1689 London Baptist Confession
1. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the
saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is
ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration
of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is
increased and strengthened.
( 2
Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians
2:8; Romans
10:14, 17; Luke
17:5; 1
Peter 2:2; Acts
20:32 )
2. By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for
the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein above all other
writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his
attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness
of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon
the truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each particular
passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the
threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come;
but the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting,
receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life,
by virtue of the covenant of grace.
( Acts
24:14; Psalms
27:7-10; Psalms
119:72; 2
Timothy 1:12; John
14:14; Isaiah
66:2; Hebrews
11:13; John
1:12; Acts
16:31; Galatians
2:20; Acts
15:11 )
3. This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is
in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving
grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it
may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to
the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of
our faith.
( Hebrews
5:13, 14; Matthew
6:30; Romans
4:19, 20; 2
Peter 1:1; Ephesians
6:16; 1
John 5:4, 5; Hebrews
6:11, 12; Colossians
2:2; Hebrews
12:2 )
For further study:
"Baptist Roots in America: The Historical Background of Reformed Baptists in America", Samuel E. Waldron, Simpson Publishing Co. (1991)
"A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith", Samuel E. Waldron, Evangelical Press, 1989
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