In Matthew 5:17 Jesus declared, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." From a dispensational view this statement is vital. Christ, in His earthly ministry, ministered to Israel under the Law ( Gal. 4:4). His purpose was not to abolish the covenant given through Moses, but to complete it by perfectly keeping its righteous demands and fulfilling its types, shadows, and prophecies. The Law pointed forward to Him as the true sacrifice, the promised Messiah, and the One who alone could bring righteousness.
Yet, while Christ fulfilled the Law, this does not mean the believer in this present dispensation is under the Law. Paul makes clear: "For ye are not under the law, but under grace" ( Rom. 6:14). The cross was the great turning point. By His death, the handwriting of ordinances was taken out of the way ( Col. 2:14). Christ's fulfillment brought the Law to its intended end, so that righteousness is no longer sought through works of the Law, but by faith in His finished work.
For Israel, the Law remains tied to their covenantal relationship and will play a role in their future kingdom restoration ( Jer. 31:31). But for the Body of Christ today, the Law is fulfilled in Christ and we are placed into Him, accepted in the Beloved apart from Mosaic ordinances. Romans 10:4 sums it up: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Thus Jesus fulfilled the Law in His earthly mission, and Paul reveals the dispensational truth that we now stand complete in Him, under grace, not Law.
I do agree with you that Jesus indeed obeyed the Law perfectly, fulfilling all aspects of the covenant, and served his Father without wavering in any way from obeying Him fully with all of His mind, soul, spirit, body, and heart. He was perfect in every way!
Yet you left out a very important aspect of this obedience Jesus completed in His earthly life. That is that because of this perfect obedience in EVERY way to the Law and to EVERYTHING that the Father told Him to do, His righteousness is given to us who have been washed by His sacrifice, blood, and expiation for all of our sin. In place of our sin, He inputes His righteousness upon us thus justifying us before the Father and bestows on us eternal life on account of our sin being removed by Him and His righteousness becoming ours when we come to Him in faith.
I do not think that Jesus' obedience is only for Israel. He fulfilled ALL righteousness for all He saves! Therefore, He is not only the Messiah/Savior of Israel, but also for all who are not genetically descended from Abraham through faith by God's grace, the same as for Israelites and Gentiles. God does not have one way of becoming saved for Israel and another for Gentiles. There is only one way to be reconciled to the Father and made righteous before Him and that way in in Jesus when both Israelites and Gentiles believe the ONE Gospel of Jesus given for humanity through which any can receive salvation by grace through faith.
This is how I understand what was taught by ALL of the disciples and apostles because Jesus taught the same gospel message to both His 12 apostles and disciples after His resurrection and the Paul when Jesus' appeared to him after His ascension. I agree with what Ronald is saying in his post that referred to the many verses that state that he taught the gospel of the Kingdom of God which was always a gospel of grace received by faith.
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
Yet, while Christ fulfilled the Law, this does not mean the believer in this present dispensation is under the Law. Paul makes clear: "For ye are not under the law, but under grace" ( Rom. 6:14). The cross was the great turning point. By His death, the handwriting of ordinances was taken out of the way ( Col. 2:14). Christ's fulfillment brought the Law to its intended end, so that righteousness is no longer sought through works of the Law, but by faith in His finished work.
For Israel, the Law remains tied to their covenantal relationship and will play a role in their future kingdom restoration ( Jer. 31:31). But for the Body of Christ today, the Law is fulfilled in Christ and we are placed into Him, accepted in the Beloved apart from Mosaic ordinances. Romans 10:4 sums it up: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Thus Jesus fulfilled the Law in His earthly mission, and Paul reveals the dispensational truth that we now stand complete in Him, under grace, not Law.
Grace and Peace
I do agree with you that Jesus indeed obeyed the Law perfectly, fulfilling all aspects of the covenant, and served his Father without wavering in any way from obeying Him fully with all of His mind, soul, spirit, body, and heart. He was perfect in every way!
Yet you left out a very important aspect of this obedience Jesus completed in His earthly life. That is that because of this perfect obedience in EVERY way to the Law and to EVERYTHING that the Father told Him to do, His righteousness is given to us who have been washed by His sacrifice, blood, and expiation for all of our sin. In place of our sin, He inputes His righteousness upon us thus justifying us before the Father and bestows on us eternal life on account of our sin being removed by Him and His righteousness becoming ours when we come to Him in faith.
I do not think that Jesus' obedience is only for Israel. He fulfilled ALL righteousness for all He saves! Therefore, He is not only the Messiah/Savior of Israel, but also for all who are not genetically descended from Abraham through faith by God's grace, the same as for Israelites and Gentiles. God does not have one way of becoming saved for Israel and another for Gentiles. There is only one way to be reconciled to the Father and made righteous before Him and that way in in Jesus when both Israelites and Gentiles believe the ONE Gospel of Jesus given for humanity through which any can receive salvation by grace through faith.
This is how I understand what was taught by ALL of the disciples and apostles because Jesus taught the same gospel message to both His 12 apostles and disciples after His resurrection and the Paul when Jesus' appeared to him after His ascension. I agree with what Ronald is saying in his post that referred to the many verses that state that he taught the gospel of the Kingdom of God which was always a gospel of grace received by faith.
1 John 2:27
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
Blessings
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