A short historical theological essay defending the covenant of redemption from the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.

The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith is a statement of belief that was adopted by English Baptists in the late 17th century. It contains several passages that can be used to defend the concept of the covenant of redemption, which is the agreement between God the Father and God the Son to redeem humanity through the work of Jesus Christ.

One passage that supports the covenant of redemption is found in Chapter 8, "Of Christ the Mediator," which states: "The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man."

This passage indicates that the Son of God, who is eternal and of one substance with the Father, took on human nature and was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary. It also states that the two natures of the Godhead and the manhood were joined together in one person, and that this person is both very God and very man. This suggests that the Father chose the Son to be the savior, and that the Son willingly agreed to become incarnate and to die on the cross for the sins of humanity. This aligns with the concept of the covenant of redemption, which posits that the Father chose the Son to be the savior and that the Son willingly agreed to become incarnate and to die on the cross for the sins of humanity.

Another passage that supports the covenant of redemption is found in Chapter 7, "Of God's Covenant," which states: "The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. But, sin having entered the world, and all mankind by their own fault becoming dead in sin and alienated from the life of God, Christ, the second Adam, was, by the Father, given as a covenant head to the elect, and in him, all the promises of life and salvation are Yea and Amen."

This passage indicates that God made a covenant with humanity, in which he promised life to Adam and his descendants on the condition of perfect and personal obedience. However, because of sin, humanity became alienated from the life of God, and Christ, the second Adam, was given as a covenant head to the elect. This suggests that the Father had a plan in place to redeem humanity through the work of the Son, and that this plan was based on his own grace and not on any merit or deserving on the part of humanity. This aligns with the concept of the covenant of redemption, which posits that the Father chose the Son to be the savior and that the Son willingly agreed to become incarnate and to die on the cross for the sins of humanity.

In conclusion, the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith contains several passages that support the concept of the covenant of redemption.