Jesus fully fulfilled the law.
(Matthew 5:17) ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
This simply means that there is a new covenant. It is centered not around following impossible rules and laws but, by being like “little Jesuses” walking around and following His will. If we have the Spirit within us, His light will reflect in most all we do and most all we say. (I say most because we are still human, after all.)
Here is an example of how following the law will not save us. From the mouth of our Lord Himself:
Here is an example of how following the law will not save us. From the mouth of our Lord Himself:
(Matthew 15:10-11) “¶ And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: {11} Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”
Not that which goes into the mouth. Rather… What comes out of it. This is succinct and clear.
Jesus then explains to Peter:
(Matthew 15:17-20) “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? {18} But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. {19} For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: {20} These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
What does it mean to bear fruit?
Through the Spirit, we invariably want to follow Jesus and His will. This is a fruit.
When we surrender to Jesus we want to repent of all our sins, as often as we can. This is a fruit.
When we surrender to Jesus we want to repent of all our sins, as often as we can. This is a fruit.
(Hebrews 6:6) “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
It is imperative to understand this process and relationship. We cannot be made “more pure” by following Old Testament laws. Only the blood of Jesus can make us pure and only when we repent and surrender to Him fully and completely. This is what faith looks like. We receive God’s grace when we actively and CONTINUALLY surrender and submit to Him. My pastor puts it perfectly: Grace is God’s part. Faith is our part.
Not by works…
And no, we are not saved by works. The works are a product of our faith. The relationship with Christ is a working walk in faith. Relationships are always a process.
(James 2:17-18) “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. {18} Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
We must surrender. This means we put Jesus before everything else: Our spouse, our children, ourselves, our work, our house… everything. Know this: Anything that we put before God, is our god.
The Jewish pharisees of the day did not understand this either. Nor, did they fully follow the law. I see many today also falling into this similar error.
Be the light that Jesus calls you to be.
I love you. God loves you. That’s the way it’s going to be.
The Jewish pharisees of the day did not understand this either. Nor, did they fully follow the law. I see many today also falling into this similar error.
Be the light that Jesus calls you to be.
I love you. God loves you. That’s the way it’s going to be.
