THE WORD RIGHTEOUSNESS IS DEFINED, ACTING IN ACCORD WITH DIVINE OR MORAL LAW; FREE FROM QUILT OF SIN. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY THAT I KNOW OF TO BE PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD. AND, THAT IS BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOUR SALVATION, AND FAITH IN THE BLOOD THAT HE SHED ON CALVARIES CROSS FOR YOUR REDEMPTION. WHEN A PERSON PLACES THEIR FAITH, AND TRUST, IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. GOD, THE FATHER, ALLOWS THAT PERSON, TO DECLARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS PERFECT RIGHTEOUS. I BELIEVE, THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MAKE HEAVEN YOUR HOME.

Rom:3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom:3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Rom:3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Rom:3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom:3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom:3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Rom:3:26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Rom:3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Rom:3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom:3:29: Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

Rom:3:30: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Rom:3:31: Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

THERE ARE MEN THAT WOULD HAVE YOU TO BELIEVE THAT TO BE SAVED FROM THE WRATH OF GOD, ON JUDGMENT DAY, A PERSON MUST KEEP THE LAW THAT GOD GAVE MOSES'. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NEW. MEN WERE TRYING TO DRAW GOD'S CHILDREN BACK UNDER THE LAW IN THE DAYS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL. LISTEN AS I READ FROM THE BOOK OF

Acts:15:1: And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Acts:15:2: When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

THE QUESTION CONCERNING SALVATION BY KEEPING THE LAW OF MOSES' WAS SETTLED AT THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. LET ME READ TO YOU THEIR FINDINGS.

Acts:15:4: And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Acts:15:5: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Acts:15:6: And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

Acts:15:7: And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Acts:15:8: And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Acts:15:9: And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Acts:15:10: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Acts:15:11: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts:15:12: Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Acts:15:13: And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Acts:15:14: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Acts:15:15: And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Acts:15:16: After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Acts:15:17: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Acts:15:18: Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Acts:15:19: Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Acts:15:20: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

THE FINDING OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCIL WAS THIS, THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL, AND BARNABAS TELL THE GENTILES TO ABSTAIN FROM IDOL WORSHIP, AND FROM FORNICATION, AND FROM EATING THINGS STRANGLED, AND FROM EATING OF BLOOD. LET ME REPEAT THE WORD'S OF THE APOSTLE PETER RECORDED IN

Acts:15:10: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

WHY WAS IT, THAT NEITHER THE FATHER OF THE APOSTLES, NOR THE APOSTLES WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE LAW THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES? BECAUSE THE LAW OF MOSES' HAD TO BE KEPT TO THE LETTER.

Rom:7:5: For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Rom:7:6: But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

A PERSON CAN KEEP THE LAW TO THE LETTER, AND OFFEND IN ONE POINT, AND HE WILL BE GUILTY OF THE WHOLE LAW.

Jms:2:10: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (KJV)

THE LAW IS DIFFERENT FROM GRACE. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF LAW. IF A PERSON DRIVES THROUGH A SPEED ZONE MARKED 15 MILES PER HOUR, AT A SPEED OF 16 MILES PER HOUR. HE HAS BROKEN THE LAW, AND IS SUBJECT TO PUNISHMENT. IN THE LAW OF CONTRACTS, IF A PERSON IS ONE DOLLAR SHORT, OR ONE DAY LATE, ON A PAYMENT THE CONTRACT IS BROKEN. AND, THE BALANCE CAN BE DEMANDED. UNDER GRACE A PERSON IS NOT REQUIRED TO KEEP THE LAW TO THE LETTER; BUT IN SPIRIT

2Cor:3:6: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (KJV)

SAINTS OF GOD, WE ARE NOT SAVED BY OUR OWN LIFE. WE, THAT HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST, ARE SAVED BY THE LIFE OF CHRIST. IT IS JESUS CHRIST THAT KEPT THE WHOLE LAW, AND THE PROPHETS, TO THE LETTER. WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED OUT OF THE WORLD, AND INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. AND, RECEIVE THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND THE RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST. WE BECOME A MEMBER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND, BECAUSE OF OUR SPIRITUAL UNION WITH HIM, GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS TO US.

Rom:5:10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (KJV)

THE LAW OF MOSES WAS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTIL JOHN THE BAPTIST CAME PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS, SINCE THAT TIME THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS PREACHED, AND MEN PRESSED INTO IT.

Lk:16:16: The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (KJV)

IF, WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES', WHY WAS THE LAW OF MOSES' RECORDED? THE LAW OF MOSES' WAS OUR SCHOOL MASTER TO BRING US TO CHRIST. BUT SINCE CHRIST IS COME, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SCHOOL MASTER.

Gal:3:23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal:3:24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal:3:25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal:3:26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

SAINTS OF GOD, COULD A PERSON BE MADE RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD, BY KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS? COULD YOU BE MADE RIGHTEOUS BY KEEPING THIS COMMANDMENT, THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THY ANY GRAVEN IMAGE. IF, ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE, YOU NEVER MADE A GRAVEN IMAGE; WOULD YOU BE RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD? WOULD YOU BE RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD, IF YOU KEPT THIS COMMANDMENT? REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY? WOULD YOU BE RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD IF YOU KEPT THIS COMMANDMENT TO THE LETTER? HONOUR THY FATHER, AND THY MOTHER ? NO, A PERSON CANNOT BE MADE RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD BY KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. IF A PERSON COULD HAVE BEEN MADE RIGHTEOUS BY KEEPING THE LAW THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES' THEN CHRIST JESUS WOULD HAVE DIED IN VAIN.

Gal:2:19: For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

Gal:2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal:2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV)

WHAT IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS BY FAITH. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF FAITH IS THIS, SAY NOT IN YOUR HEART WHO SHALL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN, THAT IS TO BRING CHRIST DOWN FROM ABOVE. NEITHER ARE WE TO SAY WHO SHALL DESCEND INTO HELL THAT IS TO BRING CHRIST AGAIN FROM THE DEAD. MANY PREACHERS WHEN THEY PREACH A PERSON'S FUNERAL SAY THAT MEN, AND WOMEN HAVE GONE INTO HEAVEN. BUT, CHILD CHILDREN OF GOD, DO NOT SAY EVEN IN YOUR HEART WHERE A PERSON HAS GONE AFTER THEIR DEATH. LISTEN CAREFULLY AS I READ THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURES. CONCERNING THE LAW OF FAITH,

Rom:10:1: Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Rom:10:2: For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Rom:10:3: For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Rom:10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

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

Rom:10:6: But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Rom:10:7: Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

Rom:10:8: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Rom:10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom:10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, "I WAS ONCE ALIVE WITHOUT THE LAW, BUT WHEN THE COMMANDMENT CAME, SIN REVIVED, AND I DIED, WAS THAT THEN WHICH IS GOOD MADE DEATH UNTO ME? GOD FORBID, BUT SIN, THAT IT MIGHT APPEAR SIN WORKING DEATH IN ME BY THAT WHICH IS GOOD. THE LAW THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES' IS GOOD, BUT IT IS KNOWN AS THE LAW OF SIN, AND DEATH.

Rom:7:7: What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Rom:7:8: But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Rom:7:9: For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Rom:7:10: And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

Rom:7:11: For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

Rom:7:12: Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Rom:7:13: Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

IF A MAN TRANSGRESS THE LAW RECORDED IN THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, THEN CAME THE CURSE. FOR IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY,

Dt:27:26: Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. (KJV)

FIRST COMES TEMPTATION, IF A PERSON IS OVER COME BY TEMPTATION, THEN COMES SIN. AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.

Rom:6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)

IF A MAN PREACHES THAT MEN SHOULD NOT WORK OF THE SABBATH DAY, AND BUILDS AGAIN THE LAW AS IT IS IN THE LAW OF MOSES' HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF A TRANSGRESSOR. IF A MAN PREACHES A MAN SHOULD NOT EAT PORK, AND BUILDS AGAIN THE DIETARY LAWS AS THEY WERE UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES' HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF A TRANSGRESSOR. IF A MAN PREACHES TITHING, AND BUILDS AGAIN THE TITHING LAWS AS THEY ARE RECORDED IN THE LAW OF MOSES' HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF A TRANSGRESSOR.