A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam
“Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!”
Matthew 5:17-18 NASB2020
Jesus fulfilled the old testament by obeying the law perfectly, by fulfilling its prophecies, and by paying the full penalty of the law as The substitute for sinners. This is how we are justified. Paul in his letter to the Romans addressed this idea when he said; “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Romans 3:22-26 NIV
In these verses in Matthew, Jesus is setting the stage for his ministry, for what He will do and how He will do it.
Jesus is connecting both the Old and New Testament. Jesus knew the scriptures. We also have the responsibility to know the scriptures, to know and to understand them. We must, as Jesus did repeatedly connect Old and New Testament thus making connections as to leave no doubt that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. We are called to do this as followers of Christ so that both Jew and Gentile can see and know Him through the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ is Lord! It is only He who can save us from the depths of Hell. Jesus has chosen us to promote His gospel message of what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do in our lives.
Let us follow Him by praying for guidance in knowing His will, through the study of His word, thus allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and in the lives of others who do not know the power and forgiveness of His saving grace!
Lord, thank you for your perfect and Holy word. Thank you for fulfilling the promises of The Old Testament as the Messiah. Thank you for sending us your Holy Spirit to work in our lives and in the lives of others who don’t know you. Help us to continue to seek to know your word and to promote your gospel. Thus being salt and light to a dark and tasteless world. We pray these things in Jesus name Amen.
Shalom Blessings and Press In and Press On.