The righteousness of God Himself is given us as a gift through Christ provided we "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

The righteousness of the Law of Moses is fulfilled in us as we follow the Spirit. The ascribing of Divine righteousness to us is based on Christ's becoming sin and taking our sentence in our place. It is a substitutionary work, and we receive the benefit of an ascribed righteousness equal to the righteousness that would be ours if we were able perfectly to keep the Law of Moses.

The righteousness of the Law of Moses is added to our spiritual bank account as long as we are walking in the Holy Spirit and not following our fleshly mind. Walking in the Spirit means that we are giving our attention to obtaining the will of God for our life, that we are presenting our body a living sacrifice to the Lord (Romans 12:1,2).

We no longer are spending our days in the pursuits of our mind and body, bent on serving the impulses of our fleshly lusts, indulging our desire for the possession of material treasures, and nourishing our pride and rebellion against the Spirit of God.

Instead we are being brought into cross-carrying obedience to the will of Christ.

If we are living each day as a "whole burnt offering" to the Lord, our human reasoning and emotional, soulish, lustful body continually being brought under strict obedience to the Spirit of God, then the righteousness of the Law of Moses is added to us on the basis of Christ's death on our behalf.

Christ took on Himself the judgment that legally should have fallen on us. Therefore He has the legal right, according to the Divine standard of justice, to share His own righteousness with whomever He desires.

Living in the appetites of our body and soul means we are spending our days in the ordinary pursuits of human beings. We are occupied primarily with eating, sleeping, working, playing, and reproducing. This is our life and it is the life of the animal.

We are not praying, reading the Bible, pressing on to know the Lord, gathering together with fervent believers, putting Jesus first in every decision. Rather, we are devoting our time to obtaining as much of the riches of the world as possible, indulging the lusts of our eyes and our flesh, and putting our own will, way, and understanding ahead of God's will, way, and understanding.

The daily life of the average person in the world is lived in the appetites of the body and soul, not in the Spirit of God. If we live according to the appetites of our body and soul after we become a Christian, we cannot claim that we are the possessors of the righteousness that is by faith in Christ. The Christian redemption is not an exemption from the first commandment—that we love God with all our mind, soul, and strength.

Walking "in the Spirit" means that each day we are putting Christ first in all circumstances. We are spending some time in prayer and Scripture reading. We are assembling with fervent disciples on a regular basis whenever possible. We are pressing forward in the knowledge of Christ.

To be continued.