Thank God For Bacon

READ Matthew 5:17-20 Thank God for Bacon

• Lets start by saying Gods word is always true and it is never contradictory- Our inability to explain or understand does not nullify it. God meant what he said when he said it
• Why is it important to fully understand this scripture and its doctrinal importance
• One- people want to separate the Old Testament from the new- Put more weight on the NT than the OT- they want to be ‘red letter christians’ and discount the OT
• We want to be biblical and give equal weight and influence on the entirety of the canon

Two- people  want to separate Jesus from the OT and say that the “God of the OT is different than the God of the NT” 

• We believe that the God of Genesis is the God of Revelation- we walked through 3 years of teaching from the OT showing the NT connection and influence you cannot separate the two
• Three– people want to allow and teach  people to break God’s moral laws as outlined in the OT because they do not want to be held accountable to them. They want to sin and keep their salvation and have no limits to how they live and label anyone who does as ‘legalism’
• These people have a limited understanding of the term “law” and want to use it for their benefit. Everytime the English language says “law” in the Bible it doesn’t fully explain the context of which law it is referring- we just read it as ‘law’ and we place it where we thing. 
• They will say phrases like “you wear mixed clothing” and “you eat pork” as justification why homosexuality is acceptable Christian practice. Justify no fault divorce and abortion. 
• Let me be clear– Justification (right standing before God) brings obedience- Obedience does not bring Justification. James 2:10  For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.- We are, guilty sinners who needed a savior and cannot save ourselves
• There are few terms I need you to understand as we walk through this- because these aberrant beliefs are rampant in the church today. Not labeled as such, but still here-memorize them
• Antinomianism- Antinomianism (Ancient Greek: ἀντί, “against” and νόμος, “law”) is any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral, religious or social norms (Wikipedia) 
• Its anti-law- these people believe there should be no laws in Christianity-  They will quote you
• Rom 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
• They say that’s the law- Just love. If you do that- you’re being a Good Christian

• Marcionism- the doctrinal system of a sect of the second and third centuries a.d. accepting some parts of the New Testament but denying Christ’s corporality and humanity and condemning the Creator God of the Old Testament. (Webster) 
• This is the idea that The God of the OT was a retributive diety that was misunderstood- and Jesus came to set the record straight- to show us the true loving nature of God. 
• Marcion of Sinope was an actual guy who taught this- and was labeled as a heretic in the early church- but his horrible theology carries on today- 
• They would exclusively use Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Gnosticism – a prominent heretical movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin. Gnostic doctrine taught that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity, the demiurge, and that Christ was an emissary of the remote supreme divine being, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) of whom enabled the redemption of the human spirit. (Oxford) 
• There is ‘special’ knowledge that only a few are meant to know- mysteries that only some can fathom- Everything is spiritually- reject everything physical.  
• Similar in that Marcion and Gnostics both rejected the OT- believed in different gods, that a different god did creation
• Different- Marcionism believed in salvation through faith where as Gnosticism believed in salvation through knowledge, M believed salvation was open to all, where as g believed it was just for an elect, M interpreted the Bible literally where as G thought it secret. knowledge
• There are in fact, Three types of Law in the OT
• Moral law– Mishpatim “thou shalt not kill” adultery, thievery, idolatry, greed, sexual sin, giving, 
• Ceremonial law– Hukkim Take the grain, the animal, the blood, sprinkle it, burn it etc
• Judicial/Civil Law– You shall pay him back 3 oxen, you shall through him out of the camp etc. 
• Moral law is akin to God’s natural law– The Bible describes what everyone already knows so that people can’t say “I didn’t know that”- There’s rarely been a society pagan or otherwise that upheld murder,stealing, adultery, etc as a virture. Even apart from God’s stated law
• This law is still in force today- It has not been done away with.
•  Romans 2:14-15  for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

• Romans 1:19-20 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  
• This is why Paul said- 1 Corinthians 9:27  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
• There are still laws! There is still sin! There are still Standards we must be held to as Christians!
• Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
• Ceremonial Law- This is the means by which the people of God atone for their sins- its how they worship God, connect with him, live within the confines of what he demands
• God was very clear how he wanted his business conducted within the Temple
• God’s natural law predates the law- Certain things were morally repugnant before the mosaic law- murder, sexual immorality, thievery, idolatry, greed, false worship, 
• Jesus has made perfect all of the ceremonial demands Israel had to follow to connect with God-
• Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
• Previously- when people wanted to be righteous before God- they had to follow festivals, and procedures within the law to be made right- now- through Faith in Christ, as our righteousness- we have satisfied the ceremonial laws
• This is why we can eat pork, and wear woven clothing, and we don’t sacrifice animals. 
• Lastly we have Judicial/Civil law- Israel was a nation unto itself and needed guidelines on how to conduct its affairs and business as a nation
• We can see that even in the NT- Roman Emperor Caesar used the law of the Israelites to his benefit during the crucifixion of Christ because Israel had judicial laws they followed
• We have civic law today- judicial civic law has historically been around for thousands of years and it’s the means by which every  nation considers what is lawful and unlawful. 

1. Not to destroy- to fulfill

• “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 
• He’s connecting himself with the law of Moses- which the Jews held in high regard-
• He’s saying “I’m not saying the law wasn’t good or useful, but now you’re going to see the fulfillment of what the law was intended to do- lead you to me” 
• Jesus says- I am the fulfillment of the law- the moral law– I (the HS) am going to live in you to guide you morally. The ceremonial law- the means by which you will gain righteousness The civic law in that I am going to be your King and you will follow my laws as I have followed them
• But its all faith- its all belief- the fulfillment of Jesus is not that we are no long bound to Moral law, but that we will be able to live morally not to be justified, but because we have been made ceremonially justified by Christ. 
• 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
• Jesus says- The Law has been pointing you to me this whole time- I am the fulfillment
• Galatians 3:24   the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
• Acts 10:43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
• He’s saying “the law was good, but I’m better- it was a vessel, but it wasn’t full until I came”
• Luke 24:44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
• John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
• PAUL a Jew said- Acts 24: 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
• Jesus didn’t do away with the law- he fulfilled it- parts are no longer in tact- but some are. 

2. Not a jot or tittle

• 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 
• Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
• Isaiah 55:11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
• God’s word is him. He doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean and doesn’t mean what he doest say
• And Jesus is saying Everything in the law must be fulfilled. IF God said something must be done- then we will honor Father God and do it. Right now fulfilled and future fulfilled- it will happen
• Moral law cannot be fulfilled by us- but Jesus did fulfill it – Murders cannot commence because of Jesus- Judicial law cannot be fulfilled- we must still live together in community- Ceremonial justification can and has been fulfilled in Christ- the establishment of a right relationship with God by faith in Christ
• Romans 8:3-4  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
• All of the righteous requirements must be filled and HAVE been through Jesus Christ
• Wesley- Think not – Do not imagine, fear, hope, that I am come – Like your teachers, to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy – The moral law, but to fulfil – To establish, illustrate, and explain its highest meaning, both by my life and doctrine.
• Hebrews 2:17  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
• Jesus is our High priest- fulfilling every last jot and tittle of the laws needed to be satisfied for us to be in a right relationship with God- through Faith in HIM in HIS atonement
• We are made clean in HIM- John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
• Romans 9 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various [b]washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
• Romans 3: 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all [f]and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 
• Matt 5:19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
• And the commandment? John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
• Jesus is the fulfillment of the ceremonial law, the reason for moral law and soon fulfillment of judicial law in which he will rule his kingdom. We MUST believe this and teach it
• We can’t break moral law- sin, ceremonial law- believe our own righteousness civil law- rule ourselves- we must be led- we must have a Lord- we must have a king- he fulfills it!
• Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven
• Matthew was to a Jewish audience who viewed the scribes and Pharisees as the pinnacle- and Jesus says they aren’t righteous because they don’t believe in what they do- and they don’t believe in me- you better exceed their righteousness- you better believe in me. 
• 1.Follow moral law- 2.trust jesus for justification of ceremonial law-3.believe for future Kingdom. 

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