the new era of salvation, Jesus completes the purpose of the Mosaic law. The purpose of the law was twofold: (1) to reveal God’s righteous standards and (2) to provide the means to remain in covenant relationship with him. Both of these are fulfilled in Jesus himself, who through his righteous life and death on the cross establishes for his followers a permanent new covenant relationship with God. New covenant believers, then, have not a lower standard of righteousness but a higher standard, since