common questions about the law and the grace

1. BIBLE STUDY
Nkuusi Isaac

2. Session 3

3. THE DEATHOF JESUS
 At Christ’s death, the veil in the temple, which separated the Holy Place,
where the priests performed their duties, from the Most Holy Place,
where only the High Priest could enter once a year to offer up incense
before God for the sins of the nation, was torn.
 No longer was there a need for the Mosaic law system of sacrifice and sin
covering atonement. In Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, there was
forgiveness once and for all for all who believed.
 For those who are born again, there is only one High Priest, Jesus Christ.
They are saved by faith, not works. And the law is now vanished away in
their lives. No Christian is under any of the Mosaic law. All true, born
again believers are entered into the New Covenant.

4.  And to be technical, if you believe following the Mosaic law is
required of you (i.e., like many in the Hebrew Roots movement), then
Jesus Christ cannot be your High Priest.
Why? Because He is not a Levite. By the law of the Old Covenant, a
priest can only be of the tribe of Levi and Jesus is of the tribe of Judah.
 In order to go to Heaven a person must believe in Jesus Christ by
faith and enter into the New Covenant. Anyone preaching that the
Mosaic Law is required or that the Ten Commandments are the way
of going to Heaven is preaching a false message. Scripture is clear that
the Law’s purpose was to convict people of their sin and point them to
the need for a Saviour.
 All people have sinned except for the sinless Saviour Jesus Christ.
And it is only through faith in Him that a person can go to Heaven,
not through their own good behaviour or works.

5. Who is a born again?
The definition of a born-again Christian is found in
1 John 3:9. “Whoever is born of God DOES NOT COMMIT
SIN; for his seed remains in him: and HE CANNOT SIN,
because he is born of God.”
 True born-again Christians have, by grace, by the power
of God, overcome sin in their lives. They don’t commit
sin.
They obey ALL of the Ten Commandments perfectly.

6. Ezekiel 36:26,27 says,
 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within
you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I
will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my
judgments, and do them.”
 This is a mighty promise God makes to His people. He says that
He, Himself, will cause them to walk in His statutes. He will be the
power, the grace, in the lives of His true Christians to cause them
obey.
 THAT WORK YOU ARE DOING IS FOR THE HOLYSPIRIT. Play your part and then
leave him play his.
JUST ACTIVATE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT AND HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIM

7. NEXT; ARE COMMON

8. 1. “Didn’t Jesus Say ‘Until Heaven and Earth pass,
not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law?”
This is a very good question that some religionist use.
The answer is, that is not exactly what Jesus said. This
passage is VERY often misquoted by pastors, teachers and
churchgoers, you and me. Let’s look at exactly what Jesus
said in this passage:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For
verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till
all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:17-18.

9. A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING
 In order to understand this passage it must be read completely.
Notice that Jesus says “…one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from
the law, TILL ALL BE FULFILLED.”
 The point here is that Jesus was not saying that the law would
never pass away. He was saying that the law would indeed pass
away at a very specific time.
 When? When “all be fulfilled.” So the question the believer must
ask is: when was all fulfilled?
 A common response to this question is that Jesus fulfilled the law
by living a sinless life and being perfectly obedient.
 That’s not how fulfilment came about. What do the scriptures say?

10. Which fulfilment?
The fulfilment of the books of the law and the prophets
(Jesus mentions both in verse 17) was accomplished by
Jesus fulfilling all of the many Messianic prophecies
found in the Old Testament.
Here are some examples to further support this:

11. At Jesus’ Birth
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of
the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy
wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy
Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call
his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a
virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and
they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us. – Matthew 1:19-23.

12. During Jesus’ Infancy
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the
Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and
take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt,
and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will
seek the young child to destroy him.
 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother
by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until
the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt
have I called my son. – Matthew 2:13-15.

13. Herod’s Slaughter of Male Babies
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the
wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew
all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the
coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according
to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise
men.
 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah
the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard,
lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel
weeping for her children, and would not be comforted,
because they are not. – Matthew 2:16-18.

14. Jesus’ Hometown
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in
the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither:
notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he
turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He
shall be called a Nazarene. – Matthew 2:22-23.

15. Jesus’ Move to Capernaum After John The
Baptist Was Imprisoned
And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum,
which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of
Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of
Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the
sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to
them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is
sprung up. – Matthew 4:13-16.

16. Jesus’ Miracles
When the even was come, they brought unto him many
that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the
spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the
prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare
our sicknesses. – Matthew 8:16-17.
And these are just a few of the many examples where
Jesus’ life and actions fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.
So that still leaves the question of when “all” was fulfilled.
That answer is found in John Chapter 19, on the cross:

17. Scriptures are fulfilled
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now
accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith,
I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and
they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop,
and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed
his head, and gave up the ghost. – John 19:28-30.

18. On the cross
It was at this moment on the cross that all was
fulfilled. And after fulfilling a final prophecy,
Jesus announced “It is finished.” All
had been fulfilled and accomplished in Him. And
thus as Scripture properly details, the Mosaic law
“vanished” away as the New Covenant was
established with the death and shed blood of
Christ.

19. “So if we are not under ANY of the Ten
Commandments, can Christians just sin as much as
they want not?
The obvious answer to this question is no.
Christians are not free to sin willy nilly. The Ten
Commandments of the Old Covenant, written in stone, have
been replaced by The Holy Spirit. This again was confirmed
by The Lord in Jeremiah 31:
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will
put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their
hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my
people. – Jeremiah 31:33.

20. We now have the holy spirit
The Holy Spirit indwells a Christian at the moment of
salvation. Jesus proclaimed this in John chapter 16: let
us read chapter 16:7-14
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you
that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will
not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto
you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin,
because they believe not on me; Of righteousness,
because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged

21. Chapter continues,
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot
bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall
he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall
glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it
unto you. – John 16:7-14.

22. Do we need the ten commandments?
The Holy Spirit reproves the world of sin. It can convict a
Christian to know they are in sin in their heart. And the
new born spirit God has given to the Christian bears
witness of this.
Christians do NOT need the Ten Commandments read to
them every morning to know that stealing or adultery is
wrong. They know it in their hearts because God has now
put His law into the hearts of all who believe. This is a
supernatural change that takes place. A Christian has a
desire to please God and in their sinful failures, despises
their sin in shame and repents.

23. In Ephesians 4, Paul says the unbelievers in their
vanity, have no such relationship with God and no
understanding of their sin.
the understanding darkened, being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in
them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Who being past feeling have given themselves
over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness
with greediness.

24. But to Christians he says:
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that
ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth
with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
….Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your
mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that
it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not
the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day
of redemption. – Ephesians 4.

25.  The new spirit of the born again Christian knows God’s Word and seeks to please God.
That is the centrality of the Christian life. A Christians knows
murder is wrong, racism is evil and that being a respecter of
persons is wrong. And notice as Paul tells Christians not to lie
or sin, he adds: “grieve not the Holy Spirit” – which is what a
Christian does when in sin.
So rather than have a license to sin, a Christian should know
much better than any unbeliever what is sinful and offensive
to God.
And of course studying The Word, prayer and living an active
and devoted Christian life will only feed the spirit that much
more and make understanding God’s desires that much easier.

26. 2. “Didn’t Jesus Say ‘If you love me, obey
my commandments’?”
Yes, Jesus said this. But the question is, what are His
commandments? Scripture tells us:
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a
question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the
great commandment in the law?
 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the
second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets. – Matthew 22:35-40.

27. Mark 12:28
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them
reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered
them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment
of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the
commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is
one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none
other commandment greater than these.

28. Jesus’ laws are not the 10 commandments
Jn 15:10-12 "If you keep My commandments, you will
abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's
commandments, and abide in His love. "These things I
have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that
your joy may be made full. "This is My commandment,
that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

29. John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love
one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. This commandment was not part of the 10
commandments!
2 John 5 says, "And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a
new commandment, but the one which we have had from the
beginning, that we love one another."
1 John 1:1 proves that the beginning was not the garden of
Eden, but the words of Jesus in 33 AD. Notice that when Jesus
introduced this commandment in 33 A.D. it was new. But John
in about 95 AD said it was not new, since Jesus was the
originator.
When Adventists try to say "love one another" was a summary of
part of the ten commandments, they contradict Jesus who said it
was NEW!

30. Jesus said the greatest commandment was not
part of the 10! Mt 22:36-40
 Jesus did not say, "keep the 10 commandments
 He said but "keep my commandments" which far exceeds the 10 commandments
 He said "keep the commandments" which included more then the 10
commandments

31. how did he answer?
Notice Jesus answered the question with two
commandments that are not in the Ten Commandments!
Again, Jesus was displaying the superiority of His better
covenant. And with it, were His two commandments for
all Christians.
Jesus says “if you love me, keep my commandments” in
John 14 He elaborates on the commandment:
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and
abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you,
that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might
be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one
another, as I have loved you. John 15:10-12.

32. Jesus’ commandments are straightforward: love God and
love your neighbour. When we believe in Jesus Christ as
our Saviour and Lord, we show our love.
When we pray and worship Christ, repent of our sins
and live for Him, we are showing our love. When we are
caring, compassionate and forgiving to others, we are
showing them love.
The Apostle John confirms the commandments of Jesus
1 John 3

33. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his
sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on
the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave
us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments
dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he
abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. – 1 John
3:22-24.
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to
persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as
transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
offend in one point, he is guilty of all. – James 2:8-10.

34. Notice James contrasts the commandments of Christ with
the Mosaic law. In loving people, we are not going to
show favoritism, be racist, steal from them, harm them or
other sinful activities.
Love encompasses moral treatment of others and goes
beyond that. These are the commandments of Jesus Christ
and a Christian should indeed keep them.

35. 3. But Isaac we are under the grace but again
we still have to obey the 10 commandments.
Isn't it possible to have the two?
GALATIANS 4
REVELATIONS 1:

36. Thank you for coming ..
May God bless you