Was there a Law in heaven?
Ezekiel 28:14, 16, 18 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth….By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick.
Note: Ezekiel 28 is addressing [the power behind] the prince of Tyrus which is none other than Satan [Lucifer] himself. We are told Lucifer sinned in heaven.
What is sin?
1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness
Note: Sin is breaking the Law. So for Lucifer to sin in heaven, there was a Law in heaven!
Can we be certain that there was a law in heaven?
Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Note: There is a law in heaven. Paul tells us that if there is no law, there is no transgression.
What is the underlying principle behind the Law of God? What fulfills the Law of God?
Roman 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law
James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Note: Love fulfils the law of the Lord. In other words God’s law is the law of love. Note also that God’s law is called the ROYAL law.
What sort of love is the law of God based on?
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Note: Law of Love is based on "self sacrificing love". In other words, the love described in the bible is a love that is so powerful that one would even sacrifice oneself for someone else. Isn’t this exactly what Jesus did? Laid down his life for us (See: Are you willing to be lost?). Therefore God’s law is not just any law, but it is the Law of Self Sacrificing Love! The law that puts others first and this is the very foundation of God’s government.
If self sacrificing love is the underlying principle behind God’s Royal law, what constitute the Royal law of God for man?
James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Note: Notice some key points in the above passage of scripture.
1) The Royal Law consist of “Do not kill” and “Do not commit adultery”
2) Secondly, the Royal law is called the “the whole Law”.
In other words, the Royal Law of self sacrificing love is a COMPLETE law that consist not only of the “Do not kill” and "Do not commit adultery” commandments. There must be other commandments that is part of this “WHOLE” law that we must not break!
What is this complete Royal law of love?
Deuteronomy 5:22 These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
Note: God’s law of self sacrificing love is none other than the Ten Commandments which also includes the Sabbath. After God wrote the law with his finger (Ex. 31:18), we are told he “added no more” because this is the COMPLETE LAW of love for man - this love is the very principle behind the law of heaven. We are also told, God’s law is “broad” (Psalm 119:96) which means there is no sin that can escape the Law of Ten or the law of self sacrificing love.
How does the book of Deuteronomy describe the law of God?
Deuteronomy 33:2 The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints [angels]: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
Note: What law is this talking about? The law of the 10 commandments. Why would the bible call the 10 commandment law, a fiery law? That's because, it is the law of self sacrificing love. Love is signified by fire (Song of Solomon 8:6,7). It’s this fiery law that was in heaven that symbolized what heaven was all about [See also: City of Fire].
What did Jesus say about the law of self sacrificing love?
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Note: “All the law” or the WHOLE law hangs on the principle of heaven; self sacrificing love. This love is not just toward God, but also man. Therefore any sincere bible student who reads the bible knows that the first four commandments which include the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8) is concerned with loving the Lord and the next six commandments is concerned with “love towards man”. On these two (love towards God and love towards man) hang the "Fiery Roayl law" of God.
How did Lucifer attack or break the law of God?
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Note: Lucifer said, “I will be like the Most High” but at the same time the bible tells us that he sinned or broke the law of God (Ezekiel 28:14, 16, 18).
Lucifer said, I will be like the Most high. What is the Most High like?
Exodus 33:18–19 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Note: In Isaiah 14, Lucifer said, "I will be like the Most High". What is the Most High like? The Most High is loving. The Most High is kind. The Most High is merciful. The Most High is righteous. Lucifer’s argument was “I can be loving, merciful, kind and righteous". At the same time, Ezekiel 28 tells us that Lucifer was "perfect untill inquity was found in him". What is iniquity? Transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4). So lets put those things togther. Lucifer began to rebel against the Law of God while at the same time saying "I can be like God". In other words, Lucifer's arguement was, i can be holy, righteous, long sufeering, gentle without some law telling me how to do it. [I don’t need God to tell me how to be good. I can be good all by myself. I dont need to rest in whatever God tells me, to be like God. (See also: What is righteousness? ; Royal Law vs. Ceremonial Law).
Lucifer’s argument is simply, the concept of Self sanctification or Self righteousness. This principle was so powerful that, it even deceived 1/3 of the, holy thinking intelligent angels! Can you imagine if Lucifer had said, "Hey guys, let's become evil". The angels would not have listened! Lucifer gave the holy angels an alternative way to be still holy (like God). How? By doing away with the Law of God and yet be righteous, kind and merciful, like God. His arguement was, we don't need God's law to be righteous or good. God's way is not the only way. There are many other avenues to righteousness.
Interestingly, we still hear this very same principle echoing from both the Christian and the secular world. So whose argument is the Christian world following by doing away with the law of self sacrificing love?
Why did God give man the Sabbath?
Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Note: Sabbath was "made" for man [not for Jews] - Mark 2:27. When God gave the Jews the sabbath, He makes a very important point. What was Lucifer’s argument? I can sanctify myself by doing my own thing and i can still be good, kind etc. That was Lucifer’s principle. But God says, “I have given you the Sabbath so that you know that there is nothing that you can do to sanctify yourself - The only way that sanctification comes is by resting in what ever I tell you' [See also : God's Sabbathismos].
Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Note: Sabbath was "made" for man [not for Jews] - Mark 2:27. When God gave the Jews the sabbath, He makes a very important point. What was Lucifer’s argument? I can sanctify myself by doing my own thing and i can still be good, kind etc. That was Lucifer’s principle. But God says, “I have given you the Sabbath so that you know that there is nothing that you can do to sanctify yourself - The only way that sanctification comes is by resting in what ever I tell you' [See also : God's Sabbathismos].