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Law Abiding Citizens

Law Abiding Citizens. Matthew 5:17-20 (Message).

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Law Abiding Citizens

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  1. Law Abiding Citizens

  2. Matthew 5:17-20 (Message) “Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures – either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working.”

  3. Matthew 5:17-20 (Message) “Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honour in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom.”

  4. Excuses, Excuses • I was in the airport’s flight path and I believe the camera was triggered by a jet overhead, not my car. • There was a strong wind behind my car which pushed me over the limit. • A violent sneeze caused a chain reaction where my foot pushed down harder on the accelerator. • The vibrations from the surfboard I had on the roof rack set off the camera. • I had to rush my dying hamster to the vets.

  5. Excuses, Excuses • My tyres are the wrong size for my vehicle so they go round faster • I had passed out after seeing flashing lights, which I believed to be a UFO in the distance. The flash of the camera brought me round from my trance. • I was drying my hair. • I wasn’t wearing my glasses and so didn’t see the speed limit signs.

  6. Excuses, Excuses • I had a severe bout of diarrhoea and had to speed to get to a public toilet.

  7. Excuses, Excuses • My dog watches the TV while I’m at work to keep him company – not me. • The subtitles on my TV are set to French so I’m not paying a UK tax for something I can’t read. • I’m a professional hurdler and I only use my TV as an indoor practice hurdle. • My husband has just spent £3,000 on this massive flatscreen digital TV so we can’t possibly afford a licence. • My wife has her hair done twice a week, so we find it difficult to pay.

  8. Background • People of the Book • Torah • Interpretations • God’s heart • Micah 6:8 • Jeremiah 31:33 • Hosea 6:6

  9. Abolish or Fulfil? • Jesus fully endorses the OT • OT cannot be understand except in the light of Jesus • He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”Luke 24:44 (TNIV)

  10. Abolish or Fulfil? • Fulfil • “endorse by taking to a new level” • “to bring into being that which was promised” • Relationship not adherence • A new paradigm/template • Intimacy not performance

  11. Reality • The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart • 6 thorny issues • Murder – anger • Adultery – lust and sexual promiscuity • Divorce – marital infidelity • Making and keeping promises – integrity • Revenge and retaliation – going further • Loving our enemies – respect/tolerance

  12. Process • Traditional viewpoint • You have heard it said… • A higher level • But I tell you… • Practical outworking • To help keep the initiative

  13. 1Samuel 16:7 (TNIV) “The LORD does not look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart”

  14. Challenge • God’s standards are impossible to reach but there is a way out • Aim higher • Go further • Rise above • Hang on in there • Purify our hearts, clean up our minds and by our love demonstrate that we are his disciples

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