Confessing The Faith (Part 12) Divine Providence

Welcome everyone.

Pray

(Recap) Last week we were in Chapter 4, paragraph 2-3. Those paragraphs focused in on how God has made man in the image of God. That image of God consists of Knowledge, righteousness, holiness, and the Moral law. Paragraph 3 then focus more into the difference between moral law and positive law, which will be a doctrinal point that will receive further clarification in Chapter 19. But what were some of the major takeaways that you can recall from last week?

(Mention) We are going to be in chapter 5, Divine Providence, but before we read anything from that Chapter I do want to turn your attention to how the confession has already used the word “Providence” and is going to use this word. (Read) Turn with me to chapter 1:1, 1:8, 22:6, 26:14

Chapter 5 “Divine Providence” gives us the definition and the meaning of the word Providence in the way that it is to be understood for the other usages of the word.

(Read) Paragraph 1—This is the definition of the word providence.— “Providence is God’s sovereign and holy work of upholding, directing, arranging, and governing all creation and events for His own glory.”

Now before we break this down, I do feel compelled to remind us of a principle we discussed in chapter 3 “Decree.” The doctrines that revolve around God’s sovereignty are one that the confession admits is a high mystery that is to be handle with prudence and care. In our first study of Chapter 3 I spoke about the need for us to have a balanced view or a balance scale when it comes to this doctrine. The mistake made by many Calvinist is the over focus of God’s sovereignty at the diminishing of Man’s choice and accountability to sin. If we focus on one; Either God’s sovereignty, or man responsibility, we tend to have unequal weights in our theology. Our theology must be balanced that states both things are true;God’s sovereignty, and man choice/responsibility. Two truths that need not be reconciled in our minds beyond that which Scripture confesses. Is God sovereign? Yes! the scripture is clear on this. Is man held responsible for their free choices? Yes, scripture is clear about this. We must be a people who are okay with admitting and confessing that there is mysteries that are too deep and too wonderful for us to understand in their completeness in God’s word without reservation. C.H. Spurgeon when asked how he reconciled Sovereignty and man’s responsibility, responded by saying; That he need not reconcile two friends.

Chapter 9 will discuss Free Will, but today’s study will focus more in on doctrine that deals with God’s sovereignty.

Now you might think to yourself; “Did we not already discuss this in chapter 3?” And the answer to this, is kinda but not really. The doctrine of God’s decree and the doctrine of God’s providence are closely related but are slightly different. Here might be a helpful Illustration; put yourself on the construction sight that has yet to have the grown broken. What comes first? the blue prints or the building? The blue prints come first. is the blue prints the building? no. Is the building the blue prints? no. But is the building built to the specification of the blue prints? I sure hope so!

God’s decree comes first, this is also seen as the “first cause”—(reference paragraph 2) God’s decree is like the blue prints being printed out. Creation, chapter 4, is like the breaking of the ground and the laying of the foundation. God’s providence is the bringing about of the building itself. The building itself is the blueprints actualized or realized.

I hope that this helps us to see the distinction between decree, creation, and providence.

(let’s get back to the confession)

Paragraph 1 says “God the good creator of all things”—these has already been defined in the previous chapter

“His infinite power”—This comes right after the power that was displayed in creating. The same all powerful God is still at work in His holy providence.

“upholds, directs, arranges, and governs… for the purpose for which they were created”—Read Isaiah 46:10-11. (Read also) Job 38:4-12. (Read) Matthew 10:29-31.

(Read) Paragraph 2

“all things”—this is the same language that come from the previous a paragraph and also even in chapter 4 which says God created all things.

“decree of God”—Acts 4:27-27 (The confession lists Acts 2:23)

“by chance” —Proverbs 16:33.

“secondary causes”—See chapter 3 paragraph 1.(explain)

(quote)-Sam Waldron write this; The Fatalist and the Arminian argue that, if God has ordained everything, nothing we do can make a difference. The Bible reasons in the exactly opposite way. Since God has ordained all things, the means he has ordained do make a difference.

(Read) Paragraph 3

“Ordinary Providence”—Is speaking of the natural ways in which creature is continually sustained by God. If you plant a apple tree, what tree will sprout? an apple tree. But what if you plant an apple tree, can God if He so desired make from the apple tree a pear tree? Well sure He could, that type of providence would be the working apart, beyond, or in contrary to them (Means).

But in the sense that you plant a apple tree, you would expect ordinarily a apple tree to be produced, what if i was to say; “well if God wants me to have an apple tree, He will give me an apple tree, so instead of planting apple tree I will sit on the couch and eat pizza until the apple is in my hands” —Now could God do exactly those things?yes, but ordinarily, that person that confesses such a teaching or thought is guilty of not thinking that in God’s providence He also makes use of the means. It could very well be said; I wanted an apple tree, so I prayed to God for His good will to be done, after which I went bought the seed, and planted my apple tree.”

Now there are many applications about this. God uses our prayers as a means. Do we changes God’s mind in an ultimate sense? no. But should we pray in an attitude that God hears them and that we can ask Him anything such as to save our loved one with the expectation that His will, will be done? Yes. We can and should do that because one of the means that God has decreed and that His providence works through is prayer.

(Read) Proverbs 21:31.

(3 things) Now there are three things which I believe are natural takeaways from these paragraphs so far.

1)It keeps us from a miserable anxiety and complaining about life. —If you believe that the living God is in control of all things, how would that keep anxiety away?

2)Secondary causes and means make a difference.— If you believe that God has ordained all the means, what might this cause us to do with our life? would it promote more obedience to God?

3)Keeps away lazy Christianity—This kind of thinking keeps us away from presumptions and the pit falls therein. We should not presume to see the results of the outcome without using means (Apple tree). Do not expect God will save your family unless you pray for them, Do not expect to be safe unless you take precautions (Wearing a seat belt) The means of our salvation is repentance and faith. the Means to profit in life is typically labour. —What should be produced in the Christian who know that God works through and by means?

“Free to work apart from them”—We see several examples of this, but here is a easy one to demonstrate; Daniel 3:27. Does fire burn? Yes, ordinarily it does. Did this fire burn? No, because God worked against this normal and natural means, thus it was a miracle.

Paragraph 4 (Read)

(Reference) Acts 4 about who did Peter charge with the sin? The people of Israel and all the other people who were apart of the killing of Jesus. Yet, this was all according to God’s predetermined plan.

(Read) Paragraph 5

(The focus/church) Here the confession narrows in on the special focus of God’s providence which is His elect, the church,

God’s ways are higher than our own

(Quote Romans 8:28) The things that happen to us lead to our humility and and conformity to Jesus (Which is the Good!)

(Read) Paragraph 6

God does not just have a special providence that leads the Church home, but also has a providence that sometimes blinds and hardens the wicked.

(Reference Romans 1:24-God gave them over)

Read-Romans 11:7-8.

Read Deut. 29:4.

(Read) Paragraph 7

Conclude-potentially read 1 Timothy 4:10.

(Questions)

Pray-Thank God for His providence, God’s eye is on the sparrow I know that He watches me, Watch us and man we use the means set before us to your glory