The Law of God

Law is defined by Samuel Hopkins (1721–1803) as “the eternal rule of righteousness which is essential to the being and glory of God’s moral government and kingdom.”* Hopkins argues that the divine law is the foundation of moral government, defining the obligation of moral agents to God as moral governor. God is God, Creator of all that exists. As moral creatures, humans have a conscious duty to God. Law defines that relationship of the creature and his accountability to God. None are free from the law.

Iniquity (anomia, “no law,” translated “lawless-ness” in the ESV) is the condition of one who believes himself to be free to act independently of God’s Law. This is the inheritance of Adam’s children. Satan deceived Eve and lied to her that she was free to be god, “knowing good and evil”—that right to determine one’s own moral course. That is iniquity and the root of human depravity. All Adam’s offspring are fully corrupted by the notion that they are gods, capable of determining the rightness of their own behavior.

Citing Psalm 14, Paul wrote, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” (Romans 3:10, 11). Righteousness is the condition of one who is judged by God to be in full conformity to His law. The Bible plainly teaches that no one is so judged. Further, no one understands the required obligation, nor does he even care to. Thus, no one seeks God. Nevertheless, all are to be measured by the rule of law.

Adam’s failure is offset by Christ, the Second Adam. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:17, 18), Jesus declared His relationship to the law and His intention to fulfill all righteousness by perfect conformity to the law. Some might think that human guilt could be cancelled by annulling the law and replacing it. As God, Jesus, however, asserts His authority in the words, “I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”—to cause God’s will (made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be. In fulfilling all the law’s commands, Jesus qualified Himself to become righteousness for those He saves, justifying them before God. In taking the sins of His people upon Himself, He also took the penalty for their sins in order for God to forgive them (1 Corinthians 1:30).

 Jesus further asserted the value and place of the law, stating that it would be easier for the creation to pass away than for a small letter-mark (jot or iota) to be removed from the law. This supports the observation that the law is also permanently linked to Scripture. The Old Testament is basically divided between law (the Pentateuch) and the Prophets (God’s watchkeepers of the law). This affirms Paul’s observation that “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12).

*Samuel Hopkins, chapter 2 (pg. 17), Salvation in Full Color, Richard Owens Roberts, Ed. © 1994