How does Paul's adherence to "the Law and the Prophets" guide our faith today? Grounded in the Whole Counsel of God • Acts 24:14: “I do confess to you … that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way they call a sect, believing everything that is laid down in the Law and written in the Prophets.” • Paul’s words bind his faith—and ours—to the totality of Scripture, Genesis through Malachi, showing that the gospel stands on an unbroken foundation God Himself authored. Paul’s Confession: A Model of Continuity • He worships “the God of our fathers,” tying the Way to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. • He “believes everything” in the Law and the Prophets—no selective approach. • He presents Christianity as fulfillment, not innovation (cf. Matthew 5:17). ⇒ Our faith is healthiest when it reads the Old and New Testaments as one seamless revelation. The Law and the Prophets: Why They Still Matter 1. Reveal God’s Character – Leviticus 19:2: “Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” – Knowing His holiness clarifies why grace in Christ matters so much. 2. Expose Human Need – Romans 3:20: “Through the Law we become conscious of sin.” – Like Paul, we embrace the Law’s diagnosis so we run to Christ’s cure. 3. Point Directly to Jesus – Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Deuteronomy 18:15 all anticipate the Messiah. – Galatians 3:24: “The Law became our guardian to lead us to Christ.” 4. Set Ethical Trajectories – Moral commands (honesty, sexual purity, justice for the vulnerable) carry into the New Covenant (Romans 13:9). – Paul upholds them as Spirit-empowered living (Romans 8:4). Guidance for Our Faith Today • Confidence: If Paul trusted the entire canon, so can we; every promise stands (Joshua 21:45). • Coherence: Scripture interprets Scripture; prophetic types find fulfillment in Christ, enriching study and worship. • Conviction: We do not nullify the Law; we “uphold the Law” through faith (Romans 3:31). • Clarity on Mission: The prophets envision blessing for all nations (Isaiah 49:6); the church continues that mission (Acts 13:47). • Consistent Morality: Eternal principles guide modern ethics—marriage, life, justice—rooted in God’s unchanging nature. Practical Steps to Walk as Paul Walked 1. Read Both Testaments Daily – Pair a passage in the Gospels or Epistles with one in the Pentateuch or Prophets. 2. Trace Fulfillment Themes – Example: Passover → Last Supper; Covenant promises → cross and resurrection. 3. Memorize Key Verses Showing Continuity – 2 Timothy 3:16, Romans 15:4, Psalm 119:105. 4. Apply Moral Commands Through the Lens of Christ – Ask: How does Jesus fulfill this, and how does the Spirit empower obedience today? 5. Share the Storyline with Others – When evangelizing, begin with creation and fall before presenting redemption—Paul’s pattern in Acts 17 & 28. Living Legacy Because Paul embraced “everything” in the Law and the Prophets, his faith was robust, persuasive, and anchored. Following his lead, we inherit the same solidity: a faith rooted in the whole of God’s Word, fulfilled perfectly in Jesus, and lived out by the Spirit for God’s glory today. |
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