Lesson 8 for May 24, 2014

THE LAW OF GOD AND THE LAW OF CHRIST

JESUS TAUGHT US HOW TO FULFILL THE LAW OF GOD “So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”” (Matthew 19:17-19)

All the law; both the 10 Commandments and other sections of the Toráh (Lev. 19:18)

Jesus expects those who will live eternal life with Him to fulfill the Law of God in this life.

Won’t we want to fulfill God’s will in Heaven?

Which commandments must the rich young ruler keep?

“On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:40)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your

heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

(Deuteronomy 6:5)

“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge

against the children of your people, but you shall love your

neighbor as yourself: I am the

Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)

The Law of God is the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17). It is based on the next two commandments,

love God (commandments 1 to 4) and love your neighbor (commandments 5 to 10)

“All the Law” [The Pentateuch, from Genesis to Deuteronomy] is based on the 10 Commandments.

“The Prophets” [from Joshua to Malachi] were based on the law. They explain it.

Which are those two commandments? How are they related to the Law and the Prophets

(Matthew 22:35-40)?

JESUS TAUGHT US HOW TO FULFILL THE LAW OF GOD

If Jesus had cancelled the Law by dying, those two commandments—which are also part of the Law, should have also been cancelled.

On the contrary, He taught us to fulfill ALL the Law of God.

JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW OF GOD“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)

He honored his parents (Luke 2:51)

He refused to worship Satan (Luke 4:8)

He kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:16) He never sinned (Heb. 4:15) He was always obedient (Phil.

2:5-11)

How did Jesus keep God’s Commandments?

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)If we want to abide in the love of

Jesus, we must obey Him as He obeyed the Father and remained in His love.

“Not to keep the commandments of God is not to love Him. None will keep the law of God unless they love Him who is the only begotten of the Father. And nonetheless surely; if they love Him, they will express that love by obedience to Him. All who love Christ will be loved of the Father, and He will manifest Himself to them. In all their emergencies and perplexities they will have a helper in Jesus Christ.”

EGW (This Day with God, May 13)

JESUS EXPANDED THE LAW OF GOD“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

(John 13:34)

Jesus had already taught us to love both our friends and enemies. He taught that based on the teachings in the Old Testament.

Why was loving one another a NEW commandment?

There is a nuance that makes it new, we must love one another as Jesus loved us.

“We love Him because He first loved us… And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:19, 21)

THE LAW OF GOD AND THE LAW OF CHRIST“to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.” (1 Corinthians 9:21)

Paul tried to save everyone. When trying to reach the Gentiles, he didn’t initially use the law of God. He looked for themes that were more familiar to them. He used those themes to make them understand the love of God.

In Corinthians, Paul wanted to clarify that he respected and obeyed the law of God, even when he didn’t use it first of all when preaching to the Gentiles.

According to Paul, that obedience is based on obeying the law of Christ (John 13:34)

“The Gentiles, Paul approached by exalting Christ, and then presenting the binding claims of the law. He showed how the light reflected by the cross of Calvary gave significance and glory to the whole Jewish economy.”

EGW (Gospel workers, pg. 118)

FULFILLING THE LAW OF CHRIST

The law of Christ is driven by mercy.

Had it not been for His sacrificial death, there would be no reason to keep the law of God. However, because Christ has made eternal life possible, there is an incentive for the faithful to resume keeping God’s law after moments of weakness.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Fellow believers should use the law of Christ as a vehicle to transport the repentant sinner back to the arena of God’s law of love.

THE LAW AND THE JUDGMENT“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” (John 5:22)

We will be judged by He who has already experienced what we do; and His law is love. That’s comforting!

Fulfilling the law does not mean that we obey it to gain personal favor with God, but it beckons each Christian to share the love of God with those who need it.

As the standard of judgment, the law serves to measure the level of love that the individual has shared with God and humanity.

When Christ presides over the final judgment, He will use God’s unchanging law of love as the standard by which to judge (James 2:12)