Matthew 5:13-20

This morning we will be back in the Gospel of Matthew. We will be looking at the Sermon on the Mount in the 5th Chapter.

Jesus will be using the analogies of salt and light to describe the hearts, attitudes and actions of the members of the Kingdom of Heaven. For us, as Christians, these descriptions should be helpful in understanding our purpose and our mission here on this earth.

Jesus will then describe his relationship to the Law and Prophets. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfil the Law. We will be unpacking what that means for us as Christains. There has been a lot of confusion over the years as to our relationship to the Law as Christians. Lot's of questions such as:

Are we still under the Law, or are we under Grace instead? 

If we are under Grace does that mean we do not have to follow the Law and can do whatever we want? 

If we are under the Law, does that mean we can lose our salvation by sinning?

If we are under the Law, and we break the commandments of the Law and then die before we can ask forgiveness does that mean we go to Hell?

Over the next few weeks, Jesus is going to be describing how our new nature as members of the Kingdom creates a new understanding of our relationship to the Law and to our mission and purpose.