Introduction

• Matthew 19:17 – Was Jesus just a legalist?

If we think we’re saved by the law, we’re wrong.

• Romans 3:19-20 – The law made people aware of their sin.
• Romans 1:15-17
• Romans 5:1; 8:1 – Salvation comes through Christ. Not through law!
• Titus 3:4-7
• The New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant, not because it has better laws, but because it is founded on Jesus’ sacrifice.
• Salvation is not through works – it is through Jesus.

But if we think we don’t need to obey, we’re also wrong about that.

• Matthew 7:21; II Thessalonians 1:8
• “spiritual” – Galatians 6:1-2
  • Being spiritual involved obeying God’s laws and helping others do the same.
• “love” – James 2:8-13; Romans 13:8-10; I John 2:2-6; 5:2-3
  • Love is God’s way of summarizing His commands. It is not in opposition to obedience.
• “letter … spirit” – II Corinthians 3:5-18
  • Letter here refers to the Old Covenant. Spirit refers to the New Covenant. This is not referring to two different approaches to following the New Covenant.
• Pharisees – Matthew 15:3, 6; 23:3, 23-24
  • Jesus was not saying to not do the small things. He was teaching against hypocrisy. The Pharisees in their hypocrisy were failing to obey God’s law even though they outwardly proclaimed to be doing so.

Conclusion: Trust in Jesus with an obedient faith.

• Romans 3:21-24, 27-28
• Romans 6:17-18
• Hebrews 5:9