Topic: Fulifilling the righteousness of the law
Bible Reading: Psalm 79-81; Romans 8:1-18.
Memory Verse: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:4 (KJV).
The Law of God has been defined as the sum total of God’s requirements and expectations for man’s behavior, words and attitude, and to turn aside from them or rebel against them is sin. So the law is not just the ten commandments. As explained above, it’s broader than that. And the Lord Jesus even gave deeper meanings to them in his explanations but this made it even more difficult to fulfill. For example Matthew 5:22 (KJV) states, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” He further expanded the scope of adultery in Matthew 5:28 (KJV), “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
So fulfilling the Law therefore is so difficult for any human being. In the Old Testament, the blood sacrifices which were prescribed could never permanently atone for sin which is why they had to do it often. ( Hebrews 10:1-3) What could not be achieved then has been made possible for us by the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ who offered himself on the cross! Thus, the impossible complete obedience of all the laws was fulfilled by Christ who did not sin but bore the consequences of all our sins thus fulfilling the righteousness of the law. Now He did this for everyone that has faith in Him and obeyed Him as His fulfillment is imputed to such a person. This is well stated in Romans 10:4 (KJV), “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” However this fulfillment is for those who are His disciples, who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as no man can fulfill the requirements of the law by flesh but by continuos faith in Jesus Christ. Thus the Bible says in Romans 8:4 (KJV), “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Prayer: Father, thank you for inputting in me the fulfillment of the righteousness of the law by my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero