Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

Chapter 9: Of Free Will

Elders and brethren of the Particular Baptist churches in London and the country · PDF

Chapter 9: Of Free Will

Paragraph 9.1

God hath indued the Will of Man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.a

God has endowed the Will of Man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.a

  1. a. Matthew 17:12; James 1:14; Deuteronomy 30:19

    Matthew 17:12

    James 1:14

    Deuteronomy 30:19

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Paragraph 9.2

Man, in his state of Innocency, had freedom, and power, to will, and to do that which was good, and well-pleasing to God; but yeta was mutable, so that he might fall from it.b

Man, in his state of Innocency, had freedom, and power, to will, and to do that which was good, and well-pleasing to God; but yeta was mutable, so that he might fall from it.b

  1. a. Ecclesiastes 7:29

    Ecclesiastes 7:29

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  2. b. Genesis 3:6

    Genesis 3:6

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Paragraph 9.3

Man, by his fall into a state of Sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying Salvation; so as a natural Man, being altogether averse from that good,a and dead in Sin, is not able, by his own strength, tob convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.c

Man, by his fall into a state of Sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying Salvation; so as a natural Man, being altogether averse from that good,a and dead in Sin, is not able, by his own strength, tob convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.c

  1. a. Romans 5:6; 8:7

    Romans 5:6

    Romans 8:7

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  2. b. Ephesians 2:1, 5

    Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:5

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  3. c. Titus 3:3–5; John 6:44

    Titus 3:3–5

    John 6:44

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Paragraph 9.4

When God converts a Sinner, and translates him into the state of Grace, he frees him from his natural Bondage under Sin, and by his Grace alone enables hima freely to will, and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of hisb remaining Corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.c

When God converts a Sinner, and translates him into the state of Grace, he frees him from his natural Bondage under Sin, and by his Grace alone enables hima freely to will, and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of hisb remaining Corruptions, he does not perfectly, nor only will that which is good, but does also will that which is evil.c

  1. a. Colossians 1:13; John 8:36

    Colossians 1:13

    John 8:36

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  2. b. Philippians 2:13

    Philippians 2:13

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  3. c. Romans 7:15, 18–19, 22–23

    Romans 7:15; Romans 7:18–19; Romans 7:22–23

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Paragraph 9.5

The will of Man is made perfectly, and immutably free to good alone, in the state of Glory only.a

The will of Man is made perfectly, and immutably free to good alone, in the state of Glory only.a

  1. a. Ephesians 4:13

    Ephesians 4:13

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