1689 INTRODUCTION AND CHAPTER 1

The 1689 an Introduction

“On the 26th of August, 1677, the following entry was recorded in the manuscript minute book of London’s Petty France Church: “It was agreed that a confession of faith, with the Appendix thereto having bene read& considered by the Bre: should be published.” This is the first known literary reference to what has become popularly known as the 1689 Confession of Faith. It arose in a specific context and reflected the theological commitment and understanding of the members of the churches that first published it. The notation that the document had been “read and considered” by the people of the church is significant, in that it demonstrates the contextual nature of the affirmations contained in its thirty-two chapters. The publication was explicitly intended to provide contemporary congregants with a clear doctrinal compass for their lives.” - James Renihan

So, the 1689 was first published in 1689 and printed for sell in single shop. There have been 3 other reprints since the first, all the same material, but in different locations which help this document spread. Where we get the date 1689, is from when the confession of faith was actually adopted by the London General Assembly in 1689. The purpose of this confession of faith is the same as any creed, catechism, or confession, to set in stone certain doctrinal beliefs. The WCF was written and adopted by a large number of churches, but there were certain doctrinal beliefs, such as baptism, that were simply not agreed with and still aren't. So, a separate confession of faith was made and adopted by many Baptists and still being used a confession of faith today.

If you want to dig into the history of the confession or other confessions and creeds, I can point you to some resources, but for our purposes I am keeping this introduction brief.

The Holy Scriptures (Chapter 1)

The rule is Scripture, and Scripture is the rule.

This a doctrinal standard that is highly contested today, it also one that is thrown around a lot by Christians who really do not hold to what this statement means. The idea here is that the Scriptures are the absolute and only standard or authority on which the Christian should stand. There is no other standard by which one can come to saving knowledge, faith, and godliness (obedience). We come to know God in a saving way through the Scriptures and live out the Christian life according to the Scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

What standards in life have you stood upon or seen others stand upon?

Does nature reveal God? Yes. To a certain degree they reveal the power of God, but the natural revelation of creation cannot bring someone to saving faith. Because the creation itself reveals an all powerful and all creating God, everyone is left without excuse; there are no true atheists, because everyone knows of God to a certain degree.

romans 1:19-21 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Questions

We clearly see throughout Scripture, especially in the OT, that God revealed himself in different ways; a burning bush, dreams, visions, prophecy. So, God revealed himself and his will at different times and in different ways.

Hebrews 1:1-2 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

Questions

In order to protect the revelation of God and preserve it for thousands of years, God put this revelation into written word by way of the Holy Spirit empowering and guiding chosen men. What was God protecting his revelation from? The flesh; our own sinful desires to want to change it. The world; the culture from wanting to bend it and disregard it. From Satan; from wanting to manipulate it. Now if you want to geek out on some history and how exactly God’s Word was preserved, look into some textual criticism and manuscript discovery; really cool stuff.

2 Peter 1:19-20 “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.”

Questions

Because God no longer reveals himself in the form of a burning bush, the Scriptures are completely necessary and are the RULE of all saving knowledge and godliness. You cannot know Gods will outside of the Scriptures and you cannot grow in your knowledge of God outside of the Scriptures. They are the ONLY way we grow and mature as Christians.

Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Questions

We have 66 books.

We believe that every book contained in the OT and NT are the very inspired words of God driven by the Holy Spirit to be our standard for knowledge and obedience.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Questions

A cannon.

There is a set of book known as the Apocrypha, we affirm along with the confession that these books are not inspired by the Spirit and therefore not to be counted among the 66 books of the cannon of Scripture. These books should be seen as any other book written by man; non inspired or not divine. You will see some churches holding up the Apocryphal books as Scripture, they are not and should not, be treated as such. You will not hear us preach from any book outside of the 66 books given to us here at Redeemer Borger.

An authoritative Word.

B.B. Warfield says, “Because inspired, Scripture is the Word of God; and because the Word of God, it exercises lawful authority over the thoughts and acts of men.” We believe that all of Scripture is the very Word of God and therefore they are not only true, but they also exercise authority over our lives; as if God was before us speaking to us.

2 Peter 1:19-21 “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Questions