LAW OF PRINCIPLES

LAW OF PRINCIPLES

To "fear God, and keep His commandments" is declared to be "the whole duty of man" in Ecclesiastes 12:13, or "the duty of all men" in the margin of the Revised Version. This is because the law constitutes a summary of all right principles. The first table with its four commandments reveals in brief man's whole duty to His Maker, and the second table with its six precepts sets forth man's whole duty to his fellow men. Jesus declared that on these two tables, defining our love to God and man, "hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40.)

The entire Bible is therefore an unabridged edition of the decalogue, and the law is a summary of the Scriptures. The psalmist said, "Thy commandment is exceeding broad." Psalms 119: 96. This law of God's nature was implanted in the nature of man at his creation when he was "made in the image of God." When Adam was created, the first table of the law began to operate and regulate his duty toward his Creator. When Eve was created, another relationship, which must be defined by law, sprang into existence between creatures, and the second table automatically began to apply. Both tables must continue in force as long as the Creator and any of His creatures exist. For this reason the law was in existence before man was created, to regulate the duties of angels and the inhabitants of other worlds, and it must continue through all eternity. The requirements of love and the regulations of duty are as perpetual as the necessity for them. The Lord wrote the principles of His moral law in the mind and upon the fleshy tables of man's heart at creation, and before sin came into the world they operated as naturally and spontaneously as the laws of nature do in the physical world. It was as natural for man to do the will of God as for the birds to fly, the trees to grow, and the flowers to blossom. Although sin has changed man's nature, the law of God has not been entirely erased. This is evident from Romans 2:14-16: "When the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or excusing one another." This scripture declares that even the heathen have in their hearts and consciences a sense of right and wrong which if followed will bring salvation. Those whose characters have been changed by the power of God have His image restored in them and under the new covenant experience the law is again written in the mind and upon the fleshy tables of the heart, so that they "do by nature the things contained in the law." It again becomes natural to obey God and unnatural to disobey. Righteousness is first of all right being, which is far more fundamental and important than right doing. Right doing is the fruit of right being. We must be good before we can do good. If we are right we will do right. We can then say with Christ, "I delight to do Thy will, 0 My God: yea,

Thy law is within My heart." Psalms 40: 8. The apostle declared, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:1 One writer has beautifully set forth the results of love-obedience: 'All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but  carrying out our own impulses.”
This is genuine Christianity. A religion that is considered a sacrifice or burden is spurious. The gospel is good news and glad tidings. It brings joy and peace, hope and contentment. 

A REIGN OF LAW 

The entire physical universe is under the dominion of law. Everywhere unseen and intangible forces are operating in the control and direction of all things. There is nothing anywhere that is not governed by law unless it be sinful and rebellious man. The casting aside of law would soon bring chaos and ruin to all things, animate and inanimate, organic and inorganic. All law is the expression of the will and a manifestation of the character of the Lawgiver. Natural law is the operation of principles which the Creator implanted in all His creatures, according to the nature and purpose of each. God is the author of all these laws, and from Him they derive the impelling power that makes them operate. The moral law was in the same way divinely implanted in the nature of man at creation. At Sinai this law was put in written form. Paul declared that "it was added because of transgression." Galatians 3:19. It was not the institution of a new law but the proclaiming of the original law of man's being in a new and permanent form because of the increase of sin or lawlessness. All laws carry a penalty for the transgressors, whether they be natural or moral. The man who puts his hand in the fire or steps off a precipice must suffer the penalty of natural law. The same is true when we transgress the laws of our being in eating and drinking. Moral law must also be obeyed or the penalties endured. There is no escape, even though the day of reckoning is often delayed. The penalty is always sure in the end. The wages of sin must be fully paid by someone-if not by the transgressor, by a Substitute, who meets the demands of the law in his stead. Justice must be satisfied.