Part 1 - God's Puzzle Solved

The Spirit Versus The Letter371ceptable to God. It allowed you to receive all the blessingsin the promised land with a long life (Deuteronomy 6).However, keeping The Law of Moses by works or humaneffort only became their righteousness (by their own efforts)(Deuteronomy 6:25). It is the same problem that Jobhad until he repented completely. Remember, Job was themost righteous person during his time (Job 1:8).Yet Job was not completely repentant until God broughthim to that state of mind. Job finally realized that onlyGod can do everything (Job 42:2). Job fully repented whenhe said, “Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust andashes” (Job 42:6). The Apostle Paul learned the same lesson(Romans 7:13). Paul said that he kept the righteousnessin The Law blamelessly (Philippians 3:6). Then, Paul saidthe knowledge of Christ was more excellent and countedhis righteousness in The Law as useless (Philippians 3:8).Your righteousness, whether self-righteousness or otherwise,cannot please God (Romans 8:8).Any attempt to be righteous in the flesh (by human works)will not please God. The best that your righteousness cando is give you a good life while on this earth. That is TheOld Covenant. There is nothing else. The Law of Mosescannot make you righteous. No man can keep the wholeLaw or be justified (perfect and blameless). The intent ofThe Law of Moses is to make you realize that you are asinner and need Christ (Galatians 3:24). God added TheLaw of Moses to The Ten Commandments because the peopleneeded to come to repentance, just as Job did. Oncethat happened, a better way was needed. It was a NewCovenant that does what The Old Covenant could not do,which was to give Eternal Life.