In the previous article I drew attention to a difference between the law of Moses and the Law of God.
The Law of God in this context (1 Corinthians 9 ), I suggest is the God given ability for humankind to discern right from wrong i.e. conscience. Some might call it moral law. In a real sense this is included in the law of Moses and some single out the ten commandments. Written into the human psyche (spirit sounds better) is the knowledge not to murder, not to steal etc. By instinct ( in contrast to animals), humans look up and worship! ( some mistakenly worship the sun etc)
I link this law of God to Romans 2 where the Gentile without law knows those moral things written in the law. The individual then reacts to that knowledge by obedience or rebellion, and is held accountable for that response to this light of conscience and the light in creation.
Act 14 and 17 likewise present God speaking through creation and conscience, so that men might feel after Him and find Him.
Abraham lived before the law of Moses, yet it is evident that he understood much of the 'Law of God'.
Today there remains that instinctive morality in mankind that only comes from God.(one of the great evidences that man is a created being). Romans 1 along with Jude etc, describes the minds and consciences of many as seared, perverted, twisted by the influence of the evil one, but deep down people know there is right and wrong and a God to whom they will give account. No wonder that Felix trembled when Paul reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgement (Acts 24.25)
1 Timothy 1.5 indicates the purpose of the 'charge' given by the Apostle was to produce love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. I suggest a good conscience is one "tuned" to the law of God and the law of Christ.
Law of Christ next blog
J. McKee
The Law of God in this context (1 Corinthians 9 ), I suggest is the God given ability for humankind to discern right from wrong i.e. conscience. Some might call it moral law. In a real sense this is included in the law of Moses and some single out the ten commandments. Written into the human psyche (spirit sounds better) is the knowledge not to murder, not to steal etc. By instinct ( in contrast to animals), humans look up and worship! ( some mistakenly worship the sun etc)
I link this law of God to Romans 2 where the Gentile without law knows those moral things written in the law. The individual then reacts to that knowledge by obedience or rebellion, and is held accountable for that response to this light of conscience and the light in creation.
Act 14 and 17 likewise present God speaking through creation and conscience, so that men might feel after Him and find Him.
Abraham lived before the law of Moses, yet it is evident that he understood much of the 'Law of God'.
Today there remains that instinctive morality in mankind that only comes from God.(one of the great evidences that man is a created being). Romans 1 along with Jude etc, describes the minds and consciences of many as seared, perverted, twisted by the influence of the evil one, but deep down people know there is right and wrong and a God to whom they will give account. No wonder that Felix trembled when Paul reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgement (Acts 24.25)
1 Timothy 1.5 indicates the purpose of the 'charge' given by the Apostle was to produce love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. I suggest a good conscience is one "tuned" to the law of God and the law of Christ.
Law of Christ next blog
J. McKee
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