Stealing was prohibited under the old covenant
Thou shalt not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
And is prohibited under the new.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Ephesians 4:28)
One of the major misunderstandings of Christian theology is the relationship of imputed (ascribed) righteousness to actual righteousness of behaviour. Today’s scholarship emphasizes imputed righteousness to the virtual exclusion of righteous behaviour. A review of the above passages may emphasize that there is more written in the New Testament concerning morality and righteous behaviour than there is about ascribed righteousness.
First, we must understand that all righteousness is imputed. The term "righteous" means approved of God. Righteousness is not measured by an arbitrary standard but by God’s opinion. If God imputes righteousness to the lie told by Rahab, or to the slaughter of the Philistines by Israel, then these are righteous actions. This we can understand readily if we have a heart for God.
The basis of Paul’s argument concerning imputed (ascribed) righteousness (which the Holy Spirit quickly balanced in the Book of James) is that God imputed righteousness to Abraham when Abraham believed the promise of God concerning his seed.
If we would understand Paul’s discussion in the opening chapters of the Book of Romans, the principal source of the doctrine of imputed righteousness, we must keep in mind that Paul is disputing with Jewish teachers who were attempting to force the Law of Moses on Gentile Christians.
Paul’s reasoning has to do with the fact that God attributed righteousness to Abraham apart from an observance of the Law of Moses, which was not in existence at that time. Paul never contrasted the Divine grace in Christ with morally pure, righteous behaviour. Paul contrasted the Divine grace in Christ with the works of the Law of Moses.
To contrast the Divine grace with moral, righteous behaviour is to introduce chaos. The very purpose of the Divine grace is to change people from immoral, unrighteous behaviour into the image of God.
The Gentile teachers completely misunderstand the Jew, Paul. Paul was showing that God will impute righteousness to us if we embrace Christ without adding the ordinances of the Law of Moses. Gentile teachers have perverted Paul’s teaching to mean we are saved by believing in Jesus apart from living an upright, morally pure life.
Of all the misunderstandings in the history of the world, the misunderstanding of the doctrine of the Apostle Paul concerning Divine grace may be the greatest and the most damaging. God imputed righteousness to Abraham apart from the Law of Moses when Abraham believed God concerning the gift of a son.
God also required righteousness, holiness, and obedience of faithful Abraham.
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (Genesis 17:1)
God imputed righteousness to Noah and Job, apart from the Law of Moses. They were upright men who loved God, feared God, and obeyed God.
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)
Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. (Job 42:8)
God imputed righteousness to Israelites who walked before God with a repentant heart.
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. (Psalms 32:2)
It is important that there be no deceit in our nature. Notice the following:
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (Psalms 32:5)
There are numerous verses in the Book of Psalms that refer to righteous people who were serving God under the Law of Moses.
For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. (Psalms 11:7)
As for the father and mother of John the Baptist:
. . . they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (Luke 1:6) God has given us the perfect sacrifice, His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore we no longer can obtain righteousness by observing the Sabbath day, being circumcised, keeping the Passover, refraining from eating pork. God will not impute righteousness to us if we attempt to gain righteousness through the works of the Law now that God has made the perfect, complete atonement.