8.5 Righteousness under the Old Covenant is a test of man's righteousness
Ever since mankind fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, righteousness has been the quest of mankind. Righteousness is to be in a state where one is upright – where sin is put away – and one is reconciled to God in a relationship.
Mankind in his state of sin has been trying to reach God in heaven, but the gravity of sin makes it impossible. But man does not know he lives in a state of sin. So God gave Israel a chance to prove if she was righteous.
This was the deal. God would impose His standard of righteousness upon Israel through His unbending laws. The law is the plumb-line if sin and righteousness. There were hundreds of laws that they had to keep – moral, civil, ceremonial, etc. They had to observe all the commandments in order to attain to righteousness.
(Deuteronomy 6:25)
Then it will be RIGHTEOUSNESS for us, if WE are careful to OBSERVE ALL THESE COMMANDMENTS before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.
Since it was a test of man’s righteousness, he would receive no help. The law does not lift a finger to help because the law is there to prove man’s righteousness. Deut 6:25 says, “If WE are careful to observe…” It is up man to carefully keep the law.
How does it work? Does it mean that if they kept 50%, they would meet the passing mark and be considered righteous? Or does it mean that if a person keeps 90% of the law while another keeps 50%, the one who keeps 90% is more righteous? This is what most people think - especially those who advocate the law as the basis of relationship with God. They seem to believe that they can attain to righteousness by the law.
If we knew the truth the way God sees it, we wouldn’t dare to put any confidence in our own ability. We wouldn't dare to think of ourselves as being more righteous that any of our brethren. Deut 6:25 says that they have to “OBSERVE ALL”. This means the passing mark is 100%. And James says that if we break one law, we have broken the whole law.
(James 2:10)
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in ONE POINT, he is GUILTY OF ALL.
Wow! This appears to be a harsh system. Why is that so? Because God is so righteous that his standard for righteousness is perfect. We have to keep 100% in order to be righteous. Not only do we have to keep it outwardly, Jesus made it clear in Matthew chapter 5 that the law had to be kept inwardly as well – in attitude, thought and speech. If we had a wrong attitude, a bad thought, or if we said something in the heat of the moment, we would have failed.
If you had a choice, would you want to live under this covenant? Would you want your righteousness to be earned on the basis of your ability to keep the law? Are you confident you can keep it 100% (outwardly and inwardly) in order to qualify for righteousness? Or would you depend on God's grace and mercy?
Mankind in his state of sin has been trying to reach God in heaven, but the gravity of sin makes it impossible. But man does not know he lives in a state of sin. So God gave Israel a chance to prove if she was righteous.
This was the deal. God would impose His standard of righteousness upon Israel through His unbending laws. The law is the plumb-line if sin and righteousness. There were hundreds of laws that they had to keep – moral, civil, ceremonial, etc. They had to observe all the commandments in order to attain to righteousness.
(Deuteronomy 6:25)
Then it will be RIGHTEOUSNESS for us, if WE are careful to OBSERVE ALL THESE COMMANDMENTS before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.
Since it was a test of man’s righteousness, he would receive no help. The law does not lift a finger to help because the law is there to prove man’s righteousness. Deut 6:25 says, “If WE are careful to observe…” It is up man to carefully keep the law.
How does it work? Does it mean that if they kept 50%, they would meet the passing mark and be considered righteous? Or does it mean that if a person keeps 90% of the law while another keeps 50%, the one who keeps 90% is more righteous? This is what most people think - especially those who advocate the law as the basis of relationship with God. They seem to believe that they can attain to righteousness by the law.
If we knew the truth the way God sees it, we wouldn’t dare to put any confidence in our own ability. We wouldn't dare to think of ourselves as being more righteous that any of our brethren. Deut 6:25 says that they have to “OBSERVE ALL”. This means the passing mark is 100%. And James says that if we break one law, we have broken the whole law.
(James 2:10)
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in ONE POINT, he is GUILTY OF ALL.
Wow! This appears to be a harsh system. Why is that so? Because God is so righteous that his standard for righteousness is perfect. We have to keep 100% in order to be righteous. Not only do we have to keep it outwardly, Jesus made it clear in Matthew chapter 5 that the law had to be kept inwardly as well – in attitude, thought and speech. If we had a wrong attitude, a bad thought, or if we said something in the heat of the moment, we would have failed.
If you had a choice, would you want to live under this covenant? Would you want your righteousness to be earned on the basis of your ability to keep the law? Are you confident you can keep it 100% (outwardly and inwardly) in order to qualify for righteousness? Or would you depend on God's grace and mercy?
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:44 AM
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