that I'm under the Jewish law. 235 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,800 But he makes a distinction between the Jewish law and the 236 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,800 law of Christ. So here's what would happen if 237 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,240 you lived in Paul's day and you say, Paul, I have a question for 238 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:09,520 you. What spiritual law are you bound 239 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:11,120 by? What are you obligated to? 240 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:16,480 And here's how you would answer the law of Christ, the law of 241 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,720 Christ. And when we hear that, we think, 242 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:24,000 OK, if Christ has a law, then what does it consist of? 243 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:28,440 How do we know what he asks of us, if he asks anything of us at 244 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,760 all? And there are many places I can 245 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,000 go, but let me give you a very well known passage at the end of 246 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,920 Gospel of Matthew, Matthew 2819 and 20. 247 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,280 These are Christ's marching orders to His apostles, and 248 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,400 really to the disciples that would come from them. 249 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:56,970 Matthew 2819 and 20 Go therefore, and make disciples of 250 00:16:56,970 --> 00:17:00,450 all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of 251 00:17:00,450 --> 00:17:05,010 the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all 252 00:17:05,010 --> 00:17:09,849 that Moses commanded you, teaching them to observe all 253 00:17:09,849 --> 00:17:16,089 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always 254 00:17:16,089 --> 00:17:22,359 to the end of the age. So Christ is telling his 255 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:27,040 apostles that what they are commanded to do in building the 256 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:32,040 church and making converts and winning people over to the truth 257 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,800 is that they are going to from that place after laying the 258 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,520 foundation that they're saved by grace, they are going to receive 259 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:45,200 all that Jesus taught them. So the law of Christ comprises 260 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:50,840 of all that Jesus taught in the Gospels and subsequently what 261 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,120 the apostles added to that teaching. 262 00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:57,320 Because Jesus told the very same disciples in John 16 that I have 263 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,080 much more to tell you, but you can't bear it now. 264 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:05,400 But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will take what is mine 265 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,360 and make it known to you. So that's why when we look at 266 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:12,400 the epistles, yes, ultimately we're seeing Paul's writings, 267 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:14,560 we're seeing Peter's writings, we're seeing John's writings, 268 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:18,720 but they come from the Spirit who got what he got from Christ. 269 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:23,920 So when people make this weird argument that I listen to what 270 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,400 Jesus said, not what Paul said, not what John said, do you 271 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,440 understand that what they said is what Jesus said because he 272 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,240 told them that I'm going to grant you the Spirit and he's 273 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,520 going to make everything that you need to know from me to you, 274 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:37,680 and then you will be able to make a known to the church. 275 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:43,160 So then that's the law of Christ, the commands of Jesus 276 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,040 and his apostles who've been commissioned by Jesus. 277 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,160 Where can you find it? It's called the New Testament, 278 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:54,960 the 27 books of the new covenant or what granted or what's 279 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,120 granted to you and I in order to understand what he asks of us. 280 00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:01,720 It's so clear, but there's even more that the Spirit reveals to 281 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:05,680 us, making this reality even more irrefutable. 282 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,440 So I'm, there's so many verses to touch on. 283 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,160 I'm just giving you the key verses. 284 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,800 So in a moment, we're going to turn to the book of Hebrews. 285 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,760 But let me remind you what the book of Hebrews is about. 286 00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:19,400 The intent of the author is that he wants to present Christ and 287 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,800 the new covenant far more superior to anything or anyone 288 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,640 else, including Moses, including the Mosaic covenant and the 289 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,160 Levitical priesthood. And at one point when he makes 290 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,560 this argument about how Christ is far greater, how his covenant 291 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:37,720 is far better, he makes this staggering claim. 292 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:44,920 The staggering claim, and it's found in Hebrew 7 and verse 11 293 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:53,360 and 12. Hebrews is a deep book and so if 294 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:55,680 you tend to get distracted at any point of the service, this 295 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:57,520 is not a place where you want to get distracted. 296 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:07,760 Hebrews 711 and 12. Let's read this closely and 297 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,920 carefully, shall we? Now if perfection had been 298 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:14,840 attainable through the Levitical priesthood, for under it the 299 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:18,120 people received the law, what further need would there have 300 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:22,040 been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek 301 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,000 rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 302 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:28,320 You've heard me. I can't help it. 303 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:30,600 I have to say it again. You can't know the New 304 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:31,920 Testament. If you don't study the Old 305 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,600 Testament, you will be spiritually anemic. 306 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:38,800 If you don't honor the Hebrew Scriptures. 307 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:42,320 What is he saying here? OK, you Jews that want to go 308 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,640 back, you Jewish Christians that want to go back to the Old 309 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,880 Testament, the Old Covenant, If the Old Covenant was so great, 310 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,320 if the priesthood of the sacrificial system is so 311 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,040 wonderful, then explain this to me. 312 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:57,840 Why did the Holy Spirit tell us about another priesthood to 313 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:02,560 come? Why does he speak of another 314 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,080 priesthood to rise? And what priesthood is he 315 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,200 speaking about? The priesthood of Melchizedek, 316 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,160 Psalm 110, verse 4. You don't have to turn there, 317 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,240 but there's reference there of Melchizedek also in Genesis 14. 318 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,760 But the Bible tells us of another priesthood to come. 319 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:23,000 So if this one, this Levitical 1 is permanent, everlasting, 320 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:28,520 enduring, perpetual, unending, then why did the same God who 321 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:32,600 issued the law and the priesthood under Moses and Aaron 322 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:35,440 tell of one that would come through Melchizedek? 323 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,240 Good point. Brilliant point. 324 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,200 But he even goes further than that. 325 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,760 Look at verse 12. For when there is a change in 326 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:49,640 the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law 327 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,520 as well. Have you ever seen that verse 328 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,920 before? Here's what he's saying. 329 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,080 If the Levitical system was God's final plan for mediation 330 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,160 between man and God, what's the reason for a priest to come from 331 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,680 the priesthood of Melchizedek Furthermore. 332 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,800 The new. Priesthood, if it's to be 333 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:13,160 introduced, would necessitate a corresponding change in the law, 334 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,000 since the Levitical order was so deeply connected to the existing 335 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:19,120 legal system. In other words, you can't 336 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,600 separate the Levitical priesthood and the Mosaic Law. 337 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:25,400 Why? Because the priesthood came from 338 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,640 the law, and the priesthood upheld the law, it practiced and 339 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:31,600 exercised what the law asked for. 340 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,680 So he already. Made the point that there's 341 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,040 going to be a change in the priesthood because Melchizedek, 342 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:38,360 there's what what are you going to do with that? 343 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,400 That's in the Hebrew Bible. But let me also tell you this, 344 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:43,000 that if there's going to be another priesthood. 345 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:45,320 That means there's also going. To be another law. 346 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:54,360 If the ironic priesthood is gone, so is the law that was 347 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:59,960 also under that priesthood practiced, initiated, and 348 00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:03,200 upheld. So be ready for. 349 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,400 A change in the less of the point that he is making here. 350 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:10,000 And what might that law be? The law of Christ. 351 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:14,920 The law of Christ. And if that segment was 352 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,760 difficult to follow, just keep in mind that this passage in 353 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,800 Hebrews clearly shows that under the New Covenant we are bound by 354 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,920 a new law. And the law of. 355 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,840 Moses no longer applies to us. It's the law of Christ. 356 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,680 Yes, that should make you excited for many obvious 357 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:34,840 reasons. But while we're in Hebrews, let 358 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:38,240 me take you to another passage. Go to Hebrews. 359 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:44,560 Chapter 9, beginning in verse 6. Again, this is. 360 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:49,760 Another section that describes the limitations of the Old 361 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,880 Covenant and the system of the Old Covenant. 362 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:54,280 Notice what he says. Look at verse 6. 363 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:58,640 Let's read carefully together. These preparations having thus 364 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,680 been made, the priests go regularly into the first 365 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,160 section, performing their ritual duties. 366 00:24:05,120 --> 00:24:07,800 But into the second. Only the high priest goes, and 367 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,800 he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he 368 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,440 offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the 369 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:14,880 people. What is he discussing here? 370 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:16,200 He's talking about the Tabernacle. 371 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:18,240 He's talking about the sections of the Tabernacle. 372 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,320 He's talking about the protocols of the Tabernacle. 373 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,840 He continues in verse 8. By this, the Holy Spirit 374 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:28,880 indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet open as 375 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:30,920 long as the first section is still standing. 376 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,760 That's so deep. That's a sermon in itself, verse 377 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,520 9, which is symbolic for the present age. 378 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,400 That's why it's so deep. By the way, let's continue 379 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,640 according to this agreement or arrangement. 380 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:47,000 Rather, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the 381 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,800 conscience of the worshipper. So he he goes through all this 382 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:54,920 to say this is not sufficient to deal with your conscience, to 383 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:59,160 deal with your record of sin verse 10 but deal only with food 384 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:02,920 and drink and various washings, regulations for the body 385 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:04,840 imposed. Look at these last few words 386 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:10,400 until the time of reformation. Reformation that. 387 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:11,880 Word in the Greek is only found here. 388 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,880 You know what it means to make crooked straight. 389 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,880 So after giving a general overview of the Levitical 390 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:21,960 system, he says, yeah, these things aren't perfect. 391 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,120 They're insufficient. They don't really deal with the 392 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:27,680 core of who we are. But there's a time of 393 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:35,760 reformation that's coming, amendment shift change. 394 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,400 And So what is he explaining here? 395 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,480 That the ordinances of the Old Covenant were temporary by 396 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:48,640 nature, intended only to last until a perfect system would be 397 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,200 introduced. And that's what he means by time 398 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,360 of reformation. And that's what we know to be 399 00:25:55,360 --> 00:25:57,440 the New Covenant and also the law of Christ. 400 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:01,640 Now someone. Who disagrees might respond. 401 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,920 Well, it's convenient for you to claim that there is a change in 402 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,440 the law. And base your. 403 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,480 Defense solely on the New Testament. 404 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,200 But there is no. Shred of evidence of what you 405 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,960 are saying in the Hebrew scriptures, to which I would 406 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,280 respond. Are you sure about that? 407 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:25,560 There are many. Places we can go, but I want to 408 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,080 bring up. To your attention. 409 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:31,480 Something that is often missed. It's in a section that deals 410 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,760 with Messiah, one of the clearest, most profound 411 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,840 prophecies of Jesus in the book of Isaiah. 412 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,360 So now let's go to the Old Testament, and let's go to 413 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:45,720 Isaiah chapter 42. So we've seen in the new. 414 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:50,640 Testament, right? How Paul and how the author of 415 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:52,800 Hebrews and we're going to get to Jesus. 416 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:55,320 I know many of you might be thinking about Matthew 517. 417 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:57,280 We're going to get there. That's how we're going to end. 418 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,520 But now let's come to the Hebrew Scriptures and see if the 419 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:02,720 prophets have anything to say about this change. 420 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,200 Isaiah 42 beginning in verse one. 421 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:09,520 Behold my servant whom I uphold my chosen, and whom my soul 422 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:12,720 delights. I've put my spirit upon him. 423 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,520 He will bring forth justice to the nation's. 424 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:19,000 He will not cry aloud, or lift up his voice, or make it heard 425 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,080 in the street. A bruise read he will not break, 426 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:24,560 and a faintly burning Wick he will not quench. 427 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,280 He will faithfully bring forth justice. 428 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,320 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has 429 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:33,360 established justice in the earth and the coastlands. 430 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:36,640 Wait for his law. Some of you already saw. 431 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:38,800 It. But let me explain. 432 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:42,000 Here we're dealing with what Messiah will do, what he will 433 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,680 accomplish. And already from these verses we 434 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:48,720 know that his impact when he arrives will not be limited to 435 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,280 Israel. It will have a global impact. 436 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:53,960 It will have ripple effects throughout the earth. 437 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:58,240 It will be beyond the boundaries of this people group. 438 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:01,680 And notice the word. That he uses there at the end of 439 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:05,360 verse 4 until the coastlands. Coastlands or islands? 440 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:07,200 What is he referring to? Coastlands. 441 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,200 There he's speaking about Gentile regions. 442 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:10,800 How do we know that? Because. 443 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,720 That's the context. Look at the statement right 444 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:17,160 before Till he has established justice where in Israel. 445 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,240 In the earth. In the Earth. 446 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:23,480 Early on, what does he say at the end of verse one? 447 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:25,880 He'll bring forth justice to where? 448 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,240 The nations, the nations, the Earth coastlands. 449 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:32,880 So we're talking about what? Messiah will do across the 450 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,680 globe. And what he's saying. 451 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,400 Here with his prophetic vision, Isaiah is that these Gentile 452 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,080 regions. In some way are. 453 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:45,400 Expecting something from Messiah, this perfect servant of 454 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:46,880 God. And what's the one thing that 455 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:48,880 they're expecting? We talked about justice, yes, 456 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:54,080 but notice at the end of verse 4, the coastlands wait for His 457 00:28:54,440 --> 00:29:00,160 law, Messiah's law. Interesting. 458 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,480 His law. You know what the word law is in 459 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:08,520 the Hebrew Torah? They're going to be waiting for 460 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:12,520 his Torah. Messiah is going to come, yes, 461 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:15,840 to bring justice. But he's also coming to bring a 462 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:22,760 law, a different law, a law that the New Testament expounds on 463 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:24,520 and clarifies. Is that not right? 464 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:27,680 And that's why now when? You read all those verses where 465 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:31,480 Jesus says if you love me, you'll do what you'll obey my 466 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:34,120 commandments. And he commissions the. 467 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,400 Disciples and he says go and teach them what I commanded you. 468 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:40,120 What is he doing there? He's fulfilling Isaiah 42 four. 469 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:46,000 That he has come. Now with his law, and Paul by 470 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,120 the Spirit gives us the label of that law, the title, that law, 471 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:53,040 the law of Christ, the law of Christ. 472 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:56,880 Now you might be wondering, is this about Messiah? 473 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:01,640 It is about Messiah. It is about Jesus. 474 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:08,040 Matthew. 1215 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there, and 475 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,080 many followed him, and he healed them all, and ordered them not 476 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:14,120 to make him known. This was to fulfill what was 477 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:18,600 spoken by the prophet Isaiah, verse 18 of Matthew 12. 478 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,960 Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my 479 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:24,960 soul is well pleased. I'll put my spirit upon him, and 480 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:26,800 he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 481 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:29,600 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his 482 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:31,800 voice in the streets. A bruised Reed he will not 483 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,720 break, and a smoldering Wick he will not quench until he brings 484 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:38,160 justice to victory. And his name the Gentiles will 485 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:39,880 hope. What does Matthew do? 486 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,800 Matthew wants to let you know that Isaiah 42, one to four. 487 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:46,040 Really, that whole passage is about Jesus. 488 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:50,800 So Jesus is going. To come and he's going to bring 489 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:59,640 his law, his law. Speaking of fulfilling, I want 490 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,680 you and I to consider probably the biggest objection to what I 491 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:05,560 just shared in the past 30 minutes. 492 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:09,640 And it is what the. Lord, Jesus says in Matthew 517 493 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:14,800 to 19. So let's turn there to look at 494 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:18,800 these words, refresh our memories, and properly interpret 495 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:22,520 them. Matthew 517 and 19. 496 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:31,840 Do not think. That I have come to abolish the 497 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,160 Law or the prophets. I have not come. 498 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:37,480 To abolish them, but to fulfill them. 499 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:41,920 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not 500 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:47,240 an iota, not a dot will pass from the law until all is 501 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,000 accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one 502 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,080 of the least of these commandments and teaches others 503 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:54,360 to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. 504 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:56,600 But whoever does them and teaches them will be called 505 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:59,080 great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Can I just say something on a 506 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:01,640 personal level? This passage changed my life. 507 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:03,080 For. Many. 508 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:05,120 Reasons. But there was one particular 509 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:07,960 point in my life where I saw how every part of the Bible is 510 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:11,000 important. Because my Jesus, your Jesus, 511 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:15,080 says that whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments, 512 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,000 what's going to happen? He'll be called least in the 513 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:18,200 Kingdom of heaven. I don't want that. 514 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,080 So evidently. Christ cares about every 515 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:25,640 component of His revelation. So when people have. 516 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,960 This idea like this is this is. Well, you got to be. 517 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,960 Careful there, because if you relax any part of his word that 518 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:35,480 is clear and obvious, then you're doing something to your 519 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:37,680 own reputation in the age to come. 520 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:42,400 But here's how this. Passage is commonly known. 521 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:48,520 Todd understood Jesus, in fulfilling the Law, came to obey 522 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:50,360 every aspect of the Law of Moses. 523 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:52,920 And every part of. The Law of Moses remains in 524 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:57,280 effect forever, and it is to be honored and enforced by all who 525 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,280 are truly part of his Kingdom, right? 526 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:00,600 Isn't that how most people understand it? 527 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,600 He came and he obeyed. It perfectly and the law remains 528 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:07,160 in effect forever and if you want to be great in the Kingdom 529 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,280 of heaven, then you're going to enforce it on your own life and 530 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:12,680 you're going to teach others to abide by everything that the 531 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:16,520 law, the law of Moses, the law of the prophets. 532 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:20,360 But is that what Jesus? Meant when he said I've come to 533 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:23,920 fulfill the law, is that what he was trying to convey? 534 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:25,800 That I'm here to obey everything perfectly. 535 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:30,520 Not primarily. It includes that, but that's not 536 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:31,840 what he is trying to communicate. 537 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:35,480 When he says here that he has come to accomplish all that the 538 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:40,240 law and the Prophet spoke of. What he means is I have come to 539 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:43,160 satisfy all that the law foreshadows. 540 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,880 And all that the. Prophets predicted that Messiah 541 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:49,480 would do. I've come. 542 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:52,880 To become the substance of the shadows of the law. 543 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,800 And I've come. To perform everything that the 544 00:33:56,800 --> 00:34:01,000 prophet said, like what we heard in Isaiah 42, the prophet said 545 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:03,360 Messiah would do. I'm here to fulfill that. 546 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:07,360 I'm here to accomplish that. And if you're. 547 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:11,520 If you're confused by that idea, then remember what we just read 548 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:14,960 in Matthew 1217, where Matthew tells us that this Jesus who did 549 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:17,239 certain things did so in order to do what? 550 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:19,920 Fulfill what Isaiah the prophet said. 551 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:23,199 And then he quotes Isaiah 42. So even when. 552 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:25,600 You look at the broader context of the book of Matthew, you'll 553 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:28,360 notice how the word fulfill is genuinely implemented. 554 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:30,840 So let me give you one example. If you're there in Matthew 5, go 555 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:33,440 to Matthew 2. And you see this in. 556 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:37,080 Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and other chapters surrounding his birth 557 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:39,920 and his arrival. But look at Matthew 2. 14 and 558 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,480 15. And he rose, and. 559 00:34:42,480 --> 00:34:45,199 Took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and 560 00:34:45,199 --> 00:34:46,719 remained there until the death of Herod. 561 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:50,520 This was to fulfill. With the Lord had. 562 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:52,560 Spoken by the prophet out of Egypt. 563 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:54,960 I called my son. And you see that same phrase 564 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:57,920 repeated whenever prophecy is fulfilled. 565 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:01,280 This was done to fulfill, to fulfill, to fulfill. 566 00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:05,680 And from Jesus. Own lips he stands before his 567 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:09,080 audience on that glorious mount, because he made it glorious. 568 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,680 And he said, I haven't come to abolish the Law of the Prophets, 569 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:16,120 I've come to fulfill them. I've come to. 570 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:19,440 Accomplish what the Law foreshadowed, what the law was 571 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:22,720 pointing to. And I've come also to show you 572 00:35:22,720 --> 00:35:25,640 that I'm the one the prophets predicted. 573 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:27,120 I've come to do all that they predicted. 574 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:32,120 So this is what it means. That he has come to manifest 575 00:35:32,240 --> 00:35:34,760 what the Old Testament was ultimately speaking about. 576 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:38,680 But there's. Another layer to this concept of 577 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:41,680 fulfilling. Christ. 578 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:43,920 Also meant when he said that I have not come to abolish all, 579 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:47,440 but to fulfill it. That he has come. 580 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:51,120 To give the truest application of the law. 581 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:55,480 In other words, in his. Day there was such a shallow and 582 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,520 often misguided interpretation of the law. 583 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:02,800 And so when he says this, he means to say that I've come to 584 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,680 reveal the true essence of the law, the true purpose of the 585 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:09,480 law, showing how it is accurately fulfilled. 586 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:14,200 Seeing how are you? Saying that because you can't 587 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:19,680 just end it at Matthew 520, that's the beginning of the 588 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:23,360 Sermon on the Mount. What is he going to say after he 589 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:25,280 says that I've come to fulfill the law. 590 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:28,480 Let me give you a few examples. Look at Matthew 521. 591 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:33,200 You have heard that it? Was said of those of old you 592 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:35,800 shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to 593 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:40,480 judgement. But I say to you, I say to you, 594 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:44,880 Matthew 527, you've heard that it was said you shall not commit 595 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:46,920 adultery. But I say to you. 596 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,880 Matthew 530. One, it was also said, whoever 597 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:54,720 divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. 598 00:36:54,720 --> 00:36:57,960 But I say to you and over and over he does this. 599 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:00,480 But I say to you, but I say to you, but I what is he trying to 600 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:02,760 say? He's he's here to say that I've 601 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:06,320 come to give the true application, to reveal the true 602 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:12,880 essence of the law. So then what is the Lord 603 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:16,160 expecting of his people? Very simple that we believe that 604 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:18,760 He fulfilled everything. That the law. 605 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:22,960 Foreshadowed that the prophets predicted concerning who he is, 606 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:27,800 and to live by his explanation. And his. 607 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:30,880 Application of the law which becomes what? 608 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:37,880 The law of Christ Good. That's what he's saying, that 609 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:39,880 is. Why he ends the sermon of the 610 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:41,760 Mount the way he ends the sermon of the Mount. 611 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:45,120 Look at Matthew 724. I know there's many verses 612 00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:47,520 because I want I want you to see with your own eyes. 613 00:37:48,240 --> 00:37:50,280 And not quote. Me, but quote the Bible. 614 00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:55,640 Matthew 7. 24. This is how we end it. 615 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:59,480 This is how he lands the sermon. Everyone then, who hears these 616 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:04,800 words of who? Mine everyone who hears. 617 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,400 These words of mine, and does them, will be like a wise man 618 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:12,560 who built his house on the rock. So in the same. 619 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:15,000 Context where he says I haven't come to abolish the law or the 620 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:17,960 prophets, but to fulfill them. He ends the sermon by saying, 621 00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:21,440 abide by what I say. By what I. 622 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:24,680 Command. But how I interpret the law, the 623 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:27,560 essence of the law, That is what you're subject to as my 624 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:31,680 followers. And we know that to. 625 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:34,840 Be not just in the Sermon of the Mount, but across the New 626 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:37,440 Testament. And you're saying, well, yeah, 627 00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:40,640 but OK, what do you deal with things that you find in the New 628 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:42,200 Testament that are also found in the Old Testament? 629 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:45,720 Well, in the wisdom of Christ, by his own prerogative, if he 630 00:38:45,720 --> 00:38:48,280 wants to choose certain laws from the Old Testament, from the 631 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:50,520 Old Covenant to be carried over into the new, he'll do that. 632 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:53,080 That's why you find. Paul in Ephesians 6, for 633 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:56,200 example, telling children to obey their fathers and their 634 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:58,120 mothers, and he quotes the 10 commandments. 635 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,600 That's why we find. Commands about not committing 636 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:04,880 adultery. But remember. 637 00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:08,000 We're in the new covenant. We're in the time of 638 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:09,480 reformation, according to Hebrews. 639 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:12,200 So you know what we don't do when somebody commits adultery? 640 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:16,640 We don't stone them to death. But what do we do if? 641 00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:19,280 They're unrepentant based on 1st Corinthians 5, because we're 642 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:21,480 under the law of Christ. If they don't repent of that 643 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:23,600 sin, they're excommunicated from the church. 644 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:28,520 So how do I know? What the law of Christ is, you 645 00:39:28,520 --> 00:39:31,120 go to the New Testament, you go to his teachings, you go to his 646 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:34,920 apostles who've expounded upon what he said, and that's how you 647 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:39,280 know the law of Christ. And so there might be even more 648 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:40,840 questions then. How do I engage with the Old 649 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:43,160 Testament then? And that's an important 650 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:45,920 question. Primarily, you're supposed to 651 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:49,640 see the Old Testament with the lens of Jesus being the 652 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:53,320 fulfillment of it. So when you come to the old. 653 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:55,720 Testament. Now you're looking for Christ. 654 00:39:57,040 --> 00:39:59,840 You're interpreting it with the understanding that these shadows 655 00:39:59,840 --> 00:40:02,080 and these prophecies have been fulfilled. 656 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:05,880 But more than that, you're also looking. 657 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:10,440 At what it can. Instruct you with because the 658 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:14,280 Bible tells us in the New Testament, in the law of Christ, 659 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:17,640 if you will, how we should deal with the Old Testament. 660 00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:20,800 I know I've given you a lot of verses, but let me give you 3, 661 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:22,720 three final ones, very quick ones. 662 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:24,960 Write them down if you don't want to turn there, but I just 663 00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:26,760 want to quote them in your hearing very quickly. 664 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:30,600 Listen to what the apostles say about the Old Testament as they 665 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:32,640 admit that they are under the law of Christ. 666 00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:36,560 First Corinthians. 10-6 Now these things took place. 667 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:38,600 He's talking about the Old Testament, the stories in the 668 00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:41,400 Old Testament, specifically the wilderness exodus. 669 00:40:41,880 --> 00:40:46,920 Now these things took place as examples for us, as examples for 670 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:49,480 us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 671 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:54,040 First Corinthians. 1011 Now these things happen to them as 672 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:56,280 an example, but they were written down for our 673 00:40:56,280 --> 00:41:00,880 instruction, our instruction on whom the end of the ages has 674 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:03,640 come. So I'm already learning in one 675 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:06,000 chapter of the New Testament alone that I could come to the 676 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:10,240 Old Testament, not just to look for Jesus, not just to teach and 677 00:41:10,240 --> 00:41:14,200 preach on messianic psalms or shadows of Christ, but I can 678 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:16,120 actually not come to the Old Testament and do what? 679 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:20,560 Look for examples and illustrations of New Testament 680 00:41:20,560 --> 00:41:23,200 truths. And I can look. 681 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:26,360 For instruction. So I'm not just. 682 00:41:26,360 --> 00:41:29,720 Looking at prophecy now, I'm looking for practical guidance 683 00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,680 in the Old Testament. In what way? 684 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:34,360 Well. If you come to Bible. 685 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:37,400 Study and Fridays you would know this, that we always repeat this 686 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:39,800 word principle. What's the principle behind this 687 00:41:39,800 --> 00:41:42,240 passage? What's the principle behind this 688 00:41:42,240 --> 00:41:44,040 story? What's the principle behind this 689 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:46,880 example? And we're discovering in the Old 690 00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:49,840 Testament the heart of God, the character of God. 691 00:41:50,080 --> 00:41:53,040 We're looking for principles that are confirmed in the New 692 00:41:53,040 --> 00:41:53,880 Testament. Let. 693 00:41:55,720 --> 00:41:58,840 Me give you another one. From the New Testament, Romans 694 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:03,040 15, four. For whatever was. 695 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:06,120 Written in former days was written for our instruction 696 00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:07,880 that. Through. 697 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:11,160 Endurance. And through the encouragement of 698 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:14,000 the Scriptures, we might have hope. 699 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:17,960 So Corinthians. Says you can find examples. 700 00:42:17,960 --> 00:42:19,840 In the Old Testament you can find instruction. 701 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:23,000 And Paul adds, in Romans you can find encouragement. 702 00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:25,160 What scriptures are you? Referring to. 703 00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:26,440 He's not even referring to Ephesians. 704 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:28,840 He's referring to the old. Testament. 705 00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:34,160 So you have those. And and they have, I know where 706 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:37,400 they're coming from, but they're wrong in this, where they. 707 00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:39,400 Almost. Scorn at Christians who would go 708 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:42,880 to stories in the old Bible and applied it to their personal 709 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:45,600 lives because they want to defend the honor of Christ. 710 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:47,400 So they say it's all about Jesus. 711 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:49,000 The Old Testament is all about Jesus. 712 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:50,560 Don't you dare put your story in this. 713 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:51,840 Don't you dare put your life in this. 714 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:54,080 Yeah, you can go an extreme way and make everything about the 715 00:42:54,080 --> 00:42:56,920 Bible concerning you. But then you're missing out. 716 00:42:56,920 --> 00:42:59,200 On this blessing that I can actually go to the story of 717 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:03,280 David and Joseph and Daniel and guess what? 718 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:06,000 Not just look for prophecies being fulfilled, but look for 719 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:09,720 encouragement for my own life. You're allowed to do that. 720 00:43:09,880 --> 00:43:13,520 You're actually told to do that. So. 721 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:15,160 Here's what we learned at church today. 722 00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:18,840 If anybody. Asks you. 723 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:22,960 What Old Testament? Laws do you abide by? 724 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:24,600 Do you? Obey this law. 725 00:43:24,600 --> 00:43:26,400 Or that law? Do you keep this day or that 726 00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:28,280 day? Be like Paul? 727 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:33,480 I'm under the law of Christ. I'm under the law of. 728 00:43:33,480 --> 00:43:36,720 Christ and you have these verses, these key verses to 729 00:43:36,720 --> 00:43:38,800 hopefully make a defense and see people liberated. 730 00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:41,520 Who are under something that. They've not been called to be 731 00:43:41,520 --> 00:43:44,680 under. And may the Lord give us. 732 00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:46,720 All wisdom to know how to properly interpret the 733 00:43:46,720 --> 00:43:50,960 scriptures, divide it rightly and to see the value, yes, of 734 00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:53,320 the new and what the new has to say concerning us in the new 735 00:43:53,320 --> 00:43:55,960 covenant, but also the old and how the two are married to each 736 00:43:55,960 --> 00:43:57,920 other. And to trust. 737 00:43:57,920 --> 00:44:01,720 That every part of God's word, Hebrew and Greek, little bit of 738 00:44:01,720 --> 00:44:08,160 Aramaic, is for us, is for us. So, believers, you are under the 739 00:44:08,160 --> 00:44:11,120 law of Christ. How do you know what the law? 740 00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:14,120 Crisis study your New Testament. But if you want to know the New 741 00:44:14,120 --> 00:44:16,800 Testament, even better study the Old Testament. 742 00:44:18,160 --> 00:44:18,880 We're liberated. We're. 743 00:44:18,880 --> 00:44:22,480 Freed we're under, we're under a better covenant because of our 744 00:44:22,480 --> 00:44:25,960 Lord Jesus Christ. And in this covenant he tells us 745 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:33,040 to take these elements and to gather together as a church and 746 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:36,560 to remember what he has done. Because even the law of. 747 00:44:36,560 --> 00:44:40,200 Christ though they are commands and regulations and observances. 748 00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:43,320 They are built upon. The the basis of His 749 00:44:43,320 --> 00:44:47,200 forgiveness, the gift of grace and His sacrifice for us. 750 00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:50,440 Can we prepare our hearts to celebrate this truth together? 751 00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:05,480 We thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, 752 00:45:05,480 --> 00:45:08,920 Lord, that your word is wonderful. 753 00:45:09,680 --> 00:45:15,640 Oh how real it is. Oh, how harmonious it is, how 754 00:45:15,640 --> 00:45:19,240 brilliant it is. It's so clear that you were the 755 00:45:19,240 --> 00:45:21,600 author of it. And we'll thank you. 756 00:45:21,600 --> 00:45:26,360 For this group of people today that are like the Bereans, who 757 00:45:26,360 --> 00:45:28,480 have a high regard of the Scriptures, who search it 758 00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:33,280 diligently, may we always be people of the book, may always 759 00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:36,840 guide us. Lord into truth, may you grant 760 00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:38,920 us the gift that you gave to the disciples at the end of the 761 00:45:38,920 --> 00:45:41,640 Gospel, Luke, where we're told there that you open the minds of 762 00:45:41,640 --> 00:45:43,880 the disciples to understand the Scriptures. 763 00:45:44,920 --> 00:45:46,600 We pray for that miracle. Every day. 764 00:45:47,480 --> 00:45:49,640 And Lord now as we. Come to prepare to eat of this 765 00:45:49,640 --> 00:45:52,400 table because in this new covenant you set this as an 766 00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:55,440 ordinance for us. Help us do so in an honorable 767 00:45:55,440 --> 00:45:59,480 way, in a way that would bless you and bless us as a result. 768 00:46:00,080 --> 00:46:03,880 In Jesus name we pray, Amen. Well, the praise team is going 769 00:46:03,880 --> 00:46:07,680 to join us here in a moment as we we sing these truths that 770 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:10,440 will help our hearts be aligned with the things that we are 771 00:46:10,440 --> 00:46:15,400 going to partake of. And I just want to. 772 00:46:15,400 --> 00:46:17,720 Encourage you that if you're, you're not a Christian here 773 00:46:17,720 --> 00:46:21,480 today, this is an ordinance that Christ has designated for 774 00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:24,360 believers, those who have put their faith and trust in the 775 00:46:24,360 --> 00:46:27,760 person of Jesus Christ. So we would respectfully ask you 776 00:46:27,760 --> 00:46:31,040 to refrain from participating if if you know that you haven't put 777 00:46:31,040 --> 00:46:33,200 your faith in Christ, if you've not repented, if you've not been 778 00:46:33,200 --> 00:46:36,840 born again, but that you would participate by observing what's 779 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:39,960 happening here. And believer, even as we sing 780 00:46:40,320 --> 00:46:43,280 and as we're about to eat, I encourage you to do what the 781 00:46:43,280 --> 00:46:47,440 Bible says to examine yourself and ask yourself, is there 782 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:49,520 anything that I'm holding onto that I know breaks the heart of 783 00:46:49,520 --> 00:46:52,600 God? Not things that you're fighting 784 00:46:52,600 --> 00:46:54,440 against and resisting, but things that you're justifying 785 00:46:54,440 --> 00:46:56,640 that you know, the Scripture says that you cannot justify. 786 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:00,560 Then deal with that with the Lord as as Pastor Daniel opened 787 00:47:00,560 --> 00:47:01,800 up with. If you know that there's people 788 00:47:01,800 --> 00:47:04,960 that you have conflict with in the church, then you confront 789 00:47:04,960 --> 00:47:08,920 that brother in in love and you reconcile before you would even 790 00:47:08,920 --> 00:47:12,960 partake. And ultimately, believers, we're 791 00:47:12,960 --> 00:47:16,040 here to celebrate. We're here to rejoice that his 792 00:47:16,040 --> 00:47:18,840 body, his blood. Is the ransom. 793 00:47:18,840 --> 00:47:22,040 That saves and redeems us. It's not about your works. 794 00:47:22,040 --> 00:47:24,240 It's not about any law that you keep. 795 00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:26,880 It's because of what He's done in His love for you. 796 00:47:27,280 --> 00:47:30,080 He paid your debt. No matter what may seem to be 797 00:47:30,080 --> 00:47:33,560 going wrong in your life, one thing is guaranteed and can 798 00:47:33,560 --> 00:47:36,360 never be taken from you. You have eternal life. 799 00:47:37,120 --> 00:47:41,840 You have heaven, you have God's favour forever, you are in the 800 00:47:41,840 --> 00:47:44,840 palm of His hand and no one can take you out of it. 801 00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:46,640 That's what we have come to celebrate. 802 00:47:46,640 --> 00:47:48,360 Amen. Well, let's stand now, and let's 803 00:47:48,360 --> 00:47:49,400 rejoice in the Lord.