WCF 19.1
Westminster Confession of Faith
19.1. Of the Law of God
God gave to Adam a law, 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?
- WSC Q39 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WSC Q40 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q39 · WSC Q40 · WLC Q91 · WLC Q92 · WLC Q93 · WLC Q95 · HC Q92
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach the follov^^ing propositions : 1st. That God, as the supreme moral Governor of the universe, introduced the human race into existence as an order of moral creatures, under inalienable and perpetual subjection to an all- perfect moral law, which in all the elements thereof binds man's conscience and requires perfect obedience. 2d. That God, as the Guardian of the human race, entered into a special covenant with Adam, as the natural head of the race, constituting him also the federal head of all mankind, and requiring from him, during a period of probation, perfect obedience to the law above THE LAW Ot GOD. 337 named, promising to him and to his descendants in him confirmation in holiness…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): God having formed man an intelligent creature, and a subject of moral government, he gave him a law for the rule of his conduct. This law was founded in the infinitely righteous nature of God, and the moral relations necessarily subsisting between him and man. It was originally written on the heart of man, as he was endowed with such a perfect knowledge of his Maker's will as was sufficient to inform him concerning the whole extent of his duty, in the circumstances in which he was placed, and was also furnished with power and ability to yield all that obedience which was required of him. This is included in the moral image of God, after which man was created…