We would be in a much better position to understand the Apostle Paul if we had been taught from childhood that God wants us to keep all the statutes found in the Law of Moses. Righteousness is obtained by obeying the Law. This conviction was deeply ingrained in Paul's readers in Rome. Try to put yourself in their frame of mind.

The issue is, can we obtain righteousness if we let go of Moses? Do we dare just believe God will esteem us as righteous if we are not observing the Law? Is there actually another source of righteousness of which we have been ignorant, while we desperately endeavor to keep all aspects of the Law?

Christ is the end of the law so there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)

I don't think the idea here is only that faith in Christ takes the place of the Law, although that is true. Also the Book of Hebrews tells us that the old covenant is passing away.

I believe it is true rather that Christ is the fulfillment of the Law. All of the Law is fulfilled in Christ so when we follow the Spirit of God we receive the righteousness that would have been ours had we kept the Law perfectly.

So it is not a case that the Law is imperfect; rather it is true that we cannot receive the righteousness of the Law except through Christ. And, I might add, not merely by believing in Christ or identifying with Christ but by receiving Christ into ourselves so He becomes our Life and directs our behavior.

Paul told us the Law is as a slave who bring us to the school where Christ teaches us. So the Law is good, but we can keep it only through Jesus Christ.

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." (Romans 10:5)

The Law provides commandments which a person could observe and thus obtain righteousness. But the Law did not fulfill God's desires for a righteous people, because our sinful nature causes us to disobey the Law—even when we desire to keep all of its parts.

However, I think it is important to note that the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews, which is a record of people who lived under prior covenants, is our best definition of "the righteous shall live by faith." No one has ever pleased God except by faith. There were times, as described in the Old Testament, when God did not accept the offerings of the Israelites because they were not presented in faith, only as a dead ritual.

But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)" or ‘Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: (Romans 10:6-8)

To be continued.