Two Saturdays ago, I had the privilege of being able to be a part of Carmen Horton's memorial service. What an honor it was for me that her children, John and Nancy asked me to do this! Even though it was a sad occasion. Before Carmen moved to Atlanta, she and I had developed a very close relationship. Stephen and I would see her eating alone after church and we would go sit with her and she would entertain Stephen with early stories of Oak Ridge. Carmen and I soon began talking on the phone more and having lunch during the week. About 6 months before she moved to Atlanta, I noticed some health problems that Carmen was beginning to have. I called her daughter Nancy in Atlanta and Nancy said she didn't want Carmen to move to Atlanta right away because Carmen had a goal a life time dream - a purpose driven for her so strong in her life that Nancy decided to let her stay here before she moved. That goal, that purpose in Carmen's life was to have an art show at the library. Previously, Carmen had given me 3 of her watercolor prints and a tour of her house. She had beautiful painting she had done all over her house and now she was going to have an exhibit. Her pattern in life had been woven for this beautiful day. I am sure she had had many high lights in her life - but this was her long-term goal and it was coming true. Her dream was fulfilled.
This story reminds me so much of the scripture for today when Jesus said to His disciples "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you - that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures - and He said to them, thus it is written that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the 3rd day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in God's name in all Jerusalem. And I am sending you what the Father promised - so stay here in the city until you have been clothes with the power on high. Then Jesus blessed His disciples and ascended into heaven.'
Jesus had finally fulled all the laws of the prophets. When I was preparing this sermon, I asked Kerra if the resurrection was the only prophecy that Jesus was talking about now or was it all the laws He came to fulfill. Kerra said her Hebrew teacher at seminary said that Jesus meant He had finally fulfilled ALL the laws of the prophets.
For as in Matthew 5:17, Jesus said "Do no think I have come to abolish the law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Grace p.23 Jesus promised these words at the most famous sermon ever preached, which later was called by St. Augustine "The Sermon on the Mount."
Jesus said that the law helped people understand they were sinful and that they needed to believe in Jesus in order to have eternal forgiveness. When Jesus died on the cross, Jesus tool the sins of the world upon Himself, accepted the penalties of the law and demonstrated God's love for all people. Jesus taught that people were supposed to obey the law not primarily to receive a reward but to serve as salt and light and bear fruit. The purpose of God's law is to gradually transform the children of God into holy people and to be filled with the spirit of God. Because of this Jesus gave the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, these 2 messages summarize the teachings of Moses and the Prophets in the Old Testament.
The purpose of the law is to transform believers into spiritually mature people. Spiritual maturity is not a privilege that was reserved for believers who came after Christ's death and resurrection. There were Old Testament saints like, Enoch, Noah and Abraham that walked with God.
Eventually God wants Christians to delight in doing God's will. When this happens, Christians are non-longer afraid of accidentally sinning. Since the coming of Christ and Pentecost the Spirit of God has been given to all people who believe in Jesus. The Spirit of God does not only put God in the believer's heart but God also helps us become more mature. While spiritual maturity and freedom were experienced by a few people in the Old Testament, God offers it all people who believe in Christ. The purpose of God's law is still the same: it is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
References:
Grace by R.T. Kendall
ilumina Encyclopedia Content