DIFFERENT KINDS OF LAW IN RELATION TO OUR MANY DIFFERENT ROLES

Natural Law

The “law of our nature as human persons”The set of duties and responsibilities arising

from our essential dignity as human persons• People are capable of knowing by their means

of their reasons

Natural Law Characteristics

1. UNIVERSAL (FOR ALL)

2. UNITY AND INVARIABILITY (EQUAL)

3. IMMUTABILITY (CANNOT BE MODIFIED)

Moral Law

Governs every individual’s behavior. It contains truth and ethical principles which guide people’s conduct on matters of right and wrong. It tells one how to act in relation to

God and others.

Human Law

Deals with the juridical order of society, be it of the state or of the Church

Laws enacted for the common good

Divine Law

• The law of God as revealed by the Sacred Scripture

• OT, the divine law pertains to the Decalogue• NT, the Beatitudes, Sermon on the Mount• Jesus Christ’ two love commandments

Church Law

• Expressions of divine law in the concrete circumstances of Christian Living

Civil Law

• Human-made laws to govern our various relationships in the community

• Application of natural law in given societies• This is the kind of law that we would

automatically think of

DIVINE LAW- OLD TESTAMENT AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

• The Ten Commandments protected the true freedom of Israelites by founding their community on the fundamental values of true love and worship.

• Christ came not to abolish the Ten Commandments but to fulfill and perfect them.

• Today, the Ten Commandments clearly express our basic obligations toward God and neighbor

DIVINE LAW-NEW TESTAMENT: JESUS’ LAW OF LOVE AND BEATITUDES

• Two love commandments: Luke 10: 27• Beatitudes: Eight blessings that sketch for us

what it means to be a truly loving person• Christ perfectly taught exercised authentic

love by Teaching, Living and Sending His spirit of love

ConclusionAs Christians, our ultimate moral law is not

merely a set of do’s and don’ts but thru a person – Jesus Christ. Through His teachings and deeds, He has proclaimed that love of God and love of neighbor are the greatest commandments.

To be authentically free is to follow Christ’s example, inspired and empowered from within by the Holy Spirit.