32. The Ground of Law (Leviticus 18:1-5)

• Jun, 23 2025

Chapter Thirty-Two Summary: The Ground of Law (Leviticus 18:1–5) Rushdoony on Law, Sovereignty, and the Moral Consequences of AtonementLeviticus 18:1–5 introduces a chapter on sexual ethics by establishing the moral foundation of all biblical law: God's sovereign authority. Rushdoony makes it clear that the law does not emerge from culture, consensus, or emotion, but from “I am the LORD your God” (v. 2). This phrase is not just theological—it is political and judicial. 🔑 Key Themes and Exegetical Highlights 1. God’s Authority is the Ground of Law“I am the LORD your God” (v. 2, 4, 5) This divine self-identification grounds Israel’s moral code not in pragmatism or tradition, but in God’s nature and covenantal claim. → Law flows from lordship.2. Cultural Relativism is Rejected“Ye shall not do as they do in Egypt… or in Canaan” (v. 3) Israel is commanded to reject both the culture it came from and the one it’s entering. God's people are to live by God’s ordinances, not by the surrounding world’s moral consensus. → There is no neutrality in law: it’s either God's way or man's.3. Obedience Brings Life“If a man do, he shall live in them” (v. 5) Rushdoony notes this verse does not promise bare survival—it speaks of prosperity, success, and covenantal blessing. → Law is not a burden but the way of life and blessing (cf. Deut. 30:15–20).🧭 Why Leviticus 18 Follows AtonementRushdoony draws attention to the structural placement of this chapter:Leviticus 16: Day of AtonementLeviticus 17: Blood and sacredness of lifeLeviticus 18: Sexual ethics and the law of marriageThis sequence emphasizes that atonement has moral consequences. Once forgiven and cleansed, God’s people must live in holiness—especially in the most intimate and socially foundational area of life: marriage and sexuality. 💥 Conflict with Culture: Then and NowRushdoony recounts how a pastor was dismissed for preaching on Leviticus 18. This illustrates how covenantal ethics are always offensive to cultures shaped by autonomy and pleasure. In Canaanite and Egyptian society—like today—sexuality was idolized and weaponized.→ God’s law on marriage is countercultural, not “negatively moralistic,” but realistically holy. 📛 Humanism and Worship: The Paganization of ChurchRushdoony critiques man-centered worship, which:Seeks to entertain, not submitPrioritizes aesthetics over obedienceElevates man's desires over God’s commandsHe links this to Romans 1:22–25, showing that when man worships the creature rather than the Creator, he degenerates morally, ultimately descending into sexual perversion. → True worship leads to moral obedience; false worship leads to social collapse. 🏛️ Law as Religion: Two Competing Sovereignties“The law we live by manifests our religion.” A land cannot be ruled by two conflicting laws. Hence, wherever biblical law and humanistic law coexist, one must ultimately displace the other.Biblical Law: Founded on God's authority and holinessHumanistic Law: Founded on man’s autonomy and desire for self-expressionThis explains the inevitable clash between Christian ethics and modern legal systems on issues like abortion, homosexuality, and gender. 🔓 Sexual Liberation as Moral RebellionRushdoony emphasizes that sexuality is not morally neutral, and that perversions are forms of dominion-seeking by fallen man. The “liberation” of sex in modern law is a rejection of God’s sovereignty in favor of human autonomy.He draws parallels between:Sodom's aggression (Gen. 19)Camus’s philosophy of evil as freedomModern sexual legislation as acts of moral rebellion🏁 Conclusion: The Law Reflects God's Sovereignty“God never gives advice: He commands us.” Leviticus 18 begins by asserting that law is not optional. It flows from God’s holiness, and calls us to holiness (1 Pet. 1:16). Those who are atoned must live differently, not by the ordinances of Egypt or Canaan—or Washington or Brussels—but by the commands of the covenant Lord.📌 SEO Keywords: Leviticus 18 commentary, Rushdoony biblical law, God as lawgiver, sexual ethics in Scripture, sovereignty and law, covenant morality, man-centered worship, biblical view of culture, dominion and sexuality, clash of legal systems

Author

R.J. Rushdoony

Chalcedon Founder

Narrated by

Nathan F. Conkey

Narrator, teacher, missionary