The Mosaic Law communicated the penalty for sin and provided the picture of God's rescue plan.  But it was always temporary.  The law could never impart righteousness.  It is only in Christ that the fulfillment of God's rescue plan could be realized.

For the first 300 years of our faith, the church withstood governmental oppression and persecution.  They were able to do so because they believed God's promise of eternal life and lived with a hope in the resurrection as promised by our living Lord.

The message of Jesus is an illuminating message. But Jesus doesn't just say that His message is light, He declares that HE is the light of the world.

In our world that celebrates materialism we can easily become distracted at Christmas.  Even the blessings and gifts that are received through Jesus can unintentionally become more significant than the Giver of those gifts.

Jesus delivers to the disciples a definition of God that will determine how they ought to view themselves. The answer to the question "Who is God" is the catalyst that can lead the Christian towards a life lived in love and truth.

What influences our direction in life the most?  This question ought to help recalibrate where our faith lies and how we can learn to live as a Christ-follower in a world of obstacles and distractions.

A the potential for division in the church has never been greater in our generation.  A vigilant believers we are challenged to show love above all, and in loving one another, we will also be loving our Lord in obedience to His commands.

The danger of self-deception is the refusal to recognize what God says.  As Jesus addresses the fake righteousness of the Pharisees, He does so to reveal their hypocrisy in light of God's intentions, and provide crystal clarity to His purpose in coming in obedience to God's Word by doing what man could not do as the law required.

The actions of a Christ-Follower must follow in characteristic to their nature.  As a "new creation" our nature has been changed, but this new calling is still resident in a sin-cursed-world.  Jesus gives clear and convicting markers for identifying the new nature.

Once again we see the command "do not repay evil with evil".  Then verse 18 commands you to "live at peace with everyone."  How can you flip it, and repay "good" for "good"?  How do you think "good" actions will produce peace?