Christ Himself is our Righteousness.

Christ Himself is our Eternal Life.

Christ Himself is our Grace.

Christ Himself is our Faith.

Christ Himself is our Salvation.

Christ Himself is our Wisdom, our Sanctification, our Strength, our Song, our Joy.

This does not mean we are righteous by imputation (assigned righteousness) or identification because Christ is righteous. It does not signify we have eternal life because Christ has eternal life; we have grace because Christ has grace; we have faith because Christ has faith; we have salvation because Christ has salvation.

It means, rather, that Christ Himself is our righteousness, our eternal life, our grace, our faith, our salvation. The more of Christ we possess the more righteousness we possess; the more eternal life we possess; the more grace we possess; the more faith we possess; the more salvation we possess; the more resurrection we possess.

God's goal is that we practice righteousness, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. As Christ is formed in us we practice righteousness, we love mercy, and we walk humbly with God. In this manner Christ becomes our Salvation. Christ Himself Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

We must keep in mind that God's desire for man never has changed and never shall change. It is an eternal desire.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to practice righteousness, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

The requirements placed upon Adam and Eve were minimal. The requirements upon Noah were greater, and God's dealings with Abraham were stricter yet. But the goal always has been people who practice righteousness, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

The perceived reward for righteous behavior at the time of the patriarchs seems to have been acceptance by the Lord—righteousness in His sight. The goal of eternal residence in the spirit Paradise, in Heaven, appears to have been added at a later date—although Abraham was looking for a city that has foundations (actually, the new Jerusalem that is to come to the earth).

The Law of Moses comprised various statutes and ordinances that were to be obeyed. The individual who practices these statutes and ordinances was viewed as righteous.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (Luke 1:6)

The devout Hebrew found righteousness, peace, and joy and through observing the statutes and judgments of the Lord.

Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 18:5)

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:5)

An Orthodox Jew always has been, and is today, extremely zealous of the Law.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: (Acts 21:20)

In the above instance, these were Christian Jews. Think of it! It was the Apostle Paul who introduced the idea of salvation apart from the Law of Moses.

We mentioned previously that before we examined Paul's attitude toward the Christian salvation we would redefine some commonly employed terms, giving them definitions that are in line with their usage in the New Testament. Having presented our definitions, let us proceed to discover the attitude of Paul as this righteous Jew approached the Divine salvation.

To be continued.