Join us on today’s episode as we delve into the profound teachings about Jesus Christ’s fulfillment of the law and how this glorious act ensures that we might be filled full. Through thoughtful reflections and deep biblical references, we explore the essence of faith and the new covenant made possible by His sacrifice. This study promises to enlighten and enrich your understanding of spiritual fulfillment in Christ.
Jesus Christ fulfilled all things that we may be filled full. You know, I love that teaching. I love that thought. I’m going to love studying it with you today, right here from the International Gospel Hour, back in a moment.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
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Well, thank you for the kind words, J. Webb, and greetings and hello, everyone. Great having you with us once again for one of our daily broadcasts from the International Gospel Hour. Hey, I love to share good things with you very quickly, and I want to mention our friends at AddedToTheChurch.com. That’s one word, AddedToTheChurch.com. A great effort by D.J. and Sarah Curry of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Oh, what great publications there. There are two digital publications that you can receive free. The Mountain Messenger and the New Testament Expositor. That website has some exceptional articles by them and others. You can also subscribe free to the digital publications. Friends, this is awesome. It’s a great website. Check them out at addedtothechurch.com. Once again, that’s addedtothechurch.com. Let’s begin with Hebrews 9, 15-17 that speaks of Christ. It says, For this reason he is the mediator of the new covenant by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the internal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For if a testament, or rather for a testament, is in force, after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Now, folks, that makes sense. Just think about a last will and testament. Many of you probably have your will already done of what’s going to happen to your property, your money and all when you die. Now, until you die, you can change that testament or you can change rather that will. You can change all that, your last will and testament already. But when you die, it’s there in writing with your declaration, here’s where it goes. Galatians 3, 22-25 But the Spirit has confined all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed, Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. So it took Jesus Christ and it took the law to bring us rather to Christ. And when that faith has come, when the faith that would be revealed and the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ and we are here with Christ now, then we’re no longer under the tutor or the law. How thankful we are to be filled full in Christ due to His fulfilling of the law of the Old Testament. And with His death, His testament is in force to fill us full. The faith. that is revealed, fills us full today. Friends, what a study ahead! And we’ll be back with more in just a moment.
SPEAKER 02 :
Where did we come from? Looking for a purpose in life? Your answer to these fundamental questions is greatly affected by whether you believe in God, believe the Bible is true, and believe Jesus to be divine. Our friend and evangelist Rob Whitaker conducts a great study called Believe the Bible. Please allow us to send you the link and check it out. Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say Believe the Bible. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Believe the Bible in the message blank. We will send the link right away.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, Jesus fulfilled the Word so that we may be filled full. Early in his earthly ministry, in Matthew 5, 17, he said, Now, his fulfillment of the law and the prophets was brought forth prior to his ascension, as he said in Luke 24, 44, These are the words which I spoke 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. To fulfill or fill it full, this also means this is to become. This is to take place. And as Paul affirmed in Romans 10 and verse 4, Christ is the end of the law. So this statement is made prior to his ascension, so we know it was after his death upon the cross. Now let’s keep that in mind of the change that would come. And in fulfilling the law through Christ, we ourselves can be filled, full. Colossians 2 and verse 10 says, we are complete in him. And the same word for fulfilled is also used here for the word complete. So again, He fulfilled that we may be filled full to complete what was said, instructing us in what we are to do. Now, number two, Jesus fulfilled the law by the cross so that we may be filled full. Let us see the power of the cross, the death that He died for. that it was expressed for and by His great love for man. From Ephesians 2, 13 and following, But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity that is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near, for through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Those who were far off, well, we note that being the Gentiles. We see that back in Acts 2 and verse 39 of the promise of salvation that would come to the Gentiles. Brought nearby the blood, well, may we ask, where was the blood of Christ shed? There on the cross. He broke down that middle wall, that wall of separation between Jew and Gentile, thus making two one. And we see that’s done, verse 16, through the cross. Now, verse 15, he abolished in his flesh, that is, at the cross, abolished what? Well, the commandments contained in ordinances. Friends, are we understanding that the cross of Christ took away the old covenant? Let’s continue. In Colossians 2, 14 and 15, Paul said, “…having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Let’s define some words here. The word contrary, that means it was opposed to us with a meaning actually of violently opposed to us. It was said against us. This was a law that served its purpose, but it was against us. and that Christ took away the handwriting of requirements. Now, when you compare Matthew 5, 17, where Jesus said he came not to destroy, yet in Ephesians 2, 15, the scriptures affirm he abolished in his flesh the law, we ask, is this a contradiction? Well, no, friends, when we understand the meaning of the words. Destroy in Matthew 5, 17 means to tear down or to demolish. And Jesus’ teachings were not to demolish what had gone before. but to fulfill them or complete them, which he did as we noticed earlier from Luke 24, 44 and following. Now abolish in the biblical sense means to render idle or to make it inoperative or to deprive of force. So as Jesus completed or fulfilled the law, the law no longer has the power or the force to yet still serves as a purpose of things written aforetime for our learning, Romans 15, 4. Therefore, friends, the force of the law is no longer in effect. We are under a better covenant with better promises, Hebrews 8, 6-13. He wiped out the handwriting. Wipe out, meaning to wash off or obliterate or cancel things. Something handwritten in authority in an ordinance, a law, or a decree. Well, we will parallel Ephesians 2.15. The cross took that out of the way, rather. It’s the same idea as wiped or blotted out to where it acts 3.19. Peter said, repent ye therefore and turn again that your sins may be blotted out. That so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. It’s the perfect parallel to Acts 2.38. Repent ye therefore and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. For sins to be blotted out. Friends, how thankful we are for the Lord fulfilling the law. Thus bringing forth a new covenant today. that we should be filled full through His fulfillment, through our obedience, a covenant made through the blood that was shed on the cross, Matthew 26, 28. We offered a great online study earlier. Allow me to defer to our J-Web for our Bible study course by mail that you may prefer and study these things further.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, how thankful we are that we could study this subject today fulfilled to feel full. And may we be filled full from a study of the Word of God to rightly divide the Word of Truth as commanded in 2 Timothy 2.15. We’ll continue these studies together at another time, but for now, thank you for joining me today here on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.org
