
The law came as though men were angels, demanding a perfection which cannot be achieved by flesh. (Even angels could not keep common estate! Jude 6; how much more mortal man who is sexually alive unlike angels?)
Man needed a righteousness to keep the devil away and to close in with His Maker.
Man had laws to keep and live
Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD.
But…
It is evident that all man could have by this way is a temporal/conditional righteousness. If Israel is said to be righteous now, just wait: it's only a matter of time, they'll soon break the law and become unrighteous. We thought Moses to be super law keeper but that also did not last: he soon lose his temper and oh Moses! but you shouldn't have acted that way. Oh Moses! But we face the same condition too. We make up our mind, dedicate and rededicate; make resolutions; make vows not to break the law: but the next moment, we've broken our vow. Temporal, "coming-and-going" righteousness.
So man needed a remedy for sins.
Now the law stipulates a remedy when man sins. It's called sacrifices and offerings.
Fantastic!
But again, this would be cost the sinner something much: what if the sinner is poor? Should a law of God favour the rich making heaven and disqualifying the poor even when the Lord is the maker of both people?
Besides, this method could not take away sins.
*[[Heb 10:4]] KJV* For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Even this that is called "forgiveness" by sacrifices is valid only till next sin point or at most next year.
*[[Heb 10:1]] KJV* For the law... with those sacrifices which they offered YEAR BY YEAR continually...
Man could only reach out to righteousness which is scoped by human abilities - that which can be called "muscular righteousness"; forgiveness which is temporal, time bound, perpetual and non perfecting; sins which cannot be completely buried but must be remembered annually. The priests therefore had a busy schedule making offerings continually to keep wrath away.
Oh the rich, oh the poor, the scribes, the gentiles: none could give an eternal ransom. A man who gains the whole world cannot sell the whole world to save his soul. Man needed something lasting.
*[[Psa 49:6-9]] KJV* They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Here comes Jesus! Resolved to do the Father's will. If He that must come comes bringing the same temporal righteousness, temporal forgiveness, temporal sanctification, such that we must still go to the temple daily confessing for sins and needing forgiveness daily, then He need not come at all! Man had been doing that before. But mankind needs something better! If my acceptance before God will still be premised upon how well I've behaved, then there's no difference.
Introducing...
A "new and living way" in contrast to the erstwhile "dead works"
Jesus! He did it! Not perpetual anymore! Once! Once and for all!
Today, ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS is available!
*[[Dan 9:24]] KJV* Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an END OF SINS, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
*[[1Co 1:30]] KJV* But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness...
*[[2Co 5:21]] KJV* For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
*[[Psa 112:9]] KJV* his righteousness endureth for ever
*[[Psa 112:3]] KJV* ...and his righteousness endureth for ever.
And having a STABLE eternal righteousness now, the blessings we get from the Lord on basis of righteousness can now be eternal too.
*[[Heb 9:15]] KJV* And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of ETERNAL INHERITANCE.
ETERNAL LIFE is available!
*[[Joh 11:26]] KJV* And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
*[[1Jn 5:11-13]] KJV* And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
ETERNAL REDEMPTION is available!
*[[Heb 9:12]] KJV* Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
ETERNAL SALVATION !
*[[Isa 45:17]] KJV* But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an EVERLASTING SALVATION: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world WITHOUT END
*[[Isa 51:6]] KJV* Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be FOR EVER, and my righteousness SHALL NOT BE ABOLISHED.
*[[Heb 5:9]] KJV* And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Ahhhh!!!Mankind joy will no longer be short lived. Moses' law could not give this. Our joy is everlasting.
*[[2Th 2:16]] KJV* Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us EVERLASTING CONSOLATION and good hope through grace,
No wonder David will always say "I will bless the Lord FOREVER AND EVER".
Ahhh! Just what mankind needed! But ignorance/unbelief will keep many away.
The man is called Christ Jesus!
The requirement is hear and believe it's true for you! (Romans 10:9-10)
In conclusion,
If it's all the same laborious keep-the-law-to-make-heaven, righteous-till-next-sin or forgiven momentarily, then I'm sorry for Jesus: Jesus' death is NOT WORTH IT