Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 97

What special use is there of the moral law to the regenerate?

Although they that are regenerate, and believe in Christ, be delivered from the moral law as a covenant of works,a so as thereby they are neither justifiedb nor condemned;c yet, besides the general uses thereof common to them with all men, it is of special use, to show them how much they are bound to Christ for his fulfilling it, and enduring the curse thereof in their stead, and for their good;d and thereby to provoke them to more thankfulness,e and to express the same in their greater care to conform themselves thereunto as the rule of their obedience.f

What special use is there of the moral law to the regenerate?

Although they that are regenerate, and believe in Christ, be delivered from the moral law as a covenant of works,a so as thereby they are neither justifiedb nor condemned;c yet, besides the general uses thereof common to them with all men, it is of special use, to show them how much they are bound to Christ for his fulfilling it, and enduring the curse thereof in their stead, and for their good;d and thereby to provoke them to more thankfulness,e and to express the same in their greater care to conform themselves thereunto as the rule of their obedience.f

  1. a. Romans 6:14; 7:4, 6; Galatians 4:4–5

    Romans 6:14

    6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

    6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

    Romans 7:4; Romans 7:6

    7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

    7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 7:6 But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

    Galatians 4:4–5

    4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

    4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Romans 3:20

    Romans 3:20

    3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

    3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. Galatians 5:23; Romans 8:1

    Galatians 5:23

    5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

    5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

    Romans 8:1

    8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

    8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. Romans 7:24–25; Galatians 3:13–14; Romans 8:3–4

    Romans 7:24–25

    7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

    7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 7:25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

    Galatians 3:13–14

    3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

    3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 3:14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

    Romans 8:3–4

    8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

    8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 8:4 so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  5. e. Luke 1:68–69, 74–75; Colossians 1:12–14

    Luke 1:68–69; Luke 1:74–75

    1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

    1:68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. 1:69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 1:74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

    Colossians 1:12–14

    1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

    1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 1:13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  6. f. Romans 7:22; 12:2; Titus 2:11–14

    Romans 7:22

    7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

    7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law.

    Romans 12:2

    12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

    12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

    Titus 2:11–14

    2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

    2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. 2:12 It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 2:13 as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 2:14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Related (1)

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 41

Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?

The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.

Commentaries (8)