Free to Obey

The Moral Law and the Christian – Westminster Confession Ch. 19.5-7

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.Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31; Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 6:2; James 2:8,10,11; 1 John 2:3,4,7,8.
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 regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin: and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law. 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. So as, a man’s doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law, and, not under grace.Leviticus 26:1-14; Ezra 9:13,14; Psalm 19:11; Psalm 34:12-16; Psalm 37:11; Psalm 89:30-34; Psalm 119:4-6,101,104,128; Matthew 5:5; Luke 17:10; Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20; Romans 6:12,14; Romans 7:7,9,12,14,22,24,25; Romans 8:1,3,4; 1 Corinthians 7:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:13,24; Galatians 4:4,5; Galatians 5:14,16,18-23; Ephesians 6:2,3; Hebrews 12:28,29; James 1:23-25; James 2:11; 1 Peter 3:8-12.
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.Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:27; Galatians 3:21; Hebrews 8:10.