Text: Exodus 20:1-17; John 1:17
Introduction: Scripture Reading- Exodus 20:1-17
- The Law given to Moses was holy and righteous, but it could not save. It pointed to Christ, who fulfills the Law and offers grace and truth.
I. The Purpose of the Law
- Exodus 20:1-17: The Ten Commandments show God’s standard of holiness.
2 Kings 22 (Josiah orders the temple to be remodeled; Hilkiah, the High Priest, finds the book of the Law.)
2 Kings 23:1-5
- Galatians 3:24: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
II. Christ – The Fulfillment of the Law
- Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
Col. 2:14 “ 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;”
Heb. 9:16-17 A testament is of no effect until the death of the testator.
- John 1:17: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 17:17 “ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Aletheia- same Greek word in Jn 1:17 and Jn 17:17
John 1:1-14 Logos- Jesus is the Word of truth.; Jesus’s death and blood was the offer of grace for the redemtion of sin that we did not earn or merit and can’t earn. We can only accept the gift through obedience.
III. Grace and Truth in Christ
- Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
End-telos (a form of the word telios- completion or mature): fulfillment or completion.
- In Christ, we receive grace, which empowers us to live according to God’s will.
Eph. 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Conclusion:
- The Law points us to Christ, who fulfills its demands and offers us salvation through grace and truth.
- Heb. 5:9 “And being made perfect (telioo- made complete; come to fulfillment), he became the author (causative agent or reason) of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
- Salvation is a two sided coin: 1) grace is God’s part and 2) our obedience to His truth or Word.
- God shows grace all the time; we are expected to be obedient unto death, if we want to fully obtain salvation and that home in heaven that Jesus went to prepare.
- Invitation