Fulfilling God’s Word – Part 1

July 28, 2025

Broadcast

                    Fulfilling God's Word - Part 1
                            Matthew 5:17-18
                              07/28/2025


        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.  (ESV)

        The past several weeks we have been looking at the way that
   Christ Jesus calls people into His Church.  We are called out of
   this world and into God's presence to receive the gift of the
   forgiveness of our sins which brings us everlasting life.  Before
   we can receive the gift of forgiveness for the sake of the
   suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we need to know that
   we are sinners.

        There are two great teachings in the Bible.  God gives us
   His Law to curb our behavior, to act as a mirror to show us our
   sins, and to be a guideline for living according to His good
   will.  The Law holds out the promise that we can keep it
   perfectly, which is false and misleading.  We are born in sin
   which means that, long before we know the difference between
   right and wrong, we choose the wrong.

        God gives us His Gospel to show us our Savior.  Jesus told
   His disciples:
        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.  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.


        Jesus fulfilled the Law on our behalf.  When we confess our
   sins before God, we are forgiven because Jesus bore our guilt on
   the cross.  In turn, we are credited with His perfect obedience.

        This week we will begin looking at the righteousness of our
   faith, that we are declared holy in God's sight, even while we
   continue to sin, to act against our own desires.

        May our Lord grant us faith to see our sin and to see our
   Savior.  Amen.