Matthew 5:17-20
Matthew 5: 17"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. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)
If the Church today forgets this we are in big trouble. Unfortunately from what I see much of the Church has already forgotten. Jesus is very clear here; that He came to fulfill the laws not to abolish them. It is so tempting to claim that we are under the new covenant and therefore the laws of old do not apply. The truth of the matter is that they do apply just as much as with the same serious consequences they've had for centuries. How could we then, as ministers of The Gospel, tell God's sheep any different?
Look at verse 18 again this time from The Message, "Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working." I know the last time I looked up I saw stars in the sky and this morning clouds or not the sun did shine. So, why then brothers and sisters have so many ministers, preachers, pastors, and the like stopped talking about the sin that is in our lives. Have we sold the truth of God's word just to collect a few more dollars in the offering plate. If you are reading this and have found that you have made that small compromise then turn now and repent. For verse 19 says that if you break the least of these commands and teach others to do the same then you will be the least in the kingdom. Yikes, I encourage you to take a moment and seek the Lord ask Him if you have this guilt on your hands. Ask Him for forgiveness and return to the calling to make disciples not just entertain the spiritual dieing among you.
The good news is that if we repent from our wicked ways and turn to follow the Lord ask Him for forgiveness He will forgive us and was us clean by His blood. Will you brothers and sisters follow in the ways of Jesus, non compromising, holding fast to the truth of The Father, fulfilling the law even unto death. Yes, Jesus did not abolish the law but He was the sacrifice that we can be cleaned by if we will plead the blood of the lamb over our sins.
Verse 19-20 in The Message says it this way "Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom."
As this years Christmas celebration approaches take heed of these words and remember also the words of Paul who wrote that if we do these things but have not love then we are nothing for then a clanging bell.
Prosper as your soul prospers, allow yourself to be put through the purifying process of the Lord. That one day you will find yourself resurrected with Christ.
If the Church today forgets this we are in big trouble. Unfortunately from what I see much of the Church has already forgotten. Jesus is very clear here; that He came to fulfill the laws not to abolish them. It is so tempting to claim that we are under the new covenant and therefore the laws of old do not apply. The truth of the matter is that they do apply just as much as with the same serious consequences they've had for centuries. How could we then, as ministers of The Gospel, tell God's sheep any different?
Look at verse 18 again this time from The Message, "Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working." I know the last time I looked up I saw stars in the sky and this morning clouds or not the sun did shine. So, why then brothers and sisters have so many ministers, preachers, pastors, and the like stopped talking about the sin that is in our lives. Have we sold the truth of God's word just to collect a few more dollars in the offering plate. If you are reading this and have found that you have made that small compromise then turn now and repent. For verse 19 says that if you break the least of these commands and teach others to do the same then you will be the least in the kingdom. Yikes, I encourage you to take a moment and seek the Lord ask Him if you have this guilt on your hands. Ask Him for forgiveness and return to the calling to make disciples not just entertain the spiritual dieing among you.
The good news is that if we repent from our wicked ways and turn to follow the Lord ask Him for forgiveness He will forgive us and was us clean by His blood. Will you brothers and sisters follow in the ways of Jesus, non compromising, holding fast to the truth of The Father, fulfilling the law even unto death. Yes, Jesus did not abolish the law but He was the sacrifice that we can be cleaned by if we will plead the blood of the lamb over our sins.
Verse 19-20 in The Message says it this way "Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom."
As this years Christmas celebration approaches take heed of these words and remember also the words of Paul who wrote that if we do these things but have not love then we are nothing for then a clanging bell.
Prosper as your soul prospers, allow yourself to be put through the purifying process of the Lord. That one day you will find yourself resurrected with Christ.
Labels: The Sermon
posted by Christianity Confesses at
11/20/2009 10:14:00 AM
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