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Confessional Statements And Their Proper Use

Confessional Statements have become increasingly more popular since the rise of the Reformed Baptist Movement. So much so, that many anoint the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession Of Faith with sacerdotal unction. Few believers are aware of the differences between the 17th century Particular Baptist confessions and the 18th Century Particular Baptist confessions. In this study, a comparison is made between the 1689 Confession and the 1729 Declaration (John Gill’s Goat Yard Confession). Guidance is given also on the proper use of confessional statements in general.


There are many of the Lord’s people who are “scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd.” Some are alone and isolated. Others live near each other, but cannot find a local church to join. In time, these poor dejected souls become accustomed to their deprivation of church life, landing them in a dry and thirsty land, surviving on “locusts and scratching the earth for water.”

To meet this need, I have started preparing online worship services. While the alone and isolated believer should find encouragement and edification through this provision, it is hoped those believers who live near each other will be prompted to organize themselves into new churches. Where two or three of the Lord’s people are gathered together in His name, there is He in the midst of them. In such circumstances, it is likely the new churches will be without a preacher. They may therefore continue following these online worship services, in lieu of a preacher, until the Lord is pleased to supply the vacancy. Nevertheless, even if a group of believers choose to not organize themselves into a church, I pray they will use the online services and find enrichment to their souls through the worship of God and gospel edification.

Jared Smith