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1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
1. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the
saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their
hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which
also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper,
prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and
strengthened.
( 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:14, 17; Luke 17:5; 1
Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32 )
2. By this faith a Christian
believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the
authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein
above all other writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth
the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his
nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his
workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the
truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each
particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the
commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of
God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal acts of
saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving,
and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and
eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
( Acts 24:14; Psalms 27:7-10; Psalms 119:72; 2 Timothy 1:12; John 14:14;
Isaiah 66:2; Hebrews 11:13; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts
15:11 )
3. This faith, although it be
different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least
degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other
saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers;
and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it
gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full
assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our
faith.
( Hebrews 5:13, 14; Matthew 6:30; Romans 4:19, 20; 2 Peter 1:1;
Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4, 5; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Colossians 2:2; Hebrews
12:2 )
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