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Master Life
Lesson Fourteen

How To Apply The Law

As we begin this lesson, we need to remember our basic principle from lesson 13: All the Law is valid as given unless the New Testament gives it a different application - not just an expanded application but a different application.

Now, what about applications in modern society? I know we are still in the New Testament era, but we face problems today that Moses and Jesus never faced. How should atomic power be used? Should the Internet be regulated? Is gun control right or wrong? Is genetic engineering right? What about weapons of mass destruction? Are they legitimate? What about anti-terrorism legislation? How about recycling or government schools? Many, many problems and situations we face today were not even considered in Bible times. Does the Law apply, or is it hopelessly outdated?

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God has specifically designed His Law so that it can be applied to every problem in every age. Through it, and it alone, we can work out Godly answers to current challenges. What a wise and magnificent God we have! We will see how this works in this final lesson, and then you can take it, study it, and apply it yourself.

Theocentric Principles

The most important aspect of the Law is theocentric principles. Theocentric principles are God [theo] centred [centric] principles. They ask the question: How does this Law relate to or explain God and/or God's relation to man?

We must start with the principle that God, not man [sorry "Christian" humanists], is the center of everything. Ultimately, everything has to have some core connection with God. Therefore, every crime or sin is first and foremost against God. Secondly, it is an offence against the people affected by it. Unless we see this focus and realize that restitution must first be made to God, we will be stumbling in the dark.

Let's take an example:

"He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death." [Ex. 21:16, NKJV]

What is our theocentric principle here? In other words, how does this Law relate to God first? It seems, on the surface, to deal simply with man's offence against man.

Whether the kidnapper realizes it or not, he is striking at God through his victim or intended victim. God's original [and still binding] command to mankind was to have dominion over the earth [Gen. 1:28]. Kidnapping becomes a violent interference with a person carrying out their God-given assignment.

Now, what if the victim is a God-hating person who has no intention of dominioning the earth for the glory of God? It doesn't matter. The person who refuses to obey God stands judged and condemned before God, but no one has the right to interfere with his ability to carry out God's command.

What about Laws that deal with uncleanliness? How are we to interpret those today? What are their theocentric principles?

The theocentric principles of these kinds of Laws relate in different ways to the holiness of God and the required holiness of His people. They show a separation from God. They teach us that anything which contaminates us must be dealt with. It does not matter if it is a spiritual, mental, or physical item. If it hinders our relationship with God or with others, it must be dealt with somehow.

"Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it; but you shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing." [Deut. 7:26, NKJV]

We cannot bring idols [things more important to us than God] into our lives without suffering fearful consequences. God will have a holy people.

Some of these Laws, such as circumcision, deal specifically with the covenant and its relationship to us. Some are for the purpose of sanitation - to prevent disease. Still others are against specific, abhorrent pagan practices. Are these Laws still in force today? To answer that question, each Law must be examined with these two things in mind:

1. Is there a New Testament teaching or principle which gives it a different application? If not, it stands as given.

2. What is the theocentric principle that God is revealing in this Law?

How Case Law Works

As we saw at the beginning of this course, the Ten Commandments are summary Laws. All the other Laws of the Bible fit under one [or sometimes more than one] of these commandments. Case law is an example of how the Law is applied in a specific practical case. The Law is not limited to the example, but the example illustrates how the Law works.

"The ten commandments cannot be understood and properly applied without the explanation given them throughout the case laws of the Older Testament. The case law illustrated the application or qualification of the principle laid down in the general commandment." [Greg Bahnsen]

Many of the case Laws are minimum case Laws. They show us how far the Law will go. The implication is that anything which is "above" the minimum Law is covered by that Law. This way, the Law does not have to deal with every possible case. If it had to deal with every possible offence specifically, then it would take a room full of books [at least] which nobody except very specialized [and expensive!] lawyers would read. God's way puts the Law into the hands of everybody and eliminates huge lawyer fees. Anyone can understand the Law of God.

GENERAL LAW - general principles, i.e. Ten Commandments

Case Law - specific examples of how the Law applies in a concrete case

minimum case law - examples of the maximum extent of the Law

Let's look at a case Law:

"If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindles the fire shall surely make restitution." [Ex. 22:5-6, NKJV]

This case Law would be classified under the general Law: Thou shalt not steal. Now, what is our theocentric principle? The law reaffirms that God owns the world and He has given us the responsibility to manage the parts of it He has put in our possession. We stand legally responsible before God and man to make sure our use of what God has given us does not damage what God has given others.

What might be one modern-day example of this Law? If my car is parked on a hill, rolls down, and crashes into your car, we could appeal to this Law to show that I am responsible for ensuring your car is repaired or replaced. [That's why I make monthly or yearly payments to an insurance company.] When we understand the principle of the case Law, then we can see how it would apply in other situations.

What are some other things we can learn from this case Law?

1. God supports private property. He allows His property to be used by men and families, and He holds them accountable for it.

2. We are responsible not only for our actions but for the actions of others acting under our authority, up to and including animals [minimum case law].

3. Because this is a civil Law, it shows the government is responsible for protecting private property rights [not destroying them as it does in North America and most of the world today].

Let's look at another case Law:

"You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." [Deut. 25:4, NKJV]

What is our theocentric principle here? God is fair. He rewards us for our work.

"For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name..." [Heb. 6:10, NKJV]

This is called a "minimum case law". It lays out a general principle and then shows how far it applies. In this case, it even applies to how we treat animals! If this Law shows we are to treat animals fairly, how much more does it apply to how we treat our fellow human beings?

This is one of the Laws that critics may use to say the Law doesn't apply or is outdated. Because it is a minimum case law that simply is not true. Providentially, Scripture itself, through Paul, declares some of the ways it applies in different situations. Paul teaches us how we can take an example [case Law] and apply it in other circumstances.

"For it is written in the law of Moses, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.' Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?" [1 Cor. 9:9-11, NKJV]

Paul appealed to this Law to show that those who minister the gospel have a right to be supported by those to whom they minister. I've read this Law many times, and I haven't found anything in it about ministers, only about oxen. And yet Paul looked beyond the oxen and discerned the principle the Law was illustrating and applied it in different circumstances. That is how case Law works...and this is how the Law of God can supply the answers to every question in every age of human history!

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain' and 'The labourer is worthy of his wages.'" [1 Tim. 5:17-18, NKJV]

Again, Paul takes the same case Law and gives it a slightly different application. This time, the elders are worthy of double honour.

Does this mean it no longer applies to oxen? Of course not, but most of us don't have anything to do with oxen in our modern society. But we do have a lot to do with ministers, elders, employees, employers, etc., and the law will illustrate how we are to behave as God-honoring people. When we see the principle behind the case Law, we can justly apply it in different areas of life. How beautiful and practical God's case Laws are! It is because of God's case Law system that we can go to the Bible and find practical answers to complex modern problems. Is it going to be easy? No, I never said it was. We have to "labour" in the Word, study the principles, know how different Scriptures fit together, and understand the situation to which we are applying the Word. It is work. It will take some sweat...but what a reward in our lives and in the world if we continue. As long as heaven and earth last, the Law will never be outdated or old-fashioned.

Side Note: Paul used this case Law to prove his point about supporting ministers and honouring elders. The fact that Paul could appeal to Old Testament case Law as evidence in his arguments shows that he considered it valid in New Testament times. If it was not valid, he could not have used it with authority to support his teaching.

"The case laws allow us to understand the scope of other fundamental laws in the Bible. They enable us to see how these fundamental principles are to be interpreted and applied in concrete cases. The case laws enable us to combine the one of general law with many historical circumstances...The case laws are specific applications of more general biblical legal principles." [Gary North]

Who Applies/Enforces The Law?

God has designed three covenant institutions. They are the family, the church, and the civil government [state]. Each one has its own functions, its own purpose, and its own God-imposed limits. Since each institution has its own sphere of authority, each one also has its own part of God's Law [or its applications] to enforce. Some Laws are enforced by God alone. The charity Laws are an example of this. They are still in force, but God gives to no one except Himself the right to enforce them.

In God's design, none of these institutions is to rule over the other. God placed a division of authority and power because He knew how dangerous it is to have all power and authority in one institution. If the church tries to run the government, we have chaos and bondage. If the government [state] tries to run the church again, we have chaos and bondage. The same will result if the family tries to rule over the church or the state. All three areas are under God, but each applies the Law in its own special way. Legitimate separation of church and state does not mean the state is not under God; it only means the state has its own position under God's Law.

The greatest punishment God allows the church or the family to use is excommunication. Only the state has the God-given authority to use capital punishment, and then only as God has specified. If the state uses capital punishment outside of what God allows, then it becomes a murderer. On the other hand, if the state refuses to execute capital punishment in what God requires, then it becomes a murderer as an accessory after the fact. The state has much power but also much responsibility, and great judgment if the power is abused.

One of the church's prime responsibilities is teaching. It teaches individuals, families, and the state their responsibilities. It teaches by words and actions, by being itself in submission to the Law of God. As goes the church, so goes the nation. If the church rebels against the Law of God, the nation will follow. If the church is in submission to the Law of God, then eventually the nation will come around as well. We must have our own house in order before we can stand up and say, "Follow us, for we know the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

The prime responsibility of the state is to administer God's justice system [not their own], up to and including capital punishment. Protecting the innocent and compelling evil-doers to make restitution are its main concerns. God did not design the state to rehabilitate the criminal but to force him to make things right for his victim.

The church and the family have a different emphasis. They are to be in full support of the Godly justice of the state, but they are also interested in the rehabilitation of the Lawbreaker. This does not mean protecting him or helping him escape his punishment, but rather extending forgiveness to him after he has made restitution.

In other words, the state is a picture of the justice of God, while the church and the family illustrate the grace of God. All must follow the Law of God in their own jurisdiction, and together, the perfect plan of God is worked into the history of this planet.

Conclusion

I hope this introduction to Biblical Law as God's way to Master Life has been helpful to you. It is a vast subject with numerous applications. Only as we come to understand it and apply it in every aspect of our lives, will we be able [through the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God] to make permanent changes in our families, our churches, and our countries.

In other courses, we will take a detailed look at Biblical Law and its application in modern society. Be sure to enrol as they become available. Biblical Law I and II are currently available.

Master Life Lesson 14 Assignments

Note: These assignments are written from the assumption that the student has completed the Feed Yourself Course. Some of the assignments may not make sense if you have not taken that course.

1. Read Ex. 21:18-16. List the theocentric principle and possible modern-day applications.

2. Memorize Eph. 1:20-23.

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