There are many of God's people in the land today who are "eloquent" and "mighty" in the scriptures. They basically are "instructed in the way of the Lord" and are "fervent in spirit", teaching diligently the things of the Lord'' yet "knowing only the baptism of John.'' It remains to be further expounded unto them "the way of God more perfectly.'' Ac.18:24-26.

Many that sincerely hunger and thirst after righteousness do ask: what is this more perfect way? The basic answer is to be found in "the more excellent way" which is revealed to us in chapters thirteen and fourteen of First Corinthians.

After that the Holy Ghost was come upon him, the Apostle Paul "through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God...fully preached the gospel of Christ." Rom.15:19. This gospel included the operation of spiritual gifts "that He (God) would not have you ignorant" (1Cor.12:1) that "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." 1Cor.12:7.

They of the church who are spiritual, are admonished by Paul to "acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord'' (1Cor.14:37) and are not meaningless nor passed away in this present day (1Ptr.1:25; Psa.111:7; Deut.12:28; Matt.28:20; 2Tim.2:2) as some who are considered ignorant would suggest. This part of the "sound doctrine" which was committed to Paul's trust (1Tim.1:10,11) and which he taught, experienced, and preached, "was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power'' of God - 1Cor.2:4.

Gifts of the Spirit are necessary and useful. An important and significant command to the church was to "covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." 1Cor.12:31. There is something even beyond the gifts. Yet there still is to be found a "more excellent way" in true edification of the church, for we are to "seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church." 1Cor.14:12.

A key passage revealing scriptural order in this excelling, is shown in 1Cor.14:1. ''Follow (seek) after charity and (secondly) desire spiritual gifts" for in the true spiritual operation of these together are found the major ways in order "that the church may receive edifying." 1Cor.14:3-5. In the church today also, "now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three (wherein also operate the spiritual gifts); but the greatest of these is charity." 1Cor.13:13. This most excellent way of charity is truly an operation by and through the Spirit. It is not at all dependent upon the works and ways of the Old Testament law.

Charity, which is the mature operation of God's divine love, is the end result or fruit of walking in the way of God's Spirit more perfectly. "Charity ...is the bond of perfectness" (Col.3:14) found in all areas of spiritual maturity. "Whoso keepeth his (God's) word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.'' 1Jn.2:5. This is of course a progressive work of the Spirit "as we put away childish things'' (1Cor.13:11) in order that we "may grow up into Him in all things" (Eph.4:5), even going "on unto perfection" (Heb.6:1), "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Eph.4:13.

Charity is the end result (1Tim.1:5) of the great new covenant commandment which basic principles were contained in Old Testament law. Explaining the new covenant, Jesus said, ''Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang (depend) all the law and the prophets." Matt.22:36-40; Deut.6:5; 10:12. If ye do this, "ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture." Jas.2:8.

It is the working out of this kind of love in it s completeness, which comprises "the fulfilling of (all) the law.'' Rom.13:8-10. "Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." Rom.13:8. Truly, shall "all be fulfilled." Matt.5:18. It is this love which God is progressively giving knowledge of unto his people - 2Ths.3:5. This is divine love which is infilling man.

Paul was among the first of the newly founded church who began to strive for what he called "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ." Phil.3:8. It did not take him long to come to the knowledge that this excellency was to be found only in the "more excellent name" and the (Heb.1:4) "more excellent ministry" of the Spirit of Christ - Heb.8:6.

Paul consequently exhorted the faithful believers to be followers of Christ and his New Covenant gospel, by following his own example of Christian conduct and apprehension (Phil.3:17; 1Cor.11:1) in pressing "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.'' Phil.3:14. This "more excellent ministry'' was a part of the "high calling" but was not a part of that Mosaic legal system of which Paul was formerly "taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers" (Ac.22:3; Rom.2:18), which law was written only in tables of natural stone.

Rather, his ministry as an able minister of the higher New Testament law of love, "not of the letter, but of the Spirit" (2Cor.3:6), was ordained to further expound and teach the new covenant "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." Rom.8:2. He was being taught "no longer under a schoolmaster" (Gal.3:26), but by the higher "law of God after the inward man.'' Rom.7:22.

The Old Testament law was given "as a schoolmaster'' to God's people, in order to teach them the consequences of the unfruitful workings of another spiritual law known as "the law of sin and death.'' Rom.7:13; 8:2. This law of sin and death is a more powerful and effective law than the ten commandments and their ordinances, which laws could not over-ride the law of death, nor could they erase it. The Mosaic and Levitical laws and ordinances with their commands and penalties could perfect nothing (Heb.7:11) and therefore could not bring about true righteousness - Gal.3:21; 1Tim.1:9.

Consequently they have been changed and replaced according to the perfect plan of God's grace wherein higher laws were ordained to work together for good with "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." The Lord had spoken hundreds of years ago through Isaiah that He would "magnify the law and make it honorable." lsa.42:21 . This He began to do through the workings of his Spirit in "the law of faith" (Rom.3:27), "faith which worketh by love" (Gal.5:6) in "the perfect law of liberty" even "without the deeds of the (O.T.) law." Rom.3:28.

Obedience to these laws are destined to lead to nothing less than true charity and eventually "charity shall cover the multitude of sin" (1Ptr.4:8). which sins are the cause of death - Rom.6:23; 1Cor.15:56. Now since Christ has appeared "to put away sin" (Heb.10:26), even death in all it's forms shall be destroyed, swallowed up in His victory -1Cor.15:26, 54.

The new and more powerful order of law contained in grace (Rom.5:17-21) comes to us through a new and great high priest (Heb.4:14) descended from other than one of the sons of Levi, and now "for the priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Heb.7:12. "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment (concerning the Old Testament priesthood) going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof for the law made nothing perfect.'' Heb.7:18,19. It once served its purposes but now it itself, is no longer effective in righteousness.

So, we find not "that the righteousness of God without the (Old Test.) law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.'' Rom.3:21-22. And so it is, "for Christ is the end of the (Old Test.) law (and the beginning of the new covenant law) for righteousness to every one that believeth.'' Rom.10:4; Rom.4:13. Through the righteousness of Christ the believer is now well able to "keep the righteousness of the law'' (Rom.2:26) "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom.8:4.

Ever since our High Priest began putting His new covenant laws into our minds and writing them with his love in our hearts (Heb.10:8), "He hath made the first (laws) old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away" completely - Heb.8:13. So it is written, "when that which is perfect (charity, the new law of the Lord, even the perfect one Himself once again) is come then that which is in part (the old law, old nature, sin and death, partial operation of gifts etc.) shall be done away." 1Cor.13:10. Hence, only Christ's pure nature (1Jn.3:3) and spiritual laws of charity shall operate, even "with all the fullness of God.'' Eph.3:9.

The first covenant had also "ordinances of divine service'' (Heb.9:1), rules and regulations of the law from which "now we are delivered" and completely discharged from observing - Rom.7:6. This became truth because of the fact that Christ our High Priest "has abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Eph.2:15); blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross." Col.2:14.

The old covenant laws had no glory "by reason of the glory that (now) excelleth.'' (2Cor.3:10) in the more excellent way. For if that which is (Greek: being) done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious." 2Cor.3:10,11. Yet it remains even today, when Moses is read, the vail of blindness is still upon the hearts of God's children concerning "that which is (being) abolished." 2Cor.3:13. "Nevertheless when the hearts shall fully turn to the Lord's will and truth, the vail shall be taken away, which blindness concerning the old covenant is only "done away in Christ.'' 2Cor.3:16.

In as much as we "are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom.6:14;15) and also are reckoned to be "dead to the law by the body of Christ'' (Rom.7:4,16); and "if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why , as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?'' Col.2:20. Know ye not that "if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not (subject) under the law'' and it's ordinances - Gal.5:18; Rom.8:14. When the fruits of the spirit are manifest, "against such there is no law." Gal.5:22,23.

As Spirit led Christians, we do in no way have to be bound under the law in any ordinances of eating or drinking such as "touch not, taste not, handle not" (Gal.3:21) for surely "the kingdom of God is not (concerned with) meat and drink." Rom.14:17. Rules, regulations, and old testament ceremonies concerning meats and drinks and divers washings etc. are under the higher laws, now spot lighted and revealed as carnal ordinances which were only figures and types and shadows of good things to come (Heb.8:3-5; 5; 9:9; 10:1); things imposed upon Israel only until the time of reformation (Heb.9:10) of "their law.'' Jn.15:25.

This time of reformation and change began with the new covenant order of law pointing to "the way of God more perfectly." What then was the purpose of the former law? "It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made." Gal.3:19.

It is clearly evident that all things pertaining to feasting and drinking are lawful for us, but at certain times and in certain situations, may not necessarily be profitable or helpful in building up or edifying God's new order kingdom - 1Cor.6:12;10:23. It is this reason the church is exhorted to be "not given to much wine" (1Tim.3:8; Tit.2:3) although they are free to use "a little'' (1Tim.5:23), but of course it is not profitable "to eat flesh, or to drink wine whereby thy brother stumbleth.'' Rom.14:21. However, whatever is sold in the shambles (retail markets), God's children are free to eat (1Cor.10:5) and whatsoever is set before them at a meal they are free to eat without letting their conscience trouble them - 1Cor.10:27.

Paul further teaches that "whether therefore ye eat (pork for example) or drink (wine for example), or whatsoever ye (eat or) do'' and ye do it to the glory of God (1Cor.10:31), therein by grace, and thankfulness on your pan, you are free to be a partaker - 1Cor.10:30. "He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks." Rom.14:6. We can be assured as was Paul, that "there is nothing (spiritually) unclean (impure) of itself" (Rom.14:14) for "meat (foods) destroy not the work of God.

All things indeed are pure'' (Rom.14:20) being understood "of them which believe and know the truth." 1Tim.4:3. "Every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.'' 1Tim.4:4,5. Therefore, ''what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common'' (Ac.10:15), and "let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the (literal) body (real substance) is of (belongs to) Christ.'' Col.2:17.

Jesus himself taught...''take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink." Matt.6:25; Lk.10:7. "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him'' (Mk.7:15) "because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats." Mk.7:19. Even "to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.'' Matt. 15:20. "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.'' Matt.15:18.

It is true that "the son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.'' Matt.11:19. But yet God's ways of wisdom which were exhibited in eating and drinking with publicans and sinners have proven to be wise by their results. Therefore "brethren, ye have been called unto liberty: only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, (for this is sin) but by love serve one another.'' Gal.5:13. This is the more perfect and more excellent way! It is a fact that "Christ hath redeemed us from "the curse of the law'' (Gal.3:13) that which could not perfect us, "for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.'' Gal.3:10.

These are but a few short examples of being set free from the Old Testament laws and ways which are now superseded by the ways and laws of the Spirit of liberty and life in Christ, for "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." 2Cor.3:17. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.'' Jn.8:6; 8:32. So how "now after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to be in bondage" (Gal.4:9) even unto other Old Testament ordinances, and laws concerning observance of special "days and months and times and years?" Gal.4:10.

"Christ is become of no effect unto you whosoever are justified by the law: ye are fallen from grace" (Gal.5:4); fallen away from the full blessings of God's grace that now are freely yours in the earth and turned to the bondage's of the old covenant - Gal.4:24. Paul said, "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" Gal.5:2. "Who hath bewitched you?" Gal.3:1.

When we begin to see by the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, learning to "stand therefore fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (Gal.5:1) especially from the bondage's of legalism and rituals, then we are surely beginning to see "a more excellent way" and we are beginning to walk in "the way of God more perfectly." We are beginning to walk in the ''law of love.'' It only, is the ultimate power that shall encompass and rule in all creation - 1Cor.13:7,8; 1Jn.4:8; 1Cor.15:28.

K. Ross McKay