Christ Has Come To Fulfill The Law

Christ Has Come to Fulfill the Law | Matthew 5:6, 17–20 What does it mean that Jesus came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them? In this sermon from the Sermon on the Mount, we examine Matthew 5:17–20 and consider how Christ fulfills the promises of the Old Testament, bears the punishment for sin, and provides the righteousness we could never earn for ourselves. The Old Testament points us to Jesus Christ. Its promises find their fulfillment in Him, and its law reveals our sin and our need for a Savior. Jesus did not come to discard the Scriptures or establish a way for us to earn salvation through good works. He came to fulfill what God had promised and accomplish what we could never accomplish on our own. Jesus also teaches that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. This is not a call to work harder than the most religious people around us. Even our best efforts cannot earn our entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Instead, we must look to Jesus, whose perfect righteousness is given to those who repent and trust in Him. Because Christ has fulfilled the law for us, we do not pursue righteousness to earn God's favor. We pursue it in response to what He has already accomplished for us. Maranatha Baptist Church in Globe, Arizona, is committed to glorifying God by making disciples of Jesus Christ through the faithful preaching and teaching of His Word.