Understanding the fulfillment of the law requires understand the one who is central to it all, Jesus Christ. Jesus is God the son, he was there from the beginning of creation, as it is written "He was with God in the beginning." 1
- All things were made through him and he is an exact representation of God. 2,3
- His sacrifice was already ordained before the creation of the world, as was God's choice to make him sinless. 4,5
- We know the covenant of Moses, with the earthly tabernacle, the rules and regulations about food, clothing and sacrifices, and the law were but a shadow of the things to come [which is Christ]. 6,7,8
- "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."3
There are parallels that are a shadow of Christ. We see in Exodus 4:22 God says, "Israel is my firstborn son", and in Psalms 89:27 God says about David, "I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth", but about Christ in Colossians 1:15 he says "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." and in Hebrews 1:6 "And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world". God did not have 3 firstborn sons, rather Israel and David were shadows and types of the true firstborn son in Heaven, Jesus.
About covenant of Moses, the shadow of things to comes, it is written:
- "it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship." 6
- "Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary."... "They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.", [things that were] "sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean" 7
- "The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God." 8
The law made nothing perfect, and God found fault with the people, so he created a new covenant. 9 Thus this began the revealing of Christ, and his covenant. We see in Jeremiah 31:33 God says "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.", but about the Covenant of Moses it is written "external regulations applying until the time of the new order." Yet the new covenant allowed us to draw near to God. He also says in Jeremiah 31:34 "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”, yet we know this is not without a cost, as we see in Hebrews 9:22 "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
This is the shedding of blood that forgave the people of their sins year after year, but it did not clear the conscious of the people. The rules on clothing and food was an external representation of cleanliness, but the heart remained uncleaned, corrupted by the flesh, and guilty of sin. The temple worship was a earthly representation of what was in Heaven. In all these things, they were a shadow of what was to come. 10
Christ Fulfilled The Law
Thus, in fulfilling the righteous requirement of the Law, and making the old one obsolete, Christ was able to do the following:
- He himself was sinless, being a flawless sacrifice. He fulfilled the requirement of death and blood; his death on the cross initiated the new covenant, and his shedding of his blood brought forgiveness of our sins. 11
- He sacrificed himself, doing away with sin once and for all. It fulfilled what the Lord said, "I will remember their sins no more". 12
- There was no need for any other sacrifices. His reign is forever, he has a permanent priesthood because he lives forever. 13
- He broke the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, as the law says cursed if you do not follow everything written in the law. Yet not only did he follow everything written in the law, but by being crucified to became a curse as it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a pole. 14
Christ in the order of Melchizedek
- Melchizedek was both priest and king, by Christ coming in his order he accomplished 2 things, he became both our high priest and our King. 15
- This also indicated a change of priesthood. Because of the change in priesthood, the law had to change with it's regulations for worship, clothing, and food. 16
- It is said about Melchizedek, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever." 17
Jesus came by way of an Oath
- "Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant." 18
- God said to him in an oath, he will be priest forever. 19
- Christ was the seed of the Oath given to Abraham, this ensured we were justified by faith, believing in what we heard. He came by way of the promise to Abraham that his offspring would be blessed and inherit the whole earth. 14;20
Jesus in the flesh
- Jesus came in the flesh so he could taste death for everyone. 21 His sacrificial death accomplished many things spoken above.
- He was made perfect by what he suffered; he suffered temptation, therefore he can emphasize with our own sufferings. He is able to help us who are being tempted and he is merciful because he experienced the same sufferings. 21
- He learned obedience by what he suffered, and was made perfect through it. 21
- Jesus suffered outside the camp, just as the sacrifices are burned outside the camp. 22
Jesus is Superior
- Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, and an exact representation of God. 2;3 He is superior to the covenant of Moses. 23
- He is God's firstborn, and the firstborn of all creation. 24 He was there from the beginning. 1
- He is son over God's house. 24
- He is the source of eternal salvation. 22
- Jesus entered through the Heavenly sanctuary, he serves at the true tabernacle in Heaven. 25
- Jesus is Holy, Blameless, pure, set apart from sinners. 26
- He received a superior covenant, established on better promises. 27
What this means for those of us in Christ
- By believing in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit deposited in us. 28 We live by faith, not by works of the law. 29
- Our sins have been forgiven, and forgotten. 12
- We were cleansed from our sins and our conscious is cleared from guilt. 30
- Christ is an anchor to our soul, and the hope we are set on. 31
- We have eternal salvation through Christ. 32
- We can approach God with confidence. 33
- We have been set free from sin. 34
Living By the Law of the Spirit
- Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law 35, and did away with the rules and regulations. 7,8 But we are still to obey the commandments of God. 36
- Paul laid out the civil law based on the commandments of God. 37
- The Holy Spirit teaches and leads us into righteousness. It shows us how to live Godly lives. 38
It's pretty clear to anyone who has any interest in understanding the Bible, that it is far from just a book of rules. Instead, as a written account of the beginning of creation, the era of God's chosen people Israel, Christ ministry and establishment of the new covenant, it provides us not only an example to follow, but a story in progress, and God's will, as set before the beginning of the world (If you have not delve into the meta-narrative of scripture, it is quite interesting). It is therefore, not correct to just choose a random page in the Bible and say you must follow what it says. Neither is it correct to dismiss laws at our pleasing because they do not conform to our society. Instead, we must understand it's parts, and the correct audience, while keeping in mind the context of what is being read. For example, I know Deuteronomy 22:11 - "Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together." would not apply to me today, just I know according to Paul, in Romans 13:7 - Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.", it still applies to me today to pay taxes. In the same sense, I know just because Jesus didn't mention certain sexual sins, but it was later spoken of by Paul, it still is applied to us according to it's context. As well, I know even though it was spoken by Isaiah long ago, that God is not a respecter of nations as it says in Isaiah 40:17 - "Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing." In all these examples, it requires understand of the context.
The Covenant of Moses was in place, so that at the right time, faith, apart from the law might be revealed to us through Christ. That covenant was not based on faith, it required human efforts, it was based on your works. It was never meant to be permanent, it was in place for a time, so that we may see that no one could maintain perfection through the law except Christ. Sin would not allow. Because no one could maintain perfection through the law, all were cursed because of it. There was no forgiveness of sins and no mercy under the old covenant. Therefore it allowed us to see the glory of Christ in it's fullness when he was revealed, who forgave the sins of whoever believed in him. For no other reason than his glory, so that light may be seen as light, was the covenant in place so that one man, Jesus, would fulfill the law.
So we see the old covenant was never meant to be perfect, God found fault with it for a reason. The priests offered sacrifices each year to cover not only the sins of the people but the sins of themselves. But Christ came to fulfill the law by once and for all being a sinless sacrifice to take away our sins. Therefore because he came by way of a different covenant and a different priesthood, one superior to theirs, in that we came closer to God, and our conscious was clear. The law changed with that priesthood change. So we have Christ as the mediator of the new covenant not under the old law with it's rules and regulations for worship.
In Conclusion
Lets not fear to Law of the Old Testament, but let's be knowledgeable of it's purpose and it's fulfillment in Christ. Do not be deceived by those who although they know what the Bible says, they do not read with understanding but pull verses out of context, trying to tempt us and blasphemy God. Be on your guard against those who will use scripture to justify many things, including their sins. Remember what Paul said, you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Lets remember we were not called to please men, but to please God, and even though we may be opposed by sharing the word of God plainly, let's rejoice for being obedient to God's will. We should not conform to the patterns of this world, and we cannot hold back scripture because it is in contrast to our society.
1. John 1:2 NIV 2010
2. John 1:3;Hebrews 1:2-3 NIV 2010
3. Collasians 1:19-20 NIV 2010
4. Revelations 13:8 NIV 2010
5. 1 Peter 1:20-21 NIV 2010
6. Hebrews 10:1 NIV 2010
7. Hebrews 9:1,10,13 NIV 2010
8. Hebrews 7:18-19 NIV 2010
9. Hebrews 8:8-13 NIV 2010
10. Hebrews 8:4;9:8-10 NIV 2010
11: Hebrews 9:16-22 NIV 2010
12: Hebrews 10:12-14; Jeremiah 31:34 NIV 2010
13: Psalms 110:4 NIV 2010
14: Galatians 3:10-14 NIV 2010
15: Hebrews 7:1 NIV 2010
16: Hebrews 7:12 NIV 2010
17: Hebrews 7:3 NIV 2010
18: Hebrews 7:22 NIV 2010
19: Hebrews 7:20-21 NIV 2010
20: Hebrews 6:13 NIV 2010
21: Hebrews 2:14-18;5:8-9 NIV 2010
22: Hebrews 13:11-12 NIV 2010
23: Hebrews 3:3-6 NIV 2010
24: Collosians 1:15 NIV 2010
25: Hebrews 8:1-2 NIV 2010
26: Hebrews 7:26 NIV 2010
27: Hebrews 8:6 NIV 2010
28: Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV 2010
29: Galatians 3:26 NIV 2010
30: Hebrews 9:14;10:22 NIV 2010
31: Hebrews 6:19-20 NIV 2010
32: Hebrews 5:9 NIV 2010
33: Hebrews 4:16 NIV 2010
34: Romans 6:18 NIV 2010
35: Romans 8:4 NIV 2010
36: Romans 3:20;3:31;6:1 NIV 2010
37: Galatians 5:16-26; Romans 12-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV 2010
38: John 14:26; 16:13; Romans 8:5; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Galatians 5:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV 2010
Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.
