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Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Jesus Fulfilled the Law traces a major transition in the biblical story. Jesus is first presented as the promised seed of Abraham and David, the King through whom God's ancient promises would be fulfilled. He then fulfills the promise of the temple, establishing a house for God's name made not merely of stones but of Spirit-filled people. Because a temple requires a priest, Jesus is shown to be the eternal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, bringing about a change from the Levitical priesthood and consequently a change in the Law connected with it.

That theological change becomes visible historically in Acts when Cornelius receives the Holy Ghost without first becoming a Jew. The Jerusalem Council eventually recognizes what God had demonstrated: Gentiles do not need circumcision or the works of the Mosaic Law in order to be saved. Paul then defends this liberty in Christ, while teaching that Christian liberty should always be governed by love for others.

The module ultimately arrives at the middle wall of partition. What once separated Jew and Gentile no longer determines who can approach God. Through Jesus, both can become part of the same temple, come under the same High Priest, receive the same Spirit, and belong to the same body.

This evidence presents that Jesus did not come to create a religion disconnected from the Old Testament; the early Christians believed He came as the fulfillment of its promises, temple, priesthood, and purpose, opening the covenant blessings of God to both Jews and Gentiles through faith in Him.

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Lesson 7: The Middle Wall of Partition

We have seen how Paul walked an interesting line in his ministry. Though Paul defended the liberty of the believing G...

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Lesson 6: Christian Liberty

Last week, we learned about the debate that occurred in the church after the Gentiles were introduced into the church...

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Lesson 5: The Jerusalem Council

Last week, we talked about the first Gentile to be introduced into the church. But it’s important to recognize that t...

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Lesson 4: Paul's "Contradiction" Regarding "Works"

The first Christians were first Jewish, and they did not view Jesus as the end of their Jewish religion. Instead, the...

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Lesson 3: Jesus is the high priest

Last week, we talked about how the early Christians believed Jesus fulfilled the promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:...

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Lesson 2: Jesus is the New Temple

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shal...

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Lesson 1: Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and David

Matthew, the writer of the book of Matthew in the New Testament, wrote his book specifically with the mission of show...