I would like to begin this article by reading a Scripture in Romans 8:3-4. It says; “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Apostle Paul in this epistle to the Romans, made a fundamental statement that caught my attention. He said; “Who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

 

A similar narrative was given in Galatians 5:16, it says; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” So, there is something such as walking according to the flesh and walking according to the Spirit. So, when a man walks according the flesh what is it called? It is called being under the law. And when a man walks according to the Spirit, what is it called? It is called not being under the law.

 

So, if walking according to the flesh is the same thing as being under the law, therefore, fulfilling the lust of the flesh is called lawlessness and let me also be bold to also say that walking according to the Spirit is called righteousness.  In Hebrews chapter 1 verse 9, The Bible says. “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” I want you to note the word “lawlessness”.  What is lawlessness? The words other translations used in place of lawlessness is iniquity, wickedness, evil, wrong, injustice, sin etc. The amplified version described righteousness saying; because you have loved integrity, virtue and uprightness in purpose.

 

So, therefore, lawlessness is the quality or condition of being without regard for the law and it is a function of not walking in the Spirit. It doesn’t mean the law does not exist, neither there is ignorance of the law, it is simply living a life in disregard for the law. This is a state or posture powered or sponsored by the nature called flesh.  Lawlessness according to the Cambridge dictionary is a behaviour that is illegal or not controlled by laws. It could also be seen as a state of disorder due to a disregard of the law.  So, wherever a law is expected to be kept, self-control and caution is expected to be applied. So, Apostle Paul in Romans 7:15 said “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”

 

Apostle Paul discovered that to hate lawlessness is to love to walk and be led according to the word of God and according to the Spirit of God. He found himself in a situation where the things he loves to do, he does not do them; and the things he does not want to do, they are the things he found himself doing. Then he concluded that there must be another law at work within his members. So, how then did Jesus hate lawlessness? By His refusal to go outside the will of God per time, being in tune or being on the same frequency with the Holy Spirit. He said as I hear my Father say, I say; as I see Him do I do.  

 

“Your hate for lawlessness is a function of two things; number one: your love for God. Number two: your fear for God.” The two may stand distinct but could fall under the same umbrella. I call it love. In this article, I will focus more on love. The Bible says in Matthew 24 verse 12 to 13; “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” So, wherever you find lawlessness, there is neither no love for God nor fear or reverence for God.

 

Going back to the Scripture we began with in Romans 8 verse 4; “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  The previous verse says; For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh. So, there was a life God expected man, there was a way God had envisioned man to live, coordinate and pattern his life, so, God established laws to govern the man. But there was a deficiency or weakness. This was what necessecitetd the coming of jesus. And we were The reason is because man will not be able to keep up with those laws in the flesh.

 

From the Scripture above those who fulfill the righteous requirements of the law are those who walk according to the Spirit. Therefore, the law is understood and fulfilled by sons because they are led by the Spirit of God. Did the Bible not make us to understand that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God? (Romans 8:14) No wonder Jesus said I am the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Why did He make that statement?  He was a Son led by the Spirit.

 

As we proceed on this read, we will see the dynamics of laws and how it is that inherent in the laws of God are the blessings of God. We will also see how we can prosper by Gods laws and how to become a law giver.   

 

So, what is a law? A law is a system of rules which a particular country or community or a monarch of a kingdom recognizes as regulating the actions of its citizens, members or subjects and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties. A law could also be seen as a rule defining correct procedure or behaviour. Why are laws established? There are five principal reasons why laws are established. Number one; laws are established so that man can please God. Number two; laws are established so that when man knows them and applies them, he can get the best out of life. Number three; Laws are established to set standards. Number four; laws are established to maintain order or to bring order and to set the record straight. Meaning that it is not subject to ambiguity or confusion. Easy to understand. Number five; laws protect or defines liberties and rights yet defining boundaries. As a way of introduction, Laws in the context of my discuss in this article will be categorized based on three broad categories; they are:

 

The Natural laws, the Universal laws and the Spiritual laws. What is a natural law? Natural law has to do with certain rights, moral values, and responsibilities that are inherent in human nature. They are not based on any culture or customs. It is a way a person acts or behaves in a society naturally and inherently as a living being and not as a living creature.  It has to do with ethical standards, procedures, principles or philosophies and good reason not necessarily an order or an injunction to be obeyed or strictly adhered to by the society or government. For example, every person or society agrees or knows by instinct that killing is wrong and is punishable.

 

What is a universal law? This law deals solely with cause-and-effect relationships. Although I categorized it separately, it is a subset of the natural law. Universal laws according to Encyclopedia Brittanica states that some conditions, so far as are known, invariably are found together with certain other conditions. It is a stated regularity in the relations or order of phenomena in the world that holds, under a stipulated set of conditions, either universally or in a stated proportion of instances. Same law states that whatever a man sows that will he reap. If you give it shall be given unto you. Whatever goes up must surely come down. An example of the universal law is found in Genesis 8 verse 22. It says; “While the earth remains, in other words, as long as the earth remains; it’s a law it cannot be broken, neither can it be altered. It says; Seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night Shall not cease.” Another example of this law says; Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. It means the only time to bend a child or inculcate discipline, morals and values is at the early phase of development or growing up. So, whatever a child turns out to be, or whatever path the child follow it is as the result of the upbringing. So, laws are not to be joked with.

 

According to Kenneth Wong there are 12 universal laws; they are; The Law of Divine Oneness, the Law of Vibration, the Law of Correspondence, the Law of Attraction, the Law of Inspired Action, the Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy, the Law of Cause and Effect, the Law of Compensation, the Law of Relativity, the Law of Polarity, the Law of Rhythm, and the Law of Gender.

 

The third kind of law which is the emphasis and the crux of my discuss, is the spiritual law. Which I began this article by building a background understanding into; And this law is divided into two; the law of the Spirit of life that helps us to serve in the newness of the Spirit, and the law of the flesh that makes one serve in the oldness of the letter. This law is characterized by the covering of a veil upon the hearts of men. But the law of the Spirit of life is purpose centered, divinely whispered or scripted by God on our hearts and by the inner workings of the Holy Spirit within us.  The Bible says a time will come when I will write my laws on the tablet of their hearts and not on the tablets of stones. (Hebrews 10:16, Jeremaiah 31:33 Emphasis mine.) The laws will not be in nature, nor given by the structures and systems of the world, but on our hearts and our minds. This is the law that produces life. Bible says it is God that is at work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

 

Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”  The law of the Spirit of life brings liberation or liberty or freedom; it sets free. It brings life and peace. They are not laws that are difficult to obey, neither are they burdensome. The law of the Spirit of life prompts us to live the life we live in the flesh by faith in the son of God. (Galatians 2:20).  The essence of the law is so that man would please God. And we know that without faith it is impossible to please God.  See what Romans 8:8 says; “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” The Bible says the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. So, obedience to the law is not possible outside of the Spirit of life.

 

The law of the oldness of the letter is fleshy inclined and devoid of faith. The oldness of the letter also talks about the law of the flesh. This is the law apostle Paul said is at work within his members doing the things he hates to do. We ought to live our lives fully pleasing Him, not partially, but full pleasing Him, and this possibility is attainable if we are yielded to the Holy Spirit. Romans 7 verse 6 says; “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” 

 

How do we serve in the newness of Spirit? Romans 8:5 says; For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. So, our minds must be fixed on the things of the Spirit. It says; For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh. So, living according to the flesh is opposite to living according to the Spirit and if you live according to the Spirit, you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. It will be easy to obey the laws of God.  So, it is important to know what laws are at work within your members?

 

Having had this background, let’s look at the first objective of this article. How to prosper by Gods laws. I would like you to take a close look at verse 5 of Genesis 26. But for the sake of context, I would like to begin from verse 2. It says;

 

“There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. ² Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. ³ Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. ⁴ And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; ⁵ because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

 

In verse 2 God was instructing Isaac the child of promise; the son of Abraham. He said do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land of which I tell you. Where is the land? He said this land. Then He gave Him certain assurances that came as a promise. He said Number one: I will be with you. Number two; I will bless you. Then in verse 5 He said; “Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”  What kind of laws was God talking about here? The laws that proceeded from His mouth. The word of God.

 

This is the secret; God’s laws, His statues, and commandments are His words. They are eternal, they stand sure and are subject to fulfillment. So, when God instructed the man in Genesis 2 verse 15, it was for the man to flourish in the garden. There is a reason why this verse began with “there was a famine.” It gave two comparisons. It said ‘besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham’. Although God was speaking to Isaac, Abraham was in a similar situation, and the reason why Abraham was blessed, was because he walked and obeyed every of the instructions of God. Famine is not an excuse. This is why the laws of the Spirit of life negates every other laws.

 

Considering the famine, there was a need for migration according to the other laws. Which has to do with flesh, instinct and logical reasoning. But contrary to that, the law of the Spirit of life says stay here. This is why faith is the operating system of this kind of law. Bible says “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. This is the law that breaks the protocols. Although there was drought and famine, and according to the universal laws, seeds must be planted at the right seasons, but we have seen that the law that brough rain and abundance was obedience and the willingness to harken to the voice of the one that says don’t go to Egypt.

 

 See what Joshua 1 verse 8 says; “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you^[c] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

 

The second objective. What is the subliminal nature of Gods laws?  First it is important to understand the word subliminal. It means not recognized or understood by the conscious mind, but still having an influence on it. We cannot fully comprehend or fathom the height, and the depth, of the love of God. Although they are not fully understood, His blessings and love are communicated through those laws.  Again, looking at verse 2 of the Scripture in Genesis 26:2, the Bible says; “Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not.”  That is a command.  When you look at the 10 commandments, it was filled with dos and don’ts. These were laws given by the Father, yet they were difficult to keep in the flesh. And so, when the Son came on the scene and said A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son.  So, the subliminal nature of Gods law is love.

 

The subliminal intention of God giving those laws was for man to love God and man. Jesus said; “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. ³¹And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” See what Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5:23. Outside of these, there is no law. Jesus said there is no other commandment greater than this. Love is the peak of perfection in law. If you can love you have found the way to blamelessness and perfection. Bible says owe no man nothing but love.  Love is powered by the law of the Spirit of life.

 

This means that for all the laws we have looked at previously, the sum total of them all is love. Love was the motive behind the expression of the laws we saw in nature in the universe, on the stone, on letters, on the constitution, and on the heart.  

 

This was what it meant when Exodus 12:49 says “One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”  And Numbers 15:16. “One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who dwells with you.’” This is unity of the Spirit.  Who is the stranger? Your neighbor. Who is your neighbor? Whoever comes in contact with you must enjoy the expression of Gods love through you. Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself. That is why He is the expression of mercy that prevails above judgement.

 

The last objective of this article. How then do we become a law giver? Who is a law giver? The Bible says in Genesis 2 verse 19, “Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” It says and whatever name Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” A law giver functions in the authority received from God as trust by the virtue of the seal of the Holy Spirit upon such a person.

 

A law giver is both a witness and a judge. One who does not judge according to the seeing of the eyes nor by the hearing of the ears. He is one who declares the purposes and the counsel of God, one who enforces the will of God; the laws and commands of God. He is one who legislates on behalf of the government of heaven. One who has been given authority to permit in heaven or agree with heaven whatever is permitted or agreed on the earth.  You become a law giver having understood the laws God has commanded and the willingness to keep to those laws. So, how do you become a law giver?

 

#. Number One: You must know God. The Bible says; “God is love and He who does not love does not Know God.” (1 John 4:8) Bible says those who know their God shall be strong and they shall do great exploit. Law givers are those who love God and those who love God knows God. Carrying the nature of God; which is love is a function of your love. And you can’t love man and not love God, and you can’t love God and not love man. The Bible says thou shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart. Inherent in love is love for God and for man. They are intertwined, perfectly aligned and balanced.

 

#. Number Two: Be a man who carries His presence. His presence is His glory. And you can’t carry the glory or His presence without standing or tarrying in His presence. You cannot become a law giver without becoming a king. And you are a king because Jesus has made you a king and you carry His presence. The Bible says where the word of a king is there is power. It means that the Lord can harken to your voice although you are a man. We saw in the Scripture how God harkened to the voice of Moses, Joshua Elijah, Elisha and Samuel. Their words did not fall to the ground. Gen 49:10 says. “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

 

#. Number Three: Always be at the center of the will of God. This gives you an understanding of purpose. Being at the center of God’s will is a function of obedience to his laws and commands. And until your obedience is complete you cannot punish disobedience. Jesus is a law giver because He His meat was to do the will of the Father. Hebrews 10 verse 7 says; ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’”

 

#. Number Four: Be His mouth piece. This is a build-up from the previous point. Following the will of God makes you receive a mouth from God; in other words, become His mouth piece. It is the mouth that you receive that makes you speak as the learned. A law giver speaks words in season. Jesus said I will give you a mouth and a wisdom. Isaiah became God’s mouth piece, a giver of the law when His tongue was touched with a coal of fire.

 

God said to Joshua; Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth. You cannot become His mouth piece if you are not willing to retain God in your knowledge. The Bible says “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting. (Romans 1:28)

 

In conclusion, The Father’s laws are not burdensome and they come via the son; the word and the Holy Spirit guilds the believer to follow those laws and to obey them. This is why yieldedness to the law of the Spirit of life should be absolute and as this obedience is complete, it’s a show for the hate for lawlessness, and a qualification to becoming a law giver. 

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Apeh Francis Abah!

Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!