Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Thursday, April 02, 2009 6:43:47 PM
Paul develops his argument for natural law in Romans 2.
Gentiles who know nothing of the Bible may by nature ‘show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them’ [Romans 2:14-15].
This law is what philosophers call the "natural law." It is man’s innate moral knowledge given to him as image bearers of his Creator. All men are held accountable to this law in that they are judged according to their judgment of other men. You say that it is not good to steal from you or to covet your wife, but if you do the same thing to me, then you condemn yourself when you practice what you condemn in others. [Romans 2:1-3]
All men know this law is good, but because of the Genesis 3 Fall into sin, they will naturally suppress its righteousness in order to justify their sin.
From the perspective of revealed truth in Jesus Christ, natural law has a limited but significant value. It connects Christianity to the moral order of nations and affirms Christ as the Ruler of nations. He rules by His Law and this is the same Law as written on the heart of every man. The Kingdom of God has come and those who enter in submit to His rule.
Because of sin and the need of regeneration there is limited expectation of natural law as a source of revelation. God does not save the world through natural law, nor does He reconcile the world through the pursuit of justice; but He does provide the knowledge of His eternal power and divinity through the law written on the heart.
The power to reclaim a culture from the darkness of idolatry is in the Gospel alone. As the Law of Moses has no power to justify, neither does natural law have power to transform a nation. A recovery of conservatism and a return to constitutionalism depends on a recovery of the Gospel made effectual by a return of the Spirit of Truth in power.