Visible Holiness to be Maintained

Here we have the penalties to be administered for the breaches of God's law set out in the last two chapters. The cutting off (or excommunication) for certain breaches involved the death penalty in the OT, as it included civil offences unique to Israel as church and nation. This is argued as a defence against Theonomists who regard OT civil law as a transferrable moral code to be applied accross the board in NT times, which view it is suggested, undermines Israel's status as the church in the OT and the continuity of the covenant.*

1. Only the true God is to be worshipped, v1-6.
2. This holiness is required of the church, v7.
3. Denying the faith by rebellion against the second table of the law, v19-21.
4. The Lord's jealousy over his church, v22-26.
5. Holy intolerance of deceivers, v27.

*Of further interest on the subject click on the external link for the address, 'Theonomy and the Westminster Assembly'