The Second London Baptist Confession

Chapter XIOf Justification

The 1689 text, original spelling

About this text

Text public domain · U.S.

The 1689 text with original spelling and punctuation, copied and reformatted from CCEL’s microfilm transcription of the 1677 edition. Source: Bible Researcher transcription.

The source text was published in 1677/1689; the electronic transcription declares the confession text public domain. Rights evidence. Verified 2026-07-14.

1

Those whom God Effectually calleth, he also freelya justifieth, not by infusing Righteousness into them, but byb pardoning their sins, and by accounting, and accepting their Persons asc Righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone, not by imputing faith it self, the act of beleiving, or any otherd evangelical obedience to them, as their Righteousness; but by imputing Christs active obedience unto the whole Law, and passive obedience in his death, for their whole and sole Righteousnnss, theye receiving, and resting on him, and his Righteousness, by Faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.

Scripture proofs

aRom. 3.24. ch. 8.30.

bRom. 4.5,6,7,8. Eph. 1.7.

c1 Cor. 1.30,31. Rom. 5.17 18,19.

dPhil. 3.8,9. Eph. 2.8,9,10.

eJoh. 1.12. Rom. 5.17.

2

Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ, and his Righteousness, is thef alone instrument of Justification: yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving Graces, and is no dead faith,g but worketh by love.

fRom. 3.28.

gGal. 5.6 Jam. 2.17 22.26.

3

Christ by his obedience, and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did by the sacrifice of himself, in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead, the penalty due unto them: make a proper, real and full satisfactionh to Gods justice in their behalf: yet in asmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his Obedience and Satisfaction accepted in their stead, and bothi freely, not for any thing in them; their Justification is only of Free Grace, that both the exact justice and rich Grace of God, might bek glorified in the Justification of sinners.

hHeb. 10.14. 1 Pet. 1.18,19. Isa. 53.5,6.

iRom. 8.32. 2 Cor. 5.21.

kRom. 3.26. Eph. 1 6,7. ch. 2.7.

4

God did from all eternity decreetol justifie all the Elect, and Christ did in the fulness of time die for their sins, and risem again for their Justification; Nevertheless they are not justified personally, untill the Holy Spirit, doth in due timen actually apply Christ unto them.

lGal. 3.8. 1 Pet. 1.2. 1 Tim. 2.6.

mRom. 4.25.

nCol. 1.21;22. Tit. 3.4,5,6,7.

5

God doth continue too Forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state ofp justication; yet they may by their sins fall under Godsq Fatherly displeasure; and in that condition, they have not usually the light of his Countenance restored unto them, untill theyr humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith, and repentance.

oMat. 6.12. 1 John 1.7.9.

pJoh. 10 28.

qPs. 89.31,32,33.

rPsal. 32:5. & 51. Mat. 26.75.

6

The Justification of Believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects,s one and the same with the justification of Believers under the New Tement.

sGal. 3.9. Rom. 4.22,23,24.