The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

• Forward
• Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
• Chapter 2: Of God and of the Holy Trinity
• Chapter 3: Of God's Decree
• Chapter 4: Of Creation
• Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
• Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof
• Chapter 7: Of God's Covenant
• Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator
• Chapter 9: Of Free Will
• Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
• Chapter 11: Of Justification
• Chapter 12: Of Adoption
• Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
• Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
• Chapter 15: Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
• Chapter 16: Of Good Works
• Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints
• Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
• Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
• Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
• Chapter 21: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
• Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.
• Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
• Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate
• Chapter 25: Of Marriage
• Chapter 26: Of the Church
• Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints
• Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
• Chapter 29: Of Baptism
• Chapter 30: Of the Lord's Supper
• Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death and Of the Resurrection of the Dead.
• Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment
• Closing Statement & Signatories

Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof

1. The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and [is] therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
(Gen. 3:15; Rev. 13:8)

2. This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.
(Rom. 1;17; Rom. 10:14,15,17; Prov. 29:18; Isa. 25:7; 60:2, 3)

3. The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts, with the addition of promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever did make, or can do so; and therefore in all ages, the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the counsel of the will of God.
(Ps. 147:20; Acts 16:7; Rom. 1;18-32)

4. Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life; without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.
(Ps. 110:3; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 1:19, 20; John 6:44; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6)