The Word of God – Our Only Sure Foundation (Chapter 1, Paragraphs 1–3)

What would we know of God, His will, and our salvation if He had not spoken? In a world filled with questions and opinions, the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith begins with a bold and beautiful answer: God has spoken clearly, sufficiently, and infallibly in His Word—the Holy Scriptures.

Paragraph 1 of Chapter 1 opens with this powerful claim: “The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.” That is not merely an opinion—it is a declaration built upon the authority of God Himself. In Scripture, God has revealed everything necessary for us to know Him, trust Him, and follow Him in obedience unto salvation.

But immediately, the Confession acknowledges something we all know from experience: God has also revealed Himself in creation. Nature tells us that God is powerful, wise, and good (Psalm 19:1–3; Romans 1:19–21). The beauty of the stars, the order of the seasons, and the conscience within every person all testify to His existence and character. However, nature and conscience cannot tell us the gospel. They cannot tell us how to be saved. They leave us without excuse, but not with salvation. This is why God, in His mercy, spoke more clearly.

Throughout history, God has revealed His will “at sundry times and in diversified manners” (Hebrews 1:1). He spoke through visions, prophets, angels, and dreams. But all those ways—while real and valuable—were incomplete and temporary. In His wisdom and love, God committed His revelation to writing. That’s why we have the Bible. The Scriptures are God’s completed, trustworthy record of His will for His people. And because of the dangers we face—our sinful flesh, Satan’s lies, and the world’s confusion—Scripture is not a luxury. It is necessary.

Paragraph 2 identifies what we mean by “Holy Scripture.” It names every book of the Old and New Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation, as divinely inspired. These 66 books are not the inventions of men; they are the very Word of God. Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God,” and that breath still breathes life into hearts today. These books are the “rule of faith and life.” That is, they are the final authority for what we are to believe and how we are to live.

This paragraph also serves a second purpose: it defines the limits of God’s Word. Only these books—no more and no less—are inspired and authoritative. Which brings us to Paragraph 3, where the Confession speaks to the issue of the Apocrypha. These are the additional books included in Roman Catholic Bibles but rejected by Protestants.

Why are they rejected? Not because they are all worthless. Some of them contain historical insight or moral reflection. But they are not inspired by God. Jesus never quoted them. The apostles never cited them. The early Jewish and Christian communities did not recognize them as Scripture. Therefore, the Confession says they are “of no authority to the church of God.” They may be read as one might read any human writing, but they are not part of the canon of Holy Scripture. As Luke 24:27 and Romans 3:2 confirm, the Old Testament Scriptures were recognized by Christ and the apostles, and those did not include the Apocryphal writings.

These three paragraphs, taken together, form a foundation for our entire faith. Scripture is the only perfect rule for salvation, belief, and obedience. No dream, no prophecy, no church council, and no feeling can add to what God has already revealed. God has spoken. The canon is closed. And the church stands on this unshakable truth.

As lay readers and followers of Christ, this calls us to action. First, we must revere the Bible as God’s very Word—true, trustworthy, and sufficient. Second, we must read it. The Bereans were called “noble” because they searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they heard were true (Acts 17:11). Lastly, we must trust that Scripture is clear. It speaks to salvation in a way that both the scholar and the simple-hearted can understand.

God did not leave us in the dark. He gave us a lamp (Psalm 119:105). Let us walk in its light. Corby