How Jesus Fulfilled the Law—Moral and Judicial

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. - Matthew 5:17

The moral law was God’s foundational code. Jesus fulfilled that law by His perfect righteousness. He obeyed every commandment, met every requirement, and lived up to every standard.

But most important, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament by being its fulfillment. He did not simply teach it fully and exemplify it fully—He was it fully. He did not come simply to teach righteousness and to model righteousness; He came as divine righteousness. What He said and what He did reflected who He is.

God’s judicial law was given to provide unique identity for Israel as a nation that belonged to Jehovah. The laws relating to agriculture, settlement of disputes, diet, cleanliness, dress, and such things were special standards by which His chosen people were to live before the Lord and apart from the world. This judicial law Jesus fulfilled on the cross.

Jesus’ crucifixion marked Israel’s ultimate apostasy in the final rejection of her Messiah and the interruption of God’s dealing with that people as a nation. With that, the judicial law passed away because Israel no longer served as His chosen nation.

Praise God, He will someday redeem and restore Israel (Rom. 9–11), but in the meanwhile the church is His chosen body of people on earth (1 Peter 2:9–10). All the redeemed—those who receive the work of the cross—are His chosen ones.
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com .

My Thoughts:  As we look to this day and age, believers should set themselves apart from the mainstream by reflecting God's and Christ's righteousness, in wanting to live in the ways ordained from the bible, Old and New Testament, in the way the Israelites were originally ordained .  To do that, we must surrender our lives to Christ and try to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Then, life is a process of sanctification, growing in Christian maturity, to live in God's will and by His plans.

As we fill our lives with Him, our lives will naturally mature, not by our efforts but His, to be fruitful as God righteousness begins to transform us.  When done perfectly, it would set us apart, as holy and attractive to others who desire  love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (referring to the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23) But, it does mean relinquishing our will and desires of things which are not holy, not because of law but to enable the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and transform us.

We are now part of His chosen ones.  Can we set ourselves apart and fill ourselves with Him, reflecting the glory of the Lord? If we truly did, others would be drawn to the fruits in our lives.
God bless you and keep you and let His light shine upon you and give you peace,  Janine