Aside from the enforcement nightmare, can you imagine what would happen if every law were enforced to the letter, with no mercy extended for any reason? How many citations would each person receive in a year? If Adam and Eve couldn't even resist breaking the only rule that was on the books, what chance would we have? Makes you appreciate grace and mercy, doesn't it? According to God's law, even one violation makes you deserving of death and eternal separation from Him. And yet in Christ every sin we have committed or will commit has been forgiven.
For many people, the rule of thumb is "How much can I get away with," or "What does the law require." The question we should be asking is whether this choice is helpful for me or for the Body of Christ. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV), "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but I will not be dominated by anything." And in 1 Corinthians 14:12, "So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church."
At its root, sin comes from a heart that is intent on getting its own way rather than looking out for the best interests of others. It's no coincidence that the humility of Christ as outlined in Philippians 2 is the same path by which He demonstrated His love for us (1 John 4). Loving others well requires setting aside our own interests and agendas and submitting to God's design for life. And submitting to God includes submitting to the authorities and laws He has established, not to earn salvation, but for the good of society.
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment" (Romans 13:1-2).
