Don’t think that way!

Matthew 5:17-18 ESV
(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.
(18)  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Jesus said very specifically “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law…”  So why is it that so many Christians think exactly that way?  Jesus makes His point very clear when He says He didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.  Obviously, abolish and fulfill are polar opposites.

I’ve even heard of some who don’t read the Old Testament because “Jesus did away with that.”  Really?  Matt 5:17 is in the New Testament right?  Let’s look at verse 18 shall we?  Has the earth passed away yet? Nope – then not one dot, not one small mark is nullified.

Romans 3:20-24 ESV
(20)  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
(21)  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--
(22)  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
(23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

When Paul talk about the law usually it is in the context of being made righteous with God and how the law is unable to make us righteous.  The gracious gift of Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins is contrasted with trying to obey a list of laws and thinking that you can make yourself good enough.  It is in that sense that we are “freed from the law.”

We are justified by faith in the free gift of Jesus yet that doesn’t give us a license to do whatever feels good.  The first 39 books of the bible are given to us to instruct us in the way of righteousness so that after we have believed we may know how to live.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 ESV
(14)  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
(15)  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(16)  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
(17)  that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

What Scriptures was Timothy acquainted with?  What we now call the Old Testament – Genesis through Malachi.  These Scriptures are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is useful for teaching and doctrine. Let’s read it all, amen?