Perfect Obedience

Perfect Obedience

Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.

Luke 2:21

When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Galatians 4:4

Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

Matthew 5:17

Most people who are married wear wedding rings. The rings aren’t what make them married, but are outward signs of a commitment to each other. In the same way, circumcision was instituted by God as an outward sign of his committed relationship with Abraham and his descendants. Circumcision was commanded for all males who were of Abraham’s household. It was an intimate and important sign that marked Jewish men as belonging to God.

Jesus was circumcised when he was eight days old. If he had not been circumcised, he would not have fulfilled the law’s requirements, and he would not have been recognized as the son of David and the descendant of Abraham. But Jesus’ circumcision meant more than just doing what it took to be a Jewish man. It was not a meaningless ritual. It was the beginning of Jesus’ life of completely fulfilling God’s laws and living in perfect obedience to him. He did this so all of us who cannot live up to the law can find salvation in the gift of his perfect righteousness. You see, we not only need the atoning death of Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin, we also need the perfect life of Jesus to provide the righteousness acceptable to God. We can claim his perfect law-keeping as our own through faith. What a gift!

DISCUSSION STARTERS

Why do you think it is so hard to always obey the rules perfectly?

What do you think Jesus meant when he said he came to fulfill the law?

How does it encourage you to know that through his entire life, Jesus did what was necessary to provide you with perfect righteousness?