We Must All Fulfill Scripture
All true disciples of Jesus Christ are called upon by God to fulfill the Scriptures that pertain to righteousness (Matt. 5:16; Col. 3:17). True disciples of Jesus Christ are performers of God’s word. They act on it, keep it and do it until, as happy slaves of Jesus Christ, they are doing God’s Will from the heart (Eph. 6:6). They know God’s Will is anything they do that is pleasing to Him (1 John 3:22). They know studying the Bible is pleasing to God because it allows God to speak to them through His handbook of life.
Jesus Christ never says, "I command you to give a luncheon for the poor and the needy." But He does say, "When you give a luncheon, invite the poor and the needy and those who do not have the means to pay you back, and great will be your reward at the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:13-14).
True disciples feel duty-bound to serve their Lord by serving others. Like Jesus Christ, their example, they feel they must be doing their Father’s business daily, which is doing good (Acts 10:38; John 4:34; 10:37-38). They live to do only good.
True disciples are often persecuted for the sake of righteousness but they still continue to practice righteousness, even when it means suffering for it (Matt. 5:10). Abuse them, use them, do them harm, and they will continue to practice righteousness. Why? They are learning obedience to God by the things they suffer (Heb. 5:8-9). They know they will only have to suffer a little in comparison to the joy coming in the future (1 Peter 5:10).
They love and serve the unlovable. They do good to their enemies. They turn the other cheek. You might be able to wear them down, but you cannot keep them down. That is because they do not operate on their own strength, but with the strength God gives them (1 Peter 4:11). They suffer for righteousness, as Jesus Christ suffered for righteousness, in order that they may be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17; 1 Peter 4:1).
The truth is, everyone lives to fulfill Scripture. There are Scriptures for the wicked as well as for the righteous. Even those who turn away will be written down by the Lord (Jer. 17:13). Just as the wicked are rewarded with evil by God for the wrong they have done, how much more are the righteous rewarded with blessings for their good deeds (Prov. 11:31). If it is with difficulty that those who practice righteousness are saved, what will become of those who refuse to put their natures to death and overcome evil by doing good (Psalm 34:14; 37:1-2, 27; 1 Peter 3:10-11; 4:18; Rom. 12:21; Rev. 2:26)? Let us be sheep so we will not receive the reward of the goats and so we can experience the peace that surpasses all human comprehension (Matt. 25:33-46; Phil. 4:7).