THE SUFFICIENCY OF JESUS

 THE SUFFICIENCY OF JESUS

  Matthew [ESV] 5:17-20  “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. 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. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

  Romans 7:4-6  In the same way, my brothers, through the Messiah's body you also died as far as the Law is concerned, so that you may belong to another person, the one who was raised from the dead, and may bear fruit for God. For while we were living according to our human nature, sinful passions were at work in our bodies by means of the Law, to bear fruit resulting in death. But now we have been released from the Law by dying to what enslaved us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit, not under the old writings. [As always, Scripture references should be read and studied in context.]

 

  In Matthew 7 Jesus is not referring to the Big Ten alone. He is noting the volume of law; 613 by most counts. As James points out, obedience to all being a daunting impossible task. (Jam.2:8-10)

  Then Jesus states a zinger. No matter how hard we try to live by the commandments, Moses or some begotten moral standards, we cannot attain the righteousness pleasing God. Said righteousness is only realized and attained through trusting Jesus Christ as Savior fulfilling all and thereby receiving it. (Rom. 4:1-25; 2Cor.1:20; Acts 2:39; Rom.10:9-10; Mk.16:16; Jn.3:14-16; Acts 2:24; 13:30; Eph.1:18-20; Heb.13:20-21; 1Pet.1:21)

  Then we no longer live under the weight of law, but bountifully living in the perfect law of liberty by and through Jesus, His exemplary life and death before us, His guiding (and sometimes compelling) Holy spirit within us, “that we might bear fruit for God.” (Rom.7:4)

  Let us not stumble around attempting to mingle law with grace, but rather dwell in the sufficiency of Christ.

EBB4