WCF 19.7
Westminster Confession of Faith
19.7. Of the Law of God
Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that, freely and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.
Proof texts
- Gal. 3:21 — [21] Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
- Ezek. 36:27 — [27] And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
- Heb. 8:10 with Jer. 31:33
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Gal. 3:21 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 3 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 Q93 · WLC Q94 · HC Q92 · 1689 19.1 · IAR 6.1 · SHC 4.1 · SHC 4.2 · SD 19.1
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): Section VI. — Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned," yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others : in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly -^^^ discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives;" so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation fOr, and hatred against sin ;" together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience.^* It is likewise of use to the rogenv^rate, to restrain…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): It is here affirmed, that true believers are completely delivered from the law, as a covenant of works. Christ, as their representative and surety, endured the curse of the law in all its bitterness, and in its utmost extent, in his sufferings imto death, and thus set them completely free from its condemning power. — Gal. iii. 13; Rom. viii. 1. But had Christ only endured the curse of the law, and still left his people under its commanding power as a covenant, this would only have restored them to the same uncertain state of probation in which Adam originally stood, and every transgression would have again involved them under the curse. Christ, however, not only sustained the full infliction…