March 30 - How Jesus Fulfilled the Law—Moral and Judicial - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“‘Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill’” (Matthew 5:17).

The moral law was God’s foundational code. Jesus fulfilled that law by His perfect righteousness. He obeyed every commandment, met every requirement, and lived up to every standard.

But most important, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament by being its fulfillment. He did not simply teach it fully and exemplify it fully—He was it fully. He did not come simply to teach righteousness and to model righteousness; He came as divine righteousness. What He said and what He did reflected who He is.

God’s judicial law was given to provide unique identity for Israel as a nation that belonged to Jehovah. The laws relating to agriculture, settlement of disputes, diet, cleanliness, dress, and such things were special standards by which His chosen people were to live before the Lord and apart from the world. This judicial law Jesus fulfilled on the cross.

Jesus’ crucifixion marked Israel’s ultimate apostasy in the final rejection of her Messiah and the interruption of God’s dealing with that people as a nation. With that, the judicial law passed away because Israel no longer served as His chosen nation.

Praise God, He will someday redeem and restore Israel (Rom. 9–11), but in the meanwhile the church is His chosen body of people on earth (1 Peter 2:9–10). All the redeemed—those who receive the work of the cross—are His chosen ones.

Ask Yourself

There is no way, of course, for us to duplicate the perfect performance of Jesus, but by surrendering in daily, ongoing ways to His Holy Spirit, we can see Christ’s character exuding from us in steady practice. Have your own failures and experiences caused you to deny this truth? Submit to Him afresh today.

From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[Elsie]

Some wonder about the woman caught in adultery - why didn't Jesus condemn her?

 

JOHN 8:10-11 

 

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 And she said, “No one, Lord.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

 

Well, the LAW required...

 

 

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses outlines God’s plan for Israel’s spiritual and community life. 

Deuteronomy 17:2–13 focuses on Israel’s judicial process, putting systems in place to deal fairly and respectfully with those accused of crimes. One such procedure was to require two or three witnesses for a criminal conviction: “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 19:15, NLT; see also Numbers 35:30).

 

 

Jesus 'witnessed' nothing - He only heard 'accusations'.

 

 

[imardmd1]

bmk

[imardmd1]

Some wonder about the woman caught in adultery - why didn't Jesus condemn her?

Els, I think it's much simpler than that. The principle is the same as it was for King David.

Th priest Nathan came to him with the legitimate accusation of adultery and causing it in another. Instead of resisting, he admitted it, sorrowed unto repentance, and was forgiven by God, dtermined not to sin again as a way of life, God spoke of this, calling David "a man of my own heart." Woked for the woman in this pericope.

Worked for me, too; and for anyone who has received this truth and reacted with a permanent change of mind to see things from God's point of view, and receive everlasting life!!

Let this fill us with great joy, Els, and not just at Chritmas or Easter, eh?

Love you as my brother, Els, for real. And metmom, too!