Free Moral Agency and God's Law

The law of existence doesn't come from God's will, just like His existence didn't start from His own choice. Instead, moral law is based on all moral beings' nature, relationships, and situations. The Creator, who serves as the ultimate example for every moral entity, is also bound by these moral laws. God can't go against the principles of His own nature. A perfect being must hold the laws of His nature in the highest regard. If the Creator were to disregard any of these laws, it would be like harming Himself. Therefore, the fundamental principle in heaven is that God must always uphold and protect the perfect law of His being.

God, embodying love, naturally wanted to share His glory with others. Love thrives in relationships and finds fulfillment in giving to others, which is why the Father envisioned a family. Instead of creating beings to simply serve Him like pets, He aimed for companions who could engage with Him on an intellectual and spiritual level. The glorious God wasn't content to just control the universe like a puppeteer; He wanted to endow other beings with the same qualities and character He has. Essentially, He needed His creations to have the freedom to make their own moral choices, reflecting a divine trait.

The heavy burden of absolute choice had to rest in the delicate hands of an unpredictable being if God wanted a family. No heavenly force could shape the character of a free moral agent simply by waving a magic wand over the many chosen for the divine family. Even God couldn't magically instill character in another free moral agent with a simple word or gesture. The divine nature and character that can emerge in a free moral being take time to develop and result from significant acts of Providence working alongside a willing individual.

The Father, with His incredible ability to see through the complex maze of time, could predict every possible outcome in the history of humanity and divinity. He knew the joy and glory that awaited those who would reach the level of Sonship. At the same time, He also anticipated the immense loss, deep suffering, and ultimate downfall of those who chose to reject His grace.

God's plan of creation could not have been hindered by any plea for mercy on behalf of those who deliberately choose to act unlawfully. The immense joy experienced by the law-abiding, along with the complete manifestation of the Father's qualities—such as love, mercy, wisdom, patience, and hope—more than warranted the investment required to establish the divine family. There's no way that pleas for mercy from those who choose to break the law could have changed God's creation plan. The immense joy for those who follow the law, along with the complete display of the Father's qualities like love, mercy, wisdom, patience, and hope, made the effort to create the divine family worthwhile.

Reflecting on the early days of existence, we can now recognize the immense challenges the Lord encountered in the act of creation. Granting immortality to created beings was no small feat and would truly test the capabilities of the Most High. It's important to remember that while God can set the stage for character development, He cannot create character itself; that growth must come from the free will of moral beings.

Adam was made to be a free moral agent. He was pure before he sinned, but he didn't choose to willingly submit to God's will, which could have helped him grow into a divine character. God set up the right conditions for his growth, but Adam's refusal to cooperate hindered the Creator's plans for him. However, Adam's mistake wasn't the first time God's will was ignored; countless angels had also succumbed to temptation by choosing their own desires over the Divine will. God had already thought through the consequences of sin long before humans or angels existed. Understanding that the essence of the law is to restore those who stray, it was only fitting for the Sovereign to create a way to save humanity from its downfall.

The rescue mission for humanity brought up some serious legal issues. Justice demanded that the law's authority remain untouched. The Creator's essence meant that His laws had to be respected and seen as powerful, never hinting at any weakness in divine justice. Mercy couldn't be seen as a way to compromise with wrongdoing or support sin. It was unimaginable for God to disregard the laws governing free moral beings; those laws had to stay intact. Therefore, the only way to tackle the issue was to transform the nature of the beings involved, ensuring that this change didn't interfere with their free will.

Rehabilitation starts with forgiveness; the wrongdoer needs to be pardoned. However, justice requires a valid reason for this forgiveness. Even Christ's sacrifice for humanity's sins isn't enough on its own to justify pardoning everyone. So, what can make His death meaningful for even one sinner? It seems the lawbreaker must take some action to warrant that pardon.

People often say that Jesus "paid the debt of sin," but that's not really accurate. If it were true, everyone throughout history would be free from sin's guilt. The atonement alone doesn't guarantee salvation for anyone. Even the sacrifice of Jesus isn't enough to justify forgiving someone who opposes God's authority. The atonement works effectively only when a repentant sinner takes the necessary steps to make things right.

The sacrifice of Christ holds immense significance for the universe, far beyond just being the key to humanity's salvation. His suffering for the redemption of wayward beings demonstrates one of the most remarkable aspects of God's character. Even if everyone turned away from God's offer of salvation, the atonement would still serve as a powerful testament to the unwavering faithfulness of the Father to His law and His creations. The integrity and commitment of God to uphold just principles, regardless of the price, were firmly established through the sacrifice of His only Son.

The atonement doesn't lessen the glory of God's law; in fact, it boosts its significance, earning respect from both angels and demons alike. Everything in creation, except for humans, quakes at His commands, fully aware that He stands by His word. The sacrifice of God's Son on the cross clearly shows that it's far more likely for the universe to vanish than for even the smallest part of the law to be disregarded.

The death of Christ alone didn't guarantee forgiveness for sinners, and similarly, just feeling sorry for one's sins isn't enough either. If repentance were the only thing needed to come to Christ, then anyone could save themselves whenever they wanted. While repentance plays a role in reconciliation, it's not the only thing that matters.

Forgiveness for wrongdoing requires both making amends and changing one's ways. It's important that forgiveness comes with the promise not to repeat the mistake, as in the saying, "Go and sin no more." If mercy is granted, it’s to prevent even worse consequences. Change must happen before true reconciliation can occur. A person can only be considered reformed when they genuinely shift their mindset and are committed to following God's path. By turning away from their harmful actions and sincerely seeking to align with God's will, they can invoke divine support to restore their relationship with the Creator.

There’s really no Biblical basis for the common belief that a rebellious sinner can simply “accept the Lord Jesus Christ” to be reconciled with God. If God were to grant forgiveness to anyone who just asked, it would likely lead to chaos in His Kingdom, since most sinners in rebellion aren’t actually seeking forgiveness. Allowing a rebel into the loving embrace of the kingdom would be like letting a rattlesnake into a room full of kids.

It's totally impossible for righteousness and unrighteousness to coexist peacefully. God is all about holiness, and anyone who wants to connect with Him has to be holy too—no exceptions. Holiness means living in total alignment with the divine laws of free moral beings.

In today's chaotic times, many ministers are claiming that God's law is the source of the world's problems. They argue that Jesus came to "fulfill" the law, implying it has been done away with. Unfortunately, the true teachings of grace have been twisted by those who oppose the law, leaving few clergy with a solid understanding of law and grace. A common misconception is that God's grace means He has eliminated all laws, freeing people from any divine responsibilities. This belief isn't rooted in the Bible; it's more like a "doctrine of demons."

The Lord's law is flawless having the power to transform the soul. Without God's law, true conversion wouldn't be possible. It might seem controversial, but every sin is judged by the law, and a sinner's downfall stems from this legal framework. Similarly, there needs to be a legal process for a sinner to receive forgiveness. Restoration for the wrongdoer can only happen through the divine authority of the Most High. God's Word serves as a judge, pointing out the faults of the sinner. When the Spirit reveals the fairness and righteousness of God's commands, an honest heart will feel compelled to seek the Lord with genuine remorse. This sincere change of heart leads one to rely on the mercy of heaven, resulting in the soul's transformation. Without the Lord's law to highlight their shortcomings, sinners would remain unaware of their dire state, as the law is indeed holy, just, and good (Rom. 7:12).

The atonement wasn't about getting rid of God's eternal laws, and Christ's sacrifice didn't mean that lawbreakers could just ignore those laws. The apostle was even shocked at the idea that faith could nullify God's law, insisting instead that faith actually upholds it (Rom. 3:31). So, if Christ didn't abolish the law or give people a free pass to break it, how does His atonement relate to the requirements of those eternal principles?

He didn't alter the law since it was already flawless; instead, he transformed the essence of the being. God's grace shines through in the blessing of a "new heart" and a "new Spirit" (Ezek. 11:19). We're currently in this "day of salvation," where "the Comforter" (our divine helper) is here to support every traveler in embracing the divine nature.

The arrival of a unique divine guidance in this "day of salvation" brought a heavier responsibility for humanity regarding God's holy law than in the past. The call to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" was a new challenge introduced by Christ. Jesus emphasized this further by stating “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” was never spoken to men before the days of Christ.  Listen to this declaration of Jesus: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20). He expected His followers to uphold God's commandments with even greater respect than what was asked of Moses' followers.

The law stated, "Thou shalt not kill," (Exodus 20:13) but Jesus took it further by saying that even hating your brother makes you a murderer (1 John 3:15-18). Similarly, while the law prohibited adultery, Jesus taught that just looking at someone with lust is already committing adultery in your heart (Matt. 5:27,28).  Romans 2:13, "(for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.." As people filled with the Spirit grow more aware of God's commandments, they also become more accountable, and greater expectations are placed on them. This new generation in Christ is called to honor God's law even more than the legalists of the past, as the Lord aims to elevate and honor His law for the sake of righteousness. (Isaiah. 42:21)

Jesus Christ, through His atonement, opened the door for Providence to justly offer help to lost humanity, with the “Spirit of Christ” as the designated helper in the form of the Holy Ghost. This Spirit is essential for navigating life successfully. Because of one man's fall, all of humanity became enslaved to sin, leading to a corrupted nature that leans towards evil, a consequence of Adam's fall rather than individual choice. As stated in Romans 5:19, “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous,” but this righteousness is contingent upon those who are made righteous affirming their choice. Not everyone is made righteous through atonement; however, a pathway is provided for those with faith to access the benefits of this redemption.

We believe that divine election decides who will be saved forever and who will be lost for eternity. Additionally, we argue that this election supports the actions of Providence and aligns perfectly with both justice and mercy.

Written by Harry Miller and adapted by Shelia Rankhorn