In his new book Natural Law: A Short Companion, which is part of the Essentials in Christian Ethics series, David VanDrunen gives a very accessible and robust presentation of Natural Law.

Most people think that any discussion of Natural Law belongs only in intellectually sophisticated contexts and must stay there. But, as VanDrunen notes, this kind of Natural Law theory is not the focus of this book. Others may believe that Natural Law is a Roman Catholic doctrine and should be of no value to protestants. But, VanDrunen reminds us that this is a Biblical doctrine and hence, it is worthy of our attention.

“Natural Law refers to the law of God made known in the created order, which all human beings know through their physical senses, intellect and conscience, although they sinfully resist this knowledge to various degrees. All humans are created in God’s image, due to which we have an understanding of how we must live, in other words; the law is written on our hearts (Romans 2:14-15). God’s creation of man is not without purpose or meaning. What God requires of us is known to us, in fact we can say, ‘What we ought to do is wrapped up in what we are.’”

Moreover, God’s creation and hence the created order although fallen retains a measure of goodness. The Noahic covenant bears witness to the fact that this created order has not been wiped away neither has the image of God in man although marred by the fall has not been completely wiped out even after the fall and the flood.

There still remains wisdom in God’s created order as witnessed among other things by the Proverbs that implore the sluggard to gain wisdom from the ant (Proverbs 6:6-9).

Another way in which Natural Law manifests itself in the created order is in the fact that there are universal moral boundaries that we find in the world. All people everywhere believe that genocide is wrong. Marriage has traditionally been held as an honorable institution.

Industriousness is better than being lazy. Natural Law then becomes a solid basis to help formulate judicial laws. Although Mosaic Law and Natural Law cannot contradict each other since both come from the same law giver – God. The laws of the Mosaic economy were specifically for the nation of Israel as long as the Mosaic covenant was in force. Calvin believed that, “Human legal systems should adhere to the natural law rather than to the judicial regulations of the Mosaic Law.”

The benefits of Natural Law are not confined to the larger realm of Judicial Law but also flow to believers in their day-to-day lives. Natural Law guides and obligates the Christian life. The moral obligations of the Christian however, go beyond Natural Law.

For example, we as believers are called not just to love, but love the way that Christ loved (John 15:12). As Jesus engages his disciples, we find that he is preparing them to live in the new age that he is ushering in.

In this age, his kingdom will extend beyond national Israel and his disciples will find themselves in the midst of Gentiles. Natural Law, not the Mosaic Law, becomes the basis on which they can interact with Gentile converts in the church.

Finally, in our witness to the lost world, Natural Law is what makes the Gospel understandable to unbelievers as it serves to convict them of the fact that they are sinners in need of God’s grace which can only be found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.