Of the Law of God, XIX:3

Besides 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, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly, holding forth diverse instructions of moral duties. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the new testament.

In this paragraph the Confession takes up the second category of the law, that pertaining to the cultic (in its formal sense) practices of ancient Israel. That entity was God's "church under age," meaning that Israel had not realized the full revelation of God's covenant of salvation. Instead, he gave her "typical ordinances." Here the word "typical" does not mean usual or common; rather, it refers to "type" or "symbol." The ceremonial ordinances were given to prefigure or illustrate Christ; they symbolized him and his work. Like a signpost pointing toward a desired destination, the ceremonial law points us to Christ. This is brought out most clearly in the epistle to the Hebrews. Indeed, one should take a close look at Hebrews 9:1-14 and 10:1-4. Christ has fulfilled in his person the ceremonial law. His once-for-all sacrifice does away with the need for the old cultus. Here we should recall the significance of the tearing of the temple curtain at the moment of Christ's death--God declared the way to his presence was then fully open, there being no more barrier between God and men because Christ had completely fulfilled God's requirements.

While the ceremonial law has been abrogated, the moral law remains. Persons who attempt to object to the persistance of the moral law by pointing toward "hypocrites" who do not also uphold the ceremonial law show themselves to be ignorant of this distinction. Another distinction regarding the law is yet to come.

Tomorrow: The civil law of Israel.