On Friday’s post about natural law, the guy arguing that we ought to be governed by natural law said that there are contradictions between Christ’s law, and civil law. I’d say that is impossible. How can any part of God’s law contradict itself?

First of all, if you don’t know what the aspects of God’s law are, here is a quick explanation. For this discussion, there will be five aspects of God’s law. The moral, civil and ceremonial are divisions of the Old Testament law given to Moses. That law is beautiful, and perfect (Psalm 19:7). Christians ought to love God’s law (Psalm 119).The moral law: The Ten Commandments are a summary of the moral law. They define what sin is. The vast majority of Christians think that this law remains in effect today.

1. The moral law: The Ten Commandments are a summary of the moral law. They define what sin is. The vast majority of Christians think that this law remains in effect today.
2. The ceremonial law: These laws include laws about the Old Testament priesthood and sacrifices and diets, etc. These laws were fulfilled by Christ on the cross. They aren’t applicable today.
3. The civil law: It isn’t always clear cut how these would apply today. Some seem to be combined with ceremonial law, but where they are clear, the New Testament never says they aren’t in effect today.
4. The natural law: Is referenced a couple times in Scripture. It is the law written on our hearts, and even those who’ve never heard of the Bible will be judged by it.
5. The law of Christ: I think there is some divergence here among Christians, but I think there is only one position on this that makes sense, which is the subject of this post.

The natural law guy I discussed this with gave examples from what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, and said this is the law of Christ (which I agree) and that if government operated under the law of Christ, they would cease to exist. I think that is preposterous. It is a misunderstanding of what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, and sets up all kinds of contradictions. But, the gist is that Jesus was speaking of personal morality not civil law. In Romans 12, it says that we shouldn’t take revenge on those who wrong us, but let the government take care of it. Obviously, Paul wasn’t contradicting Jesus, as Paul was inspired to write by Jesus.

So what is the law of Christ? It is the laws that are applicable to us today. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). He is expecting us to be clear on what His commandments are and obey Him. The laws of Christ can’t contradict any previous laws, though the ceremonial laws are fulfilled. The moral law of the Old Testament is part of it. Furthermore, when Jesus says, for example, that lust is adultery in the Sermon on the Mount, He wasn’t adding to the moral law. Lust was adultery in the Old Testament as well, even if it wasn’t ever spelled out. Jesus wasn’t adding to the law, or changing the law, but expounding on it.

The law of God is a reflection of His character. If you were to say that the law of Christ contradicted the civil law, you’re causing all kinds of problems. The moral law of the Old Testament was perfectly consistent with the civil law of the Old Testament. The civil laws are the case laws of moral infractions. In Exodus 20, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 21, there are civil laws—application of the moral laws given in the previous chapter. You can’t tell me there is a contradiction between the civil law and the moral law. If you did, you’re saying there are contradictions between Exodus 20 and Exodus 21.

The Sixth Commandment is “You shall not murder.” What is murder? When someone breaks into your house and you kill him, is that murder? That question is answered in the civil law. (The Bible doesn’t line up with Colorado law).

The New Testament says murderers will have their part in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8-9), but it never defines murder. When Nazis murdered Jews that was legal under German law, but does anyone think that if the Nazis don’t repent they won’t go to hell for that? If I murder someone under the civil law, but it is legal under Colorado law, does anyone think that I won’t go to hell for that? Does the law of the land make any difference when I’m standing before God? Does God care about Colorado law?

All that to say that the best law and the only law consistent with the moral law is the civil law of the Old Testament. This is called theonomy.

The church better get this figured out. We can’t afford 100 more years of the stupidity we’ve had, and the self-contradictory mush of this natural law guy. This kind of biblical ignorance isn’t going to defeat tyranny as he was hoping.