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Summary of God's Law Requirements

God's law, as revealed in Scripture, outlines the requirements for humanity's relationship with the divine and with one another. This law is described as absolute and perpetual, given initially to Adam, then to Noah, and most extensively to the Israelites through Moses [1]. It was delivered through Moses, sometimes with the ministration of angels [1]. The law is characterized as pure, spiritual, holy, just, good, exceedingly broad, and perfect [1].

The core requirement of God's law is perfect obedience, extending not merely to outward actions but also to the heart [1]. Deuteronomy 27:26 and Galatians 3:10 indicate that perfect obedience is necessary under the law [1]. This obedience includes loving God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and loving one's neighbor as oneself, as summarized by Christ in Matthew 22:37-40 [6]. John Gill notes that loving God is the sum of the first table of the law, encompassing all worship of God and excluding idolatry [11]. The law also commands seeking God's name, word, face, strength, and commandments [3], and glorifying Him for His holiness, mercy, truth, and wondrous works [4].

Historically, the understanding of God's law has developed across different traditions. The Community Rule of the Dead Sea Scrolls, for instance, emphasizes seeking God with a whole heart and soul, doing good and right, loving what God has chosen, hating what He has rejected, abstaining from evil, and practicing truth, righteousness, and justice [5]. This ancient Jewish text reflects a comprehensive commitment to the divine commands.

In Christian theology, particularly within Reformed traditions, the law is often understood to have a threefold use [9]. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, describes the first use as revealing humanity's weakness, unrighteousness, and condemnation, thereby driving individuals to Christ [9]. The Westminster Confession of Faith states that God gave Adam a law as a covenant of works, requiring "personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience," promising life for fulfillment and threatening death for breach [10]. After the Fall, this law continued as a perfect rule of righteousness, delivered in the Ten Commandments [10].

However, the New Testament introduces a significant shift in how humanity relates to the law. While the law requires perfect obedience, humanity cannot attain this on its own [2]. Passages like Romans 3:20 and Galatians 2:16 indicate that justification before God is not by works of the law [2]. Instead, justification is by faith alone, through grace, and in the name of Christ [2]. The function of the law, according to Tyndale House on Romans 10:4, was to point forward to the Messiah, and Jesus' coming fulfills all its requirements, making belief in Him the primary requirement for God's people [7]. Charles Hodge further explains that Christ, as our representative, fulfilled all the law's demands through His obedience and sufferings, and those who receive this righteousness by faith are saved [8].

Despite this emphasis on faith, the moral requirements of the law remain. Adam Clarke, commenting on Hebrews 8:10, suggests that in the Gospel age, God's laws are put into believers' minds and written on their hearts, leading to willing obedience rooted in love [14]. This implies an internal transformation that enables adherence to God's will. Tertullian, an early Church Father, defended God's laws, including the lex talionis (law of retaliation), highlighting their useful social and moral purposes [13]. Augustine also emphasized the divine commands, noting that God requires all His commandments to be kept and fulfilled, which illustrates the freedom of the will [15].

The moral law, which aims to foster godliness and righteousness, is considered perpetual and binding on all people [9]. Charles Hodge asserts the perfection of the moral law, stating that the Scriptures are a complete rule of duty, condemning only what is sinful and enjoining only what is obligatory [12]. This comprehensive view of God's law underscores its enduring relevance for Christian life, even as the means of justification have shifted from works to faith in Christ.

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justification Before God — Promised in Christ -- Isa 45:25; 53:11. Is the act of God -- Isa 50:8; Ro 8:33. Under law Requires perfect obedience. -- Le 18:5; Ro 10:5; 2:13; Jas 2:10. Man cannot attain to. -- Job 9:2,3,20; 25:4; Ps 130:3; 143:2; Ro 3:20; 9:31,32. Under the gospel Is not of works. -- Ac 13:39; Ro 8:3; Ga 2:16; 3:11. Is not of faith and works united. -- Ac 15:1-29; Ro 3:28; 11:6; Ga 2:14-21; 5:4. Is by faith alone. -- Joh 5:24; Ac 13:39; Ro 3:30; 5:1; Ga 2:16. Is of grace. -- Ro 3:24; 4:16; 5:17-21. In the name of Christ. -- 1Co 6:11. By imputation of Ch”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glorifying God — Commanded -- 1Ch 16:28; Ps 22:23; Isa 42:12. Due to him -- 1Ch 16:29. For his Holiness. -- Ps 99:9; Re 15:4. Mercy and truth. -- Ps 115:1; Ro 15:9. Faithfulness and truth. -- Isa 25:1. Wondrous works. -- Mt 15:31; Ac 4:21. Judgments. -- Isa 25:3; Eze 28:22; Re 14:7. Deliverance. -- Ps 50:15. Grace to others. -- Ac 11:18; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24. Obligation of saints to -- 1Co 6:20. Is acceptable through Christ -- Php 1:11; 1Pe 4:11. Christ, an example of -- Joh 17:4. Accomplished by Relying on his promises. -- Ro 4:20. Praising him. -- Ps 50:23. Doing all ”
  5. Dead Sea Scrolls “Community Rule (Serekh ha-Yahad) (c. 100-75 BCE), section 1: THE COMMUNITY RULE Translated by G. Vermes 1QS COL.I . . . Book of the Community Rule, that they may seek 2. God with a whole heart and soul. and do good and right before Him as 3. He commanded by the hand of Moses and all His servants the Prophets; that they may love 4. all that He has chosen and hate all that he has rejected; that they may abstain from all evil and 5. hold fast to all good; that they may practise truth, righteousness, and justice 6. upon earth and no longer stubbornly follow a sinful heart and lustful eyes committi”
  6. Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. What does God’s law require of us?: Q. What does God’s law require of us? A. Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22:37-40: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’1 This is the greatest and first commandment. “And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’2 “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” 1 Deut. 6:5 2 Lev. 19:18 Q & A 5”
  7. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 10:4: 10:4 The function of the law was to point forward and prepare the way for the Messiah; Jesus’ coming does not destroy the law but fulfills all of its requirements, so that the primary requirement for God’s people is to believe in him (see 3:31; Matt 5:17-18).”
  8. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 102: demands of the law. By his obedience and sufferings, by his whole righteousness, active and passive, He, as our representative and substitute, did and endured all that the law demands. 6. Those, who by faith receive this righteousness, and trust upon it for justification, are saved; and receive the renewing of their whole nature into the image of God. Those who refuse to submit to this righteousness of God, and go about to establish their own righteousness, are left under the demands of the law; they are required to be free from all sin,”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 105: of the Ceremonial Law is repealed, its effect is perpetual. The Judicial or Political Law was peculiar to the Jews, and has been set aside, while that universal justice which is described in the Moral Law remains. The latter, or Moral Law, the object of which is to cherish and maintain godliness and righteousness, is perpetual, and is incumbent on all. 24. The use of the Moral Law is threefold. The first use shows our weakness, unrighteousness, and condemnation; not that we may despair, but that we may flee to Christ. The second i”
  10. Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed) “Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed, 1646), CHAPTER 19 (part 1): CHAPTER 19 Of the Law of God 1. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it. 2. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables: the first four commandments containing our d”
  11. Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 30:16: In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God,.... Which is the sum and substance of the first table of the law, and includes the whole worship of God, the contrary to which are idolatry, superstition, and will worship, from which Moses had been dissuading and deterring them: to walk in his ways; which he has prescribed, as his will to walk in, and his law directs to: and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments; his laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, Moses had been repeating and reciting: that thou mayest live and multi”
  12. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 39: whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.” Perfection of the Law. The perfection of the moral law as revealed in the Scriptures, includes the points already considered, — (1.) That everything that the Bible pronounces to be wrong, is wrong; that everything which it declares to be right, is right. (2.) That nothing is sinful which the Bible does not condemn; and nothing is obligatory on the conscience which it does not enjoin. (3.) That the Scriptures are a complete rule of duty, not only in the sense just stated, but also in the sense that th”
  13. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XVIII.--SOME OF GOD'S LAWS DEFENDED AS GOOD, WHICH THE MARCIONITES IMPEACHED, SUCH AS THE LEX TALIONIS. USEFUL PURPOSES IN A SOCIAL AND MORAL POINT OF VIEW OF THIS, AND SUNDRY OTHER ENACTMENTS. (part 2): the greater blame, because it was from His own people that He took away food, rather than from the more ungrateful Marcionites. As for the burdensome sacrifices also, and the troublesome scrupulousness of their ceremonies(15) and oblations, no one should blame them, as if God specially required them for Himself: for He plainly asks, "To what purpose is the multitu”
  14. Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 8:10: This is the covenant - This is the nature of that glorious system of religion which I shall publish among them after those days, i.e., in the times of the Gospel. I will put my laws into their mind - I will influence them with the principles of law, truth, holiness, etc.; and their understandings shall he fully enlightened to comprehend them. And write them in their hearts - All their affections, passions, and appetites, shall be purified and filled with holiness and love to God and man; so that they shall willingly obey, and feel that love is the fulfilling of the”
  15. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 4.--THE DIVINE COMMANDS WHICH ARE MOST SUITED TO THE WILL ITSELF ILLUSTRATE ITS FREEDOM. (part 1): What is the import of the fact that in so many 445 passages God requires all His commandments to be kept and fulfilled ? How does He make this requisition, if there is no free will ? What means "the happy man," of whom the Psalmist says that "his will has been the law of the Lord "?[1] Does he not clearly enough show that a man by his own will takes his stand in the law of God ? Then again, there are so many commandments which in some way are express”
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