WAS THE LAW FULFILLED OR ABOLISHED?

[GodsGrace]

I wonder if we Christians have a clear idea of what it means to fulfill the law.

Jesus said He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.
Matthew 5:17
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. "

But we know that we no longer keep the Civil Law or the Ceremonial Law...
We keep only the Moral Law,,,,the 10 Commandments.

So:
1. What are the Ceremonial Laws?
2. What are the Civil Laws?

Did Jesus come to abolish? And what would that mean?
Or did Jesus come to fulfill? And what would that mean?

And, to help along and begin...I'll post the following:


It is especially important to note how the word is used in Matthew 5:17. In this context, “abolish” is set in opposition to “fulfill.” Christ came “…not to abolish, but to fulfill.” Jesus did not come to this earth for the purpose of acting as an opponent of the law. His goal was not to prevent its fulfillment. Rather, He revered it, loved it, obeyed it, and brought it to fruition. He fulfilled the law’s prophetic utterances regarding Himself (Luke 24:44). Christ fulfilled the demands of the Mosaic law, which called for perfect obedience under threat of a “curse” (see Galatians 3:10,13). In this sense, the law’s divine design will ever have an abiding effect. It will always accomplish the purpose for which it was given.



If, however, the law of Moses bears the same relationship to men today, in terms of its binding status, then it was not fulfilled, and Jesus failed at what He came to do. On the other hand, if the Lord did accomplish His goal, then the law was fulfilled, and it is not a binding legal institution today. Further, if the law of Moses was not fulfilled by Christ—and thus remains as a binding legal system for today—then it is not just partially binding. Rather, it is a totally compelling system.

source: https://ekklesiaburundi.wordpress.c...-it-mean-to-fulfill-the-law-by-lois-tverberg/


I hope we can understand this more deeply through discussion.....I'm always eager to learn.



WIP

 

[Truthfrees]

Matthew 5:17
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. "

it is not abolished - it is to be establish/observed - Romans 3:30-31 - Matthew 5:17-19 - Matthew 13:52 - Matthew 5:19

 

[ezrider]

I wonder if we Christians have a clear idea of what it means to fulfill the law.

DEATH is the fulfillment of the LAW.

 

[GodsGrace]

DEATH is the fulfillment of the LAW.

I can't remember....
Did Jesus ever say we are to die to ourselves or did just Paul say this?

But we also have to have the new birth...
a death and a birth.

In our New Birth life,,,do we fulfill the law?

 

[GodsGrace]

Jesus fulfilled a lot of the law but not all - we wait for His return to fulfill the rest - it is not abolished - it is to be establish/observed as Jesus and paul said - Romans 3:30-31 - Matthew 5:17-19 - Matthew 13:52 - Matthew 5:19

What exactly is THE LAW?
What do YOU mean when you mention The Law?

Which law are we supposed to observe, as Paul said (your statement).

Didn't Paul teach that we are NOT under the law?
Romans 6:14
14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

 

[Truthfrees]

What exactly is THE LAW?
What do YOU mean when you mention The Law?

Which law are we supposed to observe, as Paul said (your statement).

Didn't Paul teach that we are NOT under the law?
Romans 6:14
14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

the law is anything God said to do -

rather than thinking "we MUST keep all of God's laws or else" we should think "God's laws are the highest level of wisdom - what is God saying to me today about this certain situation from His words/laws"?

 

[WIP]

For some reason I am thinking John 8:31-36 applies to this discussion. Is being free from the law then the realization of the fulfillment of the law to those who abide in Christ?

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
NKJV

 

[WIP]

Philippians 3:8-9 also seems to fit this discussion as it sounds like it points to Christ's righteousness covering our unrighteousness. This sounds to me like a fulfillment of the law on my behalf, as does 2 Corinthians 5:21.

8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
NKJV

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NKJV

 

[daninthelionsden]

What exactly is THE LAW?
What do YOU mean when you mention The Law?

Which law are we supposed to observe, as Paul said (your statement).

Didn't Paul teach that we are NOT under the law?
Romans 6:14
14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

I believe Grace = relationship. When we as heathens, first come to our Lord we are too spiritually immature to even be able to follow the Law. Therefore, the Lord cultivates a relationship with us through the Holy Spirit to begin the process of pruning/weeding our minds and spirits into obedience......this will take a lifetime and beyond.

 

[daninthelionsden]

For some reason I am thinking John 8:31-36 applies to this discussion. Is being free from the law then the realization of the fulfillment of the law to those who abide in Christ?

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
NKJV

I believe Christ came to save us from ourselves as much as from Satan and his gang (and those humans who work on his behalf).

 

[GodsGrace]

Jesus fulfilled a lot of the law but not all - we wait for His return to fulfill the rest - it is not abolished - it is to be establish/observed as Jesus and paul said - Romans 3:30-31 - Matthew 5:17-19 - Matthew 13:52 - Matthew 5:19

Romans 3:30-31
30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
31Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

The above states that we are justified by faith.
If we are justified by faith, does it mean we no longer need to follow the law?
May it never be!
The only way to follow the law is to trust in Jesus


Matthew 5:17-19
17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

There are 3 ways in which Jesus fulfilled the law:

1. Jesus fulfilled the law because He obeyed it totally.

2. If the Law was not fulfilled, death was required of that person.
Jesus died ON OUR BEHALF for not being able to live in perfect obedience. This is also a fulfillment of the law.

3. Jesus died so we could rest in our spirit, and not also in the flesh.
We are no longer tied to any Law as to what we should eat or what day we should worship,,,
Colossians 2:16-17


I don't really understand why you posted Matthew 13:52

 

[GodsGrace]

DEATH is the fulfillment of the LAW.

Do you mean it in this way?
From my post no. 11....


If the Law was not fulfilled, death was required of that person.
Jesus died ON OUR BEHALF for not being able to live in perfect obedience. This is also a fulfillment of the law.

 

[GodsGrace]

the law is anything God said to do - they are the laws of life on earth to have a deep vibrant healthy interactive relationship with God and with man - every law fits into these 2 categories - and Jesus called them love God - love man

we are not under the law for righteousness/salvation sake - iow we can't be saved or go to heaven by law-keeping - Romans 10:4 - Romans 3:21-4:25

the law is holy and we are to establish it not abolish it - Romans 3:30-31 - Matthew 5:17-19 - Matthew 13:52 - Matthew 5:19 -

are the 10 commandments good? - do we miss heaven if we break some of the laws? - the agricultural laws are the best wisdom ever for farmers - the laws for judges and leaders are the highest morality expressed - the cleanliness laws are the pre-covid extreme wisdom of God for health - the marriage laws are meant to make strong families - etc etc

if we break any of God's awesome laws we set ourselves up for trouble but we do not lose our salvation - if we keep any of God's awesome laws we do not earn salvation - all of God's laws reveal God's wisdom for every area of our lives - spiritual - financial - medical - marriage - business - government - etc

if we look prayerfully into each law God points out to us we each can grow more successful in areas we need help in

if we sweep God's laws away as useless dead information we miss such a wealth of life and truth

rather than thinking "we MUST keep all of God's laws or else" we should think "God's laws are the highest level of wisdom - what is God saying to me today about this certain situation from His words/laws"?

Great post.

 

[GodsGrace]

For some reason I am thinking John 8:31-36 applies to this discussion. Is being free from the law then the realization of the fulfillment of the law to those who abide in Christ?

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
NKJV

WIP,,,you state above that we are free from the law.
And you quoted John 8:36,,,,if the Son has set us free, we are free indeed.

Do you think we're freed from the law or freed from bondage to satan?

Many take this to mean that we are freed from the Law.
But in verse 31 Jesus says that if we are His disciples we are to abide in His word.
Jesus' word is the Law of Christ.

He said that we are to love God,,,
Love ourselves as our neighbor.

Galatians 5:6 says that faith expresses itself through love.
Love is how we are to treat others and how we are to live.

We are not absolved from the Law,,,,but if we love then we are following the Law.

Shall we sin more so that grace may abound!
May it never be!
Romans 6:1-2

 

[GodsGrace]

Philippians 3:8-9 also seems to fit this discussion as it sounds like it points to Christ's righteousness covering our unrighteousness. This sounds to me like a fulfillment of the law on my behalf, as does 2 Corinthians 5:21.

8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
NKJV

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NKJV

Although we are not imputed with Adam's sin (held personally responsible),
we are indeed imputed with Christ's righteousness.

We cannot be saved by our works...
The law does not save us....
Our faith in Jesus allows us, however, to have the ability to follow the law and to
love our neighbors...our fellow man.
Matthew 22:40

But the death of Jesus,,,and death, which was required by those not following the Law of Moses,
covers for all our sins. He has fulfilled this law for us...so that we may be spiritually alive in Him.

Romans 5:19
19For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

 

[GodsGrace]

I believe Grace = relationship. When we as heathens, first come to our Lord we are too spiritually immature to even be able to follow the Law. Therefore, the Lord cultivates a relationship with us through the Holy Spirit to begin the process of pruning/weeding our minds and spirits into obedience......this will take a lifetime and beyond.

Well put.
The only way for God to be pleased with us is to love His Son and abide in Him.
This makes it possible for us to follow the Law of Christ.

And it is, indeed, a life-long process in which, hopefully, we become better and better.
And if we fail,,,,Jesus picks us up.

 

[JohnDB]

There are several of the 10 commandments that were fulfilled. The rest of the 613 Laws of Moses certainly were.

Let's start with the Name:
Jesus completely understand about God's name...His Title, His Authority, and His character. He did no disservice whatsoever to it. He actually increased the reverence for all that God's name was about. Even to this day the reference to Messiah, which is what the term "Christian" is referencing, is revered as something special.

Honoring Father and Mother:
Now this is in reference to Abraham and Sarah. There is no word for forefather or grandfather. Same goes for Grandma. But as required by the 613 Jesus worked towards his mother's retirement until he reached age 30.
This is because as a descendant of Abraham he was Jewish and honored all that Abraham stood for.... from collecting those outside of normal Jewish community to belong to him to the clothes that He wore...all part and parcel with reference to the culture Abraham established.

Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy.
This Day is singular and not plural. (Singular meaning plural isn't a part of Hebrew language) Now the other 613 Laws helped define how faith was shown...this one was in double speak of how this contract the 10 commandments would end and the new Covenant would be installed.
They showed faith in the future by not showing reverence on every Saturday and doing no work. And to this day by having faith that Jesus'atonement for our sins is sufficient we still fulfill this section of the 10.

So...yes, we are looking at even the 10 commandments being fulfilled by Jesus and of course the moral confines of the Laws should be continued. Even the 10th commandment of coveting.

 

[GodsGrace]

There are several of the 10 commandments that were fulfilled. The rest of the 613 Laws of Moses certainly were.

Let's start with the Name:
Jesus completely understand about God's name...His Title, His Authority, and His character. He did no disservice whatsoever to it. He actually increased the reverence for all that God's name was about. Even to this day the reference to Messiah, which is what the term "Christian" is referencing, is revered as something special.

Honoring Father and Mother:
Now this is in reference to Abraham and Sarah. There is no word for forefather or grandfather. Same goes for Grandma. But as required by the 613 Jesus worked towards his mother's retirement until he reached age 30.
This is because as a descendant of Abraham he was Jewish and honored all that Abraham stood for.... from collecting those outside of normal Jewish community to belong to him to the clothes that He wore...all part and parcel with reference to the culture Abraham established.

Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy.
This Day is singular and not plural. (Singular meaning plural isn't a part of Hebrew language) Now the other 613 Laws helped define how faith was shown...this one was in double speak of how this contract the 10 commandments would end and the new Covenant would be installed.
They showed faith in the future by not showing reverence on every Saturday and doing no work. And to this day by having faith that Jesus'atonement for our sins is sufficient we still fulfill this section of the 10.

So...yes, we are looking at even the 10 commandments being fulfilled by Jesus and of course the moral confines of the Laws should be continued. Even the 10th commandment of coveting.

In the O.P. I had mentioned how the Ceremonial and Civil laws have been abolished.
It is no longer necessary to keep them.
We only keep the Moral Law, which is the 10 commandments.

I think I need a link to give examples of the two that were abolished.

 

[GodsGrace]

CEREMONIAL LAWS:



Ceremonial laws included instructions on animal sacrifice (Exodus 20:24), circumcision (Genesis 17:10), ceremonial feasts (Deuteronomy 16:10), dietary restrictions (Leviticus 11:4–8), and so on. Such laws pointed forward in time to Christ’s atonement for sin on the cross. They gave the Israelites hope of a future Savior, who would pay for their sins. But we no longer look to the future for Christ to pay for our sins. That is now a part of history. Therefore, we do not practice the Old Testament rituals that point forward to Christ’s first coming. Paul explains in Galatians 3:24–25, “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

source: http://www.jasonlisle.com/2012/01/23/gods-law-the-ceremonial-laws/







CEREMONIES AND THE CEREMONIAL LAW:

By: Kaufmann Kohler




Biblical and Rabbinical Ceremonies.
The Mosaic law expressly states that certain ceremonies are to serve as "signs" and "memorials": (a) Circumcision is enjoined as "ot berit" ("a token of the covenant betwixt me and you," Gen. xvii. 11). (b) The Sabbath is to be "ot" ("a sign between me and you throughout your generations," Ex. xxxi. 13, 17; Ezek. xx. 17, 20). (c) The Passover feast "shall be for a sign [ot] unto thee upon thine hand and for a memorial between thine eyes" (Ex. xiii. 9). (d) Connected therewith is the redemption of the first-born to be a "token upon thine hands and for frontlets between thine eyes" (Ex. xiii. 16). According to rabbinical traditions, there are: (e) The putting on of the phylacteries or Tefillin prescribed in Deut. vi. 8, xi. 18, "Thou shalt bind them for a sign [ot] upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes." (f) The placing of Mezuzah upon the doors (Deut. vi. 9, xi. 20): "Thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thine house." (g) The Ẓiẓit,the fringe upon the borders of the garment, is also enjoined for the purpose "that ye may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord" (Num. xv. 39).
In fact, all the festivals are to be "remembrances" of God's deliverance and protection of the people of Israel (Deut. xvi. 3, 12; vi. 24; Lev. xxiii. 43); the paschal lamb, the maẓẓah, and the bitter herb on Passover, and the sukkah and the four plants of the Feast of Tabernacles (Ex. xii. 8; Lev. xxiii. 40 et seq.), being the significant symbols. Similarly, the erection of the sanctuary and the sacrificial worship therein must be counted among the ceremonial laws, and no less so the dietary laws (Ex. xxii. 30; Lev. xi.; Deut. xvi. 3-21), as symbolically emphasizing the idea of Israel being God's "holy" or priest people.
To these, Pharisaic Judaism added a number of new ceremonies, among which may be mentioned the kindling of the lights, the blessing over the wine (see Ḳiddush and Habdalah) for Sabbaths and festival days, and the blessing of the Moon.
Ceremonies are the impressive part, the poetry of religion. They invest life at its various stages and periods with "the beauty of holiness." The need of such has been all the more felt by Judaism since images or signs representing the Deity have been scrupulously shunned; and the home and every-day life of the Jew was to be sanctified no less than the Temple, the ancient domain of the priest. But exactly as the pomp of ritual called forth the protest of the prophet against "the work of men learned by rote" (Isa. xxix. 13, Hebr.), so there was a danger lest the multitude of forms might crush the spirit, wherefore many haggadists and writers, like Aristobulus and Philo, attribute symbolical meanings to Biblical ceremonies. Medieval mysticism also, from Baḥya and Naḥmanides down to Isaac Luria, endeavored to imbue the old ceremonies with new spirituality; while the liberal spirit awakened in Italy in the seventeenth century found its echo in Leon de Modena's attack on ceremonialism in his "Ḳol Sakal."

source: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4180-ceremonies-and-the-ceremonial-law#

• Ceremonial - Expired with the fulfillment of priestly work of Christ (Matt. 3:15)
  1. Cleaning house of leper (Lev. 14:33-57; Num. 5:2)
  2. Festivals (Lev. 23:1-25; Nu. 29:39)
  3. Laws on animals for food (Lev. 11:1-47)
  4. Law of Atonement (Lev. 16:1-28;17:1-16)
  5. Offerings (Num. 29:39)
  6. Priest, consecration of (Ex. 29:1-46)
  7. Priestly duties (Lev. 7:1-37)
  8. Regulations for Priests (Lev. 21,22)
  9. Various sacrificial offerings for sin (Lev. 1,2,3,4,5,6)

What are the main divisions of the Old Testament Law?

The Old Testament law has been categorized into three main divisions, often called the "three-fold division of the law": the civil, ceremonial, and moral.

carm.org

 

[GodsGrace]

CIVIL LAWS


Civil(Judicial) Law – All nations must have civil laws to help deal with disputes between their citizens as well as to enforce the morals of the people. While not all of the Mosaic civil laws dealt with moral issues, a great deal of the Civil laws for Israel did in fact deal with how to punish or make restitution for violation of God’s moral laws. So, when we examine the Old Testament to search for the moral law of God – we must look for moral laws that stand alone as well as civil laws which prescribe punishment and restitution for breaking God’s moral laws.


source: https://biblicalgenderroles.com/wha...remonial-and-civil-laws-of-the-old-testament/

1. Civil- Deals with disputes between individuals. Expired with the demise of the Jewish civil government
   1. Be just with the poor, (Lev. 19:15)
   2. Cattle, of neighbor (Deut. 22:1-4)
   3. Children, rebellious (Deut. 21:18-21)
   4. Debt (Lev. 23:34-43; Deut. 31:10)
   5. Divorce (Deut. 22:19)
   6. Dress, attire (Deut. 22:5)
   7. Do not hate in your heart (Lev. 19:17)
   8. Inheritance (Num. 18:26; 26:53-56; 36:8-12)
   9. Justice practices (Lev. 24:17-23)
   10. Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16)
   11. Landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14)
   12. Property redemption (Lev. 25)
   13. Murder and killing (Deut. 21:1-4)
   14. Retain just scales in commerce (Lev. 19:35f)
   15. Robbery, extortion, false witness, and restitution (Lev. 6:1-7)
   16. Sabbath breaking punishment (Num. 15:32-36)
   17. Theft (Deut. 5:19; Lev. 19:11)
   18. Warfare (Deut. 20:1-20)

source: https://carm.org/what-are-the-main-divisions-of-the-old-testament-law