86 – Natural Law and Conscience
NATURAL LAW AND CONSCIENCE
§ 86. The natural moral Law, which is binding upon all men1 and was originally inscribed in the human heart,2 was by the fall of our first ancestors obscured,3 but not entirely effaced,4 and, being transmitted from generation to generation as an innate inheritance,5 though in various degrees obliterated under the influence of sin,6 is still sufficient to convince man of his sinfulness,7 especially as the human conscience, though also impaired and more or less perverted and benumbed by sin,8 is still active in the human heart,9 bearing witness to the Law and its stringency,10 to man’s responsibility for his acts11 and to the sinners just condemnation according to the judgment12 of an omniscient and almighty God.13
1. The natural moral Law, which is binding upon all men
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the Law saith, it saith to them who are under the Law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Ephesians 5:5–6 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Colossians 3:5–6 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.
2. and was originally inscribed in the human heart,
Genesis 1:27, 31 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. (31) And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.
Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts.
3. was by the fall of our first ancestors obscured
Genesis 3:12–13 And the man said, The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou, hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
4. but not entirely effaced,
Genesis 3:7, 10–11 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (10. 11) And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, Who told thee that thou wast naked?
Romans 2:14–15 The Gentiles, which have not the Law, do by nature the things contained in the Law, these, having not the Law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts.
5. and, being transmitted from generation to generation as an innate inheritance,
Genesis 4:3–4, 7 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. (7) If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.
Romans 2:14–15. See above sub 4.
6. though in various degrees obliterated under the influence of sin,
Genesis 4:9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 4:17–18, 22 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. (22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
Ephesians 5:8–13 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Galatians 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
7. is still sufficient to convince man of his sinfulness,
Romans 3:19–20 Now we know that what things soever the Law saith, it saith to them who are under the Law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.
8. especially as the human conscience, though also impaired and more or less perverted and benumbed by sin,
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Acts 22:3–4 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
9. is still active in the human heart,
Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.
10. bearing witness to the Law and its stringency,
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Romans 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Romans 2:15. See above sub 9.
11. to man’s responsibility for his acts
Genesis 3:11–13 And He said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Romans 2:15 Their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.
12. and to the sinners just condemnation according to the judgment
Genesis 4:13–14 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Romans 2:14–16 For when the Gentiles, which have not the Law, do by nature the things contained in the Law, these, having not the Law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel.
13. of an omniscient and almighty God.
Romans 2:14–16. See above sub 12.
Genesis 3:8–10 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto Him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.