Moral Law and Conscience as Evidence for God's Existence
The concept of moral law and conscience as evidence for God's existence is rooted in biblical teachings and has been explored by various Christian traditions. The Bible posits that the moral law is a reflection of God's character and is written on the hearts of all people, making it a universal principle [1].
In Romans 2:14-15, it is written that Gentiles, who do not have the law, still have the law "written on their hearts," indicating a natural moral awareness that testifies to God's existence. This innate moral sense is often referred to as conscience [1, 4].
The moral law, as described in the Bible, is not just a set of rules but a reflection of God's holy, just, and good nature [2]. According to John Calvin, the moral law serves to instruct us in righteousness and to convict us of sin, thereby pointing to the need for a savior [5].
Different Christian traditions interpret the relationship between moral law, conscience, and God's existence in various ways. For instance, the Reformed tradition, as represented by Charles Hodge, emphasizes that the moral law is a fundamental aspect of God's nature and is essential for understanding human morality and the need for redemption [8].
In contrast, the Catholic tradition, as represented by Thomas Aquinas, uses the existence of moral law and conscience as part of a broader philosophical argument for God's existence. Aquinas argues that the presence of moral law and the universal human experience of conscience point to a divine lawgiver [11].
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as seen in the writings of John Chrysostom, also acknowledges the importance of moral law and conscience in understanding God's will for humanity [6].
While there are differences in how various Christian traditions understand the role of moral law and conscience in relation to God's existence, there is a general agreement that these concepts are fundamental to understanding human morality and the human condition.
The biblical account of the law given through Moses and the fulfillment of the law in Jesus Christ also plays a significant role in understanding the moral law [3, 9]. According to the apostle Paul, the law is "holy, just, and good" (Romans 7:12), and its purpose is to lead people to Christ [7].
The relationship between faith and the law is also a subject of discussion among Christian traditions. Some, like the Reformed tradition, argue that faith does not nullify the law but rather fulfills it [10].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Law — A rule of action. (1.) The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Rom. 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things. (2.) The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom these rites were typical, had finished his work (Heb. 7:9, 11; 10:1; Eph. 2:16). I”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Law of God, The — Is absolute and perpetual -- Mt 5:18. Given To Adam. -- Ge 2:16,17; Ro 5:12-14. To Noah. -- Ge 9:6. To the Israelites. -- Ex 20:2-17; Ps 78:5. Through Moses. -- Ex 31:18; Joh 7:19. Through the ministration of angels. -- Ac 7:53; Ga 3:19; Heb 2:2. Described as Pure. -- Ps 19:8. Spiritual. -- Ro 7:14. Holy, just, and good. -- Ro 7:12. Exceeding broad. -- Ps 119:96. Perfect. -- Ps 19:7; Ro 12:2. Truth. -- Ps 119:142. Not grievous. -- 1Jo 5:3. Requires obedience of the heart -- Ps 51:6; Mt 5:28; 22:37. Requires perfect obedience -- De 27:26; Ga 3:10; Ja”
- John “For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. -- John 1:17”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Conscience — That faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as "defiled" (Titus 1:15), and "seared" (1 Tim. 4:2). A "conscience void of offence" is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 1 Pet. 3:21).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 43: for pardon, it is of importance to know how our being instructed in the Moral Law renders us more inexcusable. If it is true, that a perfect righteousness is set before us in the Law, it follows, that the complete observance of it is perfect righteousness in the sight of God; that is, a righteousness by which a man may be deemed and pronounced righteous at the divine tribunal. Wherefore Moses, after promulgating the Law, hesitates not to call heaven and earth to witness, that he had set life and death, good and evil, before the peo”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: 13:17 13:23 James 1:6 2:13 2:19 2:26 3:11 4:3 1 Peter 1:3 1:12 2:13 2:21 2:21 2:22 2:22 2:22 5:5 5:8 5:8 5:8 2 Peter 2:4 3:13 1 John 2:9 3:2 3:8 4:8 Revelation 1 1:4 1:9 1:11 1:16 1:20 2 3 3:12 14:1 14:4 14:13 15:6 20:9 22:16 Tobit 12:9 Wisdom of Solomon 1:4 1:14 11:23 11:24 14:16 Sirach 2:2 2:2 2:4 2:10 2:11 2:27 3:10-12 3:11 5:6 6:14 6:16 6:34 7:6 7:31 9:13 9:15 10:9 10:12-13 11:1 11:2 11:3 11:3 11:4 11:15 11:28 12:13 13:15 14:9 15:9 16:3 18:13 18:13 19:14-15 20:20 21:2 22:21-22 23:17 23:17 25:1 25:1 25:11 26:27 28:6 31:1 32:10”
- 1 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Timothy 1:8: But we know that the law is good - The law as given by God, is both good in itself and has a good tendency. This is similar to what the apostle had asserted, Rom 7:12-16 : The law is holy; and the commandment is holy, just, and good; see the note on Rom 7:12, etc. If a man use it lawfully - That is, interpret it according to its own spirit and design, and use it for the purpose for which God has given it; for the ceremonial law was a schoolmaster to lead us unto Christ, and Christ is the end of that law for justification to every one that believes. Now those who d”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 42: which its own excellence and well-being depend. It purifies, ennobles, and exalts the soul. It calls into exercise all the higher and nobler attributes of our nature; and assimilates man to the angels who surround the throne of God in heaven. The preeminence of this commandment is further evident from the fact that religion, or the duty we owe to God, is the foundation of morality. Without the former, the latter cannot exist. This is plain, (1.) From the nature of the case. Morality is the conformity of an agent’s character and conduct to”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 1:17: For the law was given by Moses,.... Both moral and ceremonial. The moral law was given to Adam, in innocence, which having been broken, and almost lost out of the minds, and memories of men, was given by Moses, in a new edition of it in writing; and points out what is man's duty both to God and men; discovers sin, accuses of it, convicts of it, and condemns for it; nor could it give strength to perform its demands; nor does it give the least hint of forgiveness; nor will it admit of repentance: and hence is opposed to grace; though it was a benefit to men, being in its ”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 3:31: Do we then make void the law through faith? - 1. By law here we may understand the whole of the Mosaic law, in its rites and ceremonies; of which Jesus Christ was the subject and the end. All that law had respect to him; and the doctrine of faith in Christ Jesus, which the Christian religion proclaimed, established the very claims and demands of that law, by showing that all was accomplished in the passion and death of Christ, for, without shedding of blood, the law would allow of no remission; and Jesus was that Lamb of God which was slain from the foundation of t”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), The Existence of God, Art. 3: Article: Whether God exists? I answer that, The existence of God can be proved in five ways. The first and more manifest way is the argument from motion. It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are in motion. Now whatever is in motion is put in motion by another, for nothing can be in motion except it is in potentiality to that towards which it is in motion; whereas a thing moves inasmuch as it is in act. For motion is nothing else than the reduction of something from potentiality”