Fulfillment of the Law: Grace Over Performance

 

Summary

In today's exploration of the Sermon on the Mount, we delve into the profound words of Jesus, particularly focusing on His declaration, "It is finished." This phrase, uttered at the culmination of His earthly life, encapsulates the fulfillment of His mission. As we examine Matthew 5:17-20, we see Jesus clarifying His purpose—not to abolish the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them. This fulfillment is not merely a legalistic adherence to rules but a transformative completion of God's covenant with humanity.

The law, representing the first five books of the Bible, was the foundation of Israel's relationship with God. It was a guide to living in His presence, yet it became a burden due to human inability to uphold it perfectly. The prophets, on the other hand, were God's messengers, calling Israel back to faithfulness amidst their frequent departures from His ways. Jesus, in His life and death, embodies the fulfillment of both the law and the prophets. He bridges the gap between God and humanity, offering a new covenant where the law is written on our hearts, not just on tablets of stone.

Jesus' fulfillment of the law and prophets means that our connection with God is no longer dependent on our ability to keep 613 commandments but on His completed work on the cross. His sacrifice covers our failures and invites us into a relationship with God that is based on grace, not performance. This new covenant promises that God will dwell with us, His presence never leaving us, even when we falter.

The call to faithfulness is now internalized, as God places His teachings within us, transforming our hearts and lives. This transformation is not just about personal piety but about becoming a people who reflect God's light to the world. Jesus, the Messiah, fulfills the ancient longing for a deliverer who would not fail, who would establish a lasting connection with God, and who would empower us to live out His kingdom values.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus' declaration, "It is finished," signifies the completion of His mission to fulfill the law and the prophets, bridging the gap between God and humanity. This fulfillment is not about abolishing the law but completing its purpose through His life, death, and resurrection. [03:40]

- The law, representing the first five books of the Bible, was a guide for Israel to live in God's presence. However, it became burdensome due to human inability to uphold it perfectly. Jesus fulfills the law by offering a new covenant where the law is written on our hearts. [10:29]

- The prophets were God's messengers, calling Israel back to faithfulness. Jesus embodies this call, fulfilling the prophetic promise of a new covenant where God's teachings are internalized, transforming our hearts and lives. [24:18]

- Our connection with God is no longer dependent on our ability to keep commandments but on Jesus' completed work on the cross. His sacrifice covers our failures and invites us into a relationship with God based on grace, not performance. [19:48]

- Jesus, the Messiah, fulfills the ancient longing for a deliverer who would not fail. He establishes a lasting connection with God and empowers us to live out His kingdom values, reflecting God's light to the world. [32:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:40] - Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
- [08:16] - Understanding the Law and the Prophets
- [10:29] - The Role of the Law in Israel's History
- [14:23] - The Burden of the Law and Human Inability
- [16:49] - Jesus' Fulfillment of the Law
- [19:48] - The Significance of "It is Finished"
- [24:18] - The Prophets and the Call to Faithfulness
- [27:31] - The New Covenant and Internal Transformation
- [30:45] - Personal Testimonies of Heart Change
- [32:51] - The Search for the Messiah
- [36:08] - Invitation to Accept Jesus

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 5:17-20
- John 19:28-30
- Jeremiah 31:31-34

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Observation Questions:

1. In Matthew 5:17-20, what does Jesus say about His relationship to the law and the prophets? How does this relate to His declaration, "It is finished"? [08:16]

2. According to the sermon, what was the role of the law in Israel's history, and why did it become burdensome for the people? [10:29]

3. How does the sermon describe the role of the prophets in calling Israel back to faithfulness? [24:18]

4. What does Jesus' statement "It is finished" signify in the context of His mission and the new covenant? [19:48]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Jesus' fulfillment of the law and the prophets change the way believers connect with God compared to the Old Testament system? [16:49]

2. What does it mean for the law to be written on our hearts, as mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31-34, and how does this internal transformation manifest in a believer's life? [27:31]

3. In what ways does Jesus' completed work on the cross redefine the concept of righteousness compared to the standards of the scribes and Pharisees? [08:16]

4. How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus being the Messiah who fulfills the ancient longing for a deliverer? [32:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt burdened by trying to live up to religious expectations. How does understanding Jesus' fulfillment of the law change your perspective on your relationship with God? [14:23]

2. The sermon mentions that Jesus' sacrifice invites us into a relationship based on grace, not performance. How can you remind yourself of this truth in your daily life, especially when you feel like you're falling short? [19:48]

3. Consider the idea of the law being written on your heart. What practical steps can you take to internalize God's teachings and allow them to transform your actions and attitudes? [27:31]

4. Jesus calls us to reflect God's light to the world. Identify one area in your life where you can better embody His kingdom values and make a plan to act on it this week. [32:51]

5. The sermon highlights the importance of being aware of God's presence in our lives. What are some specific practices you can incorporate into your routine to cultivate this awareness? [24:18]

6. Think about a situation where you have been led astray by distractions or temptations. How can you refocus on Jesus and His completed work to guide you back to faithfulness? [16:49]

7. The sermon invites those who haven't accepted Jesus to start a relationship with Him. If you haven't done so, what questions or concerns do you have about taking this step? If you have, how can you support someone else in their journey towards faith? [36:08]

Devotional

Day 1: The Completion of Jesus' Mission
Jesus' declaration, "It is finished," signifies the completion of His mission to fulfill the law and the prophets, bridging the gap between God and humanity. This fulfillment is not about abolishing the law but completing its purpose through His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus' life was a testament to God's faithfulness, and His death was the ultimate sacrifice that reconciled humanity with God. By fulfilling the law and the prophets, Jesus established a new way for us to connect with God, one that is based on grace and not on our ability to adhere to a set of rules. [03:40]

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the grace offered through Jesus' completed work, rather than relying on your own efforts to earn God's favor?


Day 2: The Law Written on Our Hearts
The law, representing the first five books of the Bible, was a guide for Israel to live in God's presence. However, it became burdensome due to human inability to uphold it perfectly. Jesus fulfills the law by offering a new covenant where the law is written on our hearts. This internalization of God's teachings transforms us from the inside out, allowing us to live in a way that reflects His love and righteousness naturally, rather than through forced compliance. [10:29]

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33, ESV)

Reflection: How can you allow God's law to be written on your heart today, influencing your thoughts and actions?


Day 3: Embodying the Prophetic Call
The prophets were God's messengers, calling Israel back to faithfulness. Jesus embodies this call, fulfilling the prophetic promise of a new covenant where God's teachings are internalized, transforming our hearts and lives. This transformation is not just about personal piety but about becoming a people who reflect God's light to the world. Jesus' life and teachings challenge us to live out the values of His kingdom, demonstrating love, justice, and mercy in our daily interactions. [24:18]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take this week to reflect God's light and embody His teachings in your community?


Day 4: Grace Over Performance
Our connection with God is no longer dependent on our ability to keep commandments but on Jesus' completed work on the cross. His sacrifice covers our failures and invites us into a relationship with God based on grace, not performance. This grace frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's love and allows us to rest in the assurance of His unending presence and love. [19:48]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from trying to earn God's love to simply receiving His grace and living in response to it?


Day 5: Living Out Kingdom Values
Jesus, the Messiah, fulfills the ancient longing for a deliverer who would not fail. He establishes a lasting connection with God and empowers us to live out His kingdom values, reflecting God's light to the world. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody His teachings and demonstrate His love and justice in our daily lives, becoming agents of transformation in a world that desperately needs hope and healing. [32:51]

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can live out Jesus' kingdom values in your interactions with others this week?

Quotes

"And we don't want to be the same. Our heart is open to Jesus and we're saying, Jesus changed me and transformed me. And so before we dive into Matthew chapter 5, I think about the final words of Jesus. Because that has everything to do with our section today. When he was dying on the cross. And they could say that the final words of a person are some of the most important words that you could ever hear from them." [00:22:18] (25 seconds)


"And that's actually the beautiful part about when we dive into the Sermon on the Mount today, and we're going to be starting Matthew 5, verse 17. And it's a beautiful moment because when we look at the words, it is finished, Jesus shows us in this next passage that we're getting into, our main passage, exactly what he meant. And I hope that right now that we're going to hang on every word the word of God brings to us. Because if Jesus could testify that he was coming in his life, death, and resurrection, his purpose for that was to actually accomplish something. It's so important for not only my world now, and my future, but my eternity, that I understand, Jesus, what did you do?" [00:25:00] (51 seconds)


"Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven." [00:06:10] (22 seconds)


"Prior to Jesus, if I want to connect with the one true living God, I have to keep and fulfill 613 commandments. I believe plus 10. 10 commandments as well. I have to uphold all of that. You know, I think for most of us, just sitting here and counting to 613 plus 10 would be a little bit of an exasperating moment. Let alone memorizing, keeping, and fulfilling all of those commands." [00:14:42] (38 seconds)


"So when Jesus comes, here's the beauty of this moment. And he looks at his crowd and he says, I've come to fulfill the law. He's saying, I've come to fulfill your connection with God. I've come to make a way where you can never measure up and you can never get it yourself. I've come to make a way. And you know what my favorite part about that moment is? I've come to fulfill the law. That means I've come to make the way of connecting with God. These people had no idea, but God was standing right in front of them in human form. Be Jesus. He's like, I'm here. That's the fulfillment. I have come to abide among my people." [00:17:34] (52 seconds)


"When Jesus died on that cross, what he did was more than just die. He took everything inside of me that would run after the squirrel. All of that stuff. Everything inside of me that would want to run astray. And every time I ran astray, he took that all on himself. And it died with him. That's why it says this, and Paul would phrase it like this. He who knew no sin, Jesus, became sin for us to get all on himself. That you and I, us, we might become the righteousness of God. It's like the right standing of God. So I'm now right with him, and it flows not only through my relationship with him, but out into my everyday living." [00:18:49] (56 seconds)


"Jesus says he comes to fulfill the call to faithfulness. And actually, even the prophets themselves would testify of the one who would come and fulfill this. Check this out. Jeremiah 31. Starting in verse 31, it says, Look the days are coming, the Lord declares, when I will make a new covenant, covenant agreement contract with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them out, led them by the hand out of Egypt." [00:26:02] (38 seconds)


"The Lord, the Lord's declaration, instead of this, instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. Check this out. I will put my teaching, the law, that five, the five books, the heart of that, in their heart. I will put my teachings within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother saying, know the Lord, for they will all know me from the least to the greatest of them." [00:26:54] (37 seconds)


"And then rather than this hierarchical priest person, or this Pharisees and scribes trying to top down, get everybody to somewhat know the Lord. Instead of that, each person will know the Lord. That's why Peter would say that you are a royal people, a holy people, God's own possession. I'm going to have to just hop there and just read it because it's a good scripture, and I don't want to butcher it because I might." [00:28:33] (36 seconds)


"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's possession, so that you might proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light. So he says you are now a royal people, a chosen people, his possession. And he puts that law, that call to faithfulness, inside you. That's what Jesus does. When Jesus said, it is finished, he was thinking about things like Jeremiah 31 that we just read. Well, that call to the new covenant, the new agreement is finished. And he helped." [00:29:27] (43 seconds)


"So when I come to Jesus, what happens is he takes out the old heart and he gives us a new one that changes and begins to live out naturally out of a changed life all these lists and ordinances and commandments that were given to us. It's a changed way of being. You know, I think of my dad. He used to, before he knew Jesus, he was a long-haired rock guitar player in the bar. That's what he did. And he would go around and do these things. And then he came to Jesus and that transition out of that life was like a little bit slow. And one time he's playing in this bar and he's playing a song that he played all the time." [00:30:16] (55 seconds)


"And in that final moment of Jesus, where he was on that cross, and he cried out, it is finished, what it looked like on the outside was that, oh, another one failed. The powers of darkness killed him. And they took him out. But here's the thing. When Jesus said, it is finished, he fulfilled that law of connecting with God. He fulfilled that, that the prophets of your ability to now be, continue, be faithful, to call back to faithfulness. He did these things. And yet he himself was not snuffed out by the powers of darkness through his death. Instead, three days later, he rose from the dead victorious over every single enemy." [00:33:40] (55 seconds)


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Transcript
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