WEBVTT 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:08.560 I hear the little patter of little feet. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:10.880 And children are dismissed. 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:13.679 Back to our children's church this morning. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:19.440 If you'd like to go out right now and follow them downstairs for a Bible lesson today. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:32.479 So for our Advent season, the four weeks here beginning today, we are taking a break from our study of Acts of the Apostles. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:40.159 We're going to look be looking at a number of passages in the Old Testament that point us to the coming of Jesus the Messiah. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:45.039 And if you didn't get an outline coming in, the ushers would be happy to hand you one now. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:47.280 Just raise your hand and let them know. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:08.959 This is the time of year when unfortunately a lot of sickness is going around. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:14.879 And um, you know, it is what it is. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:23.920 Uh I love reading science articles, and I just read a fascinating article on ants. 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:30.159 And this is free. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:31.439 I'm just giving it to you. 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:36.239 Do you know why ants never get sick? 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:38.239 This surprised me. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:42.319 You know why ants don't ever get sick? 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:47.519 It's because they have little antibodies. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:53.280 You'll get it in a few minutes. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:53.840 Okay. 00:01:55.200 --> 00:02:00.560 Back to talking about Jesus, who created ants for us to enjoy. 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:10.639 After Jesus rose from the dead, and just before he ascended to heaven, he said something very intriguing to his disciples in Luke chapter 24. 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:25.360 He said to them, These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:47.120 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem, and you are witnesses of these things. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:52.560 In that brief passage, Jesus is saying a lot of things about himself. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:59.439 First, he's saying that what was written in the Old Testament was about him. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:16.960 The law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, also in Hebrew context called the writings, three separate collections in the Hebrew Bible: Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:24.479 Then Jesus opened their minds to understand that, to understand him in the scripture. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:32.319 Then Jesus declared, He is the promised Christ who was foretold in the Old Testament. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:48.560 And finally, as you listen, Jesus summarizes the good news of the gospel, that the Messiah would suffer and die and would rise again on the third day, that repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all the nations. 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:57.680 Jesus' death and resurrection is really the heart of the gospel itself, the content of it. 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:06.479 Because of that, we can receive forgiveness of sins, which means that Jesus didn't have to die for himself, for his own sins. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:24.000 So this Advent season, we're going to look, I'm going to use Jesus' outline, beginning with the law of Moses, and look for him in the Old Testament. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:33.920 But first, let's begin by understanding what Jesus meant when he told his disciples that he is the Christ, prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:43.040 The word Christ is a title that comes from the Greek word Christos, which means anointed one. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:50.319 The anointed one in Hebrew is Mishiach, and that's where we get the title Messiah. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:05:04.399 In the Bible, many people were anointed, usually with olive oil, uh poured over their heads, and they did that to consecrate them to God for some special purpose. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:08.560 The kings in Israel were all anointed ones. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:15.360 Others were anointed with oil for healing or to be consecrated to serve as priests. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:25.120 There's a lot of anointing going on in the Old Testament, but the Christ, the Messiah, was not anointed with oil. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:29.120 He was anointed by the Holy Spirit. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:41.360 Isaiah 11, 1 and 2 begins to prepare us for this, which says, Then a shoot will spring forth from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:51.279 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:06:07.600 And in John chapter 1, John testified, saying, and this is really critical in understanding the point which John the Baptist recognized that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:12.160 And I think he's referring to this passage in particular. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:19.360 John testified, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and he remained on him. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:20.800 That's Jesus. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:35.920 I didn't recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon, this is the one, this is the one who baptizes by the Holy Spirit. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:41.279 I myself have seen, John said, I've testified, this is the Son of God. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:44.399 It's a very profound statement. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:53.839 John knew when he saw the Spirit descend on Jesus, that he's not being anointed with oil, he's being anointed with the Holy Spirit. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:07:04.079 He anointed Jesus by the Holy Spirit to redeem and save us, and he is called the Messiah, the Christ. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:14.079 And as we'll see next, there are several other descriptions in the Old Testament that refer to this special one, this anointed one, as Messiah. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:22.079 And as we follow Jesus' outline this month, uh we begin first by looking uh at the law of Moses. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:27.759 Look for Jesus in the law of Moses, and it literally is overwhelming, actually. 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.480 And I'll have something to say about that in a minute. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:32.560 Uh the law of Moses. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:34.399 Here's Jesus' outline. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:42.240 He began to explain to them things concerning himself, first in the law of Moses, then the prophets, and then the Psalms. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:43.839 Law of Moses. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:51.040 Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:57.759 Those five books of the Hebrew Bible are sometimes referred to as the Torah or the law. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:05.680 Jesus, by the way, is the first one to confirm that we should look for him there. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:10.959 Listen to what he said to the Pharisees who would not believe that he's the Messiah. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:19.279 John chapter 5, 45 to 47, he says to the Pharisees, Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:25.759 The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you've set your hope. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:32.399 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:38.080 But if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe my words? 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:40.960 He's there. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:53.519 And interesting when in the New Testament, when Philip first met Jesus, uh he recognized that the law of Moses was pointing to Jesus. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:57.200 Listen to what uh Philip said, John 1 45. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:06.000 Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, Oh boy, we found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:09.519 Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:33.759 And as we continue on in New Testament a little bit, in John chapter 3, when Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, a devout Jew who knew the Old Testament scriptures, he directed Nicodemus, interestingly enough, to something that Moses wrote that pictured himself, Jesus. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:41.279 Trying to help Nicodemus understand that Jesus is the is the Christ, the Messiah. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:44.639 And this is what Jesus said to him in John 3.14. 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:59.039 He says, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of Man must be lifted up that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:10.000 Theologian Seth Postel comments that the Torah was written intentionally to engender faith in the coming Messiah. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:11.360 I believe that. 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:19.120 Well, let's begin to look for Jesus in the law of Moses, beginning at the beginning in the book of Genesis. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:38.559 Right away after Adam and Eve sinned, Moses points us to the seed of the woman, where God prophesied that a descendant of Eve, a seed, if you will, would deal a fatal blow to the serpent and his work. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.960 Genesis 3, 14 and 15. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:52.399 The Lord God said to the serpent, Because you've done this, cursed are you, more than all cattle, more than every beast of the field, on your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:11:01.360 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and here it is, between your seed, meaning descendant, and her seed, descendant. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:09.440 He, singular, shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:13.600 That's where it begins. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:22.159 By the way, do you know what Adam said on the day before Christmas? 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:26.559 It's Christmas, Eve. 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:31.279 I was just free. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:36.960 I can't help myself sometimes. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.240 So pray for me. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:53.440 From Genesis on, from that point on, the seed becomes a thread throughout the rest of the Old Testament Bible to lead us to the Messiah. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:12:01.279 From Eve, the promise of a descendant is carried all the way to Abraham in response to Abraham's obedience. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:02.639 This is what God says to him. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:04.639 Genesis 22, 17. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.720 Indeed, God said, I will greatly bless you. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:24.320 I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand and which is on the seashore, and your seed shall possess the gate of your enemies, and in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed because you've obeyed my voice. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:31.200 When we jump into the New Testament, uh the Apostle Paul tells us, you know what? 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:35.759 That promised seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ. 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:40.720 Listen to what Paul says in Galatians 3 in verse 16. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:44.559 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:52.799 And listen to this, he does not say to his seeds, plural, as referring to many, but rather to one. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:57.039 And to your seed, that is Christ. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:00.000 Galatians 3:19. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:01.360 Why the law then? 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:12.960 It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:15.279 Now back to Moses. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:31.039 Moses also points us to the coming of a king from the line and seed of Judah, who would rule over all in the last days. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:41.200 As he was dying, Jacob gave this blessing to Judah. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:44.720 Judah, your brothers will praise you. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:47.840 Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:51.120 Your father's sons shall bow down to you. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:53.759 Judah is a lion's whelp. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:56.320 From the prey, my son, you've gone up. 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:01.279 He couches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up? 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:09.600 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.480 Again, a reference to the coming Messiah. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:17.200 And to him shall be the obedience of all the peoples. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:25.519 So Moses speaks, helping us start with seeing the seed thread through the Old Testament. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:30.480 Then he says, You know, look for a king, another thread. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:42.720 And Moses sees this king anticipated in the book of Numbers, in the record that he gives us of Balaam's prophecies, very famous prophecies. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:47.120 They're a little bit long, but I'm going to read them because they're so good. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.240 Numbers 24, 5 to 9. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:15:01.279 And I don't know if you know the story, but Balak, one of Israel's enemies, tried to pay the prophet Balaam to curse Israel. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:12.320 And every time Balaam tried to, he ended up blessing them instead, which made Balak furious. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:16.000 And he tried to do have him do it again. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.559 Nothing would come out of his mouth, though, that would curse Israel. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:21.919 He just kept blessing them. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:26.559 And then this is this is Balaam's prophecies, a couple of them. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:29.200 Numbers 24, 5 to 9. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:43.360 As he looks out on the people of Israel, he said, Oh, how fair are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel, like valleys that stretch out, like gardens beside the river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:55.759 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will be by many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:58.320 God brings him out of Egypt. 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:02.159 He is for him like the horns of a wild ox. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:05.279 He will devour the nations who are his adversaries. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:09.440 He will crush their bones in pieces, shatter them with his arrows. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:18.639 He couches down like a lion, and as a lion who dares rouse him, blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you. 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:27.519 And then a little later, again, Bala prophesying towards Israel, says, And now behold, I'm going to my people. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:31.759 Come and I will devise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:50.159 He says to Balak, he took up his discourse that said, The oracle of Balaam, the son of Bear, and the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.279 I see him, but not now. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:56.080 I behold him, but not near. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:17:08.160 A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel and shall crush through the forehead of Moab and tear down all the sons of Sheff. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:16.000 Again, filled with messianic illusions and prophecy. 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:21.759 A becoming one, Shiloh, someone who's going to rule over all. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:26.640 Notice the reference of God bringing him out of Egypt. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:31.680 By the way, so they Moses is recording this. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:39.119 They haven't come out of they're not referring, there's so many multiple fulfillments of this. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:48.640 But notice this the reference of God bringing him out of Egypt was repeated in reference to Messiah in the New Testament. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:54.720 Numbers 23, 21, he has not observed misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:18:00.640 The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them, and God brings them out of Egypt. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:14.400 And later in the Old Testament, Hosea 11:1 says, When Israel was a youth, God says, I loved him, and out of Egypt I've called my son. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:25.519 When you come to the New Testament, Matthew says that that prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:28.079 Matthew 2, 14 to 50. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:36.240 So Joseph got up and took the child and his mother while it's still night and left for Egypt because they feared Herod's slaughtering. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.759 He remained there until the death of Herod. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:46.799 This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, out of Egypt, I've called my son. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.599 They came back and lived in Nazareth. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:56.640 In addition, one more thing Moses tells us that is that the Messiah will also be a prophet. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:00.559 Deuteronomy 18, 18, I will raise up a prophet. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:05.440 God says to Moses, I'll raise up a prophet from among their brothers like you. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.680 I'll put my words in his mouth. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:10.640 He shall speak to them all that I command him. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:19.680 And finally, this morning we see that Jesus actually fulfills the law of Moses. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:24.160 The law of Moses points us to him. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:28.799 The threads, the seed, you just follow the trail. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:36.799 First, Jesus said that's why he came, to fulfill the law of Moses. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:44.319 Matthew 5, 17, he says, Do not think that I came to abolish the law and the prophets. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:47.440 I've not come to abolish it, but to fulfill it. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.440 And how did he fulfill it? 00:19:53.039 --> 00:20:09.680 Because he obeyed God's law perfectly, sinlessly, and then according to the law, offered himself as an atoning sacrifice, not for his sins, but for ours. 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:16.319 He fulfilled what's happening is he's fulfilling the law of Moses on our behalf. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:18.960 It's amazing, literally amazing. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:21.200 Jesus Christ was righteous without sin. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.720 He didn't need to die for his own sin. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:30.960 He died in our place to take the judgment for the sins we committed, for all the ways we've violated God's law. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:40.240 The Apostle Paul, this to me is one of the most striking, profound two verses in the New Testament. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.000 Apostle Paul got it. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.920 He figured it out. 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:47.920 What Jesus did for us. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:57.519 He tells us that when Christ fulfilled the law for us, his fulfillment becomes our fulfillment. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:21:03.119 If big if conditional, if we are in Christ. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:06.640 Romans 8, 3 and 4. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:08.400 Paul says, you know what? 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:16.240 What the law could not do for us, weak as it was through the flesh, we're just going to keep on sinning over and over and over again. 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:21.359 What the law could not do for us, God did. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:32.880 Sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and as an offering for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.519 Why? 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:36.400 Why did he condemn sin in the flesh in Jesus? 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:45.599 So that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.880 That is profound. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:51.599 That's what he's saying. 00:21:52.640 --> 00:22:03.440 The reason he came and fulfilled the law by being atoning sacrifice was so so we could be, we wouldn't be under the law's condemnation anymore. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:06.000 On our behalf. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.200 Wow. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:14.319 When Jesus bore our sins, he took our sin so we could receive Jesus' righteousness. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:28.400 As 2 Corinthians 5 21 tells us, he made him, Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, our sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.400 Don't miss this really important point. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:38.160 The condition of being in Christ is everything. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.119 If you're not in him, then none of this applies to you. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:45.440 You're still under the law, still facing the judgment of God. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:49.920 That's what Jesus was pleading with the Pharisees. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.079 We'll get to in a minute. 00:22:52.400 --> 00:23:02.880 Third, because Jesus Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf, anyone who is in Christ is free from any condemnation brought to us under the law. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:05.279 Romans 8, 1 and 2. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:13.440 There is thou, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:18.799 He doesn't say there's no condemnation for everybody in the world now. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.880 You can just go and ham at it. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.519 No. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.720 In Christ Jesus. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:35.039 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, when we believe in Jesus our Savior, we receive his spirit. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:41.440 And that law supersedes the law of sin and death. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:46.000 The law in us by God's Spirit supersedes it all. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:52.720 Trump, it's Trump's, not the president, but Trump, Trump card. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.319 Okay. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.000 Let's see. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:00.319 Let me dig myself on the hall here. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:05.119 Oh, you should memorize that verse. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:07.200 Romans 8, 1 and 2. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:11.599 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:16.480 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets you free from the law of sin and death. 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:18.960 The law of sin and death was the law of Moses. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:40.880 That is because, listen carefully, that is because, as Paul says, he actually says in Romans 10, 4, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:45.359 Not everyone, everyone who believes. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.160 Believes what? 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:48.400 Believes in Jesus the Messiah. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.519 As their Savior. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:59.279 Jesus told his disciples that they should look for him in the law of Moses. 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:10.960 We see him in the prophecies of a coming descendant of Eve, the seed of Abraham, a descendant of David, to deal with our sin and reign as king. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:18.160 But I have to tell you, there is so much more pointing to Jesus in the law of Moses. 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:22.720 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.039 So much more. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.720 I don't have the time to cover it. 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.839 I don't. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:30.640 But let me suggest a couple things. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:46.480 I didn't mention we the we see people and things that prefigure and depict Christ like Melchizedek, Genesis 14, the priest king in Jerusalem. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:50.720 Strange guy, writer of Hebrews, talks about him. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:59.359 Prefiguring Christ and his mission, his ministry. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:12.400 Or we see him like the man who wrestled with Jacob in Genesis 32, or like Isaac, the miraculous child of promise, or like Joseph, who was rejected and betrayed by his brothers, but rose to become king. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:26.640 And like the lamb that was slain at Passover to protect God's judgment from death, or like the rock that followed them in the wilderness, giving them water, or like all the sacrifices of the temple atoned for sin. 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.079 All of it. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:32.319 Jesus said, Look there, you should see me. 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:34.319 He said to the disciples. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:45.920 He was so moved or troubled by the fact that these religious leaders who knew the law, backwards and forth, couldn't see him. 00:26:52.400 --> 00:27:07.440 And he even said to them, he said, Moses wrote about him to say if they if they see him there, if they could see him there, they'll be able to believe in him as the promised Messiah and receive the gift of eternal life. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:18.480 And then Jesus gave them and everyone a solemn warning that we need to take very seriously. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:28.640 He told the scribes and Pharisees that if they don't believe in him, meaning they don't believe he's the promised Messiah, then here's what he said. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:31.519 Then you will die in your sins. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:37.440 What that means is you will be held culpable for all the sins you've ever committed. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:42.960 Messiah is no help to you unless you believe in him as the Messiah. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.519 He said it twice. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:52.480 John 8, 23, 24, I am from above, he said to the Pharisees, you are of this world. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:54.319 I'm not of this world. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:28:03.759 Therefore I said to you, you will die in your sins, culpable for all of them, unless you believe that I am He. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:07.279 When he says that phrase, he means the Messiah. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.960 I am He. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:12.400 And you will die in your sins. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:18.000 That's not a good place to find yourself ever. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:27.359 That means Jesus came to die for the judgment of our sins, so we would not have to. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:32.720 I don't know how can you get any better news? 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:42.400 Why would you not bow your head before Jesus and believe in him and receive him? 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:52.880 The only way not to be judged by God for our sins is that we believe in Jesus as the promised Messiah who took our sins on himself. 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:58.319 In exchange, he gives us his righteousness that God sees. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.839 He sees his son in us. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:09.599 Now, I don't know where you are, spiritually speaking, uh biblically speaking, I don't know. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:21.119 Um, but I I would be remiss if I didn't ask you, plead with you, if you're not sure where you're at with Jesus. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:28.799 When I, as I close in prayer, you pray in your heart and say, Dear Jesus, I believe in you as the promised Messiah. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:35.519 I want you to live in me and receive the gift of eternal life that you promised. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.680 You do that. 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:41.279 It's Jesus' own invitation. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:42.960 Let's pray. 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:52.319 Father, thank you that from the beginning you promised to send a Savior who would redeem us from sin's curse and restore us to you completely. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:59.039 And I thank you that, as the Apostle Paul says, in the fullness of time, you sent your son Jesus. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:29:59.759 He was born. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:09.599 Born of a woman, he was born under the law, so that you might redeem us who are under the law, to receive the adoption of your sons by grace. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:17.039 And I pray today, Father, help us to live as joyful, thankful, grateful recipients of your grace in Christ. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.799 We don't deserve this. 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.799 We're sinners. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:23.039 Only He is worthy. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.880 I thank you for His sacrifice. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:33.599 And would you help us spread the good news of this season, the birth, death, resurrection of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ? 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:35.119 I pray in his name. 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.079 Amen.