Covenant Theology on Theolexicahttps://theolexica.com/tags/covenant-theology/Recent content in Covenant Theology on TheolexicaHugo -- 0.134.3en-usFri, 13 Jun 2025 23:24:55 +0000London Baptist Confession Notes On God And The Holy Trinityhttps://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-002-of-god-and-the-holy-trinity/Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:24:55 +0000https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-002-of-god-and-the-holy-trinity/<p><a href="https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-toc/">London Baptist Confession Table of Contents</a> </p> <h3 id="of-god-and-the-holy-trinity">Of God and the Holy Trinity</h3> <h4 id="paragraph-3">Paragraph 3</h4> <p>In the modern evangelical world, this is probably one of the more controversial paragraphs. At issue is the relation of the persons within the single Being of God. The traditional orthodox understanding of begetting and procession are key trinitarian distinctions. I think we jettison this language at our peril. We should bring these terms back into our theological preaching.</p>London Baptist Confession Table of Contents

Of God and the Holy Trinity

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In the modern evangelical world, this is probably one of the more controversial paragraphs. At issue is the relation of the persons within the single Being of God. The traditional orthodox understanding of begetting and procession are key trinitarian distinctions. I think we jettison this language at our peril. We should bring these terms back into our theological preaching.

]]>London Baptist Confession Notes On Gods Decreeshttps://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-003-of-gods-decrees/Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:24:55 +0000https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-003-of-gods-decrees/<p><a href="https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-toc/">London Baptist Confession Table of Contents</a> </p> <h3 id="of-gods-decrees">Of Gods decrees</h3> <h4 id="paragraph-2">Paragraph 2</h4> <p>Seems an uneccesary distinction. God knows all possible worlds but chose decreed this world unconditionally. This strikes me as hairsplitting. On the one hand, yes God knows all things and all potentialities. On the other hand, there are no other potentials. The world exists as God decreed it.</p> <h4 id="paragraph-3">Paragraph 3</h4> <p>The focus on angels here and in a few other places, strikes me as interesting. While angels are not outside the sovereignty of God, the Scriptures deal with the salvation and decrees of humanity, not of the angels. Biblically speaking, the Bible does not speak of the election to salvation of angels. Angels are not saved in the sense that humans are.</p>London Baptist Confession Table of Contents

Of Gods decrees

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Seems an uneccesary distinction. God knows all possible worlds but chose decreed this world unconditionally. This strikes me as hairsplitting. On the one hand, yes God knows all things and all potentialities. On the other hand, there are no other potentials. The world exists as God decreed it.

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The focus on angels here and in a few other places, strikes me as interesting. While angels are not outside the sovereignty of God, the Scriptures deal with the salvation and decrees of humanity, not of the angels. Biblically speaking, the Bible does not speak of the election to salvation of angels. Angels are not saved in the sense that humans are.

It seems improper to say that angels are foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ. The reason for the incarnation is that the Son took on flesh so that he might be able to be a suitable sacrifice for us. He does not take on an angelic form in order to be a suitable sacrifice for angels.

The elect angels exist in an unfallen state. Their standing before God is not based on a need for forgiveness and mediation. While they are still unworthy servants of the Most High, they are not redeemed sinners standing before God.

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The discussion of the means of election is also important. Election does not happen apart from God’s practical providence applied in the world. Salvation comes by the hearing of the word and faith in Jesus Christ as redeemer. Election never undercuts this.

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I laughed at this one. Arrogant calvinists were a problem then too.

]]>London Baptist Confession Notes On The Holy Scriptureshttps://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-001-of-the-holy-scriptures/Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:24:55 +0000https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-001-of-the-holy-scriptures/<p><a href="https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-toc/">London Baptist Confession Table of Contents</a> </p> <h3 id="of-the-holy-scriptures">Of the Holy Scriptures</h3> <h4 id="paragraph-1">Paragraph 1</h4> <p>I appreciate the logic that is presented about revelation in point one. Natural revelation is there pointing us to God, but it is insufficient for a true knowledge of God and salvation.</p> <p>Therefore, God has revealed himself out of his own good will in various ways for the good of his people. But due to the corruption, he has commited the message to writing.</p>London Baptist Confession Table of Contents

Of the Holy Scriptures

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I appreciate the logic that is presented about revelation in point one. Natural revelation is there pointing us to God, but it is insufficient for a true knowledge of God and salvation.

Therefore, God has revealed himself out of his own good will in various ways for the good of his people. But due to the corruption, he has commited the message to writing.

Therefore, the Holy Scriptures are most necessary because the former ways of revelation have ceased.

The LBC assumes a basically cessationist position. There’s probably room here for an open but cautious perspective, but the emphasis is clearly on the Scriptures as the Word of God. The place we should be looking for the will of God, the place for all comfort and knowledge, encouragement and training is the Scriptures.

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Mildly interesting that the Apochrypha is considered to be no more helpful than any other human writing. In other places you will see a recommendation to read the apochrypha as historically significant or as spiritually uplifting texts. Similar to how we might uphold the puritans as a generally helpful category of writings.

In the Protestant world, the Apochrypha has been treated with suspicion at best. Most Protestants, even widely read ones, have not read the Apochrypha.

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Very Van Tillian.

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The role of the Holy Spirit and the mind of believers have a specific relation to the Word. The Holy Spirit is not providing new revelation but opening up the minds and hearts of humans to the written Word.

The sanctified mind has freedom within the boundaries of the rules of the Word to make wise decisions for the running of church, government, and other affairs.

This is a carefule application of the Word. It is sufficient and there, but it is not alone. The Holy Spirit must open our eyes and give us a new heart to understand it. As believers, we must use our reason and the principles of the Word to make righteous decisions.

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The Scriptures should be translated. Ultimately, it is the Scriptures in the original languages that are inspired, but the word ought to be translated into every common tongue to which the gospel goes in order that the people may possess the benefits of the word.

The implication for missions is clear. The Scriptures should be translated as the Gospel spreads.

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Our confidence in theology rests not in any preacher or council or tradition, but in the Holy Scriptures alone.

]]>London Baptist Confession Preface Noteshttps://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-000-preface/Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:24:55 +0000https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-000-preface/<p><a href="https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-toc/">London Baptist Confession Table of Contents</a> </p> <h3 id="preface">Preface</h3> <p>Says very little with a lot of words.</p> <p>One thought here in our context, we are in an international church. Many of the people in our church speak English as a second language. The LBC is tough to read for a lot of native speakers.</p>London Baptist Confession Table of Contents

Preface

Says very little with a lot of words.

One thought here in our context, we are in an international church. Many of the people in our church speak English as a second language. The LBC is tough to read for a lot of native speakers.

]]>London Baptist Confession Serieshttps://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-toc/Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:24:55 +0000https://theolexica.com/posts/london-baptist-confession/london-baptist-confession-toc/<h2 id="intro">Intro</h2> <p>The church we are attending in Estonia, <a href="https://www.gracebiblechurch.ee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Grace Bible Church</a> , that uses the <a href="https://the1689.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Second London Baptist Confession</a> as their statement of faith.</p> <p>I really appreciate a church using a historic confession. It keeps you grounded in the historic faith and connects you to a line of believers. In general, I think it is a bad idea for a church to draft their own statement of faith. It tends to be idiosyncratic and too narrow (both in failing to address things that it should and addressing things that it shouldn&rsquo;t).</p>Intro

The church we are attending in Estonia, Grace Bible Church , that uses the Second London Baptist Confession as their statement of faith.

I really appreciate a church using a historic confession. It keeps you grounded in the historic faith and connects you to a line of believers. In general, I think it is a bad idea for a church to draft their own statement of faith. It tends to be idiosyncratic and too narrow (both in failing to address things that it should and addressing things that it shouldn’t).

However, I have never attended a church does this. I have read the London Baptist Confession in the past, but never so carefully. Reading it with an eye to joining a church changes your perspective.

Cards on the table, I am a Master’s Seminary grad and would generally agree with their statement of faith. This means that I am reforedish: Calvinistic soteriology, progressive dispensationalist, with a high view of the Scriptures.

Notes on my Notes

I’m not trying to be exhaustive here. This are areas where I had thoughts reading through it or have a disagreement/diffulty with the text.

One thing that surprised me reading through this is the thoroughness of the confession. The confession could easily be used as a teaching outline (which is at least part of its purpose.)

The other surprising element was how modern it felt. The LBC addresses many issues that are current today. From the continuation of gifts to marriage issues, a lot of the modern issues can be taught out of the LBC.

Series Posts

Text of the Second London Baptist Confession

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