1st London Baptist Confession (1644)

The 1644 London Baptist Confession, also referred to as the First London Baptist Confession, is a seminal theological document that articulates the beliefs and practices of the Particular Baptist movement during the 17th century. Drafted in London, it outlines the doctrinal tenets and ecclesiastical principles of the emerging Baptist denomination. Composed by a group of seven Particular Baptist ministers, including figures like Hanserd Knollys, William Kiffin, and Benjamin Coxe, the Confession aimed to provide a comprehensive statement of faith for the growing Baptist congregations. It addresses topics ranging from God's sovereignty and predestination to the nature of the church and its ordinances. The Confession reflects the influence of Reformed theology and Puritan thought while asserting the distinctive Baptist principles of believer's baptism and religious freedom. It played a crucial role in solidifying the theological identity of Particular Baptists and contributed to the shaping of subsequent Baptist confessions and creeds.

Chapter 1 – Of the Holy Scriptures

The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God as to leave men inexcusable. Yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation.
Therefore, it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which makes the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.

Chapter 2 – Of God and of the Holy Trinity

The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure Spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; and withal, most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleaseth. In His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them.
In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.

Chapter 3 – Of God's Decree

God hath decreed in Himself from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.
Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions, yet hath He not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.
These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto.

Chapter 4 – Of Creation

In the beginning, it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Chapter 5 – Of Divine Providence

God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance or without His providence; yet by the same providence, He ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
God in His ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at His pleasure.
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in His providence, that His determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to His own holy ends; yet so as the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the creature, and not from God, who being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.

As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous Judge, for former sins doth blind and harden, from them He not only withholdeth His grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings and wrought upon their hearts, but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan; whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, even under those means which God uses for the softening of others.
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a most special manner, it taketh care of His Church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof.

Chapter 6 – Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof

Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof; yet he did not long abide in this honor; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to seduce Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given unto them in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them, whereby death came upon all. All becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself and all the motions thereof are truly and properly sin.

Chapter 7 – Of God's Covenant

The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace wherein He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit to make them willing and able to believe.
This covenant is revealed in the Gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament. And it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all of the posterity of fallen Adam, that ever were saved, did obtain life and blessed immortality; man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency.
This covenant is not contrary to that of works, so as to exclude the gracious promises of it; but does include and engage them. The promises of it, in like manner, are not contrary to the covenant of works, as if they opposed each other, but do sweetly comply and agree with it; the Gospel being the administration of the covenant of grace, or, the engagement and undertaking of the Mediator to fulfill all the conditions thereof, and to purchase and procure all the benefits which it contains. In this covenant the Lord Jesus Christ undertook and did fully discharge and accomplish whatever the Father required and demanded on behalf of His elect.

Chapter 8 – Of Christ the Mediator

It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man. He is fully God and fully man, yet one person, and He is the only Redeemer of God's elect.
The Lord Jesus, in His human nature, being conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary, perfectly kept the law, fulfilled all righteousness, and suffered and died as the substitute for sinners, satisfying divine justice and reconciling us to God.
Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, by taking upon Himself the form of a servant, being made under the law, and perfectly fulfilling it. He also endured the punishment for human sin, suffering and dying upon the cross, and was buried, rising from the dead on the third day. All of this was done to reconcile the elect to God and to make atonement for their sins.
Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name or way given by which humanity can be saved but through Him.
Those who are effectually called and regenerated, having faith in Christ, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power. They receive the fullness of the benefits of His mediation.

Chapter 9 – Of Free Will

God has endowed human beings with rationality and volition, making them morally responsible creatures. However, as a consequence of the fall, all of humanity is now fallen and corrupt, making them unable to choose what is truly good and pleasing to God.
As fallen creatures, all humans are in bondage to sin, enemies of God, and spiritually dead. They cannot, by their own strength, convert themselves or prepare themselves for conversion.
In salvation, God, by His grace, chooses those whom He will save and effectually calls them to faith in Jesus Christ. This is not due to anything meritorious in the individual but solely based on God's sovereign will.

Chapter 10 – Of Effectual Calling

Those whom God has predestined to life, He is pleased, in His appointed time, to effectually call by His Word and Spirit. This calling is made out of the state of sin and death to grace and salvation.
Effectual calling is accomplished by God enlightening the minds of sinners spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. He renews their wills, so they willingly and freely embrace Jesus Christ as He is offered in the Gospel.
All who are effectually called are also justified, adopted into God's family, sanctified, and enabled to persevere in faith and obedience until the end.

Chapter 11 – Of Justification

Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifies. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein He pardons all their sins and accepts them as righteous in His sight, only because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to them and received by faith alone.
Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the only instrument of justification. Yet, it is not alone in the person justified, but is always accompanied by all other saving graces, and is evidenced by a life of holiness and obedience.
Christ, by His obedience and death, made a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice on behalf of those who are justified. His righteousness is imputed to them, and their sins are imputed to Him.
God continues to forgive the sins of the justified, but they can never fall back into a state of condemnation because they are united to Christ by faith. Their faith is a gift of God and can never be totally lost or finally fall away.

Chapter 12 – Of Adoption

All those who are justified by faith in Christ are also adopted into the family of God. They become His children and receive the Spirit of adoption, enabling them to cry, "Abba, Father."
This adoption is a great privilege, and it is not due to any merit in the individual but is entirely of God's sovereign grace.
Believers have the full rights and privileges of God's children, including access to Him through prayer, protection under His providence, and the assurance of their eternal inheritance.

Chapter 13 – Of Sanctification

Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, by which believers are renewed in their whole person, becoming more and more conformed to the image of Christ, and enabled to die more unto sin and live more unto righteousness.
The Holy Spirit dwells in believers, enabling them to mortify sin and live holy lives. This sanctification is progressive and continues throughout the believer's life.
Although sanctification is never completed perfectly in this life, believers can grow in grace, striving for greater conformity to Christ.
The assurance of salvation does not depend on the degree of sanctification attained, but on the unchangeable love of God, the testimony of the Spirit, and the evidence of faith and repentance in the believer's life.

Chapter 14 – Of Saving Faith

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. It is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word, and by the administration of the sacraments, in those who are of the age capable of those ordinances.
Faith's principal acts are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. It is a direct act, a whole soul reliance, and a full-hearted embracing of Christ as He is offered in the Gospel.
Faith is not a mere assent of the intellect but also includes a disposition of the heart, which includes humble submission to Christ's authority and sovereign rule.

Chapter 15 – Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation

Repentance unto life and salvation is a saving grace, worked in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God. It is an evangelical repentance, whereby the sinner, being deeply convinced of their sin, humbles themselves with godly sorrow, hatred of sin, and a turning away from it with a sincere purpose to walk before God in all the ways of obedience.
Repentance is not only a sorrow for sin but also a turning from sin unto God, with a full purpose of and endeavor after new obedience. This grace is a necessary part of salvation and is inseparable from saving faith.

Chapter 16 – Of Good Works

Good works are the fruits and evidences of a true and living faith. They flow from a renewed heart and aim at God's glory as their ultimate goal.
Believers are called to be diligent in good works, for these are ordained by God for the purpose of glorifying Him, adorning the Gospel, and proving the sincerity of their faith.
While good works are unable to merit salvation, they are not to be disregarded or neglected. They are the result of the sanctifying work of the Spirit in the lives of believers.

Chapter 17 – Of the Perseverance of the Saints

Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace. They will persevere to the end and be saved.
This perseverance is not based on the strength of their own inherent goodness or power but is the result of God's preservation and the interceding work of Christ on their behalf.
True believers may fall into various sins and endure God's chastisement, yet they will be renewed through repentance and will ultimately be preserved and brought safely to glory.

Chapter 18 – Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

True believers can attain assurance of their salvation in this life. This assurance is not always present but may vary in degree according to the measure of their faith and the work of the Spirit in their hearts.
Assurance is attained through the work of the Spirit witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God. It is also supported by the objective evidence of a changed life, obedience to God's commands, and the fruits of the Spirit.
Although believers may experience doubts and fears due to their remaining indwelling sin and Satan's temptations, these things will not prevail to the complete absence of assurance.

Chapter 19 – Of the Law of God

The moral law contained in the Ten Commandments is a reflection of the eternal righteousness and holiness of God. It continues to be a perfect rule of righteousness for all people, both believers and unbelievers.
The ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, which pointed to Christ, have been abolished with the coming of Christ. They are no longer binding, and their observance is not required for salvation.
The moral law is of great use to believers as a guide for their lives, showing them how to walk in holiness and obedience to God.

Chapter 20 – Of the Gospel and the Extent of Grace Thereof

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. It is to be proclaimed to all nations and people, offering salvation through faith in Christ's work.
Although not all who hear the Gospel will be saved, it is the duty of all to hear and embrace the message of salvation.
The Gospel call is not limited to any particular group of people but is to be proclaimed to all without distinction.

Chapter 21 – Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience

Christian liberty is the freedom that believers have in Christ from the guilt, condemnation, and dominion of sin. It is not a license to indulge in sin but rather to serve God and one another in love.
Christians are free from the rituals and ceremonies of the Mosaic law, but they are bound to obey the moral law of God.
Christians are to use their liberty responsibly, taking care not to use it as an excuse for fleshly indulgence or to cause offense to weaker believers.

Chapter 22 – Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day

Worship is to be given to God alone and should be regulated by His Word. The elements of worship include the preaching and hearing of the Word, prayer, singing of psalms, and the administration of the sacraments.
The Sabbath Day, observed on the first day of the week, is a day of holy rest and worship, commemorating the resurrection of Christ. It is to be set apart for public and private worship and for works of necessity and mercy.

Chapter 23 – Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

Lawful oaths and vows are expressions of religious worship. They are to be taken with seriousness, only in truth, righteousness, and judgment, and with a sincere reverence for God.
Oaths may be taken in matters of truth and judgment, but not to fulfill sinful or unreasonable requests. Vows, which are voluntary, must be made with careful consideration and fulfilled with integrity.

Chapter 24 – Of the Civil Magistrate

God has ordained civil magistrates to be rulers over His people for their good and welfare. They are to be honored, obeyed, and prayed for, as long as their commands do not conflict with the Word of God.
The civil magistrate's authority is not limited to matters of civil order but also extends to the support of true religion and the encouragement of good behavior.
The civil magistrate should uphold and protect the freedom of conscience and worship, preventing the spread of false religions and heresies.

Chapter 25 – Of Marriage

Marriage is an institution of God, established in the creation of man and woman. It is for the mutual help, support, and comfort of husband and wife, the procreation of children, and the prevention of immorality.
Marriage is to be a monogamous union between one man and one woman. Those who are closely related by blood or affinity are not to marry.

Chapter 26 – Of the Church

The Catholic or Universal Church is the body of Christ, consisting of all the elect from every age and nation. Christ is the head, and the Church is His bride and His body.
The visible Church consists of those who profess faith in Christ and obedience to Him, along with their children. The Church is to be governed by the laws and discipline revealed in the Scriptures.

Chapter 27 – Of the Communion of Saints

All true believers are united to Christ and to one another by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual union forms the communion of saints, where they share in each other's gifts, graces, and duties.
This communion includes believers' sharing in the outward means of grace, their mutual edification, and their collective worship of God.

Chapter 28 – Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution by the Lord Jesus Christ. They are to be observed by His Church until the end of the world.
Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, symbolizing their union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. It signifies the believer's cleansing from sin and their profession of faith in Christ.
The Lord's Supper is a sacrament wherein believers partake of bread and wine, which symbolize the body and blood of Christ. It is to be observed in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice and His presence with His people.

Chapter 29 – Of Baptism

Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, to be administered to those who profess faith in Christ and repentance from sin.
Baptism is a symbol of the believer's union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. It signifies their washing from sin and their dedication to a new life in Christ.
Immersion in water is the proper mode of baptism, but pouring or sprinkling may be used when circumstances prevent immersion.

Chapter 30 – Of the Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus Christ. It is to be observed by His Church until His return.
In the Lord's Supper, believers partake of bread and wine, which symbolize the body and blood of Christ. Though the elements remain unchanged in substance, they spiritually represent the benefits of Christ's sacrifice.
The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of Christ's death and a means of nourishing the souls of believers in Him. It is also a sign of their ongoing participation in the benefits of Christ's work.

Chapter 31 – Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead

After death, the bodies of people return to dust, and their souls go to their respective places of happiness or torment.
The souls of the righteous are made perfect in holiness and received into paradise, where they are with Christ and enjoy the presence of God.
The souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torment and darkness, reserved for the judgment of the great day.
At the last day, all the dead will be raised with the same bodies they had in life. The righteous will be raised to life and glory, while the wicked will be raised to judgment and everlasting punishment.

Chapter 32 – Of the Last Judgment

God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness. He will reveal the secrets of all hearts and bring to light the hidden things of darkness.
At the last judgment, the righteous will be openly acknowledged and acquitted in Christ, and they will be made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity.
The wicked will be cast out, along with Satan and his angels, into everlasting punishment and torment.