Behind all the outward expressions of Judaism was the faith in the one God who had revealed himself to the ancestors of the Jews, beginning with Abraham. The Jews could think of their God in many ways, as Creator, transcendent, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, just, wise, merciful, absolutely good. His nature had been revealed to them in the Law. Obedience to the Law and therefore conformity with what was in accordance with God's commandments was the duty of every Jew. The Jews believed that they were bound in a covenant relationship with God and were therefore God's own people, in a unique way. The importance of the Law to Judaism meant that righteousness came to be equated with precise obedience to the commands of the Law. We see from the New Testament that to a Pharisee, a 'sinner' was a person who did not observe the requirements of the Law.