Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Nature of God’s Law

What is the nature of God’s law? BR-ASI9 243.3

“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Romans 7:12, 14. BR-ASI9 243.4

Note.—“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalm 19:7. “Is there such a thing as a perfect law? Everything that comes from God is perfect. The law of which we are thinking came from Him. It becomes sullied in our hands. We take from it and try to add to it, and in that way it becomes less than perfect. In a very real sense the law of God is the manifestation of the nature of the Lord. It could no more be imperfect than He is.”—The Augsburg Sunday School Teacher (Lutheran), August, 1937, vol. 63, no. 8, p. 483, on the Sunday School lesson for August 15. BR-ASI9 243.5

How comprehensive are these commandments? BR-ASI9 243.6

“Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. BR-ASI9 243.7

What inspired tribute is paid to the law of God? BR-ASI9 244.1

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalm 19:7, 8. BR-ASI9 244.2

Note.—“Its perfection is a proof of its divinity. No human lawgiver could have given forth such a law as that which we find in the decalogue. It is a perfect law; for all human laws that are right are to be found in that brief compendium and epitome of all that is good and excellent toward God, or between man and man.”—C. H. Spurgeon, Sermons, series 2 (1857), p. 280. BR-ASI9 244.3

What is the essential principle of the law of God? BR-ASI9 244.4

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:8-10. BR-ASI9 244.5

What two commandments sum up the law of God? BR-ASI9 244.6

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40. BR-ASI9 244.7

Note.—If you love God with all your heart, you will keep the first table or first four; if you love your neighbors as yourself, you will keep the last six commandments. BR-ASI9 244.8