September 10 - Completion of the Law 율법의 완성

September 10 - Completion of the Law

 

“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.” – Matthew 5:17

The book of Hebrews explains how God always intended the old covenant to lead to a new covenant (Hebrews 8:6–8). That transition does not eradicate what God has spoken but completes its intended purpose. As the Son of God, the God who gave the law to Moses and gave the prophecies to the prophets, Jesus would have no desire to wipe out those messages. Instead, Jesus declares He has come "to fulfill" the law and the Prophets. This is a key point of understanding Scripture: everything in the Jewish Scriptures—what we now call the Old Testament—has been "pointing forward" to the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah. The law described a life of perfect, sinless righteousness, which no Israelite had been able to fulfill until Jesus arrived. He was the first and last to accomplish this.In addition, the sacrificial system given to Israel by God in the law required killing animals and blood sacrifices to pay for human sin. They were effective only temporarily, and until new sins were committed, more blood had to be spilled (Hebrews 10:1–4). Jesus, though, as the perfect, sinless human sacrifice for sin, fulfilled the need for that blood sacrifice once and for all (Hebrews 10:11–14). Matthew also demonstrates throughout his book how Jesus' life fulfilled one prophecy about the Messiah after another. Jesus did not discard the words of these prophets; He fulfilled them with every word and action of His life.

 

The Bible tells us that the Jews knew that God loved many Gentiles. Rahab, who was a Gentile prostitute, was loved by God. Ruth became King David's ancestor, even though she was a Moabite. Naaman was a general of Syria, a Gentile, but was cured of leprosy by Elisha. The Apostle Paul also had the same love for Gentiles. Just as God is one, the only way to be saved is through believing in Christ (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

 

Jesus died on the cross not to destroy the law but to complete it. The law teaches us that humans cannot attain salvation apart from God. The law leads us to Christ and God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains God’s standard, which is higher than the law. He said that hatred was the same as killing, and having lust was the same as adultery (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). We can neither keep all the laws nor reach the standard of God. 

 

Jesus completed the law in three ways on the cross. First, He sacrificed His life according to the law and completed the law by dying on the cross. He came not to destroy the law and the words of the prophets but to accomplish it (Matthew 5:17). Jesus lived without sin but died as a sinner. Second, Jesus accomplished the purpose of the law, which was to lead people to Christ (Romans 3:20; James 2:10; Galatians 3:24). Third, the cross of Christ made it possible for us to accomplish what the law asks of us (Romans 8:3-4). 

 

Billy Graham once said that we would be surprised twice in heaven. We would be surprised to see some people in heaven and surprised to see who isn’t in heaven. God’s righteousness is a wonderful miracle. If we have not received his righteousness, now is the time. We should first recognize our sinfulness and believe in God’s word of promise. We receive God's righteousness if we trust Jesus Christ, who died for us. We should share this truth with others if we have already received God’s righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that your family and friends may have Christian joy. Ask God to help them to discipline themselves in the Christian faith and grow together in genuine love. 

Prayer Pointer: Prayer should be the day's key and the night's lock. – Thomas Fuller

Bible Reading: Proverbs 17-18; 2 Corinthians 2

 

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9월 10일 - 율법의 완성

 

“내가 율법이나 선지자를 폐하러 온 줄로 생각지 말라 폐하러 온 것이 아니요 완전케 하려 함이로라” - 마 5:17

 

 

히브리서는 하나님께서 구약을 어떻게 신약으로 완성하셨는지 설명합니다(히 8:6-8). 그 전환은 하나님의 말씀을 단절시키는 것이 아니라 옛 언약의 의도된 목적을 완성하는 것입니다. 예수님은 하나님의 아들로서, 모세에게 율법을 주시고 선지자들에게 예언을 주신 모든 메시지를 폐하지 않았습니다. 대신 예수님 자신이 율법과 선지자들을 완전케 하려고 오셨다고 선언합니다. 이것이 성경을 이해하는 핵심 포인트입니다. 유대교 성경의 모든 것, 즉 지금 우리가 부르는 구약은 메시아이신 예수의 도래를 가리키고 있습니다. 율법은 완전하고 죄없는 의의 삶을 요구하고 있는데, 예수님께서 오시기 전까지 이스라엘 사람들 중 아무도 율법을 성취할 수 없었습니다. 예수님께서 처음과 마지막으로 율법과 선지자를 완성하신 것입니다. 

 

뿐만 아니라, 하나님은 율법을 통해 이스라엘에게 주신 제사는 인간의 죄값을 치르기 위해 동물을 죽이고 피의 희생을 요구하였습니다. 이 제사는 일시적으로만 효과적이었고, 더 많은 죄값을 치를 때까지는 더 많은 피를 흘려야 했습니다(히 10:1-4). 그러나 예수님께서 인간의 죄를 위한 완전하고 흠 없는 자의 희생으로 죄의 대가와 피의 제사의 필요성을 단번에 충족시켰습니다(히 10:11-14). 마태는 그의 전체의 복음서에서 예수님의 삶이 메시아에 관한 예언을 완성시켰음을 보여 줍니다. 예수님은 구약의 선지자들의 예언을 폐하지 않으셨고 그의 삶의 모든 말과 행동을 통해 율법과 선지자를 완전케 하신 것 입니다. 

 

유대인들은 하나님께서 이방인들을 사랑하신다는 사실을 있었다고 성경은 말합니다. 이방인 기생이었던 라합은 하나님의 사랑을 받았고 모압 사람 룻은 다윗 왕의 조상이 되었습니다. 나아만은 이방인 시리아의 장군이었으나 엘리사에 의해 문둥병에서 고침을 받았습니다. 사도 바울도 이방인에 대해 같은 사랑을 가지고 있었습니다. 하나님이 한 분인 것 처럼 인간이 구원받을 수 있는 유일한 길은 오직 예수 그리스도를 믿는 것입니다 (딤전 2:3-6). 

 

예수님은 율법을 폐하시기 위해 십자가에 죽으신 것이 아니라 완성하기 위해 죽으셨습니다. 율법은 인간이 하나님을 떠나서는 구원을 얻을 수 없다고 가르칩니다. 율법은 우리를 그리스도에게로, 그리고 하나님께로 인도합니다. 산상수훈에서 예수님은 율법보다 더 높은 하나님의 기준을 말하며 미움은 살인과 같고, 정욕은 간음과 같다고 말씀하셨습니다(마 5:21-22, 27-28). 우리는 모든 율법을 지킬 수도 없고 하나님의 기준에 도달할 수도 없습니다. 

 

예수님은 십자가에서 세 가지 방법으로 율법을 완성하셨습니다. 첫째, 율법에 따라 목숨을 버리시고 십자가에서 죽으셨습니다. 율법과 선지자들의 말씀을 폐하러 오신 것이 아니라 성취하러 오셨습니다(마 5:17). 예수님은 죄없이 살았지만 죄인으로 죽으셨습니다. 둘째, 예수님은 사람들을 그리스도께로 인도하는 율법의 목적을 성취했습니다(롬 3:20; 약 2:10; 갈 3:24). 셋째, 예수 그리스도의 십자가는 율법이 우리에게 요구하는 모든 것들을 완성하신 것 입니다( 8:3-4).

 

빌리 그래함 목사는 우리가 천국에 가면 두 번 놀랄 것이라고 말한적이 있습니다. 우리는 천국에 있는 사람들을 보고 놀라고, 천국에 보이지 않는 사람들 때문에 놀란다는 것입니다.  하나님이 주시는 의는 놀라운 기적입니다. 우리가 아직 그의 의를 받지 못했다면 지금이 바로 그 때입니다. 우리는 먼저 자신의 죄성을 인식하고 하나님의 약속의 말씀을 믿어야 합니다. 우리를 위해 죽으신 예수 그리스도를 믿으면 하나님의 의를 받습니다. 우리가 이미 하나님의 의를 받았다면 이 진리의 복음을 다른 사람들과 나누어야 하겠습니다 (마 5:6).

 

오늘의 기도: 당신의 가족과 친구들이 그리스도인의 기쁨 가운데 살아가도록 기도하고, 하나님께서 그리스도인의 믿음 안에서 자신들을 훈련하며 진정한 사랑으로 그들이 함께 성장해 나가는데 도와 주시도록 간구하십시오.

기도 지침: 기도는 하루를 여는 열쇠이고, 하루를 닫는 밤의 자물쇠이어야 한다. – 토마스 풀러

성경 읽기: 잠언 17-18장; 고린도후서 2장