Overview

This chapter sets the law of God in its covenantal place. It distinguishes the law given to Adam (the covenant of works), the moral law summarized in the Ten Commandments and abiding forever, and the ceremonial and judicial laws given to Israel and now expired. It then confesses the abiding uses of the moral law for all people — and especially the right, gospel uses of the law for the believer, who is no longer under it as a covenant of works yet still loves and follows it as the rule of life.

The Confession, Section by Section

19.1–19.2 — The moral law: from Eden to Sinai

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… This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai in ten commandments, and written in two tables: the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…if you would enter life, keep the commandments.” (Matt. 19:17, ESV)

Further proofs: Gen. 1:26–27; 2:17; Rom. 2:14–15; 10:5; 5:12, 19; Deut. 5:32; 10:4; Exod. 34:1.

Exposition: The moral law is not arbitrary; it expresses God’s own righteous character, given to Adam and re-published at Sinai in the Ten Commandments. The “two tables” structure (duty to God, then to man) governs all the catechisms’ exposition of the commandments.

19.3–19.4 — Ceremonial and judicial laws expired

Beside this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances… All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament.

To them also, as a body politic, he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging any other now, further than the general equity thereof may require.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink… These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Col. 2:16–17, ESV)

Further proofs: Heb. 9:9–10; 10:1; Gal. 4:1–3; Eph. 2:15–16; 1 Cor. 5:7; Acts 10:9–16; Matt. 5:17.

Exposition: Two categories of OT law have expired. The ceremonial laws (sacrifices, food laws, purity rites) were types “foresignifying Christ” (cf. 7.5) and are abrogated now that the substance has come. The judicial laws governing Israel as a nation expired with that state, binding us no further “than the general equity thereof may require” — that is, the abiding principles of justice they embody still instruct, though the specific civil code does not bind. Only the moral law abides as a perpetual rule.

19.5 — The moral law binds all forever

The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it. Neither doth Christ, in the gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” (Rom. 3:31, ESV)

Further proofs: Matt. 5:17–19; James 2:8, 10–11; Rom. 13:8–10; 1 John 2:3–4, 7.

Exposition: The moral law binds everyone forever — believers included — because it rests on the authority of the Creator. The gospel does not abolish this obligation but “much strengthen[s]” it: grace produces deeper, gladder obedience, not less. This is the foundation of the “third use” of the law (the rule of life for the believer).

19.6 — The uses of the law for the believer

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… It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions… The promises of it, in like manner, show them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof: although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Ps. 119:97, ESV)

“For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being.” (Rom. 7:22, ESV)

Further proofs: Rom. 3:20; 6:14; 7:7, 12, 25; Gal. 2:16; 3:13, 21; Ps. 119:4–6; Matt. 5:17–19.

Exposition: The crucial gospel clarification. The believer is “not under the law as a covenant of works” — he is neither justified nor condemned by it, for Christ has fulfilled it and borne its curse for him (Gal. 3:13). Yet the law remains “of great use”: as a rule of life directing duty, as a mirror exposing remaining sin and driving him to Christ, and as a restraint on corruption. The regenerate heart, freed from the law’s condemning power, now loves the law (Ps. 119:97; Rom. 7:22). Law and grace are not enemies in the Christian life: grace fulfills the law in us.

19.7 — Law and gospel sweetly comply

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.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:4, ESV)

Further proofs: Gal. 3:21; Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:27; Titus 2:11–14.

Exposition: The chapter’s resolution: law and gospel “sweetly comply.” The gospel does not set us free from God’s law but free to keep it — the Spirit subdues and enables the will to do “freely and cheerfully” what the law requires. Grace writes the law on the heart (Jer. 31:33). What Adam owed and could not render, the believer now offers, imperfectly but sincerely, by the Spirit, in Christ.

Doctrinal Summary

God’s law was first given to Adam as a covenant of works and, after the fall, remains a perfect rule of righteousness, delivered at Sinai as the moral law in Ten Commandments on two tables. Israel’s ceremonial laws (typifying Christ) and judicial laws (governing that nation) have expired, the latter binding only as to general equity; but the moral law binds all forever on the Creator’s authority, an obligation the gospel strengthens. Believers, though not under the law as a covenant for justification or condemnation, find it of great use as a rule of life, a mirror of sin, and a restraint — and these uses sweetly comply with the gospel, as the Spirit enables glad obedience.

Connections

• WLC Q91–99 — the duty God requires; the moral law; the uses of the moral law; whether the moral law is of use to the regenerate; rules for rightly understanding the Ten Commandments.
• WSC Q39–44 — the duty God requires; the moral law summarized in the Ten Commandments; the sum of the law (love God and neighbor).
• WCF 7 (covenant of works vs. grace), WCF 16 (good works, done by the rule of the law), WCF 20 (Christian liberty — freedom from the law’s curse).
• Loci: The law of God; the threefold division (moral, ceremonial, judicial); the three uses of the law (civil restraint, mirror driving to Christ, rule of life).

Pastoral & Practical Significance

This chapter heals the false split between law and grace that troubles many Christians. It frees you from the law’s terror: in Christ you are no longer under it as a covenant that can condemn you — Christ kept it and bore its curse in your place. But it also frees you for the law’s joy: the believer’s heart, made new, comes to love God’s commandments as the path of life and the expression of the Father’s will. So when Scripture commands, you need not hear a threat but a Father’s loving direction, and the Spirit Himself enables you to obey “freely and cheerfully.” The law still humbles you (showing remaining sin and sending you back to Christ) and still guides you (showing the shape of love), but it can no longer damn you. Law and gospel are not rivals; in Christ they “sweetly comply.”

For Reflection

• Do I hear God’s law as a threat that condemns, or as a Father’s guidance I am freed to love and follow?
• Which use of the law do I most need right now — its mirror to humble me, or its rule to direct me?
• The Spirit enables glad obedience. Where am I trying to keep the law by willpower rather than by the Spirit’s enabling?