It is common to divide the law into three categories: [color:red]moral, ceremonial and judicial</font color=red> (civil). These are the categories used in the Westminster Confession as well as in many other historic statements of faith. It should not be assumed that these represent three independent and separable types of law. [color:red]Moral law</font color=red>, as it originates in the eternal and holy nature of God, and as it relates to the nature of creation in its various moral estates, is the foundation for all other categories we speak of in connection with law. If [color:red]moral law</font color=red> is the principal base of all ethics and reflects the holiness of the Creator, then we should presume that the other categories are designated to show how it applies in creation from various considerations. The [color:red]ceremonial laws</font color=red> were instituted to reveal the redemptive work of Christ in restoring fallen men to a right standing under the [color:red]moral law</font color=red>, and the [color:red]judicial law</font color=red> is exemplary of how [color:red]moral law </font color=red>ought to have governed Israel...which BTW expired with the state of that people. <br><br><center>[color:blue]WCF<br>Chapter XIX <br>"Of the Law Of God"</center></font color=blue><br><br>I. 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, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it<br><br>II. 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.<br><br>III. Besides this law, commonly called [color:red]moral</font color=red>, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, [color:red]ceremonial laws</font color=red>[color:blue], containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament.</font color=blue><br><br>IV. To them also, as a body politic, He gave sundry[color:red] judicial laws</font color=red>[color:blue], which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging under any now, further than the general equity thereof may require</font color=blue>.<br><br>V. [color:red]The moral law</font color=red>[color:blue] does forever 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 does Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.</font color=blue><br><br>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 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 encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law: and not under grace.<br><br>VII. 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, requires to be done.

Reformed and Always Reforming,