Law Is Beautiful.
Moral Government is an influence on moral beings. Government means there is a King and subjects. The King has moral laws that His subjects know to follow for their highest good. The design of a good government is the influence of authority to secure His Kingdom. Law, when properly understood, is the pathway to grasp God’s ways. Law fits the nature of things.
God’s authority influences His CREATION by laws. The laws of physics govern one realm, the laws of instinct rule another realm, and constitutional laws of first principles govern sentient beings.
First principles or Natural Law are indelibly pressed on conscience. Romans 1: 18-21 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Again, we find God in the Old Testament commending Abraham for following His laws. Genesis 26:4-5 “I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” Notice that Abraham kept His laws. Many sincere folks believe moral laws were not in effect until Moses made his ascent up Mount Sinai. Inborn laws came from the mind of God fit with nature. With the onset of Adam, inherited moral laws have been the eternal lamp of first principles for humanity.
Christians obey the law like our predecessor Abraham did since we are his offspring by faith. Galatians 3: 29 “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” The early church fathers were the seed of Abraham as well. The apostle’s teachings were contiguous without a break from Adam to Jesus. From Adam on the law has always been written innate on our hearts.
All laws are eternal since it originated from the mind of God. To make fun of His laws or to think that New Testament grace nullifies moral laws is to impair the character of God. The law is our tutor convicting us of sin. We are all sinners. The single end of Moral Law is to determine right from wrong. Many pulpits of America are drumming, ‘we are no longer under law’, which expresses law is bad. However, the real meaning, ‘we are no longer under the law’; means you’re no longer a lawbreaker.
Actual Grace, on the other hand, changes the sinners’ heart with the right disposition of heart to obey His decrees. A real pardoned person has the desire and enablement to obey. And if we should sin we have an advocate to appeal to who is faithful to forgive. 1John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Man on his own cannot be perfect in righteousness, but that does not mean he does not know that it exists. How beautiful it is for men to place themselves under His authority.
Only selfish men kick against His law. Luke 10:26-28 “He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” Again, Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” The law is a constraint on the wicked, or otherwise; they would extend their boundaries with more wickedness.
The law, when properly understood, should be taught along with Christ’s forgiveness. Grace, when properly understood, should be shown as the power to enable Christians to obey willingly. New Testament law places a higher demand on believers to obey. It is groundless and scornful to espouse that moral law has ended. The Mosaic Law was written on tablets of stones. The law came from God. All good things come from above. Lawbreakers hate the righteous law of God.
The Apostles teaching was an extension of the Sinai connection. The “Didache” was the early church fathers’ instructions on Christian behavior. Below are a few examples from this book: “Abstain from gratifying the carnal impulses. Happy the giver who complies with the commandment, for he goes unpunished. [sic] Be long suffering, and merciful, and guileless, and quiet… My child, day, and night remember him who preaches God’s word, and honor him as the Lord, for where His Lordship is spoken of, there is the Lord.” The main element in His Moral Government is God’s expressed and implied authority through the medium of law.
God has the right to command because He is the creator and has the right temperament and disposition of heart to rule. The right to command requires the obligation to obey. The truth of law is found in the character and holiness of God. Isaiah 45: 22 “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” Matthew 22:40 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” What? You mean Jesus validated the Mosaic Law?
The pardon of sinners is to change their hearts from selfishness to benevolence toward others. Benevolence is love that exalts the law and a heart of philanthropic endeavors. Luke 18:18-22 “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” This man was not willing to obey. His master was money. Therefore, he clings tightly to it, while professing to be in right standing with the Godhead.
Under the light of truth, one dislodges any affections that would mar their relationship with his master. Matthew 6: 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Love the Lord with all of your heart. Luke 6: 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
As a free agent with the pull of good and evil intentions, one can choose to serve what is the highest good for all or yourself. Repenting and confessing Jesus as Lord and King is the light that takes over your life that brings kindness to others without any strings attached. 1Peter 1: 13-16 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”” We cannot be obedient if there is no law. When you belong to Christ, keeping His laws, are not a drudgery, but joy in knowing as a disciple your being conformed into His image.
Faith in Christ is de novo of heart and mind of the believer to walk in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The radiance of the Holy Spirit illuminates the intellect of a person to achieve goodness to his fellow man. The following is an illustration of what is involved in pardoning a person.
In Ohio, during the 1950’s a young man, who was an All-American football player, was home for the summer break from college. He started his job as a lifeguard at the local swimming pool. One day at his pool a young man was drowning, and the All-American saved his life. The news coverage elevated him even higher to a Greek-god status in his state.
The Governor presented him with a citizen award for bravery of an example of good citizenship. The Mayor of his city gave him the key to the city, and he became a celebrity overnight. News coverage of him was for days about his good character.
During the media frenzy for several days, a mother watched the news that knew the young hero. Her son had been a good friend with the celebrity through high school. They lost contact for several years from taking different paths as many friends do after graduation. Sometime after High School, her son got infuriated in a pool hall over a game with another man and killed him. He was convicted for life without parole.
The mom, of the convicted killer, summoned the young hero to petition him to see if he would help her. The hero arrived some days later at her home. After polite salutations, the conversion rotated to her convicted son. The killer’s mom pleaded with him to seek an audience with the Governor for a pardon for her son. She said, “The Governor and the whole state respects you and maybe the Governor will listen to you for my son’s pardon.” With tears she laid out the case for her son, acknowledging he was guilty, but it was an accident he doesn’t belong in prison. With more desperate appeals to him about their friendship in high school how her convicted son was kind and friendly, he just was at the wrong place. She continued, “He is not a murderer I know how much the Governor respects you and will listen to you!” The young hero moved with compassion committed to seeing the Governor for a pardon.
Days later, at the Capitol in the Governor’s office, the hero asked for a pardon from the Governor for his childhood friend. The Governor intently listened to his request about how it was an accident that his old friend killed the man in the pool hall. The Governor called the parole broad and the District Attorney to get the facts of the case. Several weeks passed the hero finally got his anticipated call from the Governor, “I am requesting this parole for your friend based on your character of integrity. Before I make it official, I want you to visit him in prison first and question him to see if you believe he deserves a pardon. I have notified the warden you are coming to visit your friend and here is an official letter to carry to present to get you inside the prison.”
Days later, the hero arrived at the gates of the dreary dark prison with the letter of pardon tucked in his back pocket. The callous guard directed him to the communications room for this rare meeting with the old friend.
The convicted killer entered the room with joy to see his old friend. Like waves splashing on the seashore, wonderful memories of times past came upon them covering their conversation. After minutes had past, the honey settled down in the jar and serious talk began. The hero asked, “Tell me what happened that got you in here?” Then the murderer’ countenance changed to anger and gave a lengthy selfish one-sided defense of his innocence. Then the hero took the reins back and asked the killer, “If today, you were pardoned, what would you do when freed?” The killer, not realizing his letter of pardon was in his friends back pocket responded, “First, I would kill the judge that put me in here, then, I would kill the District Attorney and do harm to those that testified against me at my trial. After the killer’s body had stopped quivering, the hero had some parting words and left the prison. Outside of the high gray walls looming over him, he sadly took out the pardon and tore it up. The hero understood his old friend was guilty and non-repentant.
When God’s grace visits you behind your gray walls of confinement, if you are not truly repenting for your selfish deeds, He too will tear up your pardon as well. God cannot forgive you if you remain in your selfish state of living, for that would do violence to His justice. He will pardon you if the heart is truly repented, only then can His laws be upheld and His justice not is weakened. Turn to Jesus today with a sincere and repented heart and you shall be saved. He will not save you so you can remain in your selfishness and tight-fisted condition. The Holy Spirit, along with His Holy Word and appointed offices will enlighten your intellect to see that the law is good. Don’t you imitate Him? He gives and forgives, the impulses of the Holy Spirit reside in you to give and forgive. The law of love reflects these two traits in every born again believer.
