The Supremacy of God’s Law

“You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33

This passage doesn’t apply today to us in the New Testament…or does it? I mean, we’re not Israel and we’re not in the Promised Land, and remember the Old Covenant has passed away. Wait, go back to the promises of Abraham. Go back to read where Paul speak of bringing the Gentiles into Israel and even go look at the whole theme of Scripture; restoration of Eden.

The Garden of Eden included a wealth of God’s provision, security, health and dominion, all things that have been unfortunately labeled as “false hopes of prosperity”, yet from the beginning God gave Adam a promise to crush the Serpent. (See Gen 3:15)

Look, whether you believe in the imminent return of Christ or if you believe His reign will only be in heaven, it does not relieve any Christian from the responsibility to go to God’s law for all areas of life. Yes, the sacrificial system has passed away and yes, even the sanctification laws about wearing certain clothes and cutting your hair and beard, but we see Paul appeal to the Old Covenant law as still being applicable. (1 Tim 5:18, Deut 25:4) Paul even corrects the behavior of the Corinthians for not paying their evangelist. (1 Cor 9:9-14)

Government, especially, is given a crystal clear outline of what authority it has. Look, the entire Old Testament is filled with prophets going to individuals and preaching repentance. Oh wait, I meant nations. God sent prophets to tell entire nations to repent, especially of their laws concerning idolatry and corruption. God’s law changes society and preserves it; it is a blessing to those who abide by it.

“but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.” Jeremiah 7:23

One final point is to be made; God’s law is a deterrent to lawbreakers.

“Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.” 1 Timothy 1:8-11

Capital punishment is one of these deterrents, as opposed to jail time. The criminal mindset is to evaluate what the possibilities would be if they were to murder someone. For those who have no job, no goals and nothing to lose, jail time is a blessing. Yet, if capital punishment, God’s law, were in place then there would be much less murdering and much more hard work. Now I can hear the objections about the obsolete covenant given to Moses, yet capital punishment was not given to Moses first. (See Gen 9:6)

Conclusively, we see that God’s law still reaps blessing for us today, for His law is meant for the unjust lawbreakers. We must either choose man’s law for life, or go to God’s law. Let’s not slander the law of God for the sake of preserving our own style of street preaching and evangelism. Do not shrink back from declaring the entire counsel of God.