Fulfillment of the Law: Living in Christ's Righteousness

Today, we gathered as a community to worship, to pray, and to open our hearts to the transforming presence of God. We began by centering ourselves in gratitude for the gift of this day and the opportunity to be together, both in joy and in sorrow, lifting up those in our world and in our own lives who are hurting. We asked God to fill us with the Holy Spirit, not just for our own sake, but so that we might carry the love and grace of Jesus into a world that desperately needs it.

Turning to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:17-20, we explored what it means for Christ to fulfill the law and the prophets. Jesus did not come to erase the foundation of faith given through Moses and the prophets, but to bring it to completion. The law was always about restoring relationship—between us and God, and among one another. Yet, on our own, we cannot fulfill it perfectly. Jesus alone is able to do what we cannot: to fully restore us to God, to bridge the gap our sin has created, and to offer us a new way of living.

Jesus’ fulfillment of the law is not about discarding the past, but about bringing it to its intended purpose. Not even the smallest letter or stroke of the law will pass away until all is accomplished. In his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus completed the work of redemption, declaring from the cross, “It is finished.” Our righteousness, then, is not measured by how closely we can toe the line of the law, but by how closely we follow Jesus himself.

We are called not to a self-righteousness that seeks to do the bare minimum or to compare ourselves to others, but to a righteousness that surpasses even the most outwardly religious. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were experts in the letter, but missed the heart. Jesus calls us to a deeper righteousness—one that is lived out in doing and teaching, in loving and serving, in being transformed from the inside out.

As we go forth, we are invited to offer ourselves fully to God, trusting not in our own strength, but in the finished work of Christ. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live as new creations, forgiven and freed, sent into the world to proclaim the good news and to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus Fulfills, Not Abolishes, the Law: Christ’s coming is not a rejection of the Old Testament or its teachings, but their fulfillment. He brings the law to its intended purpose—restoring us to God and to one another. Our faith is rooted in continuity, not in discarding what came before, but in seeing it completed in Jesus. [33:17]
• 2. True Righteousness Is More Than Rule-Keeping: The righteousness Jesus calls us to is not about standing at the edge of sin and congratulating ourselves for not crossing the line. It is about a transformed heart that seeks to love, serve, and obey God beyond mere external compliance. If we are preoccupied with the minimum required, we have missed the spirit of the law. [46:57]
• 3. The Danger of Self-Righteousness: The Pharisees and teachers of the law were respected for their knowledge and outward observance, but their righteousness was self-focused and lacked compassion. Jesus warns that such righteousness is insufficient for the kingdom of heaven. We are called to surpass it by embodying humility, mercy, and sacrificial love. [43:57]
• 4. Doing and Teaching Go Hand in Hand: Jesus connects practicing the commands of God with teaching them to others. Our influence is not just in what we say, but in how we live. To be great in the kingdom is to both live out and pass on the way of Christ, refusing to set aside even the “smallest” parts of God’s call. [41:07]
• 5. Our Hope Is in Christ’s Finished Work: We cannot achieve righteousness on our own. Jesus, in fulfilling the law and declaring “it is finished,” offers us forgiveness, new life, and the indwelling Spirit. Our response is to trust in him, to receive his grace, and to allow ourselves to be made new—living not for ourselves, but as vessels of his love in the world. [51:01]
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:00] - Announcements and Fall Festival Details
• [03:00] - Social Media Contest and Community Engagement
• [04:23] - Opening Prayer and Centering for Worship
• [17:29] - Prayers for the World and Our Community
• [19:43] - Thanksgiving for Jesus and the Call to Proclaim
• [20:36] - The Lord’s Prayer
• [21:13] - Offering and Generosity
• [27:22] - Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount Series
• [30:52] - Jesus’ Relationship to the Law and the Prophets
• [33:17] - The Purpose of the Law: Restoration and Fulfillment
• [35:47] - The Enduring Nature of God’s Word
• [38:44] - Our Relationship to the Law: Doing and Teaching
• [41:07] - Greatness in the Kingdom: Practicing and Teaching
• [43:57] - The Righteousness of the Pharisees vs. Jesus’ Standard
• [46:57] - The True Standard of Righteousness
• [48:55] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
• [51:01] - The Finished Work of Christ and Our New Life
• [52:11] - Invitation to Receive Grace and New Creation
• [55:42] - Closing Prayer and Sending Forth
• [56:50] - Benediction and Blessing

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:17-20 (ESV) — 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19 Therefore whoever relaxes 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 them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Observation Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 5:17, what is his relationship to the Law and the Prophets? What does he say he has come to do?
2. What does Jesus mean when he says, “not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished”? ([35:47])
3. In verse 19, what does Jesus say about those who set aside even the least of the commandments and teach others to do the same? What about those who practice and teach them? ([41:07])
4. How does Jesus describe the righteousness of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, and what does he say about entering the kingdom of heaven? ([43:57])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus emphasizes that he came to fulfill the law rather than abolish it? What does “fulfill” mean in this context? ([33:17])
2. What is the difference between outward rule-keeping and the “deeper righteousness” Jesus calls his followers to? ([46:57])
3. Why does Jesus warn against self-righteousness, and how did the Pharisees and teachers of the law miss the heart of God’s commands? ([43:57])
4. What does it look like to “do and teach” the commands of God in everyday life? Why does Jesus connect these two actions? ([41:07])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about how the law was always about restoring relationships—with God and with others. Is there a relationship in your life right now that needs restoration? What is one step you could take this week to move toward healing? ([33:17])
2. Jesus warns against a self-righteousness that is focused on doing the bare minimum or comparing ourselves to others. Are there areas in your faith where you find yourself “standing at the edge of the line” rather than seeking a transformed heart? What would it look like to move beyond that? ([46:57])
3. The Pharisees were respected for their knowledge and outward observance, but their righteousness lacked compassion. Can you think of a time when you or someone you know focused more on “being right” than on showing mercy or love? How did that affect the situation? ([43:57])
4. The sermon said, “Our influence is not just in what we say, but in how we live.” Is there a specific area where your actions could better reflect the love and grace of Jesus to those around you? ([41:07])
5. Jesus completed the work of redemption and offers us forgiveness and new life. Is there something from your past that you need to trust Jesus with and let go of, believing that “it is finished”? ([51:01])
6. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as new creations. What is one practical way you can rely on the Holy Spirit this week to help you love, serve, or forgive someone? ([53:58])
7. The sermon invited us to offer ourselves fully to God, not trusting in our own strength. What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control and trust God more deeply? ([53:58])