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Baptist Confession of Faith 1689

The Baptist Confession is based upon the  earlier Westminster Confession of Faith and was also influenced by the Savoy Declaration.  The Baptist Confession made adjustments to the Westminster  on several issues such as doctrine of the church, the Lord’s supper, baptism (adherence to Believer's Baptism vs Infant Baptism), and church government (defined the power of the Baptist association (denomination) in relationship to individual congregations).

This confession was also known as the London Confession.  It was later was adopted by the Calvinistic Baptists of North America (1744) and renamed the Philadelphia Confession of Faith (with the addition of two chapters  on the singing of psalms and the laying on of hands).

Charles Spurgeon once said of the doctrine:  "This little volume is not issued as an authoritative rule, or code of faith, whereby you are to be fettered, but as an assistance to you in controversy, a confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness. Here the younger members of our church will have a body of divinity in small compass, and by means of the Scriptural proofs, will be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them. Be not ashamed of your faith; remember it is the ancient gospel of martyrs, confessors, reformers and saints. Above all, it is the truth of God, against which the gates of Hell cannot prevail. Let your lives adorn your faith, let your example adorn your creed. Above all, live in Christ Jesus, and walk in Him, giving credence to no teaching but that which is manifestly approved of Him, and owned by the Holy Spirit. Cleave fast to the Word of God which is here mapped out for you."

Navigation Note:  You may click on [TOC] at the end of each chapter in the document to return to this page.

Reformatted 2008.

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