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1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 11

Of Justification

Those whom God Effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing Righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting, and accepting their Persons as Righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone, not by imputing faith it self, the act of beleiving, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their Righteousness; but by imputing Christs active obedience unto the whole Law, and passive obedience in his death, for their whole and sole Righteousnnss, they receiving, and resting on him, and his Righteousness, by Faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.

Scripture references for paragraph 1

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Romans 3:24

24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:30

30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

Romans 4:5

5However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Romans 4:6

6And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Romans 4:7

7“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Romans 4:8

8Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

Ephesians 1:7

7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

1 Corinthians 1:30

30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

1 Corinthians 1:31

31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Romans 5:17

17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Romans 5:18

18So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men.

Romans 5:19

19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Philippians 3:8

8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:9

9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Ephesians 2:8

8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 2:9

9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:10

10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

John 1:12

12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

Romans 5:17

17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ, and his Righteousness, is the alone instrument of Justification: yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving Graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.

Scripture references for paragraph 2

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Romans 3:28

28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Galatians 5:6

6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

James 2:17

17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.

James 2:22

22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

James 2:26

26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Christ by his obedience, and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did by the sacrifice of himself, in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead, the penalty due unto them: make a proper, real and full satisfaction to Gods justice in their behalf: yet in asmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his Obedience and Satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for any thing in them; their Justification is only of Free Grace, that both the exact justice and rich Grace of God, might be glorified in the Justification of sinners.

Scripture references for paragraph 3

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Hebrews 10:14

14because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.

1 Peter 1:18

18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,

1 Peter 1:19

19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Isaiah 53:5

5But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:6

6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 8:32

32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

2 Corinthians 5:21

21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 3:26

26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 1:6

6to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.

Ephesians 1:7

7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Ephesians 2:7

7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

God did from all eternity decreeto justifie all the Elect, and Christ did in the fulness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their Justification; Nevertheless they are not justified personally, untill the Holy Spirit, doth in due time actually apply Christ unto them.

Scripture references for paragraph 4

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Galatians 3:8

8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

1 Peter 1:2

2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

1 Timothy 2:6

6who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.

Romans 4:25

25He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

Colossians 1:21

21Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.

Colossians 1:22

22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—

Titus 3:4

4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

Titus 3:5

5He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:6

6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Titus 3:7

7so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

God doth continue to Forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justication; yet they may by their sins fall under Gods Fatherly displeasure; and in that condition, they have not usually the light of his Countenance restored unto them, untill they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith, and repentance.

Scripture references for paragraph 5

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Matthew 6:12

12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

1 John 1:7

7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:9

9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 10:28

28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.

Psalms 89:31

31if they violate My statutes and fail to keep My commandments,

Psalms 89:32

32I will attend to their transgression with the rod, and to their iniquity with stripes.

Psalms 89:33

33But I will not withdraw My loving devotion from him, nor ever betray My faithfulness.

Psalms 32:5

5Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Psalms 51

1Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

4Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

5Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

6Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.

14Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

18In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, in whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Matthew 26:75

75Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Justification of Believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of Believers under the New Tement.

Scripture references for paragraph 6

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Galatians 3:9

9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Romans 4:22

22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:23

23Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,

Romans 4:24

24but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Source and edition

1689 London Baptist Confession. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription

Unlicense. Source transcription.

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