Chapter Eight

 KINGDOMCONCEPT (5) 
UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM 
CONCEPT OF LAW 

In rights and expectations need to be protected, and that is the purposeof laws. A country’s laws always reflect its constitution because theyare derived from its tenets. They not only protect the standards andensure their fulfillment, but also prescribe penalties for any who vio-late the standards.In order to develop a better understanding of the overall king-dom concept, it is important to have knowledge of the origin,nature, and function of laws in a kingdom. And as I have through-out this book, I will continue to use the Kingdom of Heaven as theprimary model. The Bible, the Kingdom of Heaven’s constitution, establishes the standards for life in the Kingdom. Unlike other con-stitutions, however, it also lays out the penalties for non compliance. In addition to being a constitution, then, the Bible is also the lawbook of the Kingdom of Heaven.We often think of laws as unpleasant and inconvenient demands that restrict our freedom and limit our options. In reality, laws aredesigned to free us to pursue unlimited options by providing a safe environment where we can live in peace, security, and confidence.True freedom is always circums cribed by boundaries, and laws define those boundaries. Within those boundaries we are free to thrive, prosper, and reach our full potential.For example, looking again at a passage we examined in a differ-ent context in Chapter Three, consider some of the positive benefits we derive from the laws of the King: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trust worthy, making wise the sim-ple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether right-eous. They are more precious than gold, than much puregold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping themthere is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11).What does the “law of the Lord” do for us? It revives our spirit,gives us wisdom, and fills us with joy. It enlightens our minds andemboldens us with confidence because of its permanence anduprightness. It enriches us with wealth much greater than earthlyriches and leaves a sweet taste in our mouths. It warns us againstdanger and foolishness that could destroy our lives and places us onthe path to “great reward.”If we allow it, the “law of the Lord” will nourish us thoroughlybody, soul, and spirit. Jesus said:It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but onevery word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew4:4).This means there is more to life than food. We need solid,dependable, unchanging standards to live by; standards founded ontruth. Many people today question or out-and-out reject the idea ofabsolute truth. Well, regardless of what they think, the Bible isabsolutely true, and everything in it will work for our good if weobey it. There is no law in the Bible that is not good for humanity’soverall welfare. In fact, the Bible is the best regulator of civic socie-ty, yet most of global society rejects its wisdom and insists on choos-ing its own path. That goes a long way in explaining the mess ourworld is in today. We need to take a closer look at the kingdom con-cept of law. 

SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF LAW 

1. All creation was designed to function by inherent princi-ples. Inherentmeans “built-in”; existent from the begin-ning. In other words, the laws of the King of Heaven arebuilt into the very structure of creation and determine precisely how all of creation functions. Scientists speakof the laws of nature, the laws of physics, the laws ofgravitation, the laws of thermodynamics, and manyother laws to explain how nature works. In this sense,laws are observable, measurable, and repeatable becausethey never change. Everything that God created wasdesigned to function by certain built-in or inherent prin-ciples. 

2. These principles are called “natural law.”Natural law hasto do with laws concerning the nature of a thing. Forexample, birds do not have to be taught to fly; that abili-ty is inherent in them as a natural law. In the same way,fish are not taught to swim; they possess swimming abil-ity as an inherent law. The same principle applies toplants when they produce seeds that reproduce newplants that are just like the original. 

3). Natural law is the standard for effective function of every-thing that God has created.If birds follow the law ofnature, they live and reproduce. If plants follow the lawsof nature, they grow and produce fruit. God built these laws into nature, and as long as plants and animals followthose laws, they prosper and flourish. Violation of natu-ral law, on the other hand, leads to dysfunction. Take afish out of water and it will malfunction. It will diebecause a fish is designed to live and breathe in the water,not out of it. So natural law is very important; it is thestandard for determining effective function. 

4. Laws are the key to successful existence and a guarantee of fulfillment of purpose.Obedience to laws promotesprosperity and ensures success. All a bird has to do tofulfill its purpose is fly and reproduce; both of thesefunctions are governed by natural laws. Every plant andcreature on earth will succeed and fulfill its purpose simply by obeying the natural law inherent withinthem. It is no different with us. As long as we acknowl-edge the laws of God and submit ourselves willingly toliving by and obeying them, we too will succeed andfulfill our purpose in God’s design. We will realize ourfull potential. 

5. Laws protect purpose.When we obey laws, we protectthe purpose for which we were born. As long as a fishstays in water, it will be able to survive and prosper. Aslong as a seed stays in the soil, it will sprout, grow, and prosper. As long as a bird stays in the air and there is space to fly, it will fulfill its purpose and prosper. As longas we obey the laws of God, we too will live and grow and prosper.Please understand that when I talk about obeying God’s laws inorder to live and prosper, I am not suggesting that we can “earn”right standing with God by doing good works or by strictly observ-ing some code of rules or statutes. 

The only way to be rightly alignedwith God is by changing our mind and turning away from our rebel-lion against Him (which the Bible calls “repentance”), placing ourtrust in Jesus’ death to remove the guilt of our rebellion (giving upour self-reliance), and acknowledging Him as Lord (Owner) of ourlives. By obeying God’s laws, I mean living in willing submission toHim as King and Lord and honoring His Word as the unchangingstandard of reference for our lives. So then, what laws of God are we to obey? All of them, of course,and there are many. 

But here are the two most important:Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with allyour soul and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).Love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18b). Jesus Himself identified these as the two most important com-mandments in the law of God. Kingdom ambassador Paul, in con-text with a discussion about the responsibility of Kingdom citizens toward civic earthly authority, commented on this second verse,saying:Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is thefulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).Obey the law and it protects you. Disobey the law and you risk sacrificing your purpose. 

6. The purpose for law is to protect the constitutional covenant. Laws exist to make sure that the provisions ofthe constitution are carried out consistently, equitably,and without prejudice for all citizens. For example, theconstitution guarantees every citizen the right not to beconvicted of a crime until proven guilty. Trial by jury is alaw designed to protect that constitutional right for every citizen. In the Kingdom of Heaven, the laws of Godare designed to protect and ensure the fulfillment of allterms of the covenant that God has with His creation.Typically, cutting a covenant involved the swearing of anoath of fidelity between the parties entering into thecovenant. Because God’s covenant with man is unilater-al (meaning that we enter freely into a covenant He hasalready established), He alone can swear faithfulness.And the Bible says that this, indeed, is what He has done:When God made His promise to Abraham, since therewas no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore byHimself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised....Because God wanted tomake the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with anoath (Hebrews 6:13-15,17).The constitutional covenant of the Kingdom of Heaven is backed up by the laws of God, which are the expressions of His unshakeableand unchanging Word. 

 7. Laws are the conditions of covenant.They are the terms under which, if followed, the covenant will operate.Virtually everything we buy these days comes with acovenant of laws and conditions called a “warranty.” The manufacturer guarantees that if the product is used inaccordance with the specified terms and conditions ofoperation or function, it will perform as designed. If those terms and conditions are violated, the warranty“covenant” is nullified, and if the product then malfunc-tions, the manufacturer is free of responsibility.It is no different in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

The King’s covenantwith us specifies blessings and benefits for compliance as well asconsequences and penalties for noncompliance. As long as weobserve the conditions of the covenant, all the blessings and benefitsof the covenant are operative in our lives. If we violate the covenant,the “blessings clause” shuts down and the “consequences clause”kicks in.THE KING’S WORDS OF LAWAs I said before, laws are built into the very fabric of creation.Everything in the natural realm operates according to inherent prin-ciples. The same is true of the spiritual realm. The Kingdom of Heaven is like any other government in the sense that it has laws toprotect it and assure that it operates according to God’s intent. Laws establish God’s Kingdom. And these laws were put in place long before the first human being arrived. And yet so often, we have the arrogance and the presumption to question God or challenge Him about His laws and the way He runs things.The biblical character Job tried this, and it earned him a sternrebuke from the King. 

Afflicted by boils, grieving over the untimely deaths of all his children, and criticized mercilessly by his best“friends,” who urged him to confess his sins to God, Job held out, demanding to put his case before God Himself. Job knew he wasinnocent of any wrongdoing and could not understand why he wassuffering. In his pain and indignation, Job ended up trying to tellGod a few things. That is when God spoke up and adjusted Job’sthinking:Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said:“Who is this that darkens My counsel without knowledge?Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and youshall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the earth’sfoundation? Tell Me, if you understand. Who marked offits dimensions? Surely you know!...Do you know the lawsof the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over theearth? (Job 38:1-5a,33).In other words, God was saying, “Job, how dare you ask Meabout My laws? 

You weren’t even around when I made them! Whoare you to challenge Me?” It does no good for a product to challengethe manufacturer: “Why did you make things thus and so?” That isthe manufacturer’s prerogative. When you buy a car with an internalcombustion engine, you have to accept the “law” that it requiresgasoline to operate. It was the manufacturer’s decision, not yours.No matter how hard you might try or how much you wish it other-wise, that car will not run on any other kind of fuel. 

That’s why it isfoolish to challenge God and useless to try to change His laws. God’slaws were here long before we were, and they will still be here longafter we are gone. Laws are built into creation. And laws always carry conse-quences for violation. If you try to defy the law of gravity by steppingout of a second-story window, you are in for a painful shock—ifyousurvive the fall! When we violate the law, we receive the due penal-ty. God doesn’t have to judge us; the law carries its own built-in“judgment.”Remember, the king’s word is law in his kingdom. When it is written down, it is called a testament, and when repeated verbally,constitutes a commandment:When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s wordsand laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything theLord has said we will do.” Moses then wrote down every-thing the Lord had said (Exodus 24:3-4).The “words and laws” Moses spoke to the people were the TenCommandments and related laws that are recorded in the preceding chapters of Exodus. Like all of God’s laws, the Ten Commandments are not religious dictates. They are laws established by the King ofcreation to determine how all the natural realm should function andhow human beings should relate to God and to each other. 

THE MEANING OF LAW 

What exactly is “law”? The most basic Hebrew word for “law” istorah, which also means, in addition to “law,” direction and instruc-tion. In time, the word torahwas used to refer to the entire body oflaw that Moses received from God on Mt. Sinai and passed along tothe Israelites. In this usage, torah means “the law,” “the direction,”and even “the Law of the Lord.”

1.In the New Testament we find twobasic Greek words used for “law.” The first of these is nomos, whichmeans “to divide out, distribute” and also “that which is assigned.” Itgradually came to mean “usage” and “custom” and, eventually, “law as prescribed by custom, or by statute.”

2.This is the word from whichwe get our English word norm.Whatever becomes accepted as a norminour society eventual-ly becomes a lawofour society. If we are exposed to a certain unac-customed idea or behavior long enough, we eventually become soused to it that we start to accept it. Once we accept it, we begin tothink of it as “normal,” or as a “norm.” And once we see it as a norm,we start to expectit. 

Once we come to expect it, it becomes in prac-tical terms no different from a law, even if it is never formally estab-lished as a legal statute. Depending on the nature of the idea or behavior, this process could be very dangerous because we as a society could end up endorsing and normalizing evil or immorality. This is precisely what has happened and is happening in western culture with regard to such issues as homosexual rights, homosexual marriage, abortion rights, assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research, and the like.

God’s laws are designed to prevent us from accepting and nor-malizing evil and assigning it the force of law in our society. This isthe protective nature of laws. They prevent ideas and behaviors thatare contrary to the constitution and the good of the state and thepeople from becoming a dominant influence. In other words, God’slaws are designed to protect the whole community.This is why sin and violation of the law never affect only the per-son or persons directly involved, but many others as well. It is like aripple effect. Our actions, good or bad, affect those around us inways we may never know. 

When the Israelites were attacking thecity of Ai during their conquest of the land of Canaan, the sin of oneman, Achan, led to the defeat of the entire community. Only afterthe Israelite community dealt with Achan’s sin were they able to achieve victory (see Joshua chapters 7–8). God’s laws have personal application with nationalramifications.Another meaning of nomosis that of a decreed law establishedby a state. This definition applies perfectly to the Kingdom of Heaven because that Kingdom is a state; it is a country. 

For citizensof the Kingdom of Heaven, the Bible is the nomos, the decreedestablished law of the Kingdom that we are pledged and obligatedto obey. It is a mistake to think of the Bible as a religious book. Itis not. The Bible is a legal book, a book of laws that God has estab-lished and set forth in written form to define and protect His Kingdom as well as to protect, preserve, and deliver the entire community of mankind.

The second Greek word for “law” in the New Testament is ethos,which means “custom.” Whenever we speak of something as being“customary,” we are speaking of ethos. God’s laws are supposed to be customary for us. It is supposed to be customary for us not to lie orsteal or covet. It is supposed to be customary for us to forgive and tolove our enemies as well as each other. 

Ethosis less formal thannomos. In fact, whereas nomoscame to mean decreed, establishedlaw, ethoswas used to describe unwrittenlaw. The most powerfullaws of all are the unwritten laws. In any culture, customs generallycarry the social force of law even without formal legal establishment.

And customs quite often have a greater influence on people’s behav-ior than any formal laws that are on the books.God never intended to write down any of His laws for us. He did not want us to have to read in order to live. There was no written lawin the garden of Eden, no written law for Abraham, no written lawat all for God’s covenant people until the days of Moses. The King ofHeaven’s intention was to write His laws on our hearts and in ourminds so that no one would have to teach us. 

It was humanity’srebellion and separation from God that made written law necessary.We needed something to restrain our baser nature and instincts and prevent us from destroying ourselves by uncontrolled selfish-ness,passion, and violence.The King’s goal has never changed. Despite mankind’s rebellion,His original purpose still stands: “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. I will put My law intheir minds and write it on their hearts. I will be theirGod, and they will be My people” (Jeremiah 31:33).This unchanging purpose of the King was fulfilled in the newcovenant through Jesus Christ. 

 NATURAL LAW VERSUS WRITTEN LAW

 God intended law to be natural. To understand the Kingdom ofHeaven, it is important also to understand the distinction betweennatural law and written law.First of all, written law is necessary only when natural law isabsent. If we human beings were all law-abiding by nature, therewould be no need for written law. But as we saw above, our rebellionagainst God destroyed the rule of natural law in our lives and madewritten law (as well as human government) necessary to protectsociety and restrain evil.

Second, the purpose for written law is to restore natural law tothe conscience. Because of our rebellion against God, we lost ourinstinctive knowledge and understanding of natural law. Our con-sciences became corrupt and our likeness to our Maker became tar-nished and distorted. Things that were natural in the beginning nowbecame “unnatural.” For example, we consider generosity to be avirtue, a positive quality we admire in others and aspire to in our-selves. Why? Because it is nota “natural” human trait, at least notanymore. 

God never commanded Adam to be generous and giving.Why not? Because giving came naturally to Adam. A generous spir-it was inherent in him because he was made in the image of God, hisCreator, and God is generous by nature. But after the rebellion,mankind became greedy, obnoxious, abusive, mean, stingy, andhoarding. We needed a law to restore to our conscience the conceptof giving. Third, natural law is sometimes referred to as the “spirit of thelaw.” This reflects God’s desire for His laws, the standards of HisKingdom, to become the norms of our society. 

Remember, earth is acolony of Heaven, and the laws of the King of heaven should applyhere as much as they do there. Laws produce society because theydetermine social relationships.There is a difference between the law and the spirit of the law.The spirit of the law refers to original intent—the purpose that wasin the mind of the Lawmaker in the beginning. Therefore, the spiritof the law is the inherent essence of the original purpose and intentof that law. As such, the spirit of the law is always higher and broad-er than the letter of the law. For this reason, the greatest form of lawis unwritten law.

 Unwritten law is a product of the spirit of the law.When law has to be written, it is because the people are disobedient.Written law is a sign that the people have lost sight of the spirit ofthe law—the original intent. So where the spirit of the law is, thereis no need for written law.Any nation is only as good as the laws it enacts. Laws producesociety, so whatever kind of society we want is determined by thelaws we make. The worse the laws, the worse the nation. However,bad laws do not cause a nation’s social, moral, and spiritual decline.They merely reflect a decline that is already underway. 

Laws mirrorthe condition of the nation.This is why it is so important for we who are Kingdom citizensto regain our understanding of the “spirit of the law”—natural law.Natural law is the fundamental operating principle of the Kingdomof Heaven.The laws of the King protect and preserve not only His Kingdombut also the benefits and privileges of the Kingdom that are reservedfor Kingdom citizens. But learning to appropriate them involvesmore than just knowing what they are. We must learn also the keysof the Kingdom that unlock our benefits and privileges and makethem active in our lives.

 PRINCIPLES 

1. Every kingdom is governed by laws. 

2. The Bible is the law book of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

3. The Kingdom of heaven has laws to protect it and assurethat 

   it operates according to God’s intent. 

4. Laws are built into creation. 

5. Whatever becomes accepted as a normin our society eventually 

    becomes a lawofour society. 

6. God’s laws are designed to prevent us from accepting and 

   normalizing evil and assigning it the force of law inour society. 

7. God’s laws have personalapplication with nationalramifications. 

8. Written law is necessary only when natural law is absent. 

9. The purpose for written law is to restore natural law tothe conscience. 

10. Natural law is sometimes referred to as the “spirit ofthe law.” 

11. Laws produce society because they determine socialrelationships.

12. The spirit of the law is the inherent essence of the 

     origi-nal purpose and intent of that law.

13. Any nation is only as good as the laws it enacts.

14. Natural law is the fundamental operating principle of 

     theKingdom of Heaven.