Did Jesus fulfill the Law?

Quick Answer: Did Jesus fulfill the Law? If so, how did Jesus fulfill the Law? Romans 8:4 says Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirement of the Law by becoming a sin offering for us. Not only did He live a perfect life, according to the true spirit of the Law, but the entire Law pointed to His death on the cross as both the fulfillment of the old covenant, and the beginning of the new covenant (Matthew 5:17; Romans 8:4; 10:4). Still, this does not mean the Law itself is dead or gone (Matthew 5:18). It is simply fulfilled. Consider this: The Law is not dead, but we believers have died to the Law. Big difference!

Diving Deeper: The Law has been fulfilled by Christ in both His life and His death on the cross (Romans 8:4). In fact, the entire Law pointed to Him (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4). The Law acts as a tutor to reveal the depth of sin so that people can see their need for a Savior (Galatians 3:19-23). But once we come to faith in Christ, we are no longer under that tutor. The Law is to be non-operative in the lives of believers.

Scripture is clear that Christ is the end of the Law for believers (Romans 10:4). Jesus fulfilled the Law for the whole world, but only believers receive the benefit of that fulfillment. Unbelievers remain under the condemnation of the Law (Jews) or under the requirements of the Law written on their conscience (Gentiles). Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, “My conscience is killing me.” Whether one is a Jew or a Gentile, “the Law kills” (2 Corinthians 3:6; Romans 2:14).

Therefore, the Law is good if we use it properly (1 Timothy 1:8). It points out the depth of humanity’s sinfulness so that people see their need for a Savior (Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 3:19-23). This is why Paul says the Law is for unbelievers (1 Timothy 1:9; Romans 10:4). But we believers have been set free from the Law and are dead to it (Galatians 5:1; Romans 7:4). In this way, Jesus has fulfilled the Law for us and in us:

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ 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.  (Romans 8:3-4)

Let’s Make It a Conversation!
1. React to this statement: The Law is not dead, but we believers have died to the Law. Big difference!
2. How is the Law a tutor for the unbeliever?
3. React to this false statement: The Law doesn’t save us, but we believers still need it for daily living?
4. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus fulfilled the Law?