1689 Chapter 19 The Law of God, 20 The Gospel and the Extent of It's Grace

Join us as we continue in our series on the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.

Chapter 19: The Law of God. This chapter explains the origin, purpose, and types of God’s law. It affirms that God gave Adam a law of universal obedience in the Garden of Eden, and that after the fall, God continued to reveal his law to his people through nature, conscience, and special revelation. It distinguishes between the moral law, which is binding on all people at all times, and the ceremonial and judicial laws, which were given to Israel as a shadow of Christ and expired at his coming. It also clarifies the relationship between the law and the gospel, stating that the law is not contrary to the gospel, but serves to convict sinners of their need for Christ, to restrain evil in society, and to guide believers in their obedience to God.

Chapter 20: The Gospel and the Extent of Its Grace. This chapter defines the gospel as the good news of God’s grace in Christ to save sinners. It asserts that the gospel was first promised in the protoevangelium (Genesis 3:15), and gradually revealed throughout the Old Testament until it was fully manifested in the New Testament. It also discusses the extent of the gospel’s grace, affirming that it is sufficient for the salvation of all who believe, but efficacious only for the elect. It further states that the gospel is to be preached to all people indiscriminately, and that those who reject it are inexcusable and liable to greater condemnation.

1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in Modern English - Founders Ministries