What Laws Should Civil Rulers Govern By?

What laws should civil rulers govern by? Since every law of God is “holy . . . just and good” (Rom. 7:12), this must be their standard. And how should they apply them? Scripture gives us three divisions of the law: (1) ceremonial laws, which were fulfilled in Christ; (2) judicial laws, which were tied to Israel’s civil life and expired with the Old Covenant; and (3) the moral laws, summarized in the Ten Commandments, which abide forever. Civil magistrates are bound to uphold God’s moral laws in every decision they make. And even though the judicial laws of Israel expired in their original form, these laws still carry general equity—moral principles that apply across all ages and nations, which they should administer with careful wisdom.