The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith is a historic theological document that expresses the core beliefs of Particular Baptists, emphasizing the doctrines of grace and congregational church governance. It follows the structure and language of the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Savoy Declaration, while establishing the Baptist conviction that baptism is reserved for those who profess credible faith in Jesus Christ.
The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith—often called the Second London Confession—was published by Particular Baptist congregations to articulate their theology in a post-Restoration England. It is a deeply Reformed document, affirming the sovereignty of God, the Doctrines of Grace, and the sufficiency of Scripture as the sole rule of faith and obedience. While it closely mirrors the Westminster Confession of Faith in its articulation of soteriology and the nature of God, it diverges significantly in its ecclesiology, specifically regarding the regulative principle of worship, believer's baptism, and a congregational form of church government. It reflects the conviction that we are "more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, and more accepted and loved in Christ than we ever dared hope."
At its heart, the 1689 LBCF is a gospel document. It teaches that justification is received by faith alone, not by works, through the imputed righteousness of Christ. It consistently directs the believer away from moralism—the idea that our obedience is the basis for our acceptance—and away from license, asserting that true faith necessarily results in the fruit of holiness. As it states, our good works spring out of a true and lively faith, which is the evidence of our union with Christ. This faith is not a human achievement but a gift of God's sovereign grace, securing the perseverance of the saints. In the words of the Apostle Paul regarding the nature of salvation, "for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Ephesians 2:8-9).