What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it?

[Pilgrimshope]

Matthew 5:17 Jesus said, “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

????

jesusnexplained what he meant here after he was resurrected

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:17-18‬ ‭

he explained this a little better after he rose up

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them,

Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44-47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When he said until “all be fulfilled “ he was taking about all of the prophecy in the law and prophets about him needing to be fulfilled culminating in his death and resurrection and ascension to heaven



the whole gospel is in prophecy beforehand from Jesus virgin birth , all the way to his ascension into heaven after his resurrection and his seating at Gods right hand the whole story was told beforehand in the law and prophets , Jesus is the fulfillment of those things in the law and prophets that needed to come to pass for the new covenant to be given

the Old Testament law is still in the world , only baptized Christians have had it fulfilled for them by Jesus. His suffering and death fulfilled the law for sinners because it demands thoer death

when he did that died for the sins of them prior covenant everyone who is in him it’s as of the law has been fulfilled upon them and they died for thier sins under the law it’s why we’re baptized into his death that fulfills the law

and when someone dies , the law no longer has any authority over them and they can then “be married to another law “

“Know ye not, brethren, how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:1-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The law isn’t gone from the world when a Christian is baptized they have died to the law and the law has no authority after they die , it’s fulfilled already and they belong to another covenant the new one the gospel

 

[Ahwatukee]

I am sorry, you ma study, but it simply is not true that when we accept the forgiveness that Christ gives us that we can want to live a life of disobedience to the law. You are evidently ignoring much scripture.

I would say that it is you who are ignoring scripture. For anyone who can read all that I listed on this subject and still wants to live under the law, doesn't get it!

Where did you get the idea that is said that we can live a live of disobedience? I never said that.

If you are in Christ, you are no longer under the law. And if you are following Christ, you are going to be living a life to please God. When we sin, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. There will be many who will try to enter in by keeping the law, but won't be able to enter.

As we go from faith to faith we are being transformed into the image of Christ, i.e. taking on His nature.

Those who are trying to please God by keeping the law have wandered away from grace and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Because the one who is trusting in the law, is trusting in his own works to obtain salvation. While the one who is under grace is trusting in the finished work of Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins by the shedding of His blood.

The question is, what did you do with all of those scriptures that I provided? Obviously you did not believe them. When you put yourself under the law, you are obligated to keep the whole law, not just a part of it. And when you break just one of them, you've broken all of them and are guilty. Jesus fulfilled the law on our behalf, satisfying it completely. Now we follow Christ, lead by the Spirit and not the written code which brings wrath when we fail to keep it.

Those who trust in the works of the law are going to be eternally disappointed

 

[101G]

Addressing the OP,

the Law for the righteous is "COMPLETE", or finish. 1 Timothy 1:8 "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;"
1 Timothy 1:9 "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,"

understand, the Law has not been abolish, but exempt from them who trust in the one who use it lawfully, and that is Christ. for God is not unjust, for the wicked will face the law, but not those who trust in Christ Jesus, supportive scripture,

Romans 2:1 "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."
Romans 2:2 "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things."
Romans 2:3 "And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?"
Romans 2:4 "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
Romans 2:5 "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;"
Romans 2:6 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds:"
Romans 2:7 "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:"
Romans 2:8 "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,"
Romans 2:9 "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;"
Romans 2:10 "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:"
Romans 2:11 "For there is no respect of persons with God."
Romans 2:12 "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;" (BINGO, THERE IT IS)
Romans 2:13 "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."
Romans 2:14 "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:"
Romans 2:15 "Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another"
Romans 2:16 "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."

there it is in a nutshell, those in Christ Jesus will not face the Law. 1 Timothy 1:9a "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man," anyone in Christ is not Subject to the Law.

PICJAG, 101G.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

I would say that it is you who are ignoring scripture. For anyone who can read all that I listed on this subject and still wants to live under the law, doesn't get it!

Where did you get the idea that is said that we can live a live of disobedience? I never said that.

If you are in Christ, you are no longer under the law. And if you are following Christ, you are going to be living a life to please God. When we sin, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. There will be many who will try to enter in by keeping the law, but won't be able to enter.

As we go from faith to faith we are being transformed into the image of Christ, i.e. taking on His nature.

Those who are trying to please God by keeping the law have wandered away from grace and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Because the one who is trusting in the law, is trusting in his own works to obtain salvation. While the one who is under grace is trusting in the finished work of Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins by the shedding of His blood.

The question is, what did you do with all of those scriptures that I provided? Obviously you did not believe them. When you put yourself under the law, you are obligated to keep the whole law, not just a part of it. And when you break just one of them, you've broken all of them and are guilty. Jesus fulfilled the law on our behalf, satisfying it completely. Now we follow Christ, lead by the Spirit and not the written code which brings wrath when we fail to keep it.

Those who trust in the works of the law are going to be eternally disappointed

Those who reject the gospel of the kingdom will be even more disappointed though his death for sin isn’t the whole story it’s only part of the message

“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:46-48‬ ‭


As long as the gospel he taught after he received the holt spirit becomes the doctrine I agree with your post fully , but the cross doesn’t eliminate Jesus words , it verifies them forever . It is only after the testators death that his will is in effect

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament,

they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:15-17‬ ‭

that’s why Jesus said to obey the law when he was alive his words didn’t take over until he rose from death after dying for the old covenant transgression and Curse . When he does everything he preached of gods kingdom became forever the word for all people

when we talk of grace it doesn’t come without a word of authority and truth we’re accountable to. Grace is found in the word of Christ that calls believers near and teaches them gently about repentance and salvation if we believe and persevere

like you said there if we acknowledge our sins first and then allow for repentance and confession asking forgiveness he’s promised to do so and that’s true as any other word . I just wanted to say the cross doesn’t erase the word of Christ it validates it forever

 

[Ahwatukee]

Those who reject the gospel of the kingdom will be even more disappointed though his death for sin isn’t the whole story it’s only part of the message

“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:46-48‬ ‭


As long as the gospel he taught after he received the holt spirit becomes the doctrine I agree with your post fully , but the cross doesn’t eliminate Jesus words , it verifies them forever . It is only after the testators death that his will is in effect

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament,

they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:15-17‬ ‭

that’s why Jesus said to obey the law when he was alive his words didn’t take over until he rose from death after dying for the old covenant transgression and Curse . When he does everything he preached of gods kingdom became forever the word for all people

when we talk of grace it doesn’t come without a word of authority and truth we’re accountable to. Grace is found in the word of Christ that calls believers near and teaches them gently about repentance and salvation if we believe and persevere

like you said there if we acknowledge our sins first and then allow for repentance and confession asking forgiveness he’s promised to do so and that’s true as any other word . I just wanted to say the cross doesn’t erase the word of Christ it validates it forever

I think that we can all agree that, the death of the testator has already been fulfilled, for over 2000 years now. Therefore, there was really no need for me to bring that up, since we all know that Jesus has already been crucified, buried and resurrected. Therefore, the will has been in affect for 2000 years now.

My purpose is to get Bilk and anyone else who is depending on the works of the law as a requirement for salvation, is to use scripture to show him that we cannot be saved by putting ourselves under the law to keep it. In fact, trusting in the law as a requirement for salvation will have the opposite affect. This is found in the example with Israel trying to obtain salvation by performing the works of the law vs. those having faith in the finished work of Christ:

"What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by the works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone."

"

 

[Blik]

The Ten Commandments are not just moral. They are also spiritual as stated in Scripture. It is important to present both aspects.

However, when the veil in the temple was torn in two, that was the end of (1) temple worship and all sacrifices, (2) the Levitical priesthood, (3) all feasts, festivals, and holy days, (4) all ceremonial observances, (5) tithing, and (6) many other rules and regulations which applied to Israel. Christ fulfilled everything pertaining to these things as well as the feasts of Passover and First Fruits. Pentecost was fulfilled after 50 days. And now there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

Perhaps to you the fact that Christ fulfilled means that all is over and done with. To Christians Christ made all that was spoken of Him perfect and now the salvation and spirit that was told of Him is fully in operation. Nothing is over, Christ told us so plainly.

What actually happened when the curtain was split was that the saints like Moses now woke from sleep and walked the streets of Jerusalem. For us, it is a time of rejoicing in God, not a time to ignore all God has said and done.

Matt. 27: 52 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

You judaizers, have 8 days to the feast of weeks, so ya have a priest to find, a temple to build, an alter to build, lambs, and goats, and a bull to find, and some bread to make. Make sure you follow the recipe in the bible now, but ya better get busy.

Myself, I'm gonna trust that Jesus is the sacrifice, the offering and the bread, and the wine, and the high priest. That is did all that for me in my stead.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Perhaps to you the fact that Christ fulfilled means that all is over and done with. To Christians Christ made all that was spoken of Him perfect and now the salvation and spirit that was told of Him is fully in operation. Nothing is over, Christ told us so plainly.

What actually happened when the curtain was split was that the saints like Moses now woke from sleep and walked the streets of Jerusalem. For us, it is a time of rejoicing in God, not a time to ignore all God has said and done.

Matt. 27: 52 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

What it means is that the law has been fulfilled by Christ and is not to be perpetuated. For as the scripture states, Christ is the end of the law. The law was only meant to last until the seed that was written of was to come. Now that He come, we are no longer under the law.

 

[throughfaith]

. The passage shows that the Law and Prophets (where they speak of righteousness) are fulfilled in Jesus Christ Himself (Rom. 10:1–4, 3:25).

 

[throughfaith]

Romans 3:31 says that the law is still in effect for somebody. The law is spiritual and good (Rom. 7:12, 14), but certainly the New Testament Christian is not under it (Gal. 3:22–26; Rom. 6:14–17; 7:3–6).

 

[PaulChristensen]

The Ten Commandments are not just moral. They are also spiritual as stated in Scripture. It is important to present both aspects.

However, when the veil in the temple was torn in two, that was the end of (1) temple worship and all sacrifices, (2) the Levitical priesthood, (3) all feasts, festivals, and holy days, (4) all ceremonial observances, (5) tithing, and (6) many other rules and regulations which applied to Israel. Christ fulfilled everything pertaining to these things as well as the feasts of Passover and First Fruits. Pentecost was fulfilled after 50 days. And now there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

I used the word 'moral" to distinguish it from the ceremonial as you have ably pointed out.

I am a bit puzzled by your term "spiritual". Perhaps you could explain it more clearly.

 

[Magenta]

Galatians 3:22-25

 

[Magenta]

Romans 10:4

 

[Runningman]

Romans 3:31 says that the law is still in effect for somebody. The law is spiritual and good (Rom. 7:12, 14), but certainly the New Testament Christian is not under it (Gal. 3:22–26; Rom. 6:14–17; 7:3–6).

The law cannot still be in effect and then elsewhere stated to not be in effect. This means the truth lies somewhere in the middle and I think the specific application of the law is what is being discussed. Paul almost seems like he's talking about the Christian theology of what purpose the law serves here.

All of the Christian teachings are based off of something Jesus Christ said.

Jesus Christ said He fulfilled the law and prophets. Paul teaches that Jesus is God and they because Christ kept the law perfectly and without error that through faith in what Jesus did, his atoning sacrifice, He becomes our righteousness.

Christ states He came to die for us and offer salvation through faith in Him to all who believe.

Abolishing the law is out of the question, but it isn't what justifies us.

The broader point is that Christ justifies us through faith.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

But God's moral Law still has a purpose. Not for justification, but for sanctification.

Really? Didn't Gary Ridgeway, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Adolf Hitler (along with all people) also have this Moral Law? I ask because I am under the impression that the Moral Law / Code is of no special benefit to a True Christian. True Christians don't live by the Moral Law, but by the Laws of the Spirit of Life. Rom 8:2 - Living by these Laws is what it means to share in the Divine Nature of Christ. 2 Pet 1:4.

 

[tribesman]

It means fulfill, it does not mean abolish. And, yes, these are perfectly reconciled.

 

[PaulChristensen]

Really? Didn't Gary Ridgeway, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Adolf Hitler (along with all people) also have this Moral Law? I ask because I am under the impression that the Moral Law / Code is of no special benefit to a True Christian. True Christians don't live by the Moral Law, but by the Laws of the Spirit of Life. Rom 8:2 - Living by these Laws is what it means to share in the Divine Nature of Christ. 2 Pet 1:4.

The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, is the same as living according to the fruit of the Spirit, and walking in the Spirit, not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

Paul said, "Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. So, shall we sin that grace may abound? God forbid!" If sinning is going against God's moral law, then isn't Paul saying that we should hold that law with respect and ensure that we are law-abiding? Don't confuse justification by law, which is no justification at all, with desiring to live a holy life to glorify Christ. The Scripture says that without holiness, no one shall see the Lord, and if holiness consists in following God's moral law, and doing the works of the flesh is violating God's moral law, then the person who considers themselves lawless and doesn't care about God's moral law could be showing evidence that they are not genuinely converted to Christ.

 

[PaulChristensen]

It means fulfill, it does not mean abolish. And, yes, these are perfectly reconciled.

Jesus fulfilled the Law by keeping it to perfection, not only as rules of external conduct, but from His heart as well. He then took our sin when He suffered on the Cross, and when He said, "It is finished", He was saying that the Law is now fulfilled, and that those who embrace Him by faith receive His perfect righteousness to replace their own defective righteousness. So a person is justified and made right with God through faith in the perfect righteousness of Christ through His total keeping of the Law.

After being justified by faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit works in us to conform us to the perfect image of Christ. We move day by day from the lusts of the flesh to walking more perfectly in the Spirit. This is why we have 1 John 1:9 to deal with our failures and shortcomings. Also James says for us to confess our faults to one another and pray for each other that we may be healed of our failures and shortcomings so that through the support of the Holy Spirit and our brothers and sisters in Christ, we can progress toward holiness of life and so glorify Christ in the world, that we show a major difference to those around us.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

Matthew 5:17 Jesus said, “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

????

But . . . the Laws in fact [were] abolished by Christ . . . at least that's what Ephesians 2:15 (below) says. However, this might be more of an issue of semantics than anything else. Think about it . . . of what corner of a Law does a person grab so hold of as to destroy it? There are many aspects to the Law, in fact, I'd say that there are four stages to it; so know that this is a most brief response. Below is one part, and I hope it helps. I also hope that you will think about these things.

To understand the Laws of Moses, a person must know, fully, Colossians 2:9-15. In these Seven Perfect verses, we find the description of what it means to be "complete in Christ." To be complete in Christ, one must undergo the Spiritual Circumcision of Christ. This is a Holy Operation, as the KJV puts it, and it is an Operation that removes the Sinful Nature that is associated with the human Heart. It is this element of the Curse that stems from Adam and Eve that causes a person to sin beyond their own will and desires . . . no matter how strong their desire to stop sinning might be. It is because of sin that Laws were given, for if there were no transgression, there would be no need for Holy Laws! But it was after Adam and Eve had sinned that Laws were slowly disseminated, and then with Moses, the lord really began to enjoin His Laws to His Chosen Ones.

But here's the thing . . . Jesus came to earth to reverse this ugly Curse. And Colossians 2:9-15 tells us exactly what that is about and how it is done. Jesus Circumcises the Heart of a human (you should be thinking of Abraham and Genesis 17 right about now), and when the Heart is Spiritually Circumcised of the Sinful Curse, that person has essentially been reverted back to the condition of Adam and Eve [before] they sinned. Remember . . . God did not allow Adam nor Eve to eat of the Tree of Life, for the world as a whole would need to wait for Christ, to become that Tree of Life as He hung upon His own Tree, taking and becoming our Curse for us. So if that Curse has been removed by Christ, and if we learn to no longer sin, and if we do sin, those sins are paid for by Christ . . . of what need is there of the Law of Moses?

Notice the similarities of the bold wording below . . . this is so important. Do not miss this.

Ephesians 2:14-16 ESV - "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."

Colossians 2:14 KJV - "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross . . ."

Colossians 2:10 states that we are "complete" in Christ. If this is True, then we no more need the Laws of Moses, or even the Moral Law / Code, but a person who believes and Trusts in Christ, will live by the Laws of the Spirit of Life. These Spiritual Laws transcend any worldly Law and they also transcend the Moral Law.

2 Peter 1:4 NLT - "And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires."

Anyone who lives by this Divine Nature, these are the ones who live by the Laws of the Spirit of Life.

Romans 8:2 KJV - "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." - And that Law of Sin and Death is directly related to the Sinful Nature.

So as you can see . . . Jesus does not destroy Laws. This is simply a figure of speech. However, when Jesus Circumcises the Heart of the Sinful Nature, there is no need for Laws of any kind, and this relates to Jew, Gentile, and even those of the Seven Nations, ie, the Canaanites.

When the Human Heart has been Circumcised (the #1 goal of every True Believer), the Law of Moses has been fulfilled because when Jesus sends the Gift of the Holy Spirit into your Heart, you are filled with God's Holy Love. And when a person possesses this Holy Love, they have fulfilled the Law.

Romans 13:8-9 NKJV - "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

When a person turns to Christ for His Spiritual Circumcision, that person becomes "set apart." Ahhh . . . set apart from any worldly Laws! Like Christ is from Nazareth, and because we are in Christ, we too are set apart as though Children from Nazareth.

Yes, the Laws of Moses were a "temporary guardian" for the Jews, but I hope that I have shown that the idea of Laws reaches further than just our beloved Jewish brothers and sisters. These concepts absolutely apply to Gentiles as well.

 

[tribesman]

Jesus fulfilled the Law by keeping it to perfection, not only as rules of external conduct, but from His heart as well. He then took our sin when He suffered on the Cross, and when He said, "It is finished", He was saying that the Law is now fulfilled, and that those who embrace Him by faith receive His perfect righteousness to replace their own defective righteousness. So a person is justified and made right with God through faith in the perfect righteousness of Christ through His total keeping of the Law.

After being justified by faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit works in us to conform us to the perfect image of Christ. We move day by day from the lusts of the flesh to walking more perfectly in the Spirit. This is why we have 1 John 1:9 to deal with our failures and shortcomings. Also James says for us to confess our faults to one another and pray for each other that we may be healed of our failures and shortcomings so that through the support of the Holy Spirit and our brothers and sisters in Christ, we can progress toward holiness of life and so glorify Christ in the world, that we show a major difference to those around us.

Agreed really on, almost, most. Just a question (actually off-topic, but I am interested to hear what you say): do you believe it actually says "faults" instead of "sins" in James 5:16?