The Laws of God

The Bible is filled with both literal and implied laws. The Laws of God have even formed the basis for the legal systems we use today. However, given that men seem hell-bent on changing the bible and the laws of God to suit their desires, it’s time we pay attention to the impact of those changes and remember what happens when men try to be God. 

Since the Laws of God are perfect what gives man the right to change God’s Laws?

What Are The Laws of God?

We all know God gave Moses the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai and there are the Levitical Laws, but what do we know about God’s instructions to men before that? You see God didn’t start giving laws on Mount Sinai. His first ‘laws’ were delivered as instructions.

Not eating from the Tree of Life was an instruction, but also a law. Attacking your enemies were instructions, but not laws. To understand how to identify what is a simple instruction versus what is law, you must understand God’s will.

When God was instructing Adam and Eve, this instruction was to be handed down to future generations and that makes that instruction a law. If God gave you a specific instruction to take action and follow up to see if it was completed, it was just an instruction. Open-ended divine instructions without expiration dates become laws and therefore you can have more Laws of God than you think. 

Another factor to consider is the Old Testament versus the New Testament.

Old Testament Laws were quite literal while New Testament Laws were more faith and love-driven. So in the Old Testament when laws were given they were meant to suit the time and the Israelites while in the New Testament, the laws were meant to adapt to the individual based on their faith. This was done not to pave the way to break the laws, but to show love and mercy to the sinner. 

Are commandments and covenants the same?

The Ten Commandments

It is widely known by all Christians…no, all men that the Ten Commandments are the unbreakable Laws of God. The Ten Commandments are also the basis for the modern laws which we use today. Aside from being written by God, Himself, what makes keeping the Ten Commandments so vital to all men? 

And why aren’t all the Ten Commandments part of modern laws? Why do we ignore the first five commandments? The obvious answer is that not everyone is a Christian and those laws do not apply to them. Or do they?

As a Christian, you should be aware that you don’t have to be a Christian to be considered a child of God. However, to be a Christian you must follow all of God’s commandments. So, if you do not follow ALL the commandments you can’t be a follower of Christ and that includes his command to love one another. 

As an atheist who doesn’t believe in God, you are not exempt from the Laws of God. It is like being a foreigner doesn’t exempt you from the laws of the country you are in. Believing in God may be an option, but following His laws is not. 

The Controversial Levitical Laws

It is hard to speak on the laws of God without discussing the Levitical Laws. These laws are usually dismissed by modern Christians for being too unrelatable or borderline absurd. On the other hand, traditionalists define their beliefs by the Levitical Laws.

If we were to strictly follow the Levitical Laws then we would be allowing division and astrology, magic, eating shrimp and even cutting your hair in a certain way will be sins. However, if we choose to dismiss the Levitical laws, then we will be allowing inbreeding, incest, practices of sinful nations, and unclean priests. And this is the conundrum that many Christians face.

This has led to different branches of Christianity following different Levitical Laws. While Puritans and other hardcore traditionalists, try to obey as many Levitical Laws as possible to be on the safe side. When it comes to the Levitical Laws many Christians are in fear of offending God by not obeying His laws or looking stupid by following laws that don’t suit the modern era.

The solution to this conundrum can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Jesus didn’t want us to dismiss these laws but while he was alive he pointed out the impracticality of a few of these Levitical Laws. So you can work on a Sunday as long as God is given His due and you can enjoy your shrimp once you didn’t steal it, (BTW Incest and inbreeding are still NOT OKAY! Both biblically and biologically.) Basically, use the spirit of discernment to guide your actions. If it doesn’t feel like it will be approved by God, then it probably won’t be.

In your Bible Study don’t just pay attention to the laws but the covenants with God as well

7 Covenants of the Bible

As much as we pay attention to Divine Laws, we must also pay attention to the covenants God made with us. Just as the laws were laid down for our guidance, the covenants are promises God made with us. These promises provide protection and everlasting connection between us and our Almighty Father. 

Here are 7 covenants from the bible;

Dominion

In the beginning, God promised man eternal dominion over the earth. Our role in this covenant not only grants us access to use the resources of the earth but also has authority over life on earth. That authority comes with the responsibility to take care of the earth, its inhabitants, and the environment. 

Abraham’s Covenant

The promise of dominion is now fulfilled through the covenant with Abraham whose descendants were to become the spiritual and political rulers of the earth. Whereas the convent of dominion was promised to Adam, for Abraham, it was a covenant of protection and provision. Abraham’s descendants were now God’s chosen people and would be blessed as long as they continued to worship God.

Rainbow 

When God destroyed the earth by flood, He promised to never flood the earth again. The rainbow became a symbol of this promise to Noah that is seen after every rain. The rainbow and the tablets of Moses are the two most prominent examples of written contracts made by God.

Promise Land

Entering the promised land was the hope of all the Israelites. This promise kept them going for forty years as they wandered in the wilderness. Most notable about this covenant is that it had almost immediate repercussions for those who disobeyed God.

David’s Covenant

David’s covenant is the covenant of the Kings of Israel. It is the promise of the royal throne given to David’s descendants which is fulfilled through Solomon and the birth of Jesus Christ. As with all covenants, this one would be broken if said king no longer served God.

Covenant on the Cross

Forgiveness of our sins is one of the most important covenants God has made with us. As you may have noticed, forgiveness and mercy weren’t popular in the Old Testament. unless you begged for it. So being offered forgiveness and mercy for our sins is a huge step forward and part of heaven’s new laws.

Heaven

From creation, we were promised eternal life with God. However, contract breakers that we are, we disobeyed God and got our time on earth significantly shortened. But this is why the covenant on the cross is so important as it offers us a second chance at eternal life with God once we seek forgiveness for our sins.

Atheists are not exempt from the covenants either. They're just contract breakers.

Covenants are contracts between us and God. It is usually an eternal promise by God, supported by our faith in God. All the covenants God has made with us are promises of protection, prosperity, peace, mercy, and love. 

Love one another was originally a law from Leviticus.

The Difference Between the Old and New Commandments

Some call it a covenant, some call it a law.

However, I believe it’s a convent as God promises to love us as we love each other. Covenants are everlasting contracts that God has made with us that we are both obligated to fulfill. This covenant repeated by Jesus sums up God’s original covenants made with humanity through Adam, Abraham, Moses, and David. 

The Bible defines this instruction as the new commandment to add to the existing laws. Unlike the other laws, this law given by Christ requires us to do more than simply follow the rules. It also makes the promise of God’s eternal love for us.

This difference also gives us a new understanding of the purpose of all of God’s Laws. The Laws of God provide us with the rules to live by and secure our eternal relationship with God. So when we obey the Laws of God, we are showing our love for God and ensuring we have love and protection forever and ever.