5. 神的律  The Law of God

摘自《神學入門》《Essential Truths of the Christian Faith》15頁 , R.C. Sproul著/姚錦榮译，更新傳道會出版。

神用律來管治宇宙，自然界本身是在神的管治之下運行。所謂自然律，其實就是神用來管治宇宙所用的一般方法，這些律彰顯出神至高的旨意。

神不需要向自己以外的任何律負責，宇宙中也沒有任何一種獨立存在的律是神必須服從的，反之，神就是祂自己的律，簡單來說，神是按照祂自己的道德本性行事。因為神的本性完全，而且祂向來是按照祂自己的本性行事，因此祂的作為也是完全的；祂絕不會是武斷的、反覆和無常的，神永遠只做對的事。

身為神的受造物，我們也需要做對的事。神要求我們按照祂在聖經中所啟示的道德律生活——神的律就是義的最終標準，也是判斷對錯的至高典範。神既是我們的管治者，因此祂有權加給我們應承擔的責任，有權要求我們順服，並有權束縛我們的良心。當我們違背祂的律法時，祂也有權利及能力懲治一切不順服的人（罪的定義可以解作不順服神的律法）。

聖經中有些律法，是直接建立於神的本性上，它反映出人與神、人與人關系中那種永恒而超文化的特性。另一些律法則是為了社會當時的需要臨時頒布的。換句話說，有些律法時絕對的、永恒的；而有些律法，神會為著歷史的原因予以廢除，例如以色列民的禮儀律便是其一。但也只有神才有權廢止這些律法，人類永遠沒有權利廢止神的律法。

人類是不能自治的，換句話說，我們不可能只按照自己的律法生活。人類的道德狀況是他治的：我們必須根據別人的律法生活。而它治的一種特別形式，就是神治，即由神的律法管治。

自治：遵守自己訂的律法

他治：遵守別人訂的律法

神治：遵守神訂的律法

總結：

1.神用不同的律統管宇宙，萬有引力就是神用自然律的例證，而神的道德律，則籍著十誡彰顯出來。

2.神有權命令受造者遵守律法。

3.神按照自己的本性相符之律行事。

4.神籍著我們的良心和聖經啟示出祂的道德律。

5.只有神有權廢除祂自己的律法。

思考經文：

出廿1-17 ；詩一一五:3 ；太五17-20 ；羅七7-25；加三23-29

The Law of God

God rules His universe by law. Nature itself operates under His providential government. The so-called laws of nature merely describe God's normal way of ordering His universe. These "laws" are expressions of His sovereign will.

God is not accountable to any laws outside of Himself. There are no independent, cosmic rules that God is obligated to obey. Rather, God is a law unto Himself. This simply means that God acts according to His own moral character. His own character is not only morally perfect, it is the ultimate standard of perfection. His actions are perfect because His nature is perfect, and He always acts according to His nature. God is therefore never arbitrary, whimsical, or capricious. He always does what is right.

As God's creatures, we are also required to do what is right. God demands that we live according to His moral law, which He has revealed to us in the Bible. God's law is the ultimate standard of righteousness and the supreme norm for judging right and wrong. As our sovereign, God has the authority to impose obligations on us, to command our obedience, and to bind our conscience. He also has the power and right to punish disobedience when we violate His law. (Sin may be defined as disobedience to God's law.)

Some laws in the Bible are directly based on the character of God. These laws reflect the permanent, transcultural elements of relationships, both divine and human. Other laws were intended for temporary conditions of society. This means that some laws are absolute and eternal, while others may be annulled by God for historical reasons, such as the dietary and ceremonial laws of Israel. Only God Himself may set aside such laws. Human beings never have the authority to set aside God's law.

We are not autonomous. That is, we may not live according to our own law. The moral condition of humankind is that of heteronomy: we live under the law of another. The specific form of heteronomy under which we live is theonomy, or the law of God.

1.God rules the universe by law. Gravity is one example of God's laws of nature. God's moral law is exhibited in the Ten Commandments.

2.God has the authority to impose obligations upon His creatures.

3.God acts according to the law of His own character.

4.God reveals His moral law to our conscience and in Scripture.

5.Only God has the authority to do away with His laws.