1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith...a good read!

This Sunday afternoon I have spent a few hours reading over the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. I have found it to be thoroughly edifying and worthy of bloging about (and worthy of your read.) The Westminster longer and shorter catechisms are also excellent.

A little note about creeds and Confession's of Faith might be in order at this point. While Holy Scripture is our sole source of inspired revelation and infallible authority, it is not our only authority. Scripture must be interpreted within the hermeneutical boundaries of the apostolic rule of faith, and it must be interpreted in and by the church. Other authorities exist which are subordinate to Scripture.

This statement of faith is a good rule of faith by which to judge what you believe. It is a statement of the Christian faith, the faith which I believe the apostles taught, later wrote about, and which was canonized in the Bible. the 1689 LBC is not infallible, but it is authoritative.

Now, on to the content: Just a few things I wanted to highlight...I'll write more later hopefully. (You likely won't find these in the highly condensed modern Baptist statements of faith.)

Chapter I, article 7._____"All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
( 2 Peter 3:16; Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:130)"

Chapter 3, article 1._____ "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.
( Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18; James 1:13; 1 John 1:5; Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11; Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3-5 )"

Chapter 3, article " 2._____ Although God knoweth 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.
( Acts 15:18; Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18 )"

There are 32 Chapters in all. Maybe read one a day and call it "32 Days of Faith." Imagine the possibilities! Sell millions of books, fly banners, host seminars...or perhaps just read it as you have time. :)