Embodying Kingdom Ethics: The Heart of the Law

Here are the selected quotes from the sermon transcript:

1. "And as I mentioned two weeks ago, this beatitude, this reality that we are those who are poor in spirit, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This reality points to salvation by grace. We get the kingdom of heaven and kingdom citizenship not because we brought something to the table and we earned it. We came needy and God met us in our need. And that's the good news of the gospel, that we were dead in our sins. We were cut off from Christ. We were without hope in the world. We were separated from God. And God. God sent his son Jesus and he came as the king and as Lord and as Savior and he brought rescue to our lives." [00:03:16] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets, and he taught his followers how to properly understand and apply the law to their lives. Jesus said he came to fulfill the law, not abolish it, as some might think. Some might think that Jesus came to just completely do away, as if it has no relevance for the Christian now that Jesus has come. And so this idea. That Jesus came to fulfill the law, the word fulfilled is used a number of times in the scriptures. Matthew uses the word fulfilled often in talking about the scriptures being fulfilled, right? Jesus came as the Messiah, as the Messiah, and he fulfilled prophecy. He fulfilled what God says would happen." [00:09:11] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "The law and the prophets pointed to him. You see, the religious leaders of Jesus' day, they searched the scriptures because they thought that in the scriptures and knowing the scriptures that they have life, but they wouldn't come to Jesus who is the source of life. And those very scriptures, the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms, they were all pointing forward to Jesus. And so when we as Christians, when we read the Old Testament, we're going to read it with a Christ -centered lens. This is about Jesus. When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, he showed up to walk on this trip to the road to Emmaus with some disciples, and they didn't realize it was him. And he took them through the scriptures explaining how all of it points to him. All of it." [00:10:03] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "And so we should love the scriptures. We should love not only the New Testament. But we. We should love the Old Testament because in it we see Jesus because in it we see the very nature and character of God. I mean, just think about that for a moment. The law reveals the nature of God. That's right. He says don't kill. Why? Because he values life and love. He created us in his image. Right? We're image bearers. Right? And so he gives. He says don't lie. Why? Because God is truthful and faithful and it reveals his character and it reveals his will for human relationships and how they are to operate and flourish." [00:11:51] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "And Jesus shows up as the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And so when we read Jesus' teaching here on the Sermon on the Mount, I think it's important that we read it in light of the cross. Because that's where Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are taking all of us. When we're reading that, we should read it in light of the cross. Read his teachings in light of the cross. He knew he was going to the cross and that he would die and that he would be the once and for all sacrifice for the sin of the world, for sinners like you and me. And so Jesus fulfilled the law. In that sense, he fulfilled the demands, the righteous demands of the law. The wages of sin is death. And without the shedding of blood, there's no forgiveness of sins. So Jesus comes in and he offers his life. He does what we can't do." [00:13:31] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "And so what Jesus teaches us here is in what he requires is an internal righteousness, a righteousness of the heart. And he goes in these next verses and he expounds what the true nature of the law is, what God really wants when he says, don't commit adultery and don't murder. He wants more than not merely doing those physical acts that are prohibited. He actually wants the opposite. Love from the heart, sincerity. And so this is what Jesus said. He said, you've heard it. You've heard that it was said of those old, those of old, you shall not murder and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, everyone who's angry with his brother will be liable to judgment and whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council." [00:21:28] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "And so notice that Jesus puts priority here on being reconciled to your brother. It's like saying, if you go to church and you realize you're offended with your brother or sister, there's somebody done you wrong. Like instead of like, singing that next worship song, like maybe go and give them a call and seek some reconciliation with the pursue that reconciliation. Instead of, instead of just going through the motions and taking the elements of, of the communion and just mindlessly doing that. Maybe stop and pause and think, oh, I need to get things right with what I said with, with my brother or sister because of what I said. That was wrong. I devalued them. I dishonored them. I, God, forgive me." [00:27:22] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "And so marriage is sacred. It's holy. And God wants us to honor him in it by addressing sin in the heart. By guarding our hearts, as Job said, I've made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully upon a young woman. Now, I know Jesus is specifically addressing men here in this. And it certainly applies to women as well. And what women are doing with their thought life about other men that aren't their husbands. Adultery is a serious sin that brings much damage. And so we must guard our hearts, for out of it flows the issues of life." [00:37:18] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9. "And so there are going to be thoughts that come across our minds that we can't help control that are presented to us. But in that moment, we have a choice when we're tempted with those thoughts. What are we going to do with it? Are we going to resist it? Fight it with the gospel, with the power of the Holy Spirit? Or are we going to let sin come in and wreak havoc in our lives? And let me just close with a note of hope here. Know that as a Christian, your sin no longer defines your whole life. But rather, Christ does. If you've given yourself to pornography, and you've damaged your marriage, and you've damaged your ministry, and you've damaged your relationship with God, know that that is not the worst sin ever, and that there is hope for you. Hope for forgiveness and freedom." [00:47:03] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


10. "Let us call upon Him who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. He offers mercy. He offers forgiveness. He offers freedom, cleansing, healing, and transformation to those who come to Him in faith." [00:48:52] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)