Natural Law as the Divine Imprimatur in Nature

In the article “Nature Can Teach-A Biblical Introduction to Natural Law by Steven Wedgeworth” https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/nature-can-teach, the author explains the concept of classical natural law as a basis of moral reasoning used to determine the rational foundation for a moral duty or prohibition. Natural law is grounded in the divine law reflected in the Ten Commandments (Exod 20) and Christ’s summarization in the Gospels (Matt 22:37). The moral principles of natural law can be used to derive human law that can be extrapolated in the legislation of society’s laws. According to the Bible, natural law is stamped in God’s creation, including in the heart of man, so that what can be known about God, including the fundamental divine law, is plain to man (Ps 19:1 – 4; Rom 1:19f; 2:15, 26). But the natural law is impotent in revealing the nature and remedy for sin and the sin nature can distort the understanding of natural law. For that, the special revelation of the Bible is needed (Ps 19:7 – 13; John 1:1, 2; 3:16; 2 Tim 3:16). The Scriptures contain the written revelation of God to man and is the highest authority (Deut 5:32f; 6:1 – 6); it also teaches concepts of natural law in the apostolic writings, for instance, Paul appeals to it with respect to custom, fittingness, and decorum to teach godly practices for the church (1 Cor 11:14).

An observation that can be made of our culture and the current state of affairs from the standpoint of natural law is that much of the more recent changes toward extreme radical policy and practices, such as LGBT, the continual expansion of the sexual revolution of the 60s, the normalizing of lawlessness and imposition of a counterfeit morality by the elites, insurrection and the overthrow of constitutional governance, abortion and eugenics, humanism in its Hydra-headed multiple forms, etc., can all be tied fundamentally to a burgeoning rebellion within society against natural law and its customs, against divine law, and ultimately against Christ as Lord over His creation, a rejection that began at His first advent with the Jews. Therefore it is vital for God’s people to realize this danger and steer completely clear of this rebellion in all of its manifestations, but continue to stand on the truth in the Bible and shine the light of the Gospel. Whether or not the heathen culture heeds the natural law in God’s creation and its legitimate expressions in society, Christians always have the prerogative to obey the law of Christ revealed in the Scriptures.