Providence Sermon 1

Providence: Definition & Foundation (Being, Persons, & Decree of God)

Primary Scripture to Exposit: Isaiah 46:8-11

Supplementary Scriptures to Exposit: Hebrews 1:3; Proverbs 10:4; 10:22; 16:1,33; 19:14,21; 21:1

Supplementary Confessional Reference: 2LBCF 5.1-3

Thesis: 2LBCF 5.1: ‘God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.’

Introduction: (Illustration) John Adams, the first Vice President and Second President of the United States, is remembered to history as a man with purpose. He grew up the son of a farmer with long days in the field; he was educated at Harvard, doubtless at that time among the most rigorous institutions in the world; he became a lawyer and worked a traveling circuit for weeks on end; he played numerous roles in the colonies’ break from Britain and formation of the new republic. His life story is one of purpose. Adams was serving as the United States’ ambassador to Holland when he received the news that Great Britain had surrendered. Very quickly, his tireless labor was rewarded as the Dutch formally recognized his office and the independence of the new nation. As he soaked up these successes, Adams remarked that it ‘is the result of a vast number and variety of events, comprising the great scheme of Providence… When I recollect the circumstances, I am amazed, and feel that it is no work of mine.’

Adams had purpose; but, more than that, a conviction that his purpose in life was but one aspect of the great scheme of Providence. We too, like Adams, want to have purpose in life. And we sometimes wonder what part we play in the grand scheme of things. It is to this longing, this void, this darkness, that the doctrine of Providence gives us meaning, purpose, and light. But as we consider the great scheme of Providence, our gaze will be turned to its foundation, as this doctrine affords a look into the Being, Persons, and Decree of our God.

Thesis: Our confession in 5.1 sets forth a working definition of the doctrine of Providence in this way: ‘God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence […] according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will.’ And the two reasons why we need to know this doctrine are this: it helps us answer our purpose given by our God, and leads us to worship Him. These two reasons are given in the Confession, where it states that Providence works upon all creatures ‘to the end for the which they were created;’ and that it is ‘to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.’ Would you know the end for which you were created? Would you have greater worship of the Triune God? Then it is to the doctrine of Providence we must travel.