1689 Federalism
A view held among orthodox Christians
The covenant theology of the 1689 London Baptist Confession, which sees the covenant of grace promised in the Old Testament and established in the new covenant.
Also called: Baptist covenant theology, Reformed Baptist covenant theology
What it means
1689 Federalism is the covenant theology held by many Reformed Baptists, named after the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689. Like Westminster covenant theology, it affirms a covenant of works with Adam and a covenant of grace in Christ, and it teaches that all the saved, in every age, are saved by grace through faith in Christ.
Its distinctive claim is about the old covenants. The 1689 confession says the covenant of grace was revealed in the Old Testament by promise, step by step, but was formally established only in the new covenant. The covenants with Abraham and with Israel at Sinai carried the promise of Christ and were real covenants, but they were not themselves the covenant of grace. They governed a nation and its life in the land, and mixed believers with unbelievers.
The new covenant, by contrast, is made with those who know the Lord, whose sins are forgiven, and who have the law written on their hearts. For that reason 1689 Federalists hold that the church is made up of professing believers and that baptism belongs to those who profess faith. Presbyterian and Reformed Baptist brothers share far more than divides them; this is a family disagreement about how the covenants fit together.
In Scripture
The Lord promises a new covenant, unlike the one at Sinai, in which all his people know him.
The new covenant is better than the old, which is becoming obsolete.
Paul says Hagar and Sarah represent two covenants, one bearing children for slavery and one free.
The promises were spoken to Abraham's seed, who is Christ.
Christ is the mediator of a new covenant so the called may receive the promised inheritance.
Where it comes up
Confessions: LBCF 1689 7.3; LBCF 1689 20.1; LBCF 1689 29.2
On this site: Covenant framework
Related terms
Covenant theologyA view held among orthodox Christians
A way of reading the whole Bible as the story of God's covenants, centred on one covenant of grace administered across both testaments.
Covenant of graceA view held among orthodox Christians
God's gracious promise, first announced after the fall, to save sinners through Christ by faith.
CredobaptismA view held among orthodox Christians
The teaching that baptism is for those who personally profess repentance and faith in Christ, normally by immersion.
Progressive covenantalismA view held among orthodox Christians
A reading of Scripture that traces the biblical covenants as successive steps, each fulfilled and brought to completion in Christ and the new covenant.
ReformedTerm
The branch of Protestantism that grew from the Swiss and Genevan Reformation and is summarised in confessions such as Westminster and the 1689 London Baptist Confession.