The Law: Spirit and Letter

The Gospel of the Kingdom - Message 30 - The Law: Spirit and Letter - Matthew 5:21-48. "Righteousness, the one word that sums up Christian living." (MLJ) Righteousness is defined as "a state that is in accord with standards for acceptable and anticipated behavior, upright, to carry out a total obligation." In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus uses 6 illustrations that demonstrate common principles in the midst of particular commandments that prove that He did not come to give a new law, but new life! We fall into error when we limit the Law to the letter and focus only on a list of external conformity. Instead we should love the Law as it reveals our need for grace, points us to Christ, and helps us define what righteousness actually is. As believers we should love the Law of the Lord as through it we come to know Christ better!