32. Of The Last Judgment

2 LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION 1689 from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none. 2. At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be changed481; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other482; although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever483 . 3. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body484 . 32. Of The Last Judgment 1. God has appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ485; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged486 , but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil487 . 2. The end of God’s appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient488; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who do not know God, and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments489, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power490 . 3. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin491, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity492, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come493, and may ever be

481 1 Cor. 15:51,52; 1 Thess. 4:17 482 Job 19:26,27 483 1 Cor. 15:42,43 484 Acts 24:15; John 5:28,29; Phil. 3:21 485 Acts 17:31; John 5:22,27 486 1 Cor. 6:3; Jude 6 487 2 Cor. 5:10; Eccles. 12:14; Matt. 12:36; Rom. 14:10,12; Matt. 25:32-46 488 Rom. 9:22,23 489 Matt. 25:21,34; 2 Tim. 4:8 490 Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thess. 1:7-10 491 2 Cor. 5:10,11 492 2 Thess. 1:5-7 493 Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40

2 LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION 1689 69 prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly494 .

Amen.

Notes on The London Baptists Confession 1689 1 In this confession reference is made to the Law of God, namely the 10 commandments, calling this the Moral Law a rule of universal obedience. It states that this was the law was first given to Adam and written on his heart. This confession states that this Law was then delivered at Mount Sinai in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the first four containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man495 .

The first point to note is the reference made to the Law of God, the 10 commandments and moral law.

This does not appear in the 1646 edition, and it joins items together matters that the scriptures do not join. Adam was not bound by a law to keep the Sabbath day, this was an exclusive rule to Israel and enjoined to them at the giving of the law, the old covenant of works. Namely the 10 commandments and they are bound to keep the 7th day Sabbath. Christians are not so bound.

This 1689 set of articles has become a branch of legalism and now propagates. The First London Particular Baptist 1646, 2nd Edition is free from this legalism.

In the article relating to Justification it speaks of Faith being an instrument in justification. As an instrument it is used either by God or by man. Faith in not an instrument that justifies for if it were then it is used by man or God. Since it is God that justifies mans faith cannot be an instrument in the hand of God.

The Gospel Standard articles takes step in the correct direction to correct this matter.

The Bierton Particular Baptists Pakistan 2016 article seek to correct this matter. See Article 32 Bierton Particular Baptists Pakistan 2016.

2 This confession sights the resurrection and judgment to be at the end of time rather than the end of the age governed by Moses, at the coming Christ at day of vengeance and judgment at 70 A.D. The eschatology of this confession is Historicism.

494 Rev. 22:20 495 Deut. 10:4