Why does God write His laws on our hearts?
Nov 4, 2010
The Base for Grace - part eighteen in a study of the book of Hebrews
By Mike Gaudet
Why does God write His laws on our hearts?
He used to write them on tablets of stone.
Jesus died for us so that He could offer the New Covenant to us. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:20 We can neither understand nor appreciate Jesus’ death until we understand the three New Covenant promises His death purchased for us. This article deals with the first of these three promises.
“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.” Hebrews 8:10-12
When God puts His “laws” in our “minds” and on our “hearts,” He gives us the desire to do what He wants us to do. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that “wanting” automatically leads to “doing.”
“When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” Romans 7:21-23
In his “inner being” Paul did indeed “delight in God’s law.” However, in the “members of his body” he served the “law of sin.” A part of him wanted to do God’s will. Another part of him did not. Having God’s law written on his heart created conflict within him.
We experience the same internal conflict.
“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” Romans 2:14-15
Because God’s commandments are written on our hearts, our “consciences” end up “bearing witness” when we break God’s laws. We continually place ourselves on trial. In our “conscience courtroom” we both accuse and defend ourselves.
When we experience this “war within” we assume that something’s wrong with us. We imagine that when God writes His law on our hearts only godly desires should remain. However, having God’s law written on our heart does not eliminate ungodly desires. The presence of internal conflict is part of the normal Christian life.
Why would God catalyze this internal conflict in the first place?
In the midst of this struggle God teaches us about the nature of His love. God “demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 God’s love reaches out to us in the midst of our struggle with sinful desires. His love doesn’t wait for us to purify our desires before it embraces us.
Learning about the nature of God’s love changed Paul’s life. He realized that he was “a prisoner of the law of sin.” He also realized that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:2 Paul found what we are all looking for . . . unconditional love. Discovering that God loved him in spite of his struggle with sin set Paul’s heart on fire. It created within him a burning desire to know and serve God.
God wants to teach us that His love is unconditional. This is why His law on our heart triggers conflict within us.
God writes His law on our hearts . . .
. . . so that He can reveal His love to our hearts.