Day 31 “Jesus paid the price, for no man can fulfill the law.”

Day 31

Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Until one has read the entire Old Testament, it can be rather difficult to understand what law Jesus is referring to in this passage. Therefore, we would do well to spend today reviewing, in layman’s terms, “the Law,” as it were. When man fell from grace in the garden, the Lord was forced to introduce rules and conditions upon man in order for man to remain in fellowship with God. You see, man cannot have a pure one-on-one relationship with God when he is in the presence of sin. The purity and holiness of God would, I believe, utterly destroy a man who is in His presence while in sin. Therefore, God instituted a manner of atonement for sin–payment, if you will. The bloodshed of an innocent animal properly presented was payment for sin, and every time a man missed the mark (sinned), he would need to make payment for that sin. The pain of shedding innocent blood, in most cases, would cause one to try harder not to miss the mark and, therefore, allow a man to remain in communion, or fellowship, with God. Remember, I am giving you a very brief explanation and leaving out many details. Further study of Genesis through Deuteronomy would be recommended for those who have never done so, also Romans, chapter 8. Jesus came to earth to provide Himself as payment once and for all for the sins of all men who believed that He was the “Son of God,” sent for that final payment.

The reason He is addressing this subject is to assure those listening that He is not a heretic but rather the Messiah of whom they were told would come and make final atonement. Today, Jewish nonbelievers are continuing to live under “the law.” They believe that Jesus was not the Messiah, but rather some crazed man, claiming to be who He was not. When we profess our belief in Jesus, we are saying that we believe He was and is final payment for sin and that His blood paid the price for our sins and transgressions. It is this payment and our subsequent belief and profession that now allows us to have access to fellowship with God on a continual basis. The key, however, is to remember daily, moment by moment, our need for His atonement and keep short accounts with God in relationship to our failings. The goal is not to daily sin and daily ask for forgiveness, but rather to avoid sin at all cost and, when we fail, to boldly come to the throne of grace and seek forgiveness (Heb. 4:12-5:3). Finally, when Jesus says He came to fulfill the law, He is saying that He came to make payment, as well as fulfill all of the scriptures that spoke of His coming. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies that foretold of His coming; a feat of astronomical proportions.

What you have just read is one version of the Gospel, and the message is always the same, “Jesus Paid the Price.” And, sharing this simple message will have eternal effects on all who truly believe. Maybe it is easier than you thought. I hope and pray that you, too, will tell the story of Christ.

Daily Prayer: Father, give us the strength and ability to share this message with all who will listen, and may we, ourselves, never neglect the Gift that You have given us in Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Jesus paid the price, for no man can fulfill the law.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant