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Doctrinal Distinctives of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
| Doctrinal Distinctive | Opposing Error | Chapt.Para | Major Scriptural Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Christian (Orthodox) | Damning Heretical Doctrines | ||
| 1.1 re: Scripture | Liberal; Neo-Orthodox | Ch. 1 | 1Jn 4:6 |
| 1.2 re: God | Jehovah Witness | Ch. 2 | 1Jn 5:12; 2Jn 7-11 |
| 1.3 re: Creation & Providence | Evolution, Chance | Ch. 4, 5, 6 | Ac 17:30-31 |
| 1.4 re: Christ | Liberal; Neo-Orthodox Jehovah Witness | Ch. 8 | Ro 10:9-10 |
| 1.5 re: The Gospel | Roman Catholic | Ch. 11 | Gal 1:6-10 |
| 1.6 re: The Christian Life | Easy Believism | Ch. 11.2, 13 | 1Co 6:9-10 |
| 1.7 re: The World to Come | Universalism Annihilationism | Ch. 31, 32 | 2Ti 2:16-18; Re 22:19; 20:15; 14:9-11 |
| 2. Covenantal | Dispensational | Ch. 7 | Ac 4:12; Jer 31:31-34; 1Co 11:25; Ro 9:6; Gal 3:29; Php 3:3 |
| 3. Calvinistic (Following the cannons of the Synod of Dort) | Arminian (Hypercalvinist) | ||
| 3.1 The Planning of Salvation: Unconditional Election | Foreseen Merit | Ch. 3 | Mt 11:20-28; Eph 1:4-5 |
| 3.2 The Accomplishment of Salvation: Definite Atonement | Universal Atonement | Ch. 8.5; 8.8 | Ro 8:32 |
| 3.3 Conversion | |||
| 3.3.1 Total Inability (Depravity) | Prevenient Grace | Ch. 9 (Ch. 6) | Ro 8:7-8; Jer 13:23; Jn 6:44 |
| 3.3.2 The Free Offer of the Gospel | Hypercalvinism | Ch. 7.2, Ch. 20.3 | Mt 28-30; 28:19; Jn 5:34 |
| 3.3.3 Irresistible Grace | Decisionism | Ch 10, Ch. 20.4 | Ro 9:14-16 |
| 3.4 The Christian Life: Perseverance of the Saints | Falling from Grace | Ch. 17 | Php 1:6 |
| 4. Puritan | |||
| 4.1 Liberty of Conscience | Legalism; Traditionalism; Catholicism; Anglicanism | Ch. 21 | Ro 14:4; Mt 15:9 |
| 4.2 God-honoring Worship | Ch. 22; 23 | ||
| 4.2.1 The Regulative Principle | Anglicanism; Sovereign Grace; Charismatic | Ch. 22.1 | De 12:32 |
| 4.2.2 God’s Designated Day: The Christian Sabbath | Libertarian, Sovereign Grace | Ch. 22.7, 22.8 | Ex 20:8; 1Co 16:1-2; Is 58:13 |
| 4.3 The Priority of Experimental Religion: Scrupulous piety and devotion | Theonomy; Formalism; Health-Wealth; Charismatic; Sovereign Grace | Ch. 10 – 20 | |
| 4.3.1 Careful Consideration of the Blessings of Experimental Religion | Ch. 10 – 13 | Calling, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification | |
| 4.3.2 Diligent Cultivation of the Graces of Experimental Religion | Ch. 14 – 18 | Faith, Repentance, Good Works, Perseverance, Assurance | |
| 4.3.3 Conscientious Compliance with the Obligations of Experimental Religion: Evangelical Obedience to God’s Law and Gospel | Ch. 19 – 20 | Ro 2:14-15; 3:19-20, 31; 7:7-12, 25; 8:4, 7; 13:8-10; Ro 1:15-17; 2:16 | |
| 4.4 The Propriety of Civic Duty | Anabaptists, Pietism | Ch. 24 | Lk 3:14 |
| 4.5 The Propriety and Purity of Christian Marriage | Romanists, Asceticism | Ch. 25 | Heb 13:4; 1Ti 4:3 |
| 5. Independent and Baptistic | |||
| 5.1 re: separation of Church & State | Erastianism; established religion | Ch. 24 (deletion of WC paragraph) | Col 1:18; 1Co 12:27-28; Ac 16:4; 1Co 6:1 |
| 5.2 re: Universal Church Principles | Landmarkism; Roman Catholicism | Ch. 26.1 – 4 | Heb 12:23; Eph 3:21; Gal 1:13, 22 |
| 5.3 re: Local Church Polity (Adapted from the Savoy Platform of Polity) | Ch. 26.5 – 15 | ||
| 5.3.1 Regenerate Local Church Membership | Paedobaptism; formalism | Ch. 26.2, 26.6 (SP 8) | Ac 2:41-42; 5:13-14; 2Co 6:14-18 |
| 5.3.2 Mandatory and Autonomous Local Church Formation | Denominationalism; Synodical government | Ch. 26.5, 26.7 (SP 2, 3, 4) | Mt 18:15-20; 28:20; Ac 14:21-23 |
| 5.3.3 Presbyterial Local Church Government | Episcopal; Congregational | Ch. 26.8 – 11 (SP 7, 9, 11, 13) | Ac 14:21-23; 20:17,28; Php 1:1; Tit 1:5 |
| 5.3.4 The Necessity of Local Church Discipline | Pragmatism, crass individualism | Ch. 26.12 – 13 (SP 20, 21) | Mt 18:15-17; Ro 16:17-20; 1Co 5:1-11; 2Th 3:6, 14-15; Tit 3:10-11 |
| 5.3.5 The Propriety and Benefit of Local Church Associations | Landmarkism | Ch. 26.14 – 15 (SP 25, 26) | 2Co 8:18-19, 23 |
| 5.4 re: Broader Church Fellowship and Benevolence | Social gospel; Parachurch movements | Ch. 27 | 1Co 12:14-27; Ac 11:29-30 |
| 5.5 re: Sacraments | Ch. 28 – 30 | ||
| 5.5.1 Believer Only Baptism | Paedobaptism | Ac 2:41; 8:12; 10:47-48; 18:8; Col 2:11-12 | |
| 5.5.2 Believer Only Communion | The Mass | Heb 9:25-26, 28; 1Co 11:24 | |
This table was prepared by Pastor Greg Nichols, Grand Rapids Reformed Baptist Church. Used by permission.
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