The Way of Righteousness- The grace of God in all it's Truth: Preface: This paper is presented to all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. The author urges the reader to take time and read this presentation with patience and prayers for revelation. We urge you to read all the reference scriptures given before one proceed to the next paragraph to enhance understanding. The author is a believer in Christ Jesus and desires to share the revelation of God's Grace in all it's Truth for the growth of the Church (believers in Jesus Christ) as we see the Day is approaching. May God bless the reader Background: Sin entered the world through one man Adam (Romans 5:14) Because of sin, the law was given through Moses. The law of Moses begins with the ten (10) commandments but is not limited to ten commandments alone but includes all the laws given to him on Mt Sinai (Exodus 34:27-28). (Leviticus 27:30-34) Note, it was Moses who wrote the law on the second set of tablets (Exodus 34:27-28). The law of Moses is one it is not divided though it includes may segments. However, no one is declared righteous by observing the law of Moses but through the law of Moses men became conscious of sin ( Romans 3:20) ( Galatians 2:15-16) (Galatians 3:2-11) The Law of Moses For the Law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17) The law of Moses was given to lead us to the grace and truth of God that was to come through Jesus Christ in which we now stand The gospel of Christ must be preached to you and when you hear it and you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died and was raised to life again then you are saved. That is it is credited to you as righteousness just as Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Romans 10:9) (Romans 9: 30-32) (Romans 10:1-10) (Acts 13:38-39) (Hebrews 10:1-18) (Acts 10:34-46) Below is the Law of Moses in summery and how it pointed to the coming Christ: The Ten commandments The ten commandments were given to Moses at Mt Sinai ( Exodus 34: 27-28). Now the entire law of Moses is summed up in just a single command : Love your neighbor (Galatians 5:14) He who loves another man has fulfilled the whole law of Moses (Romans 13:8-10) ( 1 John 4:7-8) ( Mark 12:28-34) (Matthew 22:34-40) God is Love and he who loves has obeyed God in His law To love is to obey God's commandments Sabbath Day (Seventh Day) The Sabbath Day is one of the ten commandments and what has been discussed applies to this law also. However, the Sabbath Day was a sign that God is the One who justifies man and who makes man holy.(Ezekiel 20:12) God ordered people to rest on the Sabbath Day as a sign that it was him who was going to give them rest in Jesus Christ through faith in him. Now all those who have believed in Jesus Christ have entered that rest. They rest the Holy Spirit who they received when they believed and are born again by the Spirit of God. God now lead them by the Holy Spirit and God himself works the work of faith by his Spirit in the believers It is no longer man working but God by his Spirit in them. Therefore, they have rested from their works which could not give them righteousness but have found rest in God, Jesus Christ the Saviour .(Hebrews 4:3) ( Hebrews 4:1-11) This righteousness is by faith in Jesus Christ but the law of Moses is not based on faith that is why by the law of Moses no one is justified for righteousness But those who believe have entered that rest in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit in them. (Romans 9:30-32) (Romans 10:1-4) ((Isaiah 63:14) (Mathew 11:28-30) (Colossians 2:16-23) (Matthew 12:1-14) Fasting: For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit ( Romans 14:17) Fasting is not about food but living in love and practicing love for God is love. (Isaiah 58:1-10) ( Zechariah 7:1-14, 8, 18-19). To fast is to live by the Spirit and to turn away from the desires of the world (1 John 2:15-17) Tithe: All things come from God. What can man give God ( Psalm 50:9-23) ( Job 35:7). Tithing was teaching man to give generously and to share with those in need, to give thanks to God and to praise his name from whom all things come (Hebrews 13:15-16) Baptism in Water The baptism by water was for repentance not to be born again. It was a pledge to repent and recieve Christ and then true baptism by the Holy Spirit would come by faith in Jesus Christ.(John 3:1-8) (Acts 19:1-6) (Ephesians 4:3-6) True baptism is by the Holy Spirit after hearing the gospel of Christ and have believed then you are baptized by the Holy Spirit and fire. ( Mathew 3:11) (Acts 19:1-6) (Acts 1:3-5) (Titus 3:5) ( 1 Corinthians 6:11; 12:13) Sowing seed: The seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11) Sow for yourself righteousness (Hosea 10:12-13) A man reaps what he sows. He who does love reap love and he who sows wickedness reaps evil ( Galatians 6:7-10) (Proverbs 22:8; 11:18) Sowing is not giving the man of God money. It is not biblical Abstaining from certain foods (Do not eat): It is not about food but righteousness in Jesus Christ. (Romans 14:17) (1 Timothy 4:1-5) ( Colossians 2:16-17) (Mark 7:1-23) (Acts 10: 28) (Acts 10:9-22) The Law of Christ The law of Christ is the fullfilment of the law of Moses (John 13:31-35) ( John 15:12-17) (1 John 3:21-24) ( Romans 13:8-10) Readers note that to obey God's commandments is to believe in Jesus Christ. In the law of Moses it was to obey and in the faith in Jesus Christ it is to believe. So to believe is to obey God's commandments (1 John 5:1-5) The law of Moses had regulations for worship and an earthly temple(physical) in Jerusalem in which worshipping God was done and no other places but in faith under Christ your body is the temple of God in which God lives by his Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16) ( John 2:18-21) (1 Corinthians 6:19) ( 2 Corinthians 6:16) (Ephesians 2:21) The law of Christ is the law of Love which was preached from the beginning: Cain and Abel - and therefore it is above everything because God is Love. (1 John 3:11-20) (Romans 13:8-10) (2 John 1:4-6) (1 John 4:7-8) (1:John 4:19-21) (James 2:14-18) (Galatians 6:2) ( 1 Corinthians 9:19-23).Believers in Jesus Christ live in hope for salvation by faith in him and hope does not disappoint us because God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit he has given us. ( Romans 5:1-5) Conclusion: Now we can see that the law of Moses and all the Prophets were pointing to the coming Christ through whom all are justified by faith in his blood. ( Acts 13:38-39) ( Hebrews 10:1-18) Those who rely on observing the law of Moses have subjected themselves under a curse. If one insist to observe the law of Moses then the question is: where is the physical earthly temple? A copy of one which is in heaven? What about circumcision- are you circumcised? It is written: cursed is everyone who does not do all that the law of Moses requires. ( Galatians 3:10-13) Again it is written: He who breaks one law of Moses has broken all (James 2:8-11) If you are not circumcised and you are not giving all your tithe to include your harvest, fruits, produce, animals and everything you have are you observing the law of Moses?(Leviticus 27:30-34) Remember the law of Moses is one (Exodus 34:27-28) (Leviticus 27:34) However, the law of Moses is holy but fault was found with people because they could not live by it. It is difficult for a man to observe all the law of Moses (Ezekiel 20:25) That is why God sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross and to redeem man of his sins at his resurrection by faith in him. Only those who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved (Romans 10:9) It is a matter of man's heart(spirit) not to observe the law which is outward. The Command of God for all is to believe in his Son Jesus Christ and to love one another (1 John 3:23) ( Ephesians 2:8-10) The one who loves another man can not steal, murder or commit adultery. So love is the fullfilment of the law of Moses (Romans 13: 8-10) Let's Pray: Holy Father, have mercy on me. Open my heart that I may understand the scriptures. O God my God, do not hide your commands from me Teach me your ways that I may know you better. I believe in my heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is the Lord. Jesus the Christ of God , come into my heart and give me the gift of the Holy Spirit that I may know you better. Thank you Father for the gift of righteousness in Christ Jesus. In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen (Ephesians 2:8-10)