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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Grace—Replaces the Law or Replaces Righteous Behavior?, #2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:2,3)
When the student does not understand that Paul was striving for righteousness he cannot possibly understand Paul's teaching concerning the grace of God.
Paul was not seeking righteousness so he would go to Heaven when he died. Eternal residence in the spirit Paradise was not Paul's goal. Residence in Heaven was not the goal of salvation under the old covenant nor is it the goal of salvation under the new.
Paul was seeking righteousness so he would be pleasing to God and in the day of resurrection would be one of God's stars.
The concept of eternal residence in the spirit Paradise, and of a mansion in Heaven, was added to Christian theology at some point after the death of the original Apostles. Heaven as the goal of redemption does not appear in any writing of the Hebrew Prophets or of the Apostles of the Lamb.
Paul was seeking righteousness in order to please God and also so he would not be punished or destroyed in the Day of Judgment. Paul knew the terror of the Lord!
The Gentile comes to the Lord Jesus from a different perspective. The Gentile is told all men are sinners. He is informed there is none righteous. He is instructed that the soul that sins shall die and go to Hell. Then he is told that if he will confess with his mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in his heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead he will go to Heaven when he dies.
The blood of Jesus becomes his ticket to Paradise.
To these concepts often is added that while a change in his behavior is desirable it is not essential because he is "saved" (meaning he will go to Heaven when he dies) "by grace."
Further teaching stresses that once he has his "ticket" he can never lose it nor can anyone take it from him. He will go to Heaven when he dies because of a supreme, sovereign, unconditional grace.
Notice how the "ticket" doctrine is reflected in the following "translation":
"But now God has shown us a different way to heaven—not by being ‘good enough' and trying to keep his laws . . . ." (comment on Romans 3:21 by Kenneth N. Taylor, Living Letters, Tyndale House Publishers, quoted in The New Testament from 26 Translations ).
We do not understand how Taylor derived this interpretation. It is not related to the Greek text. Going to Heaven has nothing to do with the context of Romans 3:21. The Gentile reader would think God has given us a plan of salvation that is an alternative to godly behavior.
While people of past covenants were required to live righteously, it is taught that under the Christian covenant one does not have to live righteously. God sees only the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, and it is this imputing (ascribing) of righteousness that is salvation under the new covenant.
The Apostle Paul would have been dumbfounded had he known that scholars would be able somehow to turn his teaching of Divine grace into a substitute for practicing righteousness, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.
To be continued.