Old V. New / Law V. Grace

OLD v. NEW / LAW v. GRACE

In the past couple of weeks we have been speaking about the Be-attitudes and being Salt and Light.

How that happiness came to us, through receiving the words written in red, about the attitude and actions of Jesus Christ and how happiness comes to others by our expressing His attitude and actions by passing that Salt and turning on that Light to a season less dark world.

Well, this morning, we are going to continue to teach from Matt. 5 on Jesus first sermon, what is known as the “Sermon on the Mount.”

And the startling truth’s that Jesus would bring forth, that would “BLOW THEM AWAY” and much of the church has continued “BLOWING THEM AWAY”, in their attempt to be everything to everybody!

** This is why I make no apologies to what I serve and how I serve the message around here; yes we will continue changing our methods, yes there are many things when it comes to traditional church, religious hoops and outward appearance we don’t give much attention to.

But we will never compromise the message or avoid passages for the sake of keeping or drawing someone.

Today, who are you going to appreciate the most; someone who in deception says, to just live any old way you want, it doesn’t really matter or makes little difference.

Or someone who tells you the truth and by telling you the truth, that could keep you from a lot of heartache, harm, and possibly even Hell?

When Jesus came on the scene, he spoke truth, we can say he shot straight not safe!

Meaning, He knew his message was going to be offensive to most but His mission would not be compromised, into trying to coral a bunch of people verses having genuine concern, care, and compassion for those who He came for.

Listen, to Christ’s message; and in your mind begin to picture yourself being on the side of that mountain with them and what your response would be to the words spoken by Jesus, the word’s “Written in Red!”

Hopefully they will be one of reception not rejection, because these are not just any words, they are the “WORD OF LIFE.”

The Fulfillment of the Law

Matt. 5:17-20 "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.

** Jesus wanted them to know he wasn’t just another false prophet who came into town, but he took the law serious and he was serious about seeing it fulfilled.

It was not his intention to deny their divine authority; or to set people free from the obligation to obey them, but to accomplish and teach them to his Followers even in a bigger and better way.

So, when reading these verses it kind of “Blows Away”

Statements we have heard and agreed with and even stated like:

Well that’s Old Test. and we are a New Test. church!

Or were not under the law anymore but under grace! (AMEN!)

Where they were unwilling to accept anything new, today we are unwilling to accept anything old.

Where they had no room for grace we don’t have room for law. (in the church that is)

And all along, what Jesus was trying to say was this; it is not about Old v. New or Law v. Grace: but it is about the SPIRIT of the law not the letter of the law, it’s about a RELATIONSHIP not a Religion, it’s about the INTERNAL not the external, what’s in our HEART not what’s just in our head!

What Jesus was going to do in fulfilling the law, would bring a great change of events in how we could live it and why we would even want to!

Jesus said in no way have I come to do away with anything, and shame on you if you break or teach others to do so!

But your righteousness must succeed that of the Pharisee’s! It must go beyond just the written letter and take on the Spirit of the letter.

The Pharisee’s intent was good, they wanted a Holy Place of worship for there God, but some how there “Intent got Bent” into ceremonies, rituals, and traditions of men!