The eternal law of God regarding holy, pure moral conduct is binding under the old covenant and also under the new—and upon all people alive on the earth. Even though we are under grace we cannot engage in immorality without being judged. Christ did not do away with the laws governing lustful behavior, because all expressions of lust and perversion are the work of unclean spirits and therefore come under eternal judgment.

It is true, however, that the new covenant does not consist of resisting lust. The new covenant is the forming of Christ in us, and Christ cannot sin because He is the Nature and Substance of the almighty God.

In the meantime we must resist with all the determination and grace we possess, all forms of unlawful, immoral behavior. The believer in Christ who is not resisting immorality, seeking help from the elders, studying the written Word, gathering with fervent saints, confessing his sins and repenting of them, will destroy his body, soul, and spirit and is in danger of the fiery judgment of God.

Righteous behavior. Righteous behavior was very important under the old covenant and is very important under the new covenant. Righteous behavior is required under both covenants, except that under the new covenant, persistence in righteous behavior will lead finally to the indwelling of the Righteous One. When Christ comes to maturity in us we will act righteously by nature—by the new nature of Christ that has been formed in us.

We might say that the forming of Christ in us is the end of the commandments of the Apostles for everyone who obeys them, not meaning the termination of the commandments but the end result of keeping them.

Under the Law of Moses, equitable, upright behavior was enforced:

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. (Leviticus 19:15)

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. (Leviticus 19:35)

One of the most important statements of the Old Testament, although not part of the Torah but certainly of the spirit of the Torah, is as follows:

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

Under the new covenant, righteous behavior is required.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew, Chapters Five through Seven) consists of laws of righteousness, laws of the Kingdom of God. We are taught by these laws how to serve God and how to live with other people. The laws of the Sermon on the Mount will be enforced throughout the earth during the Kingdom Age by the sons of God carrying the rod of iron.

To be continued.