At 11:10 last evening, we had the sweetest privilege, as my wife and me, my brother Ken and his wife Ruth, their daughters Elizabeth and Rebecca and their son Brad – witnessed their other son – 36 year old Barrett Leighton Ferguson step into the arms of Jesus.

We were listening to his favorite hymn at the time – “It is Well With My Soul”. As the song moved into the words: “My sin, O the bliss, of this glorious thought; My sin, not in part but the whole – was nailed to His cross and I bear it no more…” – Barrett stopped breathing and left us to enter fully into that “bliss”.

“Bear” as everyone called him, was one of the world’s truly gentle souls. As big and as strong as a bear, he had a deep, sweet tenderness that you could not miss if you met him for more than five minutes.

Physically, stomach cancer claimed his body. In reality, his Lord and Savior claimed His prize – the soul of the man He died to redeem on the cross of Calvary.

Barrett knew his Savior Jesus Christ, knew he was going home and from the first attempt at futile surgery to reverse his condition declared that whether or not he recovered from the cancer – whether he lived or died: “I win”. He won last night. Won his eternal reward by the grace of the One who loved him and died for him upon the cross two millennia ago to pay the price for your sins, mine, and Barrett’s.

Barrett fought his cancer – but won more than the whole world could ever give by trusting in the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

I leave you these words in his honor -

The Gentle Giant sleeps at last

Now shed this mortal coil

And wakes, anew in Christ’s blest arms

Full finished this life’s toil

And there, he bows, before the Throne

Of Christ he loved so dear

And marvels at the angels’ songs

He’s yearned so long to hear

In waves of glorious rapture’s swells

Convulsed with boundless joy

He weeps and sings and worships there

At beauty unalloyed

The vision of His God unveiled

Fills every livened sense

The Holiness of God now seen

Ecstatic reverence

The mind filled more than ever dreamed

Divinities laid bare

Transcending all he’d loved and spoke

His all – His Christ is there!

No shadows found in any room

No darkness anywhere

He flies from each new wonder, then

To more beyond compare

“He’s greater still!, He’s greater still!”

Is all his lips can say

As each unfolding moment brings

Him more of Heaven’s Day

In this his soul is now employed

Imbibing Heaven’s store

Till all who fell asleep in Him

Shall rise to die no more

The Gentle Giant sleeps till then

His battles fought and won

In sweet repose upon the breast

Of Christ, the Blessed Son

Proverbs 24:21–22 (ESV) “My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?”

Most Christians like to think of themselves as those who fear God. We want to acknowledge Him in His rightful reign and in His capacity as – God. Isn’t it strange then, that it is often the case among us (especially in our day and age) to find the very ones claiming to fear God – having little fear of those God puts in civil authority? I will confess my own severe failing in this regard.

While the Scripture nowhere requires that we agree with the policies or philosophies of governmental systems and those who hold offices within them – we are nevertheless to “fear” them, even as we fear God. For the same word in our text is applied to both. We do not fear them AS God, but we fear them as we recognize God’s appointment of them and His institution of them for our good. (Rom. 13:1-8)

It came as a surprise to me that we do not have the right to just lambast Government officials at will. Clearly – the Scripture envisions the Church speaking openly and directly to sin issues – no matter who is involved. Such is the case with John the Baptist rebuking Herod in Matt. 13:3-4. But there is nary a word of disdain to be found for the governing of Herod himself – though we know him to be a pagan, ungodly, self-seeking, unjust and scandalous man. Our arena is sin – not policy. Though at times, certainly, some policies may be sinful too.

More to the point of the text however – is that we are to have an attitude of fear toward offices, and thus the ones who occupy them – irrespective of how well they do or do not rule. We may well disagree – but we dare not disdain or verbally pummel them carelessly. Nor, are we to truck with those who do.

It is not permissible for us to refrain from failing to fear the authorities – only to take up for and support those who do. We are not to join with others who take it upon themselves not to fear those in authority and let them tongue-lash others vicariously in our place. Note why: “disaster will arise suddenly from THEM” – the ones who we think are championing our cause by berating government officials in our place. And who can tell the depth of the disaster that will fall on both of us if we join them in their folly.

This is a place where we simply must not let our freedoms, cross over into license. Beware how you speak of our elected officials. God is listneing.

1 Corinthians 15:55 (ESV) “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

O death, where is thy victory?

O grave, where is thy sting?

Thinkest thou the thought of fools,

Of pow’r o’er everything?

This man for one though mortal be,

Shall not by fear be swayed.

To flee thy cold unyielding hand

Which makes the world afraid.

For One has gone before me now,

He’s plumbed your icy pit.

And rose from out with triumph’s shout,

Life’s candle spark re-lit.

Come now thou dupe of evil’s mind,

Stretch forth your numbing hand.

Unnumbered hordes of demon ranks,

Cannot my Lord withstand.

Sing your final ghoulish song,

Chant your hellish phrases,

And even in those closing hours,

I’ll hear nought, but His praises.

For you O death, can only serve,

To free me from this shell.

And grave, to let this body rest,

You’ll serve me very well.

O death, where is thy victory?

O grave, where is thy sting?

For when your dual works complete,

You’ve but brought me to my King!

I know I’m going to be seen by some as a party pooper in this review – but bear with me. I think this little book raises from serious questions we DO need to ask.

That said – let me plunge on into it.

Heaven is For Real, is the (supposed) account of Colton Burpo – son of Todd Burpo, a pastor in Imperial Nebraska. When I use the word “supposed” in parentheses above, I do not wish to imply that there is any kind of fraud being perpetrated in this story. I use it only because a lot of what is reported in the book (beyond the verifiable historical facts), is all dependent upon what may or may not be the genuine experience, or dreams, or hallucinations or combinations of these – of 4 year old Colton Burpo. I do not use it either to impugn the sincerity of the Burpo family in any way. I use it because “experiences” are tricky things. And how we interpret our experiences may or may not be accurate. And herein rests a key problem with this little -quick reading and fun book.

The story line is pretty simple, and there appears to be no question regarding the general circumstances themselves. Due to an undiagnosed (for 5 days) burst appendix in little Colton (who by all accounts seems to be an utterly charming and normal little guy), the lad nearly lost his life. Sometime later, after his (by all accounts) miraculous recovery – Colton begins to let slip certain facts about an experience he relates as having had while so gravely ill. The experience ultimately being uncovered as some indeterminate (though by Colton’s reckoning – 3 minutes, be it Earth or Heaven time) amount of time spent in Heaven. I will not labor the reality that much is made of Colton’s high fever issues during his illness – but nothing of how such things effect dreams and perceptions.

As the next several years unfold, Colton relates to his parents how he saw his long deceased grandfather there (ending long speculation on whether or not he ever became a Christian), his miscarried older sister he presumably knew nothing about until he saw her there and wrestled with why she had no name (but whom later he has a very emotional sense of missing), Jesus, Jesus’ horse, lots of other children and animals and even (inserted with special reference by Todd for his Catholic friends) the Virgin Mary, assorted animals and lots of people with wings.

The book goes on to catalog the blessing all of this has been to Todd, his wife and many others. Why? And please – I need to say this firmly, but completely without malice: Because Colton’s “revelations” seem to meet some need in them, that God’s own Word through the ministry of the Holy Spirit cannot or does not. They seem to need categories of information God does not seem to have found necessary to reveal previously. And this makes me ask a lot of other questions.

Now I read a lot of books. I do so for various reasons. Some I read just for personal enjoyment. Others because I think they are important to the ministry. Still other because they simply interest me – but quite a number because people either ask me about them, and/or I think they may be books which will become part of the Evangelical landscape and thus need perused and analyzed somewhat given my own pastoral role. Heaven is for real fits this last category. I had no interest in the book personally, and would have passed it over but that I’ve been asked by several people what I think about it. It is a book also that is gaining a lot of pop-Christian attention, and thus it seemed prudent.

To be honest however, I come to books like this (dealing with near-death, death or supernatural experiences) with a load of skepticism. Why? Simple. Because the only authoritative book on these subjects – especially Heaven, has already been written – by God. And if we needed something more on this topic, the proper way to proceed (on safe ground anyway) is to carefully study what the Scripture has already revealed on it. I would suggest something like Randy Alcorn’s “Heaven”; or drawing from an earlier age – Richard Baxter’s “The Saint’s Everlasting Rest.”

You see, we are never to draw our theology from experiences. Instead, it is God’s Word, and the theology in it which is to be used to interpret our experiences. Whenever the experience cart gets in front of the Scriptural horse – speculation, rather than revealed truth rules the day. And when that happens, we slowly undermine the authority of Scripture, and will inevitably undermine our own faith. How so? Because faith, real, Biblical, saving, soul-affirming faith, can only be a by-product of the revelation of God and His character, or trust in His promises IN His Word.

This then is THE primary problem I see with this (in and of itself) innocuous little tome. The problem is NOT whether Colton might have had some genuine sort of experience of Heaven or not. The problem is (as is evidenced both in the book itself several times – AND by one or two people I’ve spoken with personally) that we are willing to find more comfort and encouragement about the reality of Heaven and some of its supposed features – from the subjective experience of a gravely ill little boy – than we are from the Bible and God’s own revelation of these things. It is as though the Holy Spirit’s revelation is inadequate for us.

The problem isn’t as much with the book and its material itself – the problem is what it reveals about us! That we know so little of what the Bible teaches about this subject, and are so little interested what God has to say about it – or are so little comforted by it – that we will find our hope rather in Colton’s experience.

So, if you have read the book, and have found your “faith” bolstered by it or your soul encouraged by it, my question to you is – Why? Why not the Bible? Why this story – and not the authoritative one? What does this say about your own attitude toward Scripture? What does it say about your understanding of Scripture? What does it say about your approach to truth – and how it is found, discerned and processed? Why does this strike a chord with you God’s own Word to you does not?

So, would I recommend the book? Not really. But neither would I say one shouldn’t read it. While it is truly light on the Gospel (especially in light of its declaration that the meaning of the Cross – indeed the gospel is summarized by Jesus saying “I had to die on the cross so that people on earth could come see my Dad” – true enough but notice how it side-steps the sin issue altogether) – I reiterate that it is not its content I find disturbing. That is – IF – one takes it for what it is – just a 4 year old’s subjective experience. Perhaps a fever, or medicinally or physiologically induced experience. Who knows?

The BIG question one must ask themselves is HOW do I respond to this – and WHY?

In the mid-sixties, my family was in a horrible car crash on Christmas day. The car was totaled. My Dad had a broken ankle and severe lacerations on his forehead. The rest of the family all had their various bruises, cuts, strains, etc. Thankfully, no one was permanently disabled or killed. But my older sister – suffered the strangest of effects. For weeks afterward, she was plagued with uncontrollable crying. It seemed to have no direct connection to her emotional state either. Sad or happy, otherwise engaged or simply thoughtful, nevertheless, she would break out into tears. Everyone thought it would just go away on its own – an after effect of the shock of the whole incident. It didn’t.

One day, my Mom – who had suffered some serious back discomfort from all of this, went to see a Chiropractor who was invaluable in relieving her physical distress. As the whole incident was discussed with him, and all of our various conditions gone over – the curious case of my sister was visited too. And the good Dr. suggested Nancy (my sister) come to see him as well. It was amazing. One adjustment, one thing seriously out of place – put back into place – relieved what everyone assumed was a purely emotional malady. A pinched nerve (or so it was assumed) was producing the episodic and inexplicable crying. It ended that day.

How does all of this relate to Ken Stewart’s “Ten Myths About Calvinism”? Because for lack of a better term – this book is an exercise in ecclesiastical, historical chiropractic. It serves to realign some very critical, misaligned historical conceptions that for some (I have not a doubt in the world) have been producing undiagnosed pains, discomforts and perhaps even tears. It is a healing book. And I am profoundly grateful for it.

Dr. Stewart’s bona fides as standing solidly mid-stream in the Reformed and Calvinistic school is without question. A Th. M from Westminster Seminary; Ph. D from the University of Edinburgh and his 14 year tenure on the faculty of Covenant College (Lookout Mountain GA – PCA) speak for themselves. His bio on Covenant’s website reads in part: “Dr. Stewart is a specialist in the history of Christianity from the Reformation to the present with special interest in the development of the evangelical Protestant tradition.” But it is his thorough research, irenic spirit, and his obvious commitment to and fearless pursuit of – historical Reformation truth as demonstrated in this book that makes me so desirous that this fine work attain a broad reading.

I will confess that on first gloss, not all of the chapter titles intrigued me.

The first 4 chapter are devoted to “Four Myths Calvinists Should Not Be Circulating (But Are) – and were what garnered my immediate attention. As one who considers himself self-consciously “Calvinistic” I found that I had participated at one time or another and to greater or lesser degrees – in believing and propagating the first 3. These “myths” in the order cited in the book are:

1. One man (Calvin) and One City (Geneva) Are Determinative.

2. Calvin’s View of Predestination Must Be Ours.

3. TULIP is the Yardstick of the Truly Reformed.

4. Calvinists Take a Dim View of Revival and Awakening.

To my chagrin – I’ve owned all of the first three in some respect. And have at times hidden my lack of agreement with the 4th. That said – and with each chapter’s discoveries richly documented and footnoted – I found chapter 3 of absolute necessity in the face of the current trend of what Collin Hansen has termed the “Young, Restless and Reformed” movement.

Convincingly establishing that TULIP is a 20th century device (decidedly unhelpful due to its unfortunate reductionism), Dr. Stewart notes that there are 2 predominant “schools” who adhere to it most. The “sovereign grace” school (of which I would have located myself) for whom “the TULIP acronym is sacrosanct; it is a historic formula understood to have been passed down to us by our forebears”, is one. For those in this school, “Dislike and scorn of TULIP is reckoned as being akin to negative attitudes toward the Bible and gospel; unbelievers misjudge them all.”

In contrast, the “apologetic” school shows a “heightened awareness that the doctrines summarized under the rubric of TULIP are capable of being grossly misunderstood.” Hence there have been numerous attempts to reconstruct more accurate ways of explicating the doctrines referred to so as to inhibit those misunderstandings. Dr. Stewart’s footnote refers to no less than 8 examples of this school including the likes of R. C. Sproul, Roger Nicole, Timothy George etc. Of course several myths get exploded in this chapter: That Calvin coined “TULIP”, or that the Synod of Dordt coined it. In fact, Dr. Stewart’s extensive research can trace it no further back than 1913. Do see the detailed historical breakdown (pages 93-95) and appendix in this regard.

This chapter alone is worth the price of the book in its clarion call for us to step back – no matter how tempting it may be – from the sound-bite, Twitterized approach to expounding Biblical truth and the deep, deep doctrines of the Bible in easily distorted and misconstruable forms. This, because such truths are not to be imbibed like M&M’s, and secondly because our own Reformed tradition is NOT so neatly tied up in tidy little packages. Indeed, as the subtitle to this book reminds us – we desperately need to recover the “Breadth of the Reformed Tradition” – and not yield to a pop-history that makes doctrinal expressions lose their appropriate nuances at the hands of the very giants who went before us. When one wants to posit “THE” Reformed view – we must be exceedingly careful. Dr. Stewart will go to great lengths to show how Calvin, Bucer, Zwingli, Luther and a vast array of others spoke guardedly and often with subtle shades that allow for a necessary breadth of understanding and expression virtually lost in some circles today.

The balance of the book is occupied with “Six Myths Non-Calvinists Should Not Be Circulating (But Are).

These are:

1. (ch. 5) Calvinism is Largely Antimissionary.

2. (ch. 6) Calvinism Promotes Antinomianism.

3. (ch. 7) Calvinism Leads to Theocracy.

4. (ch. 8) Calvinism Undermines the Creative Arts.

5. (ch. 9) Calvinism Resists Gender Equality.

6. (ch. 10) Calvinism Has Fostered Racial Inequality.

What I found so interesting in each of these chapters is – that once I got into them, I found myself engrossed in the topics, and delighted at the treatments. And to be honest – these were not topics that interested me on the surface. But there are truly important things said – and re-aligned in each one of them. None could be left out without harming the book over all.

Chapters 9 & 10 especially blew the dust off of topics I had felt some discomfort with, but really had never identified too clearly for myself. I knew “something” was out of joint in these areas – but just what, I was never able to pinpoint – nor (to my embarrassment) did I ever take the proper time to delve into. Once again, I commend these each to you as not only enlightening, but as a means to relieve what may be the source of unidentified discomfort in your own thinking. These are necessary issues we tend to discard because it would require either too much effort to unpack and think through – or perhaps we secretly fear will reveal something we don’t want to see. But let Dr. Stewart take you there. It will be very much worth it.

When the Bible records history – it does so relentlessly – exposing the sins, failures and foibles of its subjects. And the Church can do no less when we look into our own history after the canon had closed. To create a pop version of our own history leads to the creation and perpetuation of the kinds of myths Dr. Stewart labors so lovingly to disabuse us of in this book. He is unafraid to let the truth be known. Especially the truth that as Reformed believers, not all exists in a mythical, monolith of doctrinal precision on every point. Some amazing shades appear in some unexpected places. We’re not talking about foundational formulations which have stood the test of time and scrutiny – but of extrapolations upon the foundations which may or may not be chipped all from the same stone.

But that is as we ought to expect, isn’t it? If Calvin can say the best of theologians are men at best (I “think” it was Calvin) can we not own the reality that each was fallen and each still needs have their assumptions and reasonings tested and re-tested against the canon of Scripture, and the assumptions, reasonings and analyses of other fine (and increasingly informed) theological minds? It seems so. To me at least.

David Hackett Fischer once wrote: “History is, in short, a problem-solving discipline. A historian is someone (anyone) who asks an open-ended question about past events and answers it with selected facts which are arranged in the form of an explanatory paradigm.” Such an endeavor unfolds in a very wonderful way in this book.

Buy it. Read it. Give it to a friend. And let’s grow together. Come to Dr. Stewart for an “adjustment”. I promise you, you’ll feel better when you leave.

Psalm 45:10–11 (ESV) Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.

Every woman knows that she can do things which add to her desirability to her husband. We’re not talking about increasing love here, but pursuing attractiveness. Certain perfumes, or that special dress evoke a smiling response. Maybe he’s mentioned how he prefers her hair, or when she does or does not wear makeup – or uses certain makeup – etc. These are simple facts of life. And we wouldn’t imagine any wife unwilling to make herself attractive to her beloved – after all, if the relationship is healthy, she WANTS to be desirable to Him.

For the gal in our graphic – in her culture – this is what beauty looks like. This is attractiveness. But the question is what is beauty in the culture of Heaven? As the Bride of Christ – all of us, both male and female redeemed by the blood of the Lamb – have we given much thought to what makes us attractive in special ways to Him? We have no doubt of His great love for us – we need no other proof than the Cross. But do we consciously consider how we might make ourselves more desirable to Him. How we might bring a smile across His face because we do those things that we know please Him? This short passage mentions one way we can do this that I believe is worth our consideration.

Look for a moment at the first sentence of verse 11 – “and the king will desire your beauty.” What an expression that is! What IS that? What makes our King “desire” our “beauty.” What is so evocative to the King of Glory? This: The heart of Christ is especially moved with desire toward His betrothed, when we forsake all others and cling only to Him. When His words are the dearest to us. When His majesty overwhelms us. That is when He finds us most lovely. We are never more beautiful to Him then when we are wholly and unreservedly – His.

Christian – put on that special dress. Adorn yourself with His favorite jewelry. Make yourself irresistible to the One who has already loved you beyond your wildest dreams. Live in such a way – that He knows you find Him so lovely, that no one, and no thing – even ranks on the same scale of importance. Be wholly and unreservedly – His. He delights in that scent.

Romans 8:29 (ESV) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Graeme Goldsworthy aptly writes: “Our Christian growth comes from becoming more like Christ, not more like Abraham or David or Daniel. These heroes of the Old Testament are examples for us only insofar as they foreshadow and point to Christ.”

Given Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:10-4:1, I haven’t the slightest doubt he would completely concur. “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.” (1 Corinthians 3:5) What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:12–13)

Yet often, this is the very thing we may see or hear in preaching – and especially in Sunday School lessons for children. The promoting of some laudable character trait in an individual – and the failure to connect that trait to a looking toward Christ results in mere moralism. And good morals and character traits – no matter how wonderful, cannot save. Only Christ can save.

It is good for us to look back at the great heroes of the faith in every generation and marvel. But marvel more than just at the personalities themselves. Carry it to full length – and marvel at the Christ they preached, lived, and who gave them to us to see His glory in.

When a man or woman has no greater desire than that the One who has saved them from their sins be seen for who and what He is – it is no slight to them to focus on the same object of their affections. It is their heartfelt desire. You honor them more by honoring their Savior – than by honoring them themselves.

Recently, I stumbled upon the following quotes – and found them germane to this very topic.

1. From Martin Luther: “I ask that men make no reference to my name, and call themselves not Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? My doctrine, I am sure, is not mine, nor have I been crucified for any one. St. Paul, in 1 Cor. 3, would not allow Christians to call themselves Pauline or Petrine, but Christian. How then should I, poor, foul carcass that I am, come to have men give to the children of Christ a name derived from my worthless name? No, no, my dear friends; let us abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians after Him Whose doctrine we have.”

2. From John Wesley: “Would to God that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world, were forgot and that the very name [Methodist] might never be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion.”

3. From Charles Spurgeon, “I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living! I hope that the Baptist name will soon perish, but let Christ’s name last forever.”

Matthew 8:28–34 (ESV) And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” ³⁰ Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. ³¹ And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” ³² And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. ³³ The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

The power of Jesus to cast out these demons ought to make our hearts rejoice that such deliverance has come through our Savior. But then, that is what we ought to expect from such an one. If He is who He says He is – then this is what we ought to expect – the vanquishing of the powers of darkness even when displayed in unimaginable and hideous ways.

What ought to shock us, is the response of the people recorded in vs. 34. Having wrought so great a miracle among them, they begged Him to leave their region. Why? The text does not offer us a specific reason. And yet, perhaps it isn’t too hard to discern at least a part of it.

It seems most simply here, that the cost of deliverance was too high. If they were going to lose a herd of pigs every time demons were cast out – better to have their financial security than to see the kingdom bring its freedom. How much we value the things of this world.

And I wonder – how often do we judge the cost of deliverance from the torment and bondage of sin too high as well? So I make sure the Church gets my tithe – but no more. I budget my time and energy so that I never give TOO much. After all, our security is in the things of this life – right? Or maybe there is a sin I value so much – that to lose it – is just too expensive for the freedom I might enjoy. What’s my herd of pigs?

Beloved, may we grow to be more like the dear one who anointed Jesus for His burial with the flask of spikenard. A year’s wages were not too much in her eyes to honor her dear Redeemer.

When did we stop being lavish in return for the lavishness of His sacrifice on our behalf? He thought no cost was too high for our deliverance. May we find no cost too high that others and even ourselves, might have such a deliverance too.

Matthew 5:17–20 (ESV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

How has Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets – rather than “abolishing them? At least in three ways. And as we consider this, remember that our answers cannot contradict His assertion in vs. 20 that no matter what, God’s standard of righteousness has not been relaxed in the slightest degree. To enter the kingdom of heaven, we will need a righteousness that exceeds that of the strictest adherents to the Law can offer up.

But for now – consider this, Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets by:

1. Fulfilling its REQUIREMENTS. If I might use a crude analogy, Adam, was captain of Team Mankind. And when the captain of the team broke the rules so that the team lost the game – the WHOLE team lost the game. We all lost. And, we all suffered unspeakable consequences. The team didn’t lose neutrally – we lost because we sinned. We disobeyed. And every time we still sin, we demonstrate our concurrence and approval of Adam’s actions. We show we would do the very same. We rebelled. But the 2nd Adam, is putting a new team together. Not one assembled by natural generation – being born into it like Team Mankind. This team is hand picked and the members are adopted in. But this time, the Captain has already played the entire game – and not only won it, but incurred not the slightest penalty. And as a result, all of those on Team Redeemed – enjoy the victory won by the Captain. His perfect fulfillment of all – is ascribed to the whole team, even though we weren’t even members yet. What a Savior!

2. Fulfilling its PROPHECIES. Everything said of the The Seed of the woman who was to crush the serpent’s head – He has done. Every type, every shadow, every forward look portrayed throughout the whole of Holy Writ He has personally brought to its conclusion. He is unmistakably and incontrovertibly the One. The subject of God’s Word. The outshining of His glory. The exegesis of God. God with us. He has fulfilled all that was spoken of Him. And even the small bits pointing yet to His return, we might confidently know He will yet accomplish. How do we know this? When He fulfilled rising from the dead!

3. Fulfilling its PENALTIES. Isaiah 53:1–12 (ESV) Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.