Righteousness According To Christ Series

RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCORDING TO CHRIST

Matthew 5:17-20

Proposition: To show the congregation the standards Christ has set for us.

Introduction: What would you think if I told you that in order to go to Heaven you had to be a better person than Billy Graham or Mother Teresa?

I. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law

A. Law given to show right from wrong until Messiah came.

B. Jewish use of the word Law

1. Ten Commandments

2. Pentateuch

3. Law and Prophets

a. Comprehensive description of OT

4. Oral or Scribal Law

a. Detailed legalistic code written by men

b. 3rd century A.D. summary was written – in English it is 800 pgs

C. Jesus’ interpretation

1. Seek God’s Will

2. Devote yourself to obeying it.

3. Ten Commandments = reverence for God and respect for man

a. not sacrifice – mercy

b. not legalism – love

c. not prohibition – positive commandment to love

d. Golden Rule – Matt 7:12

II. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Prophets

A. Jesus fulfilled literally hundreds of OT prophesies about the Messiah

1. 44 in Strong’s Concordance

B. Texas college study

ILLUSTRATION: A Texas college math class computed the odds of one man fulfilling all the OT prophecies about Jesus. They said if you covered the entire state of Texas with silver dollars to a depth of two feet, then threw in one silver dollar painted red. Then blindfolded yourself and pulled out the one red dollar on your first try, that equates to the odds Christ fulfilled.

ILLUSTRATION: Dr. Charles C. Ryrie has pointed out that, by the law of chance, it would require two hundred billion earths, populated by four billion people each, to come up with one person who could achieve one hundred accurate prophecies without any errors in sequence. But the Bible records not one hundred but over three hundred prophecies fulfilled in Christ’s first coming.

III. Jesus’ standards for righteousness

A. We cannot be perfect enough on our own

ILLUSTRATION: The closest to perfection a person ever comes is when he fills out a job application.

B. We must rely on the righteousness of Christ

C. Righteousness of the heart is truly genuine

D. “Duly Dunked” but heart in wrong place.

Conclusion: You ask how I know that Jesus is the Messiah? He is that red dollar and He found me.