the standard of righteousness

God does not expect us to be perfect. But He does expect us to have a perfect standard, upon which to rely. Christ is that perfect standard, who has given us his Spirit. And if we live a life relying on that Spirit, it proves that we have accepted him as the right standard of righteousness.

The Law of Moses was given to Israel to establish a relationship with God, but could not provide a perfect standard for righteousness, because it was administered through imperfect priests. Because of their human flaws, they showed that their own works were flawed, and that human death remained a hindrance to unbroken relationship with God.

Christ came to fulfill Israel's hope in an eternal relationship with God. His own flawless life was not threatened by sin and death, and he could offer us his Spirit as the basis for obtaining this eternal relationship with God.

Now that Christ has come, we have an example of righteousness that is free of the curse of sin and death. We cannot attain perfection on our own, but we've been given the opportunity to live in dependence upon Christ's perfect Spirit to show our preference for God's perfect standard of righteousness.

In accepting Christ we accept God's basis for an eternal relationship with Himself. And it requires not just that we accept how Christ has lived, but that we recognize that he gave us his Spirit so that we may live a life dependent on his Spirit.

1 John 2.3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

amen

“And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42:1, 3-4‬ ‭

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭

“And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Receiving the gospel he sent forth fills up our mind and heart with his truth

Awesome! Thanks Pilgrim!

God does not expect us to be perfect. But He does expect us to have a perfect standard, upon which to rely. Christ is that perfect standard, who has given us his Spirit. And if we live a life relying on that Spirit, it proves that we have accepted him as the right standard of righteousness.

The Law of Moses was given to Israel to establish a relationship with God, but could not provide a perfect standard for righteousness, because it was administered through imperfect priests. Because of their human flaws, they showed that their own works were flawed, and that human death remained a hindrance to unbroken relationship with God.

Christ came to fulfill Israel's hope in an eternal relationship with God. His own flawless life was not threatened by sin and death, and he could offer us his Spirit as the basis for obtaining this eternal relationship with God.

Now that Christ has come, we have an example of righteousness that is free of the curse of sin and death. We cannot attain perfection on our own, but we've been given the opportunity to live in dependence upon Christ's perfect Spirit to show our preference for God's perfect standard of righteousness.

In accepting Christ we accept God's basis for an eternal relationship with Himself. And it requires not just that we accept how Christ has lived, but that we recognize that he gave us his Spirit so that we may live a life dependent on his Spirit.

1 John 2.3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.[/QUOTE

It is difficult to truly understand the change that God made in the law with the new covenant and the birth of Christ, there is so much misunderstanding about it. Scripture speaks of the curse of the law, and some people even think that what God had given is now cursed, but God is Holy, God does not err, God would never give us something that is only to harm us.

The law in stone that was given in the old testament was not adequate, it needed to be improved, but the stone law was to guide us not to harm us. Sin harms us, the law simply tells us what sin is. The curse of the law is not the guidance the Lord gives out of love for us, the curse is the death that the sin it explains.

The law in stone as it was given in the old testament could be wrong if it was obeyed as a letter of the law. The true law is, and always was, the spirit of the law. Circumcision is a wonderful example. In the old testament the letter of the law, or the cutting of skin to symbolize the spirit of the law of circumcision was given as the law of circumcision. We are still to be circumcised but it is now a law of the heart not of the flesh. We are still to keep the Sabbath holy, so that still would mean we rest from the labor of providing for our fleshly self, but it is a law of the heart. If we use the law not to work to refuse help when needed by others, then we obey the letter of the law and disobey the law in our hearts.

It is difficult to truly understand the change that God made in the law with the new covenant and the birth of Christ, there is so much misunderstanding about it. Scripture speaks of the curse of the law, and some people even think that what God had given is now cursed, but God is Holy, God does not err, God would never give us something that is only to harm us.

The law in stone that was given in the old testament was not adequate, it needed to be improved, but the stone law was to guide us not to harm us. Sin harms us, the law simply tells us what sin is. The curse of the law is not the guidance the Lord gives out of love for us, the curse is the death that the sin it explains.

The law in stone as it was given in the old testament could be wrong if it was obeyed as a letter of the law. The true law is, and always was, the spirit of the law. Circumcision is a wonderful example. In the old testament the letter of the law, or the cutting of skin to symbolize the spirit of the law of circumcision was given as the law of circumcision. We are still to be circumcised but it is now a law of the heart not of the flesh. We are still to keep the Sabbath holy, so that still would mean we rest from the labor of providing for our fleshly self, but it is a law of the heart. If we use the law not to work to refuse help when needed by others, then we obey the letter of the law and disobey the law in our hearts.

I think you're making a mistake here, so let me try to untangle it, if I can. Yes, the Law was good, when it was in effect. It is in effect no longer. Certainly there is no Sabbath law. And certainly there is no Circumcision.

The Law was given only to Israel, and Israel failed the contract of the Law. When one of the parties fails in a contract, the whole contract fails. In this case, the whole nation failed the contract of the Law, and so the entire Law ended as a contract.

In the past God had restored the contract of the Law. But in the time of Christ, the contract was given up for good, and replaced with the contract of grace, which comes through Christ. One contract preserved a relationship with God without the hope of eternal life. The new contract provided an eternal relationship with God and eternal life.

The curse of the Law is simple. It is the judgment of God that all men who have a sin nature must die. The Law did not change man's sin nature, and so it amplified the fact that regardless of how much Israel obeyed God, the evidence of their sin nature as they kept the Law showed that they did not qualify for eternal life. No matter how much men kept the Law, they also showed their sin nature as they in some way transgressed the Law.

So the contract of the Law could not overcome the curse of sin, which is death, or the disqualification of man for eternal life. But the contract of grace, coming through Christ, could overcome the curse of sin, as we lean on Christ's spirituality to obtain his pardon.

The letter of the Law indicated the fact these were laws that amplified our sin nature. No matter how much men obeyed God's Law, that same Law revealed their sin nature, and thus their disqualification from eternal life. The letter killed because the Law had no way past its testimony to our sin nature.

The way of the Spirit, however, depends on our receipt of a gift, and not our performance by the letter of the Law. Thus, we can be justified by walking in the Spirit, when we receive from Christ his pardon of our sins.

Both Sabbath Law and Circumcision Law revealed the innate sin nature of Israel. As they practiced these laws, it showed that they agreed with God that the sin nature was bad, and that we should strive to overcome it. At the same time, these laws showed Israel that they were infected with sin, and required ways of dealing with it.

One way to deal with contaminated works was by showing that we need to cut it out of our lives, by illustrating it in circumcision. Another way is by resting from it, illustrated in Sabbath resting.

So these things, Circumcision and Sabbath Laws, were designed to show that Israel could walk with God while still be disqualified for eternal life. These things had to pass with Christ's new contract because when we live by Christ's Spirit there can be no condemnation by judgment of the Law. We are now judged only by our choice to live by Christ's Spirit, where there is a full pardon and eternal life.

When the law was in effect, but now we have no law? You don't make sense. So many things you say makes no sense. You seem to think Israel is so powerful that a nation can change God. God created us, our world, and the law that rules. Man is subject to God, God rules nations.

You limit the law to having only one purpose, even.

All scripture is truth from Paul to the 119th Psalm. That psalm tells a very different story from the one you present, that psalm is truth.

Read the Ten Commandments. Is there some kind of error in them? Do they reflect love in their meaning?

I am saved by nothing I do, only by grace, but to ddeliberately ignore or nullify these precepts, which by the way, should be engraved on the hearts of all who believe Jesus Yeshua., may one be interpreted as saying the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are in error.
I will not declare this to anyone for it is antiChrisst. These Ten have only been explained nod not abolished. What an horrible thought. It is apostasy at best.

Praise, obey and believe God, for He is worthy, not we.

The Law was given because of transgressions, not to develop a relationship between God and anyone. The Law served its purpose: preserve the Jews so that the Messiah could come forth from the lineage of Abraham. This fulfilled the promise God gave to Abraham 430 years before the Law was given. That promise was the appearing, in the world, of the covenant God made with Himself from the foundation of the earth.

Had the Hebrews at Sinai gone up into the presence of God, the Law would have never been given. They would have been changed from within and a nation of royal priests would have arisen from them at that time. But, they sent Moses instead, and told him to listen to God for them. So, because they were afraid and did not go into the presence of God, they were given the Law. Then, only one tribe out of 12 was ascribed the priestly responsibilities, the Levites.

The Law served as a boundary or limit to the consequences of sin, so that death could not, by legal grounds, wipe out all the Jews.

Today, "it is finished." The Messiah came and defeated death and He now gives life to all who receive Him.

But what of His commandments?

"And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us."

They are:
1) Believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Son, alone, connects us to the Father.
2) Love one another as He loved us. He loved us by giving his life to the Father so that the Father might live through Him.

The Law was given because of transgressions, not to develop a relationship between God and anyone.

The Law served its purpose: preserve the Jews so that the Messiah could come forth from the lineage of Abraham. This fulfilled the promise God gave to Abraham 430 years before the Law was given. That promise was the appearing, in the world, of the covenant God made with Himself from the foundation of the earth.

Had the Hebrews at Sinai gone up into the presence of God, the Law would have never been given. They would have been changed from within and a nation of royal priests would have arisen from them at that time. But, they sent Moses instead, and told him to listen to God for them. So, because they were afraid and did not go into the presence of God, they were given the Law. Then, only one tribe out of 12 was ascribed the priestly responsibilities, the Levites.

The Law served as a boundary or limit to the consequences of sin, so that death could not, by legal grounds, wipe out all the Jews.

Today, "it is finished." The Messiah came and defeated death and He now gives life to all who receive Him.

But what of His commandments?

"And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us."

They are:
1) Believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Son, alone, connects us to the Father.
2) Love one another as He loved us. He loved us by giving his life to the Father so that the Father might live through Him.

The Law was given because of transgressions, not to develop a relationship between God and anyone.

That is false, and a pure assertion without proof. Nothing is more certain in the Bible than that God gave the Law to Israel to preserve a relationship between Israel and Himself!

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred.

God does not expect us to be perfect. But He does expect us to have a perfect standard, upon which to rely. Christ is that perfect standard, who has given us his Spirit. And if we live a life relying on that Spirit, it proves that we have accepted him as the right standard of righteousness.

Perhaps the following will make sense to you. When I was first given to believe, I would go to the Rockies to read and share what I read with otherers.
One night as I slept, I felt thee warmth of the Presence of the Father throughout the night and a voice came to me while I slept saying, "Now the Children of Israel, while they were in the wilderness were disobedient, and by their disobedience Salvation was gained by the nations."
You post reminds me of this very much. Thank you and may you be blessed for your work.

Exo 19. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

I wrote:





To which randyk wrote:



I didn't read any more of your post after that first line.

To conclude: I actually have what I wrote on good authority:

Paul wrote in Galatians:



Perhaps you have some clarifying questions?