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The Gospel Truth
We cannot know what he would be like now, but he would probably not meet most of our expectations. It was the same way then, too. In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus begins by telling us what not to think of him. Knowing who he is not will help us discover who he really is. Then, by knowing the true Christ we can become truly Christian. Jesus was not a law breaker. When John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus the messiah and Jesus himself took up that mantle, everyone wanted a piece of the action. Even the Pharisees made overtures to Jesus. But when it turned out that Jesus was not like them, they turned on the true messiah like a pack of Michael Vick's dogs. Before they tore into his flesh they ripped into his reputation. They accused Jesus of being a drunkard, a person of low character who hung around other persons of ill repute and generally one who had total disregard for the word of God. All of this, of course, was partially true. Jesus made and drank wine, but he was not a drunkard. He did hang around people of questionable moral character, but it was an effort to forgive, not endorse, their sin. And Jesus broke a lot of laws; but, they were laws made by the Pharisees, not by God. Jesus was no law breaker. He makes this plain in verses 17-18. Jesus loved the Bible of his day, commonly known as the law and the prophets. He believed it to be inspired by God and inerrant down to the smallest letter of its original autographs. He knew that the truths and prophesies of the Bible were infallible and would stand the test of time, when no Pharisee would be left standing. Jesus loved the word of God. And Jesus fulfilled it. Fulfill means to keep or complete. Jesus did it all. He kept every commandment and fit every type and prophecy of the Old Covenant. After confirming the Old Covenant Jesus commissioned the new covenant. Jesus was not a law breaker. He was a law maker. Jesus loved and obeyed the word of God, and expects the citizens of his kingdom to do the same. Jesus did not preach cheap grace. One of the great mistakes people make about Christianity is thinking it is a kingdom without a code, a religion without rules, a universe in which you get to fix your own moral compass. Just accept Jesus into your heart, some say, then your heavenly fate is settled no matter how you live on earth. That's why today we have gays, lesbians, serial adulterers, habitual liars and persons who never crack open a Bible or the door of a church all claiming to be "Christian." Jesus did not preach cheap grace. He preached demanding discipleship. This is obvious in his word to true followers in verse 19. Jesus said that only those who obey him actually believe in him. Genuine faith always results in obedient works. But the obedience that Jesus honors the most is that which is motivated by love, and a loving disciple pays attention to the little things. Any man can get his wife flowers on her birthday or for an anniversary. But a loving husband gets them for no reason, or hauls off and cleans the house for her, or a hundred other socalled little things. Jesus does not say exactly what they are. But when you don't read your Bible and pray, who knows? When your church assembles for worship and you are not there, who's going to keep score? When the offering is taken and you don't contribute your rightful share, who's going to send you a bill? When you pass countless conversations with lost and unchurched friends without inviting them to Christ or his church, what is the big deal? The big deal of discipleship is in the so-called least of these commandments. So know this about Jesus. he was no law breaker. He loved the word of God and considered every commandment precious. His followers are those who share his high view of scripture and take pains to keep his commandments, from the greatest to the least. This really should not be shocking. But what I'm about to say my surprise you. Jesus does not save people who follow the law. Wait a minute! What have we been talking about? Doesn't Jesus love the law? Yes. Doesn't Jesus commend those who pay attention even to the smallest commandments of the law? Yes. But, there are many who seem to share those sentiments who will be absolutely rejected by Jesus. Most people who "will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" are easy to spot. The reject the gospel, ignore the Bible, and blow off the church. Others who "will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" actually look like poster children for God. This was especially true "of the scribes and Pharisees." They meticulously followed the law and they were summarily rejected by Jesus Christ. Jesus does not accept people who meticulously follow the law. Jesus accepts people who sincerely follow him. To follow him you must find him, and to find him is to discover the one thing he requires to be his follower - righteousness. Righteousness comes not from obeying the Bible, but from finding Jesus in the Bible. That's what Jesus meant by "fulfill." In the old covenant we see sketches of animals being sacrificed. Jesus is the painting.
True Christians find the true Christ. In the word of God we find the son of God, in the son of God we find the grace of God, and in grace through faith we pursue good works, even in the smallest of things. This is the true Christ, and this is what it truly means to be Christian.
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