The following is Paul's reasoning concerning the Christian and sin. It must be thought through carefully for it does not lend itself to a superficial examination.

If we are seeking righteousness through Christ . . . ! Here is the problem. Paul was approaching the Gospel as one who desired above all else to be righteous. However, the Gospel is presented to the Gentiles, not as a means of gaining righteousness but as a ticket to Heaven. The idea is that if we will receive Jesus as our Savior our sins will be forgiven and we will be admitted to Heaven when we die.

We Gentiles do not understand the Gospel because we are not oriented properly to righteousness. Righteousness is an end in itself, not a means of getting to Heaven.

The devout Jew seeks righteousness because God requires righteousness. It is our opinion that the Gospel belongs to the Jews first, and after that to the Gentiles. In fact, the individual most likely to fully appreciate the redemption that is in Christ is the Orthodox Jew, as we see it. And this is what Paul was!

What do Gentiles understand of the coming of a kingdom of righteousness? What does it mean to Gentiles that Christ will sit on the Throne of David?

We have received a Jewish Gospel and have totally confused it with spending eternity in Heaven, mansions, and golden slippers. The new covenant was presented in the Book of Jeremiah, but most of what is taught today is unrelated to what Jeremiah stated, to the rest of the Hebrew Prophets, and to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: (Hebrews 8:8)

Hopefully the Jews will claim their own bread and teach the Gentile believers of righteousness and the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom that is coming to the earth in the near future.

If we are seeking righteousness through Christ, and continue to sin, does this mean Christ endorses sin? Paul responds to his own question (Galatians 2:17), "Absolutely not!"

For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (Galatians 2:18)

First of all, what is sin? Sin under the new covenant is much the same as under the old, having to do with righteousness and holiness of conduct. Paul gives us some examples of sin:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness [immorality], Idolatry, sorcery, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

Let us paraphrase Paul: "If I have come to Jesus for righteousness and I continue to practice adultery, fornication, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, murder, drunkenness, does this mean Christ endorses sin?"

Do you see what we mean when we state it is not an adequate response to dismiss the relationship between Moses and Christ by saying we are not under the Law but under grace? We leave the problem of sin unanswered. We do not know how to define sin, under the new covenant and we do not understand how God regards it.

To be continued.