BBD 03.10.14 The Letter of the Law (Classic)

#1 · March 10, 2014, 11:06 am

Quote from Forum Archives on March 10, 2014, 11:06 am
Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>

If for some reason you do not
receive your email version of the devotional please check the Burning Bush
website at www.theburningbushnet for the “Devotional of the Day” and read the
devotional there.

The Burning Bush Devotional

14,000 Subscribers
to the Email Devotional

Classic from 2005

03.10.14

The Letter of the Law

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. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these
commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of
heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-19.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23.

Dave Newman is a lawbreaker and in San Marcos, Texas, he
was arrested for breaking the law. Emergency personnel warned Newman repeatedly
to leave the water because they said that he was “interfering with public duties.”
However, Newman refused and proceeded to rescue a drowning man caught in a
river current. After being released from jail on a $2,000.00 bond, Newman said,
“I was amazed. I had a very uncomfortable
night after saving that guy’s life
(Abed Duamni). He thanked me for it in front of the police,
and then they took me to jail.” Even though
Dave Newman broke the law, hopefully, a judge will use some common sense and
throw it out of court. However, the prosecutor and the emergency personnel will
point out that the law is the law and that it was broken by Mr. Newman in his
successful rescue of Abed.

Are you a lawbreaker? The fact is that we have all, except for Jesus, broken
the law, God‘s Law. Romans 3:23 states very clearly, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That includes all of us. Jesus says, “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 (Matthew 5:18).” The OT laws, which include the Ten Commandments, are
still in effect. Jesus says, “Do not think
that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but
to fulfill (Matthew 5:17).”

What hope do we have of being able to go through life and
perfectly keep God’s laws? None. Have you never told a lie or
a half-truth? Have you never had an ugly thought? Have you never stolen
anything even a paper clip? Have you always been nice to everyone? The fact
is that we cannot perfectly obey all of God’s laws. However, the law is still
the law and there is an eternal death sentence for breaking the law even at one
point. God is still God and He will one day judge us. We may not like it, but
that is still the way it is whether we like it or not.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some kind of escape
clause so that we could escape the penalty that we deserve for breaking the
law? The fact is that God knew how difficult it would be for us to obey the Law
and that is why He provided a way for us to escape the penalty of our
disobedience. The Name of that escape clause is Jesus. Someone had to be
penalized for our disobedience because God is a Holy and completely Righteous
God. That someone who was penalized was Jesus. He took our sins upon Himself on
the cross. He took our place and suffered and died for us on the cross. He died
for you on the cross. His blood was shed for our sins.

When we receive the “gift” of salvation through Jesus Christ, His righteousness is
imputed to us. When God looks at us He no longer sees us as sinners; instead He
sees the righteousness of His Son because we have been washed in the blood of
Jesus. The letter of the Law has been fulfilled but only through the cost of
the sacrifice of the perfect lamb, Jesus, on the cross.

Want to be free from the penalty of the Law? Receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Salvation
is a gift that is available to you if you will receive it. What will you do
with Jesus?

Copyright © 2005 - 2014. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent
to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Visit the
Burning Bush websites:

www.theburningbush.net

www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush websites have
received visits from more than 170 countries. Celebrating 15 years online since
January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading
the truth of God's Word to more than 14,000 subscribers across the world.

You can leave comments/feedback
about the devotionals at www.theburningbush.net.

There is a translation tool on
theburningbush.net website in the top left hand corner of all of the pages.

Prayer Warriors Wanted! Please join the
Burning Bush Prayer Group. The group began in 1998. Send prayer requests and
receive prayer requests. To join send an
email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Ed Wrather has retired from
pastoring full-time and has more time to pursue other ministry opportunities.
You can make contact at edwrather@yahoo.com or theburningbushdevotional@gmail.com View LinkedIn
profile with endorsements at http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92988105

Prayer Requests: Please pray for
the people of Ukraine and Venezuela. Many prayer needs are posted at the
Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer
requests there (Of course, I am always in need of prayer - please pray for
me.).

If you enjoy the devotional
please recommend it to your friends. They may subscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushdevo-join@welovegod.org

There is a complete devotional
archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/DevotionalArchive.html.

You can unsubscribe to the burningbushdevo
devotional group by sending a blank email to burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org
and then respond to the confirmation email.

You may
subscribe to the html text group (Because of time constraints the devotional is
only being sent now in html format) by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the
confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

--

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org

Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>

If for some reason you do not
receive your email version of the devotional please check the Burning Bush
website at http://www.theburningbushnet for the “Devotional of the Day” and read the
devotional there.

The Burning Bush Devotional

14,000 Subscribers
to the Email Devotional

Classic from 2005

03.10.14

The Letter of the Law

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. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these
commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of
heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-19.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23.

Dave Newman is a lawbreaker and in San Marcos, Texas, he
was arrested for breaking the law. Emergency personnel warned Newman repeatedly
to leave the water because they said that he was “interfering with public duties.”
However, Newman refused and proceeded to rescue a drowning man caught in a
river current. After being released from jail on a $2,000.00 bond, Newman said,
“I was amazed. I had a very uncomfortable
night after saving that guy’s life
(Abed Duamni). He thanked me for it in front of the police,
and then they took me to jail.” Even though
Dave Newman broke the law, hopefully, a judge will use some common sense and
throw it out of court. However, the prosecutor and the emergency personnel will
point out that the law is the law and that it was broken by Mr. Newman in his
successful rescue of Abed.

Are you a lawbreaker? The fact is that we have all, except for Jesus, broken
the law, God‘s Law. Romans 3:23 states very clearly, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That includes all of us. Jesus says, “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 (Matthew 5:18).” The OT laws, which include the Ten Commandments, are
still in effect. Jesus says, “Do not think
that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but
to fulfill (Matthew 5:17).”

What hope do we have of being able to go through life and
perfectly keep God’s laws? None. Have you never told a lie or
a half-truth? Have you never had an ugly thought? Have you never stolen
anything even a paper clip? Have you always been nice to everyone? The fact
is that we cannot perfectly obey all of God’s laws. However, the law is still
the law and there is an eternal death sentence for breaking the law even at one
point. God is still God and He will one day judge us. We may not like it, but
that is still the way it is whether we like it or not.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some kind of escape
clause so that we could escape the penalty that we deserve for breaking the
law? The fact is that God knew how difficult it would be for us to obey the Law
and that is why He provided a way for us to escape the penalty of our
disobedience. The Name of that escape clause is Jesus. Someone had to be
penalized for our disobedience because God is a Holy and completely Righteous
God. That someone who was penalized was Jesus. He took our sins upon Himself on
the cross. He took our place and suffered and died for us on the cross. He died
for you on the cross. His blood was shed for our sins.

When we receive the “gift” of salvation through Jesus Christ, His righteousness is
imputed to us. When God looks at us He no longer sees us as sinners; instead He
sees the righteousness of His Son because we have been washed in the blood of
Jesus. The letter of the Law has been fulfilled but only through the cost of
the sacrifice of the perfect lamb, Jesus, on the cross.

Want to be free from the penalty of the Law? Receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Salvation
is a gift that is available to you if you will receive it. What will you do
with Jesus?

Copyright © 2005 - 2014. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent
to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Visit the
Burning Bush websites:

http://www.theburningbush.net

http://www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush websites have
received visits from more than 170 countries. Celebrating 15 years online since
January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading
the truth of God's Word to more than 14,000 subscribers across the world.

You can leave comments/feedback
about the devotionals at http://www.theburningbush.net.

There is a translation tool on
theburningbush.net website in the top left hand corner of all of the pages.

Prayer Warriors Wanted! Please join the
Burning Bush Prayer Group. The group began in 1998. Send prayer requests and
receive prayer requests. To join send an
email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Ed Wrather has retired from
pastoring full-time and has more time to pursue other ministry opportunities.
You can make contact at edwrather@yahoo.com or theburningbushdevotional@gmail.com View LinkedIn
profile with endorsements at http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92988105

Prayer Requests: Please pray for
the people of Ukraine and Venezuela. Many prayer needs are posted at the
Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer
requests there (Of course, I am always in need of prayer - please pray for
me.).

If you enjoy the devotional
please recommend it to your friends. They may subscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushdevo-join@welovegod.org

There is a complete devotional
archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/DevotionalArchive.html.

You can unsubscribe to the burningbushdevo
devotional group by sending a blank email to burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org
and then respond to the confirmation email.

You may
subscribe to the html text group (Because of time constraints the devotional is
only being sent now in html format) by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the
confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org