There is a reason I consider myself a "Confessionall Baptist", and I find it based squarely on scripture.
"But as for you, man of God, ...; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords." (1Tim 6:11-15 NRSV)
"Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." (Jude 1:3 NRSV)
What is "the good confession" but "the faith" for which we fight and contend for in the expression of our beliefs as given by the written word of God. The words "write", "writing" and "written" are found 348 times in the Holy Bible, and "thus says the Lord" is found 417 times. We know what "thus says the Lord" is because it has been written for us. Beware of those claiming special spirit-messages coming directly from the Lord!
The confession I embrace is the 1646 First London Confession of Faith by Baptists:
ntrf.org
After many years of study, and choosing the emphasis on 'thus says the Lord' clearly, I find this Baptist confession to express my beliefs accurately. In a sense, it is my witness. It is the faith for which I contend. Because it is a Particular Baptist confession, it has points that make it distinct within the body of Christ. Yet, and I wish to emphasize this, I still will embrace some beliefs expressed in other confessions such as from Lutherans, Presbyterians and Anglicans in the 39 Articles that are not expressed in my chosen confession.
My choice of confession is not to separate myself from others in the body of Christ, who also hold to the orthodox Christian faith, but to join hands in the cardinal doctrines while also showing how on less important points, I vary as a Particular Baptist. In a family context, a good confession is a proper way to teach the faith of Jesus Christ.
The claim that is sometimes heard, "No Creed but the Bible" is very deceptive. Why? You will be hearing that individual's creed, not the creed of the historic church, the common witness of the body of Christ. Remember, there is the "faith once for all" delivered to the people of God, and the New Covenant people of God, Christ's church will never fall or be defeated, Matt. 16:18. The inspired words of the Bible are not nonsensical foolishness of conceit, so when you hear those type words, it is not from Jesus Christ!
Yes, we Baptists are known to emphasize soul liberty, but our liberty is not to be a denial of the basic doctrines given to the churches of Christ by the Apostles, and written down for us in the New Covenant.
"But as for you, man of God, ...; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords." (1Tim 6:11-15 NRSV)
"Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." (Jude 1:3 NRSV)
What is "the good confession" but "the faith" for which we fight and contend for in the expression of our beliefs as given by the written word of God. The words "write", "writing" and "written" are found 348 times in the Holy Bible, and "thus says the Lord" is found 417 times. We know what "thus says the Lord" is because it has been written for us. Beware of those claiming special spirit-messages coming directly from the Lord!
The confession I embrace is the 1646 First London Confession of Faith by Baptists:
The First London Baptist Confession of 1644/1646 - NTRF
Published in 1646 The Text used: There has been some updating of Old English words - but otherwise no changes have been made to the original texts. CONFESSI
ntrf.org
After many years of study, and choosing the emphasis on 'thus says the Lord' clearly, I find this Baptist confession to express my beliefs accurately. In a sense, it is my witness. It is the faith for which I contend. Because it is a Particular Baptist confession, it has points that make it distinct within the body of Christ. Yet, and I wish to emphasize this, I still will embrace some beliefs expressed in other confessions such as from Lutherans, Presbyterians and Anglicans in the 39 Articles that are not expressed in my chosen confession.
My choice of confession is not to separate myself from others in the body of Christ, who also hold to the orthodox Christian faith, but to join hands in the cardinal doctrines while also showing how on less important points, I vary as a Particular Baptist. In a family context, a good confession is a proper way to teach the faith of Jesus Christ.
The claim that is sometimes heard, "No Creed but the Bible" is very deceptive. Why? You will be hearing that individual's creed, not the creed of the historic church, the common witness of the body of Christ. Remember, there is the "faith once for all" delivered to the people of God, and the New Covenant people of God, Christ's church will never fall or be defeated, Matt. 16:18. The inspired words of the Bible are not nonsensical foolishness of conceit, so when you hear those type words, it is not from Jesus Christ!
Yes, we Baptists are known to emphasize soul liberty, but our liberty is not to be a denial of the basic doctrines given to the churches of Christ by the Apostles, and written down for us in the New Covenant.
