Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 95
Question 95
Of what use is the moral law to all men?
The moral law is of use to all men, to inform them of the holy nature and will of God, and of their duty, binding them to walk accordingly; to convince them of their disability to keep it, and of the sinful pollution of their nature, hearts, and lives; to humble them in the sense of their sin and misery, and thereby help them to a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and of the perfection of his obedience.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Leviticus 11:44-4544For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground.
45For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
Leviticus 20:7-87Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.
8And you shall keep My statutes and practice them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Romans 7:1212So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
Micah 6:88He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
James 2:10-1110Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Psalms 19:11-1211By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.
12Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Romans 3:2020Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
Romans 7:77What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
Romans 3:99What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.
Romans 3:2323for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Galatians 3:21-2221Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
22But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
Romans 10:44For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
Source and edition
Westminster Larger Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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