Jesus—The Perfect Fulfillment of God’s Law
*Inspired by insights from Day by Day by Grace
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."
— Matthew 5:17
The law of God is not a set of arbitrary rules but a reflection of His perfect, holy, and loving character. Its standard is impossibly high: "Be holy, be loving, be perfect." Left to ourselves, we could never reach such heights. But Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law; He came to fulfill it—completely and perfectly.
Imagine a master artist standing before a vast, intricate mural that must be completed with absolute perfection. Every stroke must reflect the original design flawlessly. No human hand could finish it without flaw. But Jesus, the Master Himself, steps in and finishes the masterpiece. His life, death, and resurrection complete the work we could never do, transforming the blank and broken canvas of our lives into something breathtaking.
Jesus Fulfills the Law in Every Way:
In His Life—Our Example
Jesus lived out God’s perfect law without fault. Every thought, word, and action aligned with God’s will. He declared, “I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29). His life wasn’t just exemplary—it was the living fulfillment of God’s holy standard.In His Death—Our Substitute
The law demanded death for sin: “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). Jesus bore that penalty on our behalf, dying in our place to satisfy the law’s demand for justice. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Romans 5:8).In Our Lives—Our Source of Life
Jesus didn’t just fulfill the law in history; He fulfills it in us today. “Christ who is our life” (Colossians 3:4). As we trust in Him daily, He lives in and through us. Paul captures this reality: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”(Galatians 2:20).
Because of Jesus, the law no longer condemns us—it has been fully satisfied. We are free to live in the fullness of His life, not by striving to meet impossible standards, but by trusting in the One who already has.
A Prayer of Confidence in Christ’s Fulfillment
Father,
Thank You that Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law on my behalf—living the life I could not live and dying the death I deserved. I rejoice that I no longer stand condemned but fully accepted because of His finished work. I trust in Jesus, who is my very life, to express His holiness, love, and obedience through me today. I rest in the freedom You’ve already given, knowing that every demand has been met in Christ. In His perfect name, Amen.
Final Thought
You are no longer striving to fulfill what Christ has already completed. You are free to walk in His victory, trusting that His life in you perfectly satisfies every righteous requirement. Rest in that truth today.