Sabbaths & Shellfish & Stones, Oh My! How the King Fulfills the Law

Come Praise & Glorify

WELCOME

Good morning family!

Happy New Year! . . . Anybody broken one of their resolutions yet?

Whether you make New Year’s resolutions or not, most of us still find ourselves at the beginning of a new year looking and hoping to change . . . something . . . anything . . . why?

Even on your best days you are not who you should be. You are not who you want to be. You are not who you hope to be.

As we begin a new year, let’s look inward at things we need to change about ourselves. But for every look inward, let’s take ten looks upward, to the One who never changes.

Hear the Word of the Lord from Psalm 136...

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1-3)

We have no idea what the headlines of 2022 will be.

But we who are in Christ already know the most important news there is, the news that will be just as true as it was in 2021. . . His love endures forever.

If you don’t know that love, our prayer is today you receive it by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

In just a moment we’ll hear a reading from the text for today’s sermon in Matthew 5:17-18. Turn there now.

While you’re turning, 3 quick announcements:

1) A word about PBC. We are Disciples.

A disciple is a follower of Jesus, and a local church is a greenhouse where disciples grow

One way we help one another grow is by reminding each other what we believe

We do that through catechisms, short questions and answers about our beliefs

Last two years we’ve done a catechism called the New City Catechism

This year we’re starting something new.

2) Prayer Stations

Beginning at 4 PM there will be a few interactive prayer stations setup in the building.

Pray as a couple, as a family, with a few close friends, or by yourself

Stations will be open from 4-7. No Tabletalk tonight but the fellowship hall will be open for those who want to spend time together before/after prayer time

3) Refugee Ministry Interest Meeting, January 9 at 4 PM

Trying to determine what level of involvement is best for our church

If you have any interest in serving in a ministry to refugees, please attend or let us know at the blue flag if you’re not able

Now look in your Bibles at Matthew 5:17 as Tasha Tollison comes to read for us.

Scripture Reading (Matthew 5:17-18)

Prayer of Praise (God is Unchanging), Tasha Tollison

My Jesus I Love Thee

All Praise to Him

Prayer of Confession (Pride), Jason Wells

Come Thou Fount

PBC CATECHISM #1

What do we believe about God?

We believe God exists eternally in Trinity.

PASTORAL PRAYER

SERMON

Do Christians pick and choose what parts of the Bible we want to obey? Are we hypocrites for following some parts and ignoring others?

If Christians insist on clinging to traditional views of sex, gender, and marriage because the Bible says so. . .

what about all the other things the Bible says, particularly in the Old Testament, that Christians seem to ignore?

On July 2, 2021, a popular TikTok performer named Summer Luk posted a video challenging this perceived Christian hypocrisy. Here’s what was said, edited slightly for content:

“. . . Your religion also says that eating bacon is a sin (Lev. 11:7). How come you ignore that? Your religion also says eating lobster is a sin (Lev. 11:9). Cutting the sides of your hair is a sin (Lev. 19:27). Wearing clothes made out of mixed fabrics is a sin (Lev. 19:19). Getting a tattoo is a sin (Lev. 19:28). A man trimming the edges of his beard is a sin (Lev. 19:27). It says that a woman is not to hold any position of authority and is to be quiet (1 Tim. 2:12). That if a woman is not a virgin on her wedding night she is to be stoned to death (Deut. 22:20). And that planting two different kinds of seeds in the same field is a sin (Lev. 19:19).

But that’s too hard for you, so you’ve decided that God didn’t mean any of that, he only meant the being gay part.

Listen, if you’re going to spread hatred towards others by quoting the Bible at them, make sure that you first follow the entire thing. Or shut the entire [****] up.” [1]

If you know your Bible well, you may have noticed that nearly all of Summer’s objections come from the law of Moses in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

And Summer is not the only one who feels this way about Christians and the law of Moses. That video went on to receive nearly a half million likes.

It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that the most common objections to Christianity you’ll hear in our world today are related to the law of Moses.

Perhaps even more troubling is Summer’s claim to have been raised in a conservative Christian home before leaving a well-known Bible college in California and coming out as a trans woman.

This is a young person who likely grew up hearing the Bible taught and preached. Yet Summer either was never taught or simply refused to believe what Christians believe about the Old Testament law.

Rightly understanding the Old Testament law is no secondary issue.

It is crucial in defending the faith, evangelizing the lost, discipling the next generation, and holding fast to the truth we have received.

And no one is better equipped to help is think rightly about the law of Moses than Jesus Himself.

Turn to Matthew 5:17

Sermon on the Mount

Jesus is preaching to His disciples about how to live righteously on this earth as citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

To do that, we need to understand how kingdom citizens should relate to the Old testament law.

And no one is better equipped to help is think rightly about the law of Moses than Jesus Himself.

Matthew 5:17-18—“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.”

If you had thirty seconds to talk with Summer Luk or someone with similar objections, you might simply tell them that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law. And because Jesus has fulfilled the law, Christians don’t relate to the law in the same way that Old Testament saints did.

But how did Jesus fulfill the law?

That’s the question, with God’s help, I hope to answer in today’s sermon.

Four Ways Jesus Has Fulfilled the Law:

1) Jesus Obeyed the DEMANDS of the Law

Before we talk about what Jesus did, let’s make sure we all understand what Jesus means by “law”

When we talk about the law today, we’re talking about the law of Moses

Sometimes called the Mosaic Law or just the Law

After God rescued His people from Egypt, He brought them Mount Sinai where He literally laid down the law

Rescued people live differently, and the Israelites were to be no exception

So God revealed to Moses the laws that were to govern this nation

Those laws are recorded in the first five books of the Old Testament, but primarily in the books of Exodus and Leviticus

Some say there are as many as 613 laws given by God to Moses

Those laws are summarized in the 10 Commandments:

Worship nothing above or before the true God of the universe

Don’t make an image of God

Don’t dishonor or profane the name or character of God

Honor the Sabbath day

Honor your father and mother

Don’t murder

Don’t commit adultery

Don’t steal

Don’t lie

Don’t covet

How do you do at keeping the demands of the law?

If you’re honest, you fail miserably. If you think you’re pretty good, just keep reading what Jesus says in this sermon about some of these commandments...

Not murdering someone isn’t enough. Selfish/sinful anger is the root from which the fruit of murder grows.

Not committing adultery isn’t enough. Lust is the root from which the fruit of adultery grows.

No wonder the Apostle Paul will look at us compared to the law of God and conclude...

Romans 3:23—“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

So what hope do we have?

We’re tempted to relax the standards of the law. To fudge the numbers a bit so the law becomes a bit easier to follow.

Matthew 5:19—“. . . 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. . .”

Jesus says this law must be obeyed perfectly!

Jesus fulfills the law is by perfectly obeying the law’s demands in our place

Jesus says He has come “to fulfill” the demands of the law

Jesus never broke the Sabbath (although He did break some manmade Sabbath rules) He never dishonored His parents, never stole, never lusted, never hated, never lied, never coveted

He was sinless in His thoughts, His emotions, His actions, and His words

He never did the wrong thing, He never did the right thing for the wrong reason

1 John 3:4-5—“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that [Jesus] appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.”

Martin Luther—“The law says, ‘do this,’ and it is never done.  Grace says, ‘believe in this,’ and everything is already done.” [2]

Jesus fulfilled the law by perfectly obeying the law’s demands. And yet...

2) Jesus Endured the PENALTY of the Law

The law of Moses didn’t only tell the Israelites what to do. It regularly warned them what would happen if they broke God’s law

The most severe penalty for breaking the law was the death penalty.

If you read the first five books of the OT, you’ll notice the death penalty is prescribed for things like worshiping false gods, blasphemy, breaking the Sabbath, murder, adultery, lying, disobeying or dishonoring your parents, and more

This might seem harsh, but remember the penalty God promised Adam and Eve if they ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

“in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

Even though the death penalty was only sometimes required for disobedience in the nation of Israel, it’s the universal penalty for all lawbreaking

Romans 6:23—“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The penalty we deserve for even one sin is death and eternal separation from God. And we’ve committed thousands and thousands.

So I ask again, what hope do we have?

We’re tempted to relax the penalties of the law. To say that God will grade on a curve.

Matthew 5:20—“. . . unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus fulfills the law by fully enduring the law’s penalty

When Jesus says He has come “to fulfill” the law, He means more than obeying it fully. He’s also going going to fully pay the penalty for our disobedience.

If you’re a Christian, the penalty for your sin was paid in full at the cross

Galatians 3:13—“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”

I don’t think we truly get the significance of this. When Jesus died ALL of the curse of the law was paid for ALL of the sins of ALL of God’s people.

In 1989, Elder D.J. Ward, a pastor in Lexington, KY preached a sermon that powerfully illustrated this point:

“I contend this morning that the death of Christ was not an attempt, it was an accomplishment. . . . When one accomplishes something, it means somewhere they had to have an assignment. Well, what was the assignment? “His name shall be called Jesus, for He shall save.”

Not attempt to save, not try to save, not hope to save, not want to save, but “He shall save His people from their sins.” . . .

Now I hear this . . . on television and … in churches that God has done all He can do, the rest is up to you. If the rest is up to you, than He didn’t accomplish it. If anything is up to you, He didn’t accomplish it.

I’ve even heard this: “You’ve got to help God save you. He can’t do it by Himself.” If God cannot do it by Himself, then He didn’t accomplish it. He’s a false god. He’s a liar. And you best not trust Him.

If He didn’t do it, than we ought to stop singing, “Jesus paid it all!” We best sing, “He paid some of it!” . . . If this was not accomplished, we’re going to hell. . . . But if He did do it, He doesn’t need your best, and your works need not speak for you. If He did do it, you can leave here rejoicing that your sins are under the blood! . . . I declare this morning He paid it all! He paid it all! . . . Every sin I was going to commit. Every sin I thought about committing. He nailed it to His cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, it is well with my soul!!!” [3]

Because this is true, there the law has no condemnation left for you if you’re a Christian...

Romans 8:1—“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Christian, all the threats of the law have already been absorbed by Jesus on the cross in your place!!!

Because Jesus perfectly obeyed the law and fully endured the penalty for our obedience, if your faith is in Him, He completely transforms your relationship to the law.

Which leads to the third way Jesus fulfills the law...

3) Jesus Delivers From Our BONDAGE to the Law

In the earliest decades of the church a fierce controversy erupted. As Gentiles began to come to faith in Christ, the largely Jewish church had to decide how best to integrate these new believers into the church. Quickly two schools of thought arose:

Judaizers who taught that Gentiles needed to assimilate into Jewish culture, including obedience to the law of Moses (circumcision, dietary laws, Sabbath-keeping)

Those like the Apostle Paul who taught that they didn’t need to obey the law of Moses, since Jesus obeyed it in their place

The controversy came to a head when a group of Judaizers came to Jerusalem to “tattle” on Paul in hopes that the other apostles would require Gentiles to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. After much debate, the Apostle Peter spoke up and said:

Acts 15:10—“Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?”

Peter is saying that the law is a yoke that causes bondage that no Jew, past or present, has been able to bear!

So Peter, Paul, James, and the other Apostles agree not to require obedience to the law of Moses. Why? Because Jesus delivers His people from the law’s bondage.

Thinking of the law as causing bondage may seem strange to you, but this idea is frequently repeated throughout the New Testament...

Paul preaches in Acts 13:38-39 that those who believe in Jesus are “freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.”

Galatians 3:23—“. . .before faith came, we were held captive under the law. . .”

Romans 7:6—“. . . we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, . . .”

Romans 8:2-3—“. . . the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh...

But what does it mean practically that you and I are delivered from the law’s bondage?

Long tradition of dividing the law into three categories: moral, civil, ceremonial

Ceremonial Law

Cleanliness laws, rules for sacrifices and worship, rules to symbolize purity

Circumcision

Mixed fibers, mixed fields, tattoos and beards

Dietary laws (bacon and lobster)

These are no longer binding for Christians since they were all signposts pointing to Christ. Now that Christ is here, we don’t need the signposts.

Civil Law

Rules to govern Israel as a nation.

E.g., rules for landowners, rules for forgiving debts, or the civil penalties for lawbreaking

Stoning the adulteress, etc.

No longer binding on Christians today because churches don’t have civil authority like the nation of Israel had over its people

Moral Law

That which reflects the eternal character of God

How do we know which laws reflect the eternal character of God?

Popular answer has been the Ten Commandments

Helpful because 9 of the 10 are repeated in the NT

But virtually no Christian believes the Sabbath commandment continues in the NT in the same way as the other 9 commandments. It’s one of the 10 commandments, yet it’s nowhere repeated for Christians in the New Testament. On the contrary, we are specifically told that we are released from this commandment...

Colossians 2:16-17—“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”

This leads many theologians to conclude that Christians are free from the entire law of Moses...

Tom Schreiner—“The distinction between the moral, ceremonial, and civil law is appealing and attractive. Even though it has some elements of truth, it does not sufficiently capture Paul’s stance toward the law. . . . Paul argues that the entirety of the law has been set aside now that Christ has come. To say that the ‘moral’ elements of the law continue to be authoritative blunts the truth that the entire Mosaic covenant is no longer in force for believers.” [4]

The law of Moses was a temporary law given to those who were under the Mosaic covenant. But now that Christ has come and ushered in a NEW COVENANT, the laws of the old covenant have passed away!

Three Objections:

“Are you saying the Old Testament (specifically the law of Moses) isn’t important?”

Absolutely not!

The law of Moses is still Scripture! But we relate to it differently.

The law of Moses still teaches us about God’s character, His faithful dealings with His people, and His promises for a Messiah

Perhaps most helpfully, the law reveals our total inability to honor God

“Are you saying that God is inconsistent? That He changes His mind?”

Why would God require one thing from the Israelites then and another thing from us today? Can’t He make up His mind?

It was always God’s plan to give the law of Moses to prepare His people for the coming of Christ!

If you’ve read LOTR, you know that in Book 1, Frodo and Sam are tasked with bringing the ring to Rivendell to get further instructions from Elrond. Once they arrive, he tells them what to do next and off they go to Mordor. After that visit, nobody would say to the Fellowship, “What are you doing?!? You’re supposed to take the ring to Rivendell!” Because now they’ve got new instructions. The old instructions have been fulfilled.

“Are you saying that Christians are free from all law and morality, that we can do whatever we want?”

Absolutely not!

Consider one final way Jesus fulfills the law...

4) Jesus Empowers Our OBEDIENCE to the Law

Let’s go back to a passage we read earlier in Romans 8, but read one more verse...

Romans 8:2-4—“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

We were not freed from the law so we could be freed from morality!

We were freed from the law so that we could be freed for Spirit-empowered obedience to what Paul calls “the righteous requirement of the law”

What are the righteous requirements of the law?

The best approach is not to ask “is it moral, civil, or ceremonial?” but “how do I interpret this commandment in light of Jesus?”

Sometimes this means an OT law becomes obsolete

Sacrificial system, circumcision, dietary laws, purity laws, and more

Sometimes this means an OT law becomes intensified

Jesus says, “you thought you were okay as long as you didn’t murder? I say don’t even hate them or call them names.”

“You thought you were okay as long as you don’t commit adultery? I say don’t even think about it.”

“You thought you were fine if you love your neighbor? I say love your enemies.”

When you do this, you are obeying what the NT calls “the law of Christ,”a law which is summarized in loving the Lord with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37-39; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:13-14)

If your faith is in Christ you are empowered to obey the law of Christ.

At the end of the movie, I Robot, the robot named Sonny has fulfilled the objectives in his design program, but now he realizes he doesn’t have a purpose.

He says to his friend, “Now that I have fulfilled my purpose, I don’t know what to do.”

To which his friend responds, “I guess you’ll have to find your way like the rest of us. . . . That’s what it means to be free.” [6]

In this view, freedom means there’s no overarching purpose to life. Freedom means finding your own purpose, or making it up along the way.

And that’s the view espoused, not only by people like Summer Luk, but your neighbors, your grandkids, your co-workers, and even your own heart when it goes to autopilot.

But in the Bible, we find freedom when we place our lives on the tracks that God has laid for us.

For the Old Testament saint, that meant the Old Covenant and the law of Moses.

For the New Testament saint, and every follower of Jesus since, that means the New Covenant and the law of Christ.

So what will you do?

Will you rant and rave against what Jesus does require of you as a Christian?

Will you complain that God chose to reveal His will progressively? Wishing for a God that was easier for you to understand or defend?

Will you long for an Old Testament checklist, where you can assure yourself that you’re fine without investing in a relationship with God?

Or will you rejoice in the God who obeyed the demands of the law, endured the penalty that you deserved, delivered you from bondage to the law, and empowers your obedience to the law of Christ?

Hallelujah for the Cross

BENEDICTION (2 Corinthians 1:20)