The Law of God
Introduction.
For
Bible believing Christians the central problem of the human condition is sin (Romans
6:23). Sin is of such a consequence that it separates man from God (Isaiah
59:1-2). If a person goes through life to the grave with sin on his or her account
in the judgment he or she will be eternally separated from God in hell (Matthew
7:21-23).
Note:
In Matthew 7:23 “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4) Sin is lawlessness. It is the
violation of law. This can be active or passive (James 4:17). The question is
how can we know the law that God holds man accountable to uphold?
This
morning I would like for us to study the subject of the law of God. We are
going to look at three periods of human history and the three bodies of divine law
that governed man’s accountability to God.
I.
The Patriarchal Age (Romans 5:13-14). Christians
and non-Christians alike, because of Hollywood portrays such as Charlton Heston’s
The Ten Commandments, know that the first written law that God gave to
man was given to Moses. That doesn’t mean that this was the first law. How
could there be sin if there was no law? There was law—not written law.
- Adamic
Law (Gen. 2:16-17). This was an oral law.
- Post-Eden
Law (Gen. 4:7). Note: “sin lies at the door”—no sin without law.
- Sacrifice
(Gen. 4:3-5; Rom. 10:17). Possibly firstfruits vs. a late harvest
offering. 1 John 3:12 Cain’s works were “evil” and Abel’s were “righteous.”
Hebrews 11:4 Abel acted by faith.
God
had told man what He wanted in worship to Him. Abel obeyed Cain did not. Some
of the earliest written codes (Code of Ur-Nammu and Code of Hammurabi claim
divine instruction. I don’t believe that their were, but it does reflect a
concept that God had spoken to man).
- Morality.
- Dinah
and Shechem (Gen. 34:7). There is a concept of right and wrong.
- Joseph
to Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39:7-9). He understood that this would be sin
against God.
II.
The Mosaical Age (Deut. 5:1-5, 22). While
the Law of Moses was not the first law it was the first divine written law that
the Bible records. It was not given to all mankind but to the Jews (i.e. the descendants
of Jacob, or those who became proselytes).
- Worship
(Exod. 20:22-26).
- Morality
(Lev. 18:1-9).
- Another
Moses-Like Prophet (Deut. 18:15-18).
- New
Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34).
III.
The Age of Christ (Rom. 1:18-28; 2:12-16). It
is clear that during the time of the Law of Moses Gentiles were still
accountable to God. Rom. 1:20-21 says God had “shown it to them”—Roman 1:28 “they
knew God”—Romans 2:12-16 “did not retain God” but there was still law and there
was still sin.
The
coming of Christ changed this situation. Note: what it accomplished.
- It
made onne standard of accountability (Eph. 2:11-18).
- It
brought the mosaic law to an end (Romans 10:4).
- It
issued the new standard of judgment (John 12:47-48).
- Names
of New Standard.
- New
Covenant (Mt. 26:26-27).
- Gospel
(Rom. 1:16-17).
- Faith
(Gal. 3:23-25).
- Grace
(Rom. 6:13-14).
- Law
of Christ (Gal. 6:2).
- Scope
of Jurisdiction.
- All
men, everywhere (1 Cor. 9:21; Acts 17:29-31.
- Punishment
to those who do not obey (2 Thes. 1:9).
Kyle Pope 2010
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