Gal 5:14 says “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Matthew 5:17 tells us “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.”
What did Our Lord mean when He said this? Many Christians today believe that it means the Old Testament is “out” and the New Testament is “in”. They think it means that the law of God no longer applies. Some feel that the moral law still applies, but not the civil or ceremonial aspects of the law. Of course, the bible makes no such distinction between “moral, civil and ceremonial” laws. It just has the law. But I get it.
So clearly the moral law still applies. As a matter of fact, every one of the 10 Commandments is mentioned again in the New Testament, except for the 4th Commandment about the Sabbath. Surely no one would advocate Christ meaning to say that murder, theft, adultery etc are all now all OK, right?
Well, what about the festivals – Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles? It would take more than a blog post to deal with that – so I will spare the reader. But these festivals have great relevance today as well. They are a reminder of things God has done and a foreshadowing of things God will do. The festivals commemorate/d things which have happened (original Passover rescue and two fulfillments of Pentecost at Sinai and the Upper Room) and they are a celebration of things happening now (Our Lord making continual atonement for us as our High priest in heaven) and they are a rehearsal for things which will happen yet in the future (the “trump of God which will likely signal the rapture, and the revelation of Messiah to the Jewish people in the tribulation). But I digress.
Col 2:16 tells us “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. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
As far as what a Christian must do to be saved – there must be no confusion. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Such cannot be added to or subtracted from by (good or bad) works. How then should be live?
In Acts 15 we see an interesting event – the Jerusalem Council – in which the preeminent apostles gathered together to discuss whether it was necessary for gentile converts to be circumcised and to follow the law of Moses to be saved.
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Once again, the punchline29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
While it is clear that everyone is saved by grace, the apostles offered a few rules to follow, and they also make the interesting statement (which everyone ignores) in v21: “For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day”.
Wow – what does that mean? It means gentile converts can follow, as they feel led, those things in the law of Moses (God). Salvation will not be tied to successfully following the law, but the true believer is interested in those things God thinks, and seeks to follow as he or she is led. There are some timeless principles in the law. And perhaps some civil aspects unique to the time in which they were written.
So, what did Jesus mean when He said he came to fulfill the law and not to abolish it? A close look at the Greek indicates He came to “complete” the picture of God’s law and not to invalidate it. He embodied it – He represented it in the flesh. Replete with (yes) obedience to the current standard, mercy, and grace and then He gave us an even tougher heart standard. In the Beatitudes, Jesus often said things to the effect “You have heard it said, BUT I SAY…”. In those cases, he shows God’s heart – His true intentions – for how He wants us to live.
The law is still good. Love God and do what He tells you. It will no be burdensome. Christ is our example of love from a pure heart and obedience following.
