He did know, however, that he could be "a follower of righteousness" and "also be one who possessed great knowledge." But the knowledge he had obtained from God made him want "to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge" (Abraham 1:2). He understood that his fathers had "turned from their righteousness" unto the worshiping of false gods because they had "turned their hearts" away from righteousness and towards evil. (Abraham 1:5-7 emphasis added)
God called upon Adam "by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh. And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe," repent, and be baptized, he would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. God also tells Adam that he should do this in the name of "mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come" (Moses 6:51-52).
Both Adam and Abraham understood that only God is righteous, full of grace and truth, and that we repent by turning to Him in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Paul gives us some examples of how people miss the mark by trying to become righteous through good works or the works of the law, and in doing so become self-righteous instead of followers of righteousness. He describes the Gentiles as people that had "followed not after righteousness" but after having the Gospel of Jesus Christ taught to them, they "have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith" (Romans 9:30). And by contrast he describes Israel "which followed after the law of righteousness" but had "not attained to the law of righteousness" (Romans 9:31). And he tells us why Israel could not attain to righteousness by following the law, "Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law" (Romans 9:32).
Paul helps us understand that "no man is justified by the law in the sight of God" (Galatians 3:11), and that the purpose of the law is to bring us to Christ, being our "schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). Paul makes it clear that we cannot live the law, and it is because of the law that sin comes, and because we sin we need a redeemer and our Redeemer invites us to follow after His righteousness and put our faith in Him, and therefore become greater followers of righteousness.
God called upon Adam "by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh. And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe," repent, and be baptized, he would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. God also tells Adam that he should do this in the name of "mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come" (Moses 6:51-52).
Both Adam and Abraham understood that only God is righteous, full of grace and truth, and that we repent by turning to Him in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Paul gives us some examples of how people miss the mark by trying to become righteous through good works or the works of the law, and in doing so become self-righteous instead of followers of righteousness. He describes the Gentiles as people that had "followed not after righteousness" but after having the Gospel of Jesus Christ taught to them, they "have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith" (Romans 9:30). And by contrast he describes Israel "which followed after the law of righteousness" but had "not attained to the law of righteousness" (Romans 9:31). And he tells us why Israel could not attain to righteousness by following the law, "Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law" (Romans 9:32).
Paul helps us understand that "no man is justified by the law in the sight of God" (Galatians 3:11), and that the purpose of the law is to bring us to Christ, being our "schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). Paul makes it clear that we cannot live the law, and it is because of the law that sin comes, and because we sin we need a redeemer and our Redeemer invites us to follow after His righteousness and put our faith in Him, and therefore become greater followers of righteousness.
