"the American Founders asserted in the Declaration was the “Law of Nature and Nature’s God.” This universal moral law served as their moral and legal basis for creating a new, self-governing nation. . . . revealed by God in two ways—in nature and in the Bible—and thus evidences the Bible’s influence in America’s founding document."
Natural Law is fundamental, and obvious without even relying on the Bible. It is inherent in Nature herself, as constituted by Nature's God. It is present in the human conscience, regardless of religion. That is the way God created the Universe and the moral law.
"Natural law (Latin: ius naturale, lex naturalis) is a system of law based on a close observation of natural order and human nature, from which values, thought by natural law's proponents to be intrinsic to human nature, can be deduced and applied independently of positive law (the express enacted laws of a state or society). According to the theory of law called jusnaturalism, all people have inherent rights, conferred not by act of legislation but by "God, nature, or reason"
The Bible expounds on the moral law that is Nature's Law. It is totally consistent. But even those who do not "believe in" the Bible, Natural Law is present to them. Except the deniers. It is from God, but it is so present in Nature that only the obtuse can deny it.
Yes, it’s there, in story form. In Genesis chapter 4 is the story of Cain and Abel, Cain being the firstborn of Adam and Eve (actually Chawah as Eve is Babylonian not Hebrew, but that's an aside, though easy to remember: “Chawah the first mama” — doesn’t rhyme, but still memorable).
Abel brought God a sacrifice, a gift, and in the Hebrew sacrifices are often celebrations with God, and in this one Abel would have been enjoying the meal as he thanked God for his blessings over the past season or year!
Cain brought God a wheat or grain offering, and God did not look upon Cain favorably.
There’s got to be more background to this story, such as possibly Cain held back from bringing the best of his farming results for the year from God, Cain could have put more effort into the sacrifice, bringing a ram or a goat and seriously celebrating the opportunity to thank God for his blessings. We don’t have the full story. But Cain’s parents must have taught him some lesson about properly showing thanks to God for blessings each season after his parents got booted from the Garden of Eden.
God’s admonition to Cain gets to your question:
Yahweh said to Cain, “Why be angry, why feel so down? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, then the desire and longing of ‘sin’ (Hebrew “chattah”) is right at your gate (to follow down this path), but you must rule over it (master it).”
This story of Cain and Abel story is set in a time before the giving of the Torah (teaching, guidance, instructions, the law) given to Moses. The setting is some time after his parents were booted from the Garden of Eden. So this is a semi-primitive theme and setting: there are no judges, priests, kings, and thankfully no attorneys. God is testing Cain’s heart, and giving Cain the opportunity to consider his nature, his inner strength and being. Cain knows he can do better, and make a good choice. If God is talking to him, Cain can let God know that he will give his best. Cain can know for the future, and in his heart choose to bring the best offering he can.for celebrations and God likes the meat, and in particular the fat from the grass-fed animals, Omega3 fatty acids….
But in verse 8, Cain chooses a dark path he knows is wrong, and kills his brother.
Did Cain know beforehand it would have been wrong to kill his brother? The story implies: “yes.”
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” How? By choosing to pursue good things in life, and filling one’s heart with good ideas and positive virtues, a person can experience the goodness and hardships of life, and be a blessing to others, being the helping hand of God to others, and just maybe experience a miracle or two, whether big or small.
"the American Founders asserted in the Declaration was the “Law of Nature and Nature’s God.” This universal moral law served as their moral and legal basis for creating a new, self-governing nation. . . . revealed by God in two ways—in nature and in the Bible—and thus evidences the Bible’s influence in America’s founding document."
https://americanheritage.org/the-law-of-nature-and-natures-god-one-moral-law-revealed-two-ways/
Are the concepts of Natural Law and Nature's God in the bible?
Natural Law is fundamental, and obvious without even relying on the Bible. It is inherent in Nature herself, as constituted by Nature's God. It is present in the human conscience, regardless of religion. That is the way God created the Universe and the moral law.
"Natural law (Latin: ius naturale, lex naturalis) is a system of law based on a close observation of natural order and human nature, from which values, thought by natural law's proponents to be intrinsic to human nature, can be deduced and applied independently of positive law (the express enacted laws of a state or society). According to the theory of law called jusnaturalism, all people have inherent rights, conferred not by act of legislation but by "God, nature, or reason"
The Bible expounds on the moral law that is Nature's Law. It is totally consistent. But even those who do not "believe in" the Bible, Natural Law is present to them. Except the deniers. It is from God, but it is so present in Nature that only the obtuse can deny it.
So do they actually talk about it in the bible or are people just...making that up? Sounds like Nature and Nature's God are not actually in the bible.
Yes, it’s there, in story form. In Genesis chapter 4 is the story of Cain and Abel, Cain being the firstborn of Adam and Eve (actually Chawah as Eve is Babylonian not Hebrew, but that's an aside, though easy to remember: “Chawah the first mama” — doesn’t rhyme, but still memorable).
Abel brought God a sacrifice, a gift, and in the Hebrew sacrifices are often celebrations with God, and in this one Abel would have been enjoying the meal as he thanked God for his blessings over the past season or year!
Cain brought God a wheat or grain offering, and God did not look upon Cain favorably.
There’s got to be more background to this story, such as possibly Cain held back from bringing the best of his farming results for the year from God, Cain could have put more effort into the sacrifice, bringing a ram or a goat and seriously celebrating the opportunity to thank God for his blessings. We don’t have the full story. But Cain’s parents must have taught him some lesson about properly showing thanks to God for blessings each season after his parents got booted from the Garden of Eden.
God’s admonition to Cain gets to your question: Yahweh said to Cain, “Why be angry, why feel so down? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, then the desire and longing of ‘sin’ (Hebrew “chattah”) is right at your gate (to follow down this path), but you must rule over it (master it).”
This story of Cain and Abel story is set in a time before the giving of the Torah (teaching, guidance, instructions, the law) given to Moses. The setting is some time after his parents were booted from the Garden of Eden. So this is a semi-primitive theme and setting: there are no judges, priests, kings, and thankfully no attorneys. God is testing Cain’s heart, and giving Cain the opportunity to consider his nature, his inner strength and being. Cain knows he can do better, and make a good choice. If God is talking to him, Cain can let God know that he will give his best. Cain can know for the future, and in his heart choose to bring the best offering he can.for celebrations and God likes the meat, and in particular the fat from the grass-fed animals, Omega3 fatty acids….
But in verse 8, Cain chooses a dark path he knows is wrong, and kills his brother.
Did Cain know beforehand it would have been wrong to kill his brother? The story implies: “yes.”
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” How? By choosing to pursue good things in life, and filling one’s heart with good ideas and positive virtues, a person can experience the goodness and hardships of life, and be a blessing to others, being the helping hand of God to others, and just maybe experience a miracle or two, whether big or small.