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Day 350 Promise 429 Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (KJV) We have laws to help us be good moral citizens. Without laws the world would be in chaos. God has laws too and He expected His people to obey the law or face the consequences. Jesus told the people the law would not pass away until every promise in the law saw fulfillment. It isn’t only the promises but the commandments as well people need to obey. Jesus told the people they weren’t off the hook when the promises were fulfilled because they still needed to obey the commandments. If they didn’t and they taught others to disobey they would be called the least in God’s kingdom. However, if they obeyed them and taught others to obey the commandments, they would be called great in God’s kingdom. Then Jesus said something I’m certain surprised everyone who heard Him. He told them that if their righteousness didn’t exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, they would never enter heaven. As Christians, you are not exempt from this promise. God holds you accountable to the law and the commandments. First, because God expects obedience from His people. Second, because you are to teach your children and grandchildren to obey the commandments. Which commandments? The Ten Commandments. There was a time when the Ten Commandments were written on schoolroom walls and you saw them on courthouse walls. That’s no longer the case. In America’s bid to separate God from the state, every mention of God is or has been taken from classroom walls and government buildings. You can still keep the Ten Commandments and teach people to keep them. Is it easy? No. We are all sinners and fail in keeping the commandments. However, you have something people didn’t have before Jesus died on the cross—an Advocate with the Father. When you confess your sin, Jesus stands before God the Father and pronounces you clean and forgiven. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV) Jesus is the fulfillment of the law because He is the promised Messiah who paid the penalty for your sin and mine with His blood on the cross. Remember, the earth hasn’t passed away yet. There is a lot more to the law than the promises surrounding Jesus and what He would fulfill. You are still held accountable to the law and the commandments. Christians like to take the parts of the law Jesus fulfilled and call the whole law fulfilled. If you haven’t read the law, you might want to become familiar with it. See those parts of the law Jesus fulfilled and find what is left you are still accountable for. You will be amazed. Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them who believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. The law has never been voided. Let’s pray: Father, help me be obedient to Your law and Your commandments. When I falter, forgive me according to Your promise to forgive. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 22 July 2020 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay.