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Are God’s Laws Still Valid Today?
In a world where cultural values constantly seem to shift, the idea that some moral rules never change may seem outdated.
But for Christians who take the Bible seriously, the concept of moral absolutism… the belief that there are certain moral rules that are always right and others that are always wrong, regardless of time, culture, or feelings… is rooted in something far more profound than opinion.
That’s because moral absolutes are grounded in the very character of God Himself.
Living with Contradictions
People often hold beliefs that conflict without realizing it. Philosophers call that a dialectical tension. A person might say they believe all humans are made in God’s image, yet still subtly yield to ideas like racial superiority or even engage in discriminatory behavior. They don’t notice the contradiction because they’ve kept those beliefs in separate mental boxes.
Sadly, even many Christians do the same when it comes to broader ethical categories. They claim to believe in absolute moral standards based on God’s Word, yet at times ignore or downplay parts of the Bible they don’t like or are culturally unpopular.
This kind of inconsistency can lead to confusion… and even moral compromise… especially when challenged by non-Christians who spot the contradictions.
What Makes a Moral Standard Absolute?
For a moral rule to be absolute, it must meet at least three conditions. First, it must not be arbitrary. That means it can’t be based on someone’s temporary mood or opinion, not even God’s. If morality changes depending on the day, then it isn’t really morality at all. Instead, moral laws must reflect God’s consistent, unchanging character.
Second, a moral law must be universal. That doesn’t mean every law applies in every situation (a command for married people doesn’t apply to singles), but it does mean that laws apply to everyone in similar circumstances.
“Do not steal” applies just as much to someone in 2025 as it did to someone in 1200 B.C. if they were in the same kind of situation. This universality of moral laws provides a timeless anchor for our faith, ensuring we are always guided by God’s unchanging character.
Third, general categories of morality should apply across time and place. Love, justice, and honesty don’t have to be redefined for every new generation. These are moral types that stay the same because they come from who God is.
The Bible’s View on God’s Law
Scripture teaches clearly that God’s commandments reflect His own nature. Romans 1 says people are guilty not just because of what they do… but because they ignore what they truly know and yet suppress about God. God’s law is called “holy” and “good” in the Bible because God Himself is holy and good.
Leviticus says, “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Jesus echoes this when He says, “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). God’s law isn’t just a list of rules. It’s a reflection of who He is.
Because God doesn’t change, His moral law doesn’t either. Malachi 3:6 says, “I the Lord do not change,” and James 1:17 adds that God has “no variation or shadow due to change.” Therefore, the moral principles in His Word are timeless and trustworthy.
What About Old Testament Laws We Don’t Follow?
This raises a big question: if God’s laws are unchanging, why don’t Christians follow every law in the Old Testament? What about sacrifices, dietary laws, or the command to put a railing around your rooftop?
The answer lies in understanding the different types of laws in the Old Testament. Some laws were given only for specific times and people… like the command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Others were about Israel’s temple worship or national identity. These were shadows, part of God’s way of pointing to the coming of Jesus.
But there were also standing moral laws… like the Ten Commandments… and the case laws, which applied not only to Israel but to all people in all places. You can’t avoid these laws by crossing the county line so to speak. (Thinking here about some “dry” counties in the South.)
These laws still apply today because they’re rooted in God’s character, not in a particular time, culture or national identity.
Understanding and appreciating the enduring relevance of these laws can enlighten us about our heritage and guide our moral decisions.
Principles Beneath the Commands
Even laws that seem outdated can still teach us moral principles. For instance, the command to put a railing around your roof was about protecting human life. This is because people often entertained on flat rooftops in those days. The same principle applies today… maybe not to flat rooftops, but to swimming pools, balconies, or anything that could endanger others.
Many of the Old Testament’s case laws (specific examples of how to apply general rules, like ‘an eye for an eye’ being a case law for the principle of justice only) help us understand what justice, fairness, and love look like in everyday life. The “eye for an eye,” reference, for example, isn’t barbarism; it just means that the punishment should fit the crime and not exceed it. While the cultural setting may differ, the moral truth or principle remains the same.
In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles continued to affirm God’s moral law. Jesus said He didn’t come to get rid of the law but to fulfil it (Matthew 5:17). Paul echoed this when he said that love “fulfils the law” (Romans 13:10).
Further, James 2:10 tells us that if a man keeps the whole law and yet violates one point, that man is guilty of breaking it all. Does James 2:10 not thereby teach us that we must keep the whole law and not be content to keep 90%, 95%, or 99% of it? How can we be guilty of breaking the entirety of the law if it’s not binding on us? Something to think about.
The ceremonial laws… like animal sacrifices, festivals, holy days, and purification rituals… were shadows of Christ and His work on the cross. That’s why we no longer practice them. But we still honor the principles they pointed to: blood atonement, separation from sin, respect for life, and thankfulness for God’s mercy.
The same is true of national laws that applied specifically to ancient Israel. Now that God’s people are no longer a single nation but a worldwide church, some laws about land, politics, and military action don’t apply in the same way. Yet the justice behind them still matters.
One Moral Law for All
God’s standards have always applied to all nations. The prophets regularly condemned pagan nations for breaking the same moral laws that applied to Israel. Leviticus 18 says the Canaanites were judged for violating the same standards God gave to His people.
Even today, God’s moral law is binding. Whether someone has a Bible or not, they are accountable to the God who made them. Romans 2 says that even Gentiles who didn’t have the law showed its requirements written on their hearts.
Holding to Truth in a Relativistic World
In our culture, today, moral relativism… believing that everyone can define right and wrong for themselves… is popular. But it cannot offer lasting justice or real hope. Only moral absolutes rooted in the character of God can. In this relativistic world, holding on to moral absolutes can empower us and give us confidence in our beliefs.
Evangelicals must resist the temptation to loosen God’s commands when uncomfortable. The right approach is not to abandon the law but to understand and apply the principles faithfully, with wisdom, grace, and courage.
Even when we face difficult passages or practices we don’t like or fully understand, we should study them with respect for God’s wisdom. Just like the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, we don’t give up on the bible because of the hard parts. We keep digging and learning, knowing that God’s law is good, holy, and just. The truth is, the church of Jesus Christ is no longer salt and light. Remember in ancient days, salt that had lost its potency was thrown out. It was cast on walkways and walked on. Trampled on. That’s where we are today. It’s not external forces that have turned off the light. We, as God’s people, have cursed the light and flipped off the switch.
But do we give up? Nope. Never. Even my old friend John Kay from the band Steppenwolf sang it well:
It’s never too late to start all over again
To love the people you caused the pain
And help them learn your name
Oh, no, not too late
It’s never too late to start all over again
