“Grace and Law”
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Psalm 119:97‐104
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Theme: You may be asking yourself how is the law filled with grace? How does the law show us a savior? I want to talk about the pain of the law, the premise of the law and the profile of the law in relationship to the beatitudes and the Christian faith of the believers. ~D. Moore
New Testament reading: Matthew 5:1‐10 & 17‐20
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
V. 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. I 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. Anyone 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. For 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.
The blind shall see (Isaiah 61:1, 35:5)
The lame shall walk (Isaiah 35:5)
The deaf shall hear (Isaiah 35:5)
The dead shall live (Isaiah 26:19)
The poor hear the good news (Isaiah 61:11)
The law shows us how far from God we really are, and at the same time how perfect Jesus is and that life is available to us. ~D. Moore
The pain of the law is knowing something is so right but is unattainable and in the same instant we know we need help and grace. ~D. Moore
If you are a follower of Jesus, that is how we should think. ~D. Moore
We should internalize that we are valuable in God’s eyes, which means we live with confidence, poise, and grace no matter our circumstances. ~D. Moore
Why are we so valuable to God? It is explained in the theological term ‘righteousness.’ Righteousness means a good record, a good performance, and the concept of standing. ~D. Moore
Jesus says until you know you are righteous before God, that you are valuable, and He loves you. Until you see that you are not capable of living like this. So, the premise of the law as Jesus explains it is to show us what grace looks like. ~D. Moore
The Sermon on the Mount is a word picture of who I’d like to be or who I’d really like to be friends with. Jesus comes not to abolish the law, but to show you what it should look like. He came to fulfill it. ~D. Moore
The beatitudes are the answers to how we can be connected to that source of hope for that person. ~D. Moore
Romans 1:17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.
We hunger and thirst for righteousness, for a right standing with God, we cannot earn. We meet God by receiving from Him righteousness (good standing). ~D. Moore
Jesus is the Sermon on the Mount. This week pray for clarity in seeing who Jesus is. When we see what is true for Jesus, that is when we know that faith is true for us. God bless.
Have a blessed week!