“The Myth That We Can Make Ourselves Right With God” “
Sermon Series: “Myths That Make Us Miserable”
Matthew 5:17-20
Introduction: Satan’s desire is destruction, and his method is deception (Genesis 3, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 13-15).
We overcome his lies by God’s truth. If we live according to myths, we will end up miserable or worse. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is teaching about true righteousness. He was showing the Pharisees that they had an external, superficial, legalistic, self-righteousness instead of a true heart righteousness that was given by God. Verses 17-20 are the foundation of this section, and he fleshes out this principle with a series of examples throughout the rest of the chapter.
Main Point of the Passage: We can’t. Jesus did. He did it for us.
1. We Can’t
A. It is impossible for us to follow God’s Law and keep
His commandments.
B. Itisimpossibleforustofulfilltheprophets.
C. It is impossible for us to be better than the Pharisees.
2. Jesus Did
A. Jesus fulfilled all of the Messianic prophecies. B. Jesus completely followed all of God’s Law and
perfectly obeyed all of its commands.
C. Jesus fulfilled what the ceremonial Law, the
sacrificial system, pointed to (Hebrews 10:1-4, 10-14).
D. Jesus satisfied the righteous demands of the Law for those who believe on Him by His death on the cross (Colossians
2:13-14).
E. Jesus fulfills the Law in believers through the Holy
Spirit (Romans 8:2-4).
3. Jesus Did It For Us
The whole point of this is for us to realize that cannot make ourselves right with God. It is impossible. That is the myth of religion. Clayton King says that people who are trying to earn their salvation always fail and they always cheat. However, the good news is that we don’t have to make ourselves right with God because Jesus died for us on the cross (1 Peter 3:18, Galatians 2:16). He took our sins upon Himself, and when we trust Him, He forgives us of our sins and gives us His righteousness. Satan wants us to believe his lie that we can work our way to God. God wants us to believe His truth that Jesus came to us in order to bring us to God. Which one do you believe? What are you basing your life on? Are you trusting in a myth that will make you miserable or a truth that will set you free?
