The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

Then & Now · 23 of 42

22. Of Religious Worship And The Sabbath Day

22. Of Religious Worship And The Sabbath Day

Paragraph 1: The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good to all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might.365 But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by Himself,366 and so limited by his own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.367

  1. 365. Jeremiah 10:7; Mark 12:33
  2. 366. Deuteronomy 12:32
  3. 367. Exodus 20:4–6

Paragraph 1: The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good to all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might.365 But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by Himself,366 and so limited by his own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.367

  1. 365. Jer 10:7; Mark 12:33
  2. 366. Deut 12:32
  3. 367. Exod 20:4–6

Paragraph 2: Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to Him alone;368 not to angels, saints, or any other creatures;369 and since the fall, not without a mediator,370 nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.371

  1. 368. Matthew 4:9–10; John 6:23; Matthew 28:19
  2. 369. Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10
  3. 370. John 14:6
  4. 371. 1 Timothy 2:5

Paragraph 2: Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to Him alone;368 not to angels, saints, or any other creatures;369 and since the fall, not without a mediator,370 nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.371

  1. 368. Matt 4:9–10; John 6:23; Matt 28:19
  2. 369. Rom 1:25; Col 2:18; Rev 19:10
  3. 370. John 14:6
  4. 371. 1 Tim 2:5

Paragraph 3: Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men.372 But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son,373 by the help of the Spirit,374 according to His will;375 with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue.376

  1. 372. Psalm 95:1–7; 65:2
  2. 373. John 14:13–14
  3. 374. Romans 8:26
  4. 375. 1 John 5:14
  5. 376. 1 Corinthians 14:16–17

Paragraph 3: Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men.372 But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son,373 by the help of the Spirit,374 according to His will;375 with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue.376

  1. 372. Ps 95:1–7; 65:2
  2. 373. John 14:13–14
  3. 374. Rom 8:26
  4. 375. 1 John 5:14
  5. 376. 1 Cor 14:16–17

Paragraph 4: Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;377 but not for the dead,378 nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.379

  1. 377. 1 Timothy 2:1–2; 2 Samuel 7:29
  2. 378. 2 Samuel 12:21–23
  3. 379. 1 John 5:16

Paragraph 4: Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;377 but not for the dead,378 nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.379

  1. 377. 1 Tim 2:1–2; 2 Sam 7:29
  2. 378. 2 Sam 12:21–23
  3. 379. 1 John 5:16

Paragraph 5: The reading of the Scriptures,380 preaching, and hearing the Word of God,381 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord;382 as also the administration of baptism,383 and the Lord’s supper,384 are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to Him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings,385 and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.386

  1. 380. 1 Timothy 4:13
  2. 381. 2 Timothy 4:2; Luke 8:18
  3. 382. Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19
  4. 383. Matthew 28:19–20
  5. 384. 1 Corinthians 11:26
  6. 385. Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12
  7. 386. Exodus 15:1–19; Psalm 107

Paragraph 5: The reading of the Scriptures,380 preaching, and hearing the Word of God,381 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord;382 as also the administration of baptism,383 and the Lord’s supper,384 are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to Him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings,385 and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.386

  1. 380. 1 Tim 4:13
  2. 381. 2 Tim 4:2; Luke 8:18
  3. 382. Col 3:16; Eph 5:19
  4. 383. Matt 28:19–20
  5. 384. 1 Cor 11:26
  6. 385. Esth 4:16; Joel 2:12
  7. 386. Exod 15:1–19; Ps 107

Paragraph 6: Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the Gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth;387 as in private families388 daily,389 and in secret each one by himself;390 so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by His word or providence calls thereunto.391

  1. 387. John 4:21; Malachi 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8
  2. 388. Acts 10:2
  3. 389. Matthew 6:11; Psalm 55:17
  4. 390. Matthew 6:6
  5. 391. Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42

Paragraph 6: Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the Gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth;387 as in private families388 daily,389 and in secret each one by himself;390 so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by His word or providence calls thereunto.391

  1. 387. John 4:21; Mal 1:11; 1 Tim 2:8
  2. 388. Acts 10:2
  3. 389. Matt 6:11; Ps 55:17
  4. 390. Matt 6:6
  5. 391. Heb 10:25; Acts 2:42

Paragraph 7: As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God’s appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by His Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, He has particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto Him,392 which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord’s Day:393 and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.

  1. 392. Exodus 20:8
  2. 393. 1 Corinthians 16:1–2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10

Paragraph 7: As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God’s appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by His Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, He has particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto Him,392 which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord’s Day:393 and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.

  1. 392. Exod 20:8
  2. 393. 1 Cor 16:1–2; Acts 20:7; Rev 1:10

Paragraph 8: The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations,394 but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.395

  1. 394. Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15–22
  2. 395. Matthew 12:1–13

Paragraph 8: The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations,394 but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.395

  1. 394. Isa 58:13; Neh 13:15–22
  2. 395. Matt 12:1–13