The Place and Purpose of Law in the Kingdom of God

The church is tasked with the goal of preaching and teaching about The Kingdom of God. It is a multi-faceted message, almost every verse in the bible can be tied back to the simple reality of the rule of God coming to earth.

The message of the Kingdom of God includes…

• A warning – our proclamation and explanation of establishment of the rule of God is a message that has consequences for those who hear and reject it… and benefits for those who hear and respond positively…. REPENT…. WOE
• Prophecy—the Jesus spoke of the kingdom as not of this time but of a future time (John 18:36, Luke 13:28-29, Rev. 11:15). Likewise the KOG is spoken of as yet future by the early church as recorded in Acts and in the Epistles. Part of our taks is to describe the sequence of events leading up to the Day of the Lord and the return of Christ to rule.
• Descriptive—in teaching we explain the who, what, where, when, how of the kingdom.
• Ethical—the KOG will be a human society directly under the rule of God. With a social constitution and a code of personal behavior. Part of our teaching about the KOG is teaching what its laws will be, what its guiding spirit will be.

It is this last point that I want to emphasize today.

The Laws That Define The KOG… How the Family Of God Will Rule

When we talk about the KOG we tend to focus on the millennial rule of Christ… God’s rule and authority is not limited to a mere 1000 year span of time, or a tiny speck of dust in the universe. His rule extends throughout eternity and throughout the universe. But with the 1000 year millennial rule of Christ the government of God will be demonstrated on earth… so that all may see it in action.

The vast majority of humans who have ever lived will still be undecided about God and eternity even after having been resurrected. Most of humanity will have never been exposed to the truth… let alone been convicted by the H.S. to do anything about the truth. Many who have heard have often badly misunderstood it or rejected it because of bad information.

To help the make their decision… an informed decision… Christ and the saints who rule with Him will demonstrate God’s rule for 1000 years… people will be able to see its fruits… to truly wrap their mind around what the KOG is all about.

In this way the 1000 year rule of Christ fulfills the purpose originally designated to Israel. Israel was intended to be a model nation that would attractively demonstrate the government of God in action. God’s intent was that surrounding nations would see this successful, happy society and want to copy it.

God wanted the surrounding nations (and all of humanity) to see Israel and want what they had… hopefully having the sense to see how the laws of the land were what made them great… not the physical blessings that made them great.

Rev 11:15 The KOG begins in space (earth) and time (human history) when Jesus Christ returns to place himself in supreme authority over all human government and to establish the rule of God on earth… as it is in heaven.

Like any government the KOG will have defining principles (like a constitution and it will have LAWS.

Why Do We Even Need Laws in the KOG?

Why do we need law/laws in the KOG… won’t all the people in the kingdom of God be perfect?... So, if everyone is perfect why would we even need laws?

Yes, those who have been redeemed by Christ, perfected by discipline and suffering in life, will be resurrected with Christ at His return. They will be part of the ruling family of God, the government of Ged established on earth… but if only the saints were in the KOG who then would they rule?

By Christ’s own words the days of tribulation at the end will be cut short so that some people will be left alive… Bible prophecies tell us Christ takes over before all human life destroys itself… So, some people in the flesh will survive the Day of the Lord and make it into the new age of Christ’s rule… still flesh… still unredeemed sinners.

Without law/laws how would or could these people be… ruled?

Rev 19:13-15 the sharp sword is the word of law… the rod of iron is the rule of law that does not bend and does not waver… does not show respect for persons.

The Message of The KOG is a Message Governance and Therefore of Laws

Right now we are ambassadors and representatives of the government of God that will come to earth at Christ’s return. Not only do we tell people that its coming (Prophecy/warning)… we are to teach what it will be like (ethics/description)… what will its laws be like…

Plus, we learn the law ourselves (not just by knowing… but by doing it and living it). We are to learn what the KOG will be like so that we (and others who may join us) may be more fully prepared for our future roles in the government of God on earth.

Let’s take an overview of the laws of God… to serve as an introduction to some more specific messages on the Law of God.

Hierarchy of Biblical Law: Three Levels of Specificity

1. Royal Law – 2 fundamental guidelines: practice love towards God and love towards neighbor. This love is the primary motive or spirit that moves forward the actual doing of God’s laws and requirements
2. Commandments – 10 broad stroke principles of behavior that expand upon the Royal Law and serve as an outline for life and society… the commandments break down love into practical actions we can apply in our daily lives.
3. Laws, Statutes and Judgments - 610 (I have never counted them) case studies, decrees and rulings that address how the commandments can be applied in a variety of challenging situations.

The Royal Law - Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18

These 2 fundamental guidelines are cited by Jesus as the greatest and second greatest commandments in scripture (Matthew 22:35-40). James 2:8-11 is where we find love toward neighbor called the “royal law”. Incredibly enough some people actually interpret this quote from Jesus to mean we don’t have to worry about keeping any silly old commandments… as long as we love God and love people.

But without God’s commands humanity has no idea how to love one another!

In both Deuteronomy and Leviticus the components of the royal law are made in direct reference to keeping God’s commandments. The point in both cases is to draw attention to the spirit and motive behind the doing and teaching of the commandments. Read Deut 6:4-6… go to Deut 10:12-13 loving God means obeying His word.

Note: my personal opinion is that the fruits of the Holy Spirit expand on the motive and spirit that guides obedience and doing good… but whereas the law breaks down love into practical actions the fruits of the spirit break down love into recognizable emotions.

The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:1-17

Exodus 20 introduces these not as laws but says… “God spoke all these words”. Their significance goes beyond that of law or regulations. They are referred to as the “10 words” or “10 statements”. I say this not to undermine their status but to elevate it.

They are perhaps more like the U.S. constitution… legally binding and instructive on a most fundamental level. They lead us to the more specific regulatory laws. These regulatory laws are meant to reflect the values found in the “10 commandments”. (for example Ex 22:5 is a variation on the 8^th “do not steal”)

The Paradigmatic Nature of Biblical Law

Our modern western view of law is that if a particular action is not expressly forbidden it is permitted. But ancient law was not so. Ancient law gave guiding principles and/or samples rather than exhaustive regulations. The citizen (and if the matter went to court… the judge) was expected to extrapolate on the principles and samples they were given… to consider the sample and then figure out how to rightly apply the principle to the specific case at hand. Thus, there were not to be loopholes.

Ex 22:5 “the grain was not in his field it was in his barn, therefore I should not be found guilty”… this would not be an acceptable defense.

The 610 Case Studies… How To Love Your Neighbor

The case studies, judgments and decrees are found throughout the books of the law… the books of the law are: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. We are not going to go through all these in one session but I would like to spend some time going through various sections of the books of the law together as a congregation. Because it is in these places that we learn what the bible means by love your neighbor.

Lev 19:18 The exhortation to “Love your neighbor” does not replace God’s commands for human interaction. Love your neighbor provides the spirit and motivation behind your actions… which is LOVE.

Verse 1-2 these words are addressed to everyone in the community (not just the priests). Everyone is to pursue holiness. How? By loving God and loving neighbor. When you go through Leviticus 19 you will find all the 10 commands either specifically mentioned, alluded to, or expanded upon in some way.

Verses 3-8 the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th commands followed by the fellowship offering… an act of worship before God but also a practical neighborly matter because the meat of the offering is meant to be shared with others as a meal… (you cannot save it you have to eat it all up… so why not share it)

Verse 9-10 providing for the poor in the land… a practical exercise in not being greedy… the 10^th command! And providing for your less fortunate neighbors.

Verse 11 – lying and stealing… the 8^th and 9^th commandments!

Verse 12 – and example of how we can take God’s name in vain… swearing in God’s name to make a lie sound more convincing… 2^nd commandment.

Verse 13-16a examples of how lying, deceit and stealing play out in a community setting.

Verse 16b-18a – respect for life… the 6^th command. Here is an example of applying the 6^th commandment that could have come right out of the sermon on the mount!

Verse 18b – LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR by understanding and doing all these commands! Romans 13:9

What about laws 1 and 7?

Verse 20 – a case study in dealing with adultery in a sticky situation… a girl who is promised to one man but under the authority of another… the 7^th commandment

Verse 23 – a case study in putting God first… how to handle the first fruits on plants that don’t yield until the third or fourth year… 1^st commandment

Romans 13:9

Why Should You Want to Know and DO The Commandments?

God wants you to live eternally as a member of His universe ruling family… He wants you rule with Christ in the KOG. But first we must learn His law and live His law… a law we get from the Bible that teaches us how to live together in peace and harmony and justice… and it is through the church of God that we learn the difficult lessons of how to love one another! I John 3:14-15

Also as His ambassadors and representatives… the Church proclaims and teaches the biblical laws of God as part of the overall message of the KOG… for they are the Laws of the Kingdom of God.