Who has the right to make a religious law? Governments in this world are authorized by the God of heaven to make civil laws, laws that relate to the relationships between human beings—the second table of the ten commandments.
Paul makes this very plain in Romans 13. Peter also makes it plain in 1 Peter 2. For example, the Bible supports the death penalty for those who commit murder (Genesis 9; Romans 13).
But the first four commandments—the first table of the ten commandments—relate to our relationship with God; and concerning these commandments, no government has the right to interfere.
In 1 Peter 2, Peter encourages submission to government, but he himself said when the religious authorities commanded him to violate his conscientious convictions toward God, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29, last part
In Romans 13, Paul states explicitly the authority of the state to enforce the commandments relating to murder, adultery stealing, and lying (Romans 13:9). But Romans 14 tells us, in the most explicit language, that there is no civil or religious authority that has the authority to enforce the first four commandments in the law:
“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
“He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord, and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
“For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself.
“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
“For to this end Christ died and rose, and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and living.
“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’
“So, then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:5–12
Concerning religious laws, the Bible says, we have one Lawgiver, one Judge and one King (Isaiah 33:22).