It is essential to keep God’s law and our accountability to it in mind as we journey through life. This article provides an overview of why it’s so important to do so.
Why God’s Law Is More Than Rules: It’s Eternal Truth
In general, the term “law” refers to a system of rules and regulations intended to regulate behavior within a society or community. Through law, order is maintained, individual rights are protected, and justice is promoted. Failure to obey laws results in punishment.
However, God’s law goes beyond the secular definition. His laws:
- Apply to all of humanity, not just specific societies or communities.
- Make us aware of our immorality and His perfect holiness.
Distorted Morality: How Sin Skews Our View of Holiness
It is a universal truth that our perception of morality is often flawed. Why? Because we are so deeply saturated with sin that it distorts our understanding of our own immorality and, consequently, God’s holiness. From birth, our self-perception is shaped by our interactions with others, and this self-perception influences how we judge ourselves.
We tend to assess our virtue and integrity against that of other flawed humans and conclude that we are “good” people. But that standard of comparison is faulty—we must measure ourselves against the standard that God has defined for us.
Why? As it is written:
For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
Flawed Comparisons: Judging Ourselves by the Wrong Standards
When we compare ourselves to others, we often conclude that we are decent human beings. The problem is that the spectrum of human behavior is so broad that it gives us too much freedom to justify our actions. For instance, many Hollywood productions glorify debauchery, making it seem normal. Over time, society adopts these debauched lifestyles, often unknowingly, and gradually spirals downward.
Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we must meditate on God’s law and recognize our accountability to Him. God has set the standard for our behavior. In places like the USA, we see what happens when each person defines their own acceptable behavior—chaos and lawlessness abound. God’s law, which once served as a moral foundation, is now largely ignored, leading to widespread disorder.
The Eternal Impact of Breaking God’s Law
The bad news is that there are consequences for breaking God’s law. Just as there are penalties for violating government laws, so there are consequences for breaking the laws of our Creator. However, the consequences of breaking God’s law are far more severe because they affect our eternal life.
While our bodies die, our souls live on forever. The soul—the “true self”—is the center of life, feeling, thought, and action. Jesus said in Matthew 25:46 that the soul of an unforgiven, sinful person will go to hell for eternal punishment, whereas the soul of a forgiven, righteous person will enter into eternal life with God.
How Jesus Saves Us from the Eternal Consequences of Sin
To be saved from eternal punishment, God’s Word tells us, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” – Acts 16:31.
But what about obedience to the law? From the day we are born, we are sinners—it is literally impossible for us not to sin. The Good News, however, is that Jesus (God) paid the penalty for the sins of all who believe in Him. His sacrifice is the only way we can avoid hell.
But what about obedience to the law? From the day we are born, we are sinners—it is literally impossible for us not to sin. The Good News, however, is that Jesus (God) paid the penalty for the sins of all who believe in Him. His sacrifice is the only way we can avoid hell.
The Bible says:
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
Discovering the One True God: The Bible as Our Guide
God has revealed Himself to humanity through the Holy Bible. Any other religions claiming to reveal who God is are deceiving you. There is ONE true God, and we learn about Him through His Word. For new believers, a great place to start is the book of Luke. Read slowly and carefully, taking time to absorb the message. If you have questions, explore articles on this website (for example, this one) or visit GotQuestions.org
Final Thought: Meditating on God’s Law for Eternal Life
As we can see, it is critical that we meditate on God’s law and our accountability to it. Our eternal destiny depends on it—whether we will spend eternity in heaven with God or face eternal punishment.
Related content: The wonderful Jesus the Christ
AI did not write this article but assisted with proofreading.