Theonomy in Christian Ethics

Christian Reconstructionism as a distinctive school of thought within the Reformed tradition is founded upon five basic theological premises: (1) Calvinistic soteriology; (2) covenantal theology; (3) postmillennial eschatology; (4) presuppositional apologetics; and (5) theonomic ethics: the

The State incarnates the Divine Idea upon earth (Hegel). The State is the supreme power, ultimate and beyond repeal, absolutely independent (Fichte).

It may rightly be said, therefore, that kingdom and righteousness are synonymous concepts in Jesus’ preaching. The one is unthinkable without the other. . . . In all these places, righteousness means the sum total of God’s demand imposed upon all who would enter the kingdom.15

Since the Fall it has always been unlawful to use the law of God in hopes of establishing one’s own personal merit and justification, in contrast or complement to salvation by way of promise and faith; commitment to obedience is but the lifestyle of faith, a token of gratitude for God’s redeeming grace. 2. The word of the Lord is the sole, supreme,

In agreement with the orthodox creeds of the early church, the Reformers maintained that

John Calvin broke with the view that the state was autonomous, arguing for the sole rule of Christ over both church and state (as well as the noninterference between the official bodies). He reopened the way to a Christian view of the state, taking it to be subject, not to the church, but only to the laws of God.

With respect to doctrine, we must not imagine that the coming of Christ has freed us from the authority of the law: for it is the eternal rule of a devout and holy life, and must, therefore, be as unchangeable, as the justice of God, which it embraced, is constant and uniform.

The basis for political decisions in this modern system was to be dynastic or national power and glory. . . . But the point that concerns us here is that the international law has been conceived as independent of Christianity, and that with certain exceptions, the states inhabited by Christians have thus made their decisions on avowedly a-Christian

Christ came to enforce the law, to work it into the actual living of His disciples, to give the power of New Covenant obedience. These things are most certainly true about the work of Christ, and they correspond nicely to the promise of Jeremiah 31:33 and the words of Romans 8:4 (where the Spirit “fulfills” the righteousness of the law within