The 2 nd London Baptist Confession of Faith A brief history and introduction
Henry VIII and the beginning of Reform sort of 1534 The Act of Supremacy Thomas Cromwell (Henry s chief minister) Thomas Cranmer (Archbishop of Canterbury) Henry declared Head of the Church of England Anglican church 3 sacraments (baptism, communion and penance) Abolition of feast days Offerings to images and pilgrimages discouraged
The Doctrine of the Emerging Anglican Church 1536 The 10 Articles The binding authority of the Bible, the three ecumenical creeds (Nicene, Apostles, Athanasian) and 1 st four ecumenical councils Necessity of baptism for salvation Sacrament of penance The substantial, real, corporal presence of Christ's body and blood under the form of bread and wine in the eucharist Justification by faith, joined with charity and obedience Use of images in churches Honoring of saints and Virgin Mary Invocation of saints Observance of various rites (clerical vestments, holy water, candles) Purgatory and prayers for the dead
Further Reforms and Reversals 1537 The Institution of the Christian Man or The Bishops Book Implement reforms in separating from the RCC and establishing the Anglican Church To promote unity and instruct the people in church doctrine 1539 The Six Articles Transubstantiation Withholding the cup from the laity Clerical celibacy Observance of chastity Permission for private masses Auricular confession 1543 Kings Book Defended transubstantiation and Six Articles
Edward VI and further reforms and reversals 1547 Becomes king Six Articles repealed 1549 Book of Common Prayer 1552 BCP revised 42 Articles 1553 Mary Tudor becomes Queen Repeals Act of Supremacy Reunites Church of England with the RCC
Elizabeth I and not enough reform 1559 Becomes Queen Elizabethan Settlement Act of Supremacy Act of Uniformity Puritans Dissenters/Non-Conformists Thomas Cartwright 1563 39 Articles 1571 John Feild and Thomas Wilcox Admonition to the Parliament 1580 Robert Browne
James I, frustrations, and departures 1603 Becomes King Divine Right of Kings True Law of Free Monarchies Basilikon Religious separatists = political extremists 1604 Hampton Court Conference 1608 1 st Puritan community leaves for Holland 1620 Plymouth Plantation
Charles I and war 1625 Becomes King 1629-1642 Puritan Migrations to Massachusetts 1642-1645 1 st English Civil War 1644 Independent Particular Baptist write a confession of faith 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith 1649 Charles I executed 1649-59 English Commonwealth WCF made confession of church of England and Scotland 1658 Savoy Declaration
Charles II and Reformation reversals again 1660 Monarchy Restored 1662 Act of Uniformity Book of Common Prayer 39 Articles Reestablished Episcopal Rule Great Ejection 1672 Test Act 1677 Revised and expanded 1644 LBCF Used Savoy and WCF Nature of Church, baptism, and perpetuity of the moral law (the Lord s Day)
James II and the threat of a return to Popery 1685 Become King Roman Catholic Divine Right of Kings Declaration of Indulgence Had a son from his 2 nd wife The Plot William of Orange married to daughter of James II from 1 st wife Both Protestants 1688 The Glorious Revolution
1689 Bill of Rights Right to petition the king Right to bear arms in defense King had to seek the consent of the people (via Parliament) Act of Toleration Freedom of worship to nonconformists (Baptists, Congregationalists not Catholics or Quakers) Publication of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
The Necessity of the Word of God (Paragraph 1) The Assertion The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience Reason #1 Because of the nature of general revelation What general revelation does (Psalm 19:1-3) What general revelation cannot do (Psalm 19:7-11) as distinct from special revelation Reason #2 Because of the purpose of inscripturation Preserving and propagating the truth Establishment and comfort of the church against Corruption of the flesh Malice of Satan and the world Implications of the Assertion Recommended Reading -The Canon of Scripture by F. F. Bruce -The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism by G. K. Beale which makes the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
The Identity of the Word of God (Paragraph 2 & 3) What is considered to be the Word of God? all the books of the Old and New Testament Canonization The Old Testament Christ: Luke 24:44 NT writers: Acts 28:23 The New Testament Ephesians 3:1-7 Revelation 21:5 Recommended Reading -Revelation and the Bible Chapter 11, The Apocrypha By G. Douglas Young What is not considered to be the Word of God? Apocrypha: Tobit, Judith, Additions to Esther, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, Additions to Daniel (Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon), 1 & 2 Maccabees, 1 & 2 Esdras, Prayer of Manasseh Distinguished from the Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church
The Authority of the Word of God (Paragraph 4 & 5) The Bible does not need the churches approval to be authoritative The Bible is authoritative because it is God s Word How do we know it is God s Word? Evidences Secondary The testimony of the Church of God The testimony of the Scripture itself the heavenliness of the matter the efficacy of the doctrine the majesty of the style the consent of all the parts the scope of the whole (to give all glory to God) Recommended Reading -Authority By D. M. Lloyd-Jones -A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1 By Samuel Waldron the full discovery it makes of the only way of mans salvation other incomparable excellencies and entire perfections Primary The Holy Spirit bears witness in our hearts by and with the Word Self-Authenticating
The Sufficiency of the Word of God (Paragraph 6) Is the Bible enough? 2 Timothy 3:14-17 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. What about new revelations? the traditions of the church? Some qualifications The necessity of the illumination of the Holy Spirit The place of common sense Recommended Reading -Our Sufficiency in Christ, Chapter 4 By John MacArthur, Jr.
The Clarity of the Word of God (Paragraph 7) Must you be a Greek scholar to understand what the Bible teaches? In some parts, knowledge of the languages and culture would be helpful even necessary to understand the passage and its application However, truths necessary for salvation are clear and available to all using ordinary means Recommended Reading -Introduction to Biblical Interpretation by Klein, Blomberg, Hubbard -Principles of Interpretation by Louis Berkhof -Interpreting the Bible by Berkeley Mickelsen -Protestant Biblical Interpretation by Bernard Ramm
The Availability of the Word of God (Paragraph 8) Original s inspired and copies authentic Textual criticism The necessity of translation Salvation is not for the Jew only, but for the Gentile from every tribe, tongue, and nation The end of translation The worship of God Hope Recommended Reading -The New Testament Documents by F. F. Bruce -Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism by J. Harold Greenlee -New Testament Textual Criticism by David Alan Black
The Finality of God s Word (Paragraph 9 &10) Scriptural provides it s own framework of understanding itself Scripture interprets scripture The Supremacy of the Word of God Recommended Reading -The Bible By God
1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures The Scriptures are necessary, authoritative, sufficient, clear, and the final judge on all matters of the faith and ought to be made available to all in every language.