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JESUS

NewCREATIONMatt 5:3-16

NewRELATIONSHIP

GODMatt 6:1:33New

RELATIONSHIPPEOPLEMatt 7:1-12

NewJOURNEYMatt 7:13-23

NewPRIORITYMatt 7:24-27

NewVALUES

Matt 5:17-48

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17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16 NIV

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the story so far

beatitudes >> charactersalt & light >> influencelaw & life >> right living

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Jesus & the OT

Jesus >> fulfils OT narrativeJesus >> completes OT promises

Jesus >> reveals OT teaching

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In Genesis, Jesus Christ is the seed of the woman. In Exodus, He is the Passover lamb.

In Leviticus, He is our high priest. In Numbers, He is the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

In Deuteronomy, He is the prophet like unto Moses. In Joshua, He is the captain of our salvation.

In Judges, He is our judge and lawgiver. In Ruth, He is our kinsman redeemer.

In 1st and 2nd Samuel, He is our trusted prophet. In Kings and Chronicles, He is our reigning king.

In Ezra, He is the rebuilder of the broken down walls of human life. In Esther, He is our Mordecai.

In Job, He is our ever-living redeemer. In Psalms, He is our shepherd.

In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, He is our wisdom. In the Song of Solomon, He is the loving bridegroom.

In Isaiah, He is the prince of peace. In Jeremiah, He is the righteous branch.

In Lamentations, He is our weeping prophet. In Ezekiel, He is the wonderful four-faced man.

In Daniel, He is the forth man in life’s “fiery furnace.” In Hosea, He is the faithful husband, forever married to the backslider.

In Joel, He is the baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire. In Amos, He is our burden-bearer.

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In Obadiah, He is the mighty to save. In Jonah, He is our great foreign missionary.

In Micah, He is the messenger of beautiful feet. In Nahum, He is the avenger of God’s elect.

In Habakkuk, he is God’s evangelist, crying, “revive thy work in the midst of the years.” In Zephaniah, He is our Saviour.

In Haggai, He is the restorer of God’s lost heritage. In Zechariah, He is the fountain opened up in the house of David for sin and

uncleanness. In Malachi, He is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings.

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In Matthew, He is King of the Jews. In Mark, He is the Servant.

In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel. In John, He is the Son of God.

In Acts, He is the Savior of the world. In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.

In 1st Corinthians, He is the Rock that followed Israel. In 2nd Corinthians, He is the Triumphant One, giving victory.

In Galatians, He is your liberty; He sets you free. In Ephesians, He is Head of the Church.

In Philippians, He is your joy. In Colossians, He is your completeness.

In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, He is your hope. In 1st Timothy, He is your faith.

In 2nd Timothy, He is your stability. In Philemon, He is your Benefactor.

In Titus, He is truth. In Hebrews, He is your perfection.

In James, he is the Power behind your faith. In 1st Peter, He is your example.

In 2nd Peter, He is your purity. In 1st John, He is your life.

In 2nd John, He is your pattern. In 3rd John, He is your motivation.

In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith. In Revelation, He is your coming King

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Jesus & the law

Ceremonial Law >> Civil Law >>

Moral Law >>

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Jesus & the law

Ceremonial Law >> finishedCivil Law >>

Moral Law >>

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14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

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1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll I have come to do your will, my God.’” 8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Hebrews 10:1-14

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Jesus & the law

Ceremonial Law >> finishedCivil Law >> redirected

Moral Law >>

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Jesus & the law

Ceremonial Law >> finishedCivil Law >> redirectedMoral Law >> deepened

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19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:19-25

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Story: At a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity. Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God took human form in Jesus. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths believe that God appears in human form.” Another suggestion was offered: what about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of people returning from the dead. Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, arm full of papers, a little early for his presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what’s all this rumpus about?” Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves they said, “We’re debating what’s unique about Christianity.” “Oh, that’s easy,” answered Lewis. “It’s grace.” The room fell silent. Lewis continued that Christianity uniquely claims God’s love comes free of charge, no strings attached. No other religion makes that claim. After a moment someone commented that Lewis had a point, Buddhists, for example, follow an eight-fold path to enlightenment. It’s not a free ride. Hindus believe in karma, that your actions continually affect the way the world will treat you; that there is nothing that comes to you not set in motion by your actions. Someone else observed the Jewish code of the law implies God has requirements for people to be acceptable to him and in Islam God is a God of Judgement not a God of love. You live to appease him At the end of the discussion everyone concluded Lewis had a point. Only Christianity dares to proclaim God’s love is unconditional. An unconditional love that we call grace. Christians boldly proclaim that grace really has precious little to do with us, our inner resolve, or our lack of inner resolve. Rather, grace is all about God and God freely giving to us the gifts of forgiveness, mercy, and love.

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