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Law Law Abiding Abiding CitizensCitizens

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StrengthStrengthMatthew 5:17-20 Matthew 5:17-20 (Message)(Message)

““Don't suppose for a minute that I have Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures – either come to demolish the Scriptures – either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God's Law is more in a vast panorama. God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and out, God's Law will be alive and working.”working.”

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StrengthStrengthMatthew 5:17-20 Matthew 5:17-20 (Message)(Message)

““Trivialize even the smallest item in Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honour in the and you will find honour in the kingdom. Unless you do far better kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom.”thing about entering the kingdom.”

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StrengthStrengthExcuses, ExcusesExcuses, Excuses I was in the airport’s flight path and I I was in the airport’s flight path and I

believe the camera was triggered by a jet believe the camera was triggered by a jet overhead, not my car.overhead, not my car.

There was a strong wind behind my car There was a strong wind behind my car which pushed me over the limit.which pushed me over the limit.

A violent sneeze caused a chain reaction A violent sneeze caused a chain reaction where my foot pushed down harder on the where my foot pushed down harder on the accelerator.accelerator.

The vibrations from the surfboard I had on The vibrations from the surfboard I had on the roof rack set off the camera.the roof rack set off the camera.

I had to rush my dying hamster to the vets.I had to rush my dying hamster to the vets.

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StrengthStrengthExcuses, ExcusesExcuses, Excuses My tyres are the wrong size for my My tyres are the wrong size for my

vehicle so they go round fastervehicle so they go round faster I had passed out after seeing flashing I had passed out after seeing flashing

lights, which I believed to be a UFO in lights, which I believed to be a UFO in the distance. The flash of the camera the distance. The flash of the camera brought me round from my trance.brought me round from my trance.

I was drying my hair. I was drying my hair. I wasn’t wearing my glasses and so I wasn’t wearing my glasses and so

didn’t see the speed limit signs.didn’t see the speed limit signs.

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StrengthStrengthExcuses, ExcusesExcuses, Excuses I had a severe bout of diarrhoea and I had a severe bout of diarrhoea and

had to speed to get to a public toilet. had to speed to get to a public toilet.

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StrengthStrengthExcuses, ExcusesExcuses, Excuses My dog watches the TV while I’m at work to My dog watches the TV while I’m at work to

keep him company – not me.keep him company – not me. The subtitles on my TV are set to French so The subtitles on my TV are set to French so

I’m not paying a UK tax for something I I’m not paying a UK tax for something I can’t read.can’t read.

I’m a professional hurdler and I only use my I’m a professional hurdler and I only use my TV as an indoor practice hurdle.TV as an indoor practice hurdle.

My husband has just spent £3,000 on this My husband has just spent £3,000 on this massive flatscreen digital TV so we can’t massive flatscreen digital TV so we can’t possibly afford a licence.possibly afford a licence.

My wife has her hair done twice a week, so My wife has her hair done twice a week, so we find it difficult to pay.we find it difficult to pay.

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StrengthStrengthBackgroundBackground

People of the BookPeople of the Book•TorahTorah

InterpretationsInterpretations God’s heartGod’s heart

•Micah 6:8Micah 6:8•Jeremiah 31:33Jeremiah 31:33•Hosea 6:6 Hosea 6:6

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StrengthStrengthAbolish or Fulfil?Abolish or Fulfil? Jesus fully endorses the OTJesus fully endorses the OT OT cannot be understand OT cannot be understand

except in the light of Jesusexcept in the light of Jesus He said to them, “This is what I told He said to them, “This is what I told

you while I was still with you: you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”Psalms.” Luke 24:44 Luke 24:44 (TNIV)(TNIV)

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StrengthStrengthAbolish or Fulfil?Abolish or Fulfil? FulfilFulfil

•““endorse by taking to a new endorse by taking to a new level”level”

•““to bring into being that to bring into being that which was promised”which was promised”

Relationship not adherenceRelationship not adherence A new paradigm/templateA new paradigm/template

•Intimacy not performanceIntimacy not performance

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StrengthStrengthRealityReality The heart of the matter is the The heart of the matter is the

matter of the heartmatter of the heart 6 thorny issues6 thorny issues

•Murder – anger Murder – anger •Adultery – lust and sexual promiscuity Adultery – lust and sexual promiscuity •Divorce – marital infidelity Divorce – marital infidelity •Making and keeping promises – integrityMaking and keeping promises – integrity•Revenge and retaliation – going furtherRevenge and retaliation – going further• Loving our enemies – respect/toleranceLoving our enemies – respect/tolerance

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StrengthStrengthProcessProcess Traditional viewpointTraditional viewpoint

•You have heard it said…You have heard it said… A higher levelA higher level

•But I tell you…But I tell you… Practical outworkingPractical outworking

•To help keep the initiative To help keep the initiative

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StrengthStrength1Samuel 16:7 1Samuel 16:7 (TNIV)(TNIV)

““The LORD does not look at The LORD does not look at the things human beings the things human beings look at. People look at the look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart”LORD looks at the heart”

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StrengthStrengthChallengeChallenge God’s standards are impossible to God’s standards are impossible to

reach but there is a way outreach but there is a way out Aim higherAim higher Go furtherGo further Rise aboveRise above Hang on in thereHang on in there Purify our hearts, clean up our Purify our hearts, clean up our

minds and by our love demonstrate minds and by our love demonstrate that we are his disciplesthat we are his disciples