"BUT TO FULFILL!"

Matthew 5:17-19                           (NASB)
"17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish "BUT TO FULFILL". 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."



While reading a devotional this morning I saw these words that I felt led to share:

There have been many religious leaders--men such as Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, Bahaullah, Zoroaster, Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, etc., but Jesus of Nazareth stands uniquely apart from all of them. There are four basic reasons why this is so:
Jesus Christ Is Unique and Above ALL
1. He alone fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah (Psa. 22; Isa. 53; etc.),
2. He alone lived a perfectly sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21 cf. Rom. 3:23),
3. He alone resurrected from the grave in a glorified body of flesh and
4. Jesus is also declared to be God by nature, according to Scripture (Isa. 9:6; 40:3 cf. Mt. 3:3,11; Jn. 20:28; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:6; Titus 2:13; Acts 20:28; Rom. 9:5; etc.)

These four truths set Him infinitely above all other religious leaders. Because of His unique credentials and ultimate authority, we must, therefore, view the Word of God to be whatever He says.

I only share the commentary above to let it be known that my understanding of scripture isn't unique, although GOD's Word needs no validation outside of Itself!  The WORD of GOD "IS" the undeniable authority that all truth is based upon.  JESUS, in John 1:1-2, is described as "In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD. 2 HE was in the beginning with GOD!"

Verse 19 above begins with "Whoever then annuls", but the English Standard Version says "Therefore whoever RELAXES one of the least of these commandments"!  To RELAX one of the commandments is to lessen the sacrifice JESUS paid for mine and your sins, something I can never over appreciate!  James 2:10 says "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles IN ONE POINT, he has become guilty of all."  Since JESUS paid a price we could never have paid, to RELAX the requirements would cheapen the payment JESUS has already made for us.  It took GOD coming in flesh (JESUS) to fulfill HIS Plan for salvation for mankind.

The devil (the great deceiver) has concocted many different "look-a-like" religions to confuse and demagogue the real issue, and that is that JESUS CHRIST came into "this world" to save sinners, of whom I am chief (1 Timothy 1:15)!  JESUS didn't come to condemn our sins, "BUT TO FULFILL" the law!  In believing on HIM we can receive HIS gift of eternal life because of GOD's Grace!  I don't deserve it, but I'm glad HE came, not to RELAX the law, "BUT TO FULFILL" it!!!