SD 19.1
Savoy Declaration
19.1. Of the Law of God
God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, as a covenant of works, by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it; and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
Proof texts
- Gen. 1:26, 27 with Gen. 2:17
- Rom. 2:14, 15 — [14] For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. [15] They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
- Rom. 10:5 — [5] For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
- Rom. 5:12, 19 — [12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned — [19] For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
- Gal. 3:10, 12 — [10] For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” [12] But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
- Eccles. 7:29
- Job 28:28 — [28] And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Gen. 1:26, 27 with Gen. 2:17 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 7 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 19.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?