The 1900 Primitive Baptist Confession of Faith

• Preface
• General Address
• Chapter I - Of the Holy Scriptures
• Chapter II - Of God and of the Holy Trinity
• Chapter III - Of God's Decree
• Chapter IV - Of Creation
• Chapter V - Of Divine Providence
• Chapter VI - Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
• Chapter VII - Of God's Covenant
• Chapter VIII - Of Christ the Mediator
• Chapter IX - Of Free Will
• Chapter X - Of Effectual Calling
• Chapter XI - Of Justification
• Chapter XII - Of Adoption
• Chapter XIII - Of Sanctification
• Chapter XIV - Of Saving Faith
• Chapter XV - Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
• Chapter XVI - Of Good Works
• Chapter XVII - Of The Perseverance Of The Saints
• Chapter XVIII - Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
• Chapter XIX - Of the Law of God
• Chapter XX - Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
• Chapter XXI - Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
• Chapter XXII - Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
• Chapter XXIII - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
• Chapter XXIV - Of the Civil Magistrate
• Chapter XXV - Of Marriage
• Chapter XXVI - Of the Church
• Chapter XXVII - Of the Communion of Saints
• Chapter XXVIII - Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
• Chapter XXIX - Of Baptism
• Chapter XXX - Of the Lord's Supper
• Chapter XXXI - Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
• Chapter XXXII - Of the Last Judgment
• Appendix

Chapter XI - Of Justification

1. Those whom God effectually calleth, He also freely justifieth,1 not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous;2 not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone;3 not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in His death for their whole and sole righteousness,4 they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.5

1. Ro 3:24; 8:30.
2. Ro 4:5-8; Eph 1:7.
3. 1Co 1:30-31; Ro 5:17-19.
4. Php 3:8-9; Eph 2:8-10.
5. Jn 1:12; Ro 5:17.

Fulton Footnote: We understand this section to teach that the elect are justified in the sight of the law by the actual work of Christ when he satisfied the law for them, and we believe this is applied to the elect in the work of regeneration, bringing personal righteousness or making their persons righteous in heart.


2. Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;6 yet it is not alone in the person justified, but ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.7

6. Ro 3:28.
7. Gal 5:6; Jas 2:17,22,26.


3. Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of Himself in the blood of His cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf,8; yet inasmuch as He was given by the Father for them, and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them,9 their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.10

8. Heb 10:14; 1Pe 1:18-19; Isa 53:5-6.
9. Ro 8:32; 2Co 5:21.
10. Ro 3:26; Eph 1:6-7; 2:7.


4. God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect,11 and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification;12 nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.13

11. Gal 3:8; 1Pe 1:2; 1Ti 2:6.
12. Ro 4:25.
13. Col 1:21-22; Tit 3:4-7.


5. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified,14 and although they can never fall from the state of justification,15 yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure;16 and in that condition they have not usually the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.17

14. Mt 6:12; 1Jn 1:7,9.
15. Jn 10:28.
16. Ps 89:31-33.
17. Ps 32:5; Ps 51:1-19; Mt 26:75.


6. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.18

18. Gal 3:9; Ro 4:22-24.

Fulton Footnote: These sections have relation to God's spiritual and parental government over his children in this world.