Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

Chapter 21
CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE

21.1 The liberty which Christ has purchased for believers under the Gospel consists of their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, and the severity and curse of the [moral] law.¹ It also includes their deliverance from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, the dominion of sin,² the distress of afflictions, the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation.³Furthermore, it includes their free access to God, and their ability to yield obedience to him, not out of slavish fear, but with childlike love, and willing minds.⁴

All these blessings were also shared in essence by believers under the [Old Testament] law;⁵ but, under the New Testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law to which the Jews were subjected. We also have greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and fuller provision of the free Spirit of God than believers under the law normally experienced.⁶

(1) Joh 3:36; Rom 8:33; Gal 3:13
(2) Gal 1:4; Eph 2:1-3; Col 1:13; Act 26:18; Rom 6:14-18; 8:3
(3) Rom 8:28; 1Co 15:54-57; 1Th 1:10; Heb 2:14-15
(4) Eph 2:18; 3:12; Rom 8:15; 1Jo 4:18
(5) Joh 8:32; Psa 19:7-9; 119:14,24,45,47,48,72,97; Rom 4:5-11; Gal 3:9; Heb 11:27,33-34
(6) Joh 1:17; Heb 1:1-2a; 7:19,22; 8:6; 9:23; 11:40; Gal 2:11-12; 4:1-3; Col 2:16-17; Heb 10:19-21; Joh 7:38-39

21.2 God alone is Lord of the conscience,¹ and he has left it free from [obligations to] human doctrines and commandments which are in any way contrary to his Word or not contained in it.² So to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commandments out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience.³ To require an implicit faith, or absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason.⁴

(1) Jas 4:12; Rom 14:4; Gal 5:1
(2) Act 4:19; 5:29; 1Co 7:23; Mat 15:9
(3) Col 2:20,22-23; Gal 1:10; 2:3-5; 5:1
(4) Rom 10:17; 14:23; Act 17:11; Joh 4:22; 1Co 3:5; 2Co 1:24

21.3 Those who practice any sin or harbor any sinful desires on pretence of Christian liberty, pervert the main purpose of the grace of the Gospel to their own destruction.¹ They completely destroy the purpose of Christian liberty, which is that we (having been delivered from all our [spiritual] enemies) might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives.²

(1) Rom 6:1-2
(2) Luk 1:74-75; Rom 14:9; Gal 5:13; 2Pe 2:18,21

Chapter 1: The Holy Scriptures
Chapter 2: God and the Holy Trinity
Chapter 3: God’s Decree
Chapter 4: Creation
Chapter 5: Divine Providence
Chapter 6: The Fall, Sin and its Punishment
Chapter 7: God’s Covenant
Chapter 8: Christ the Mediator
Chapter 9: Free Will
Chapter 10: Effectual Calling
Chapter 11: Justification
Chapter 12: Adoption
Chapter 13: Sanctification
Chapter 14: Saving Faith
Chapter 15: Repentance to Life and Salvation
Chapter 16: Good Works
Chapter 17: The Perseverance of Believers
Chapter 18: The Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Chapter 19: The Law of God
Chapter 20: The Gospel and its Gracious Extent
Chapter 21: Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
Chapter 22: Worship and the Lord’s Day
Chapter 23: Lawful Oaths and Vows
Chapter 24: Civil Government
Chapter 25: Marriage
Chapter 26: The Church
Chapter 27: The Fellowship of Believers
Chapter 28: The Ordinances
Chapter 29: Baptism
Chapter 30: The Lord’s Supper
Chapter 31: The State of People after Death and the Resurrection of the Dead
Chapter 32: The Last Judgment
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