Introduction to Confessions of the Baptist Faith

A confession of their own faith is an important aspect of any Christian’s life. Possessing and confessing a confident faith in Jesus as our Lord, and also our savior, is a crucial decision in any follower’s life. Along the paths of history, many believers have banded together to make a formal confessions of faith that unify like-minded followers of Jesus.

Among other confessions, the Presbyterians have the beautifully written Westminster Confession of Faith and its catechisms. Among others, the Lutherans have the Augsburg Confession and its catechisms. The various Reformed churches ascribe to the Three Forms of Unity: Belgic Confession of Faith, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism. The Baptists who want to unify together with like-minded Baptists, they have primarily used the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith and the 1695 London Baptist Catechism.

Baptists who have researched the rich history behind their denominations know that historical Baptists were often a confessional people. Baptists did their best to stand firm in the Word of God, holding to the inerrancy and supremacy of the Scriptures. To do this, like many of the other sects of the Christian faith, Baptists used a confession of faith to unify with their fellow brothers and sisters in the Baptist faith. C.H. Spurgeon, a famous Victorian Baptist preacher once said this in the 1855 reprint of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith,

          “This little volume is not issued as an authoritative rule, or code of faith, whereby you are to be fettered, but as an assistance to you in controversy, a confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness. …Cleave fast to the Word of God which is here mapped out for you.”
         
This quote truly highlights the beautiful purpose of confessions of the faith and their catechisms. They truly do help map out the Word of God and help us cleave fast to our faith in Jesus. They make it easy to systematize our faith and show how the Scriptures lead us to the convictions and conclusions we hold to. Is being confessional in this way necessary to be a believer? By no means! But it sure does help.

Not every Baptist subscribes to a confession of faith. Not every Baptist family or church catechizes their children and new believers. Yet, throughout our Baptist history, this has been a major role in formulating our organized faith as a sect of Christianity. Whether you want to subscribe to a confession unifying you with a larger group of believers, or you are just curious about what certain Baptists believe, come with me on this journey through the 1695 Baptist Catechism. We will cover one question and answer of this catechism each day. This series on this catechism will expand your thoughts on systematic theology and how your faith fits into every aspect of your life. It is a journey that you will not regret.

It is a journey that you will bring you closer to God.