his disobedience and return to a righteous state in the eyes of God, a debt had to be paid for this act of defiance. It was part of the spiritual contract man shared with God. The shedding of blood was the required redeeming sacrifice. With return to righteousness, mankind could coexist with God in the intimate way he desires for all of his children.
“If you recall, in the three columns representing the different parts of your being, righteousness was the opposite of sin. Because of your belief, you have been filled with the Holy Spirit and its righteousness, while your body also possesses an opposing sinful nature.”
I interrupted in confirmation, “And Jesus harbored no inherent sinful nature and therefore was the righteous one. Righteousness is the lack of sin.”
Joshua smiled again at my understanding and took a bite of his cookie.
“Let’s back up for a moment. Have you ever heard of Les Feldick?
“No, I haven’t, who is he?”
“Les is a country rancher who hosts a television show where he goes through the Bible, verse by verse, and teaches people in a classroom setting. He does a marvelous job, and we will use some of his ideas to present the progression of requirements needed to obtain righteousness. Let’s return to biblical history as we proceed.
“During the time between the covenant God made with Adam, and the one he made with Moses, God made a covenant with Abraham. In that covenant, God required faith, and faith alone, in order for Abraham to be considered righteous. In other words,
“Abrahamic Covenant = Faith + (Nothing) leads to righteousness.”
He wrote that line on the board, then recited from memory.
“Romans 4:3—What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
“You need to understand that Abraham did not have to sacrifice animals to be forgiven for his sins. Abraham was credited with righteousness based solely on his faith and belief in what God was telling him. Therefore, no animal sacrifice or shedding of blood was needed. Then God established the law of Moses, and his requirement for the forgiveness of sin and the resulting righteousness became the Mosaic covenant.
“Mosaic Covenant = Faith + (Sacrifice/Shedding of blood) leads to righteousness.”
This second line appeared on the board directly under the first.
“Animal sacrifice was the shedding of the blood required for redemption of the debt that sin had created.”
Joshua’s smile revealed the peace his next statement possessed, “Then came Jesus.”
He paused to let the power of his words find a place in my soul.
“And with Jesus a new law and new covenant was created. Jesus shed his blood for all the sins of mankind. He was the atoning sacrifice, the redeeming blood, for every sin any believer had committed or would commit, forever! The forgiveness of sin, according to the Law at that time, required faith plus sacrifice to become righteous in the eyes of God. Jesus Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice by hanging on the cross and shedding his blood, so God’s chosen people could live eternally in Heaven. They no longer had to provide an animal’s blood, or their own blood, as payment for their sins. Jesus satisfied their sacrificial debt with his blood. And he has done the very same thing for you!
“As a result, God no longer requires faith plus sacrifice to become righteous. The obligation required by the law of Moses was fulfilled in Jesus. Remember, Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but rather to fulfill the Law. Now, you gain righteousness through faith in Jesus plus nothing, just like Abraham. You gain righteousness for your soul by simply believing in Christ.” The following words appeared on the board:
The New Covenant = Faith + (Nothing) leads to righteousness
He quoted from memory, “Romans 10:4—Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”
I stood up to stretch my legs and said, “That is pretty cool Joshua. Please go on.”
“It is very cool, as you say. Jesus came to take away your sins. He had to fulfill the law of Moses under which mankind lived at that time. Therefore, he had to shed his blood. But understand that it was not until after his death, which paid the debt of the Law, that the new law and new covenant went into effect. Remember, shedding of blood was the only way the disobedience of sin could be forgiven, which ultimately leads to righteousness.”
He raised his book to read.
“Romans 5:19—For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
“Animal sacrifice was performed for the sins of an individual man, but Jesus died for all the sins of every believer, past, present, and future. Sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and sin left the world through one man, Jesus.
“The Mosaic Law and covenant was like Adam’s Law and covenant in that it was based on obedience. In effect, if you could obey everything God laid out in his law, the Law of Moses, you would be found righteous, and granted the right to live eternally with God.
“Romans 10:5—Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.”
Joshua expanded on the idea for emphasis of its importance.
“At the time of Moses, those men had to obey every line of the Law, and if they could do this they would live forever with God. Strict adherence to every tiny aspect of the Law was necessary for righteous fulfillment of that law.”
He paused to take a drink but was serious with his next question, “So… tell me, John, what is the problem with the law of Moses?”
I was ready for him with this one, “The problem with the Law, Joshua, is that no man, except Jesus, can follow every aspect of God’s law. Hence, we all become sinners.”
He quoted from the Bible with confirmation of my answer.
“Romans 3:23—for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
I grabbed a cookie and returned to my seat before he delivered the next question with authority.
“Then, we have a very big problem, don’t we? Why would a God who loves you, calls you his child, and wants you to be with him in Heaven, give you a law that you could not obey? Would you do this to your children?”
“No!” my reply was an emotional knee-jerk response.
“Would you ask your children to do something you knew they could not do and then say that was the only way they could come live with you?”
“No!”
“Is that the action of a loving Father?” He kept pushing.
“No!”
“You are correct! Therefore, the purpose of the law of Moses could not have been to get God’s people to Heaven. There had to be a different reason for God to give them the Law!” He looked directly at me asking, “What was God’s reason for establishing this law?”
