The Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

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Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

1. Although temporary believers and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God and in a state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish;¹ yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,² which hope shall never make them ashamed.³

1) Job 8:13-14; Matt 7:22-23

2) 1 John 2:3, 3:14, 18-19, 21, 24, 5:13

3) Rom 5:2, 5

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2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith,⁴ founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel;⁵ and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made,⁶ and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God;⁷ and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.⁸

4) Heb 6:11, 19

5) Heb 6:17-18

6) 2 Pet 1:4-5, 10-11

7) Rom 8:15-16

8) 1 John 3:1-3

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3. This infallible assurance does not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and struggle with many difficulties before he be partaker of it;⁹ yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto:¹⁰ and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance;¹¹ —so far is it from inclining men to looseness.¹²

9) Isa 50:10; Ps 88; Ps 77:1-12

10) 1 John 4:13; Heb 6:11-12

11) Rom 5:1-2, 5, 14:17; Ps 119:32

12) Rom 6:1-2; Titus 2:11-12, 14

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Isaiah 50:10

10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Psalm 77:1-12

1 To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

1 John 4:13

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Hebrews 6:11-12

11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Romans 5:1-2, 5

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 14:17

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Psalm 119:32

32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Romans 6:1-2

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Titus 2:11-12, 14

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it,¹³ by falling into some special sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit;¹⁴ by some sudden or vehement temptation,¹⁵ by God’s withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light,¹⁶ yet are they never destitute of the seed of God¹⁷ and life of faith,¹⁸ that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived,¹⁹ and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.²⁰

13) Cant 5:2-3, 6

14) Ps 51:8, 12, 14

15) Ps 116:11; 77:7-8, 31:22

16) Ps 30:7

17) 1 John 3:9

18) Luke 22:32

19) Ps 42:5, 11

20) Lam 3:26-31

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Song of Solomon 5:2-3, 6

2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

Psalm 51:8, 12, 14

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Psalm 116:11

11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.

Psalm 77:7-8

7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

Psalm 31:22

22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

Psalm 30:7

7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

1 John 3:9

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Luke 22:32

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Psalm 42:5, 11

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Lamentations 3:26-31

26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

◀ Of the Perseverance of the Saints18 / 32Of the Law of God ▶

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The Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)