1689 LBCF Chapter 5 "Of Divine Providence"

Well, welcome to Bible study. It's a blessing. See everybody tonight. Let me get this guy going here to you. Well, we are gonna be in chapter 5 of the 1689. Lash. I do not have. Let me check here. I will get some more of those books in the future and get one to you.

But yeah I'm sure you can share. Yeah, that'll work. That'll definitely work. So we're gonna be in chapter 5 tonight last week. We covered chapter 4 we were in The wonderful chapter of God's creation and we looked at Genesis 1 through 3.

So would anybody like to start us off with a word of prayer before? We Look at chapter 5. Carl, thank you. So chapter 5 of the 1689 I think what we're gonna see in this tonight is probably a little bit of a Rehash, maybe not a rehash is the right word.

But.

Going over again some of the things and that we already discussed in chapter 3 these things these each one of these chapters I don't know if we remember from last week, but from chapter.

4.

What I put forth was that God has not left his creation without him being involved in his creation, right? So what. God has decreed something. God has his creation. There's a specific point when he created something and so from that now we look at chapter 5 which I think is having to deal with how God sustains all things that the Providence God providing all the means.

And Everything along those lines and in fact, we'll see some more language of the first cause and the second cause here in this chapter. But what Maya was what I was thinking of doing tonight was just Reading each one of these paragraphs discussion.

Looking at Bible verses, of course as we as we always should be and and whatnot. And then just this might bring up more detail from that chapter 3 text that we're in. So would anybody like to volunteer to read paragraph 1 of chapter 5?

Shepherd wants to. Is that you volunteering me to read it. Okay. I'll read it. Let's read this. Yeah, voluntold, huh. Because by default he is not able to read them so a Paragraph 1. God the good creator of all things in his infinite power and wisdom.

Upholds.

Directs Arranges and governs all creatures and things from the greatest to the least by his perfectly wise and holy Providence to the purpose for which they were created. He governs according to his infallible foreknowledge and the free unchangeable counsel of his own will is Providence leads to the praise of the glory of his wisdom power justice infinite goodness and mercy.

I.

Was paragraph 1. What are some things that you guys see in that that immediately stand out to you or something that that? Has taken your mind captive in this paragraph?

With our perception what we can perceive and what God is. It's impossible in my judgment that We are capable. Humans are not capable of the quality God. We see in God we know God.

Right. Incomprehensible, that's right. That's right. Yeah, I think that's what this is laying out. Continually as I already said, I think this is just kind of going into maybe a little bit more detail of how decree and creation Unfold right because in the next chapter the very next chapter that we have is the fall right?

And so again, what we taught discussed and what I think that we see every single Sunday as we come and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ is That the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his death his life has always been planning, right?

That's always been. The plan was to redeem fallen mankind through his son Jesus Christ the eternal Son Jesus Christ and so I I Think what is taking place because it set us off with decree. It talked then God has a purpose in this creation and now we're talking about this this word Providence God providing everything God's seeing to everything and then in chapter six, we'll see the fall of mankind and then from there We're gonna see Christ as the mediator.

So we're gonna see those things a Very purposeful way that this confession as the West Minister and the Savoy have laid out for us very very purposeful. Is there anything else that you guys would see in this paragraph that would?

Help enlighten somebody on on this topic or anything that you would see that you want to make a mention of.

Okay. Yep, right.

Right. So yeah that that that to me would mean that when we look To even Christ and his crucifixion. That's major event the greatest of all events We could say God directed that God had a plan in that God Decreed that but then in all those little those little those little actions that came about to bring about that whether it was Judas Betraying him whether it was the the cloth of the priest as he tore his robe all those things that took place.

It was all governed there right. And that extends to even Me as a sinner coming to know Christ, right? Like it's still being governed in those ways God's still providing those things in those ways. I think it's remarkable considering that.

Yeah, yeah, yep, I think stepping off of that I'd go back to what what Don said like this gives us a greater.

Emphasis on why we should have faith in God because in a God that's painted in the way that Scripture has painted us Here right that that this this gives us a great trust that God Does have purpose in all things and that there is reason and that there's something that's going to come about and that he's faithful.

Right, like if God didn't sustain all things if he didn't if he didn't hold all creation in the hollow of his hand There would be some Thinking in the back of the mind, how can he hold me secure in my salvation if he can't hold all things in Security in their position, right?

This just magnifies as Don has already said reminded us of the saying of Carl that this is incomprehensible. This is so great for us to even be thinking about.

Yeah.

Yep, right, right. Yep. Yep. There it is.

Yeah, absolutely. Jonathan what are you thinking on this paragraph? If you bring up Satan falling right now. Think the same as Carl, yeah.

I.

Think what Carl said about the that word comfort that this kind of a thinking this kind of a theological stance brings. I saw something on Facebook. I shared it on Facebook as well, but it was in the in the days of Reformation Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burned at the stake during a reign of Queen Mary for the preaching and Proclaiming of the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ after being sentenced to his trial Latimer thanked God for giving him a death that would glorify his God.

When he was being executed Latimer encouraged Ridley in their final moment saying play the man Mr. Ridley we shall this day Light such a candle by God's grace in England as I trust shall never be put out.

And so I think there's even comfort in maybe maybe even in the moment of severe distress to that God God has arranged this and he he's sustaining it. This is how the plan is going to be and This is my part.

That's right but yeah, let's do or let this glorify our God right like this it's I think if you walk into a a trial of some kind or persecution of some kind or whatever the situation is that like that Should affect the way that you behave in that situation, right?

Like if you didn't have a trust in a sovereign God and you were burning burned at the stake That I don't think you could utter words like that right of this is gonna glorify our God, right that that would be a difficult thing I think for a person that doesn't have this kind of a theological stance to have them say such a thing I Would remind us let's go to Genesis 50 real fast just on this paragraph.

This is not a Scripture that's in this text. We've actually read I think almost each one of these scriptures I know in through preaching and Through Bible study in the last several months. We've read each one of these scriptures that are listed here in paragraph one.

But I want to remind us I think Rick said it excellently a couple weeks ago when we were in the in the decree of God and Just want to remind us of what Rick said. So correct me if I quote you incorrectly Rick When we look at Genesis 50 We'll read Let's let's read verse 17 just to 21.

Let's read verse 17 of 21. Thus you shall say to Joseph Please forgive I beg you the transgressions of your brothers and their sin for they dealt evil Against you. So now please forgive the transgression of the slaves of the God of your father and Joseph wept When they spoke to him.

So so just pausing right there. These these these brothers are that this is an admittance to what they did was absolutely sin, right? So so we don't have to just go to that text and assume that it was sin to sell his brother into slavery.

They even recognized that it was saying that they were sinning against God in their actions. It was evil that they did they meant it for evil. It was intentionality to break God's law and it says. Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said behold we are your slaves.

But Joseph said to them do not be afraid for I. For am I in God's place as for you you meant evil against me. But God meant it for good in order to do what has happened on this day to keep many people alive.

So now do not be afraid. I will provide Provide that's a interesting word when we talk about Providence provide for you and your little ones and he comforted them and spoke to their heart and so. The same exact actions that those brothers were committing Evil and those exact same actions God had decreed to happen.

Good. All right. That's what that's that that's what these theologians that's what we are even doing today when we even read over this this confession is that we're trying to rationalize these things together and.

And the reality of it. I think we have to say according to Scripture God has created some for honorable use some for destruction and In those things God has never been being able to be accused of sin.

He's never able to be held culpable for our actions. We're always held culpable for them as we see the brothers. They meant that for evil, but in every little thing in there every little thing in there I Go back to what Patti said the least to the greatest of things right these very little things that happen in Joseph's life.

It was all being meant for good from God's perspective. Even him being sold into slavery even a sinful actions of the brothers. Meant for good. And you could even go on. I think RC Sproul Would also say that he would then go through several examples in the Old Testament of of what seemingly looks to peers random and.

All these seemingly appearing random events such as this is what brings about Christ. That's what brings about our salvation. And so of course God is meaning has purpose and things and is bringing something together.

That is for his own glory and again. This is a mystery. According to the last.

Or no.

It's according to the last verse or the last paragraph of chapter 3 that this is a High mystery and it's hard for us to rationalize these things but we have to approach it with prudence and special care and I think the special care in there is We need to teach what the Bible says and and not need to feel like we need to defend these things.

Reading that Though reading that God met these evil actions that that the brothers committed that they were held accountable for God meant it for good. Let's read paragraph 2 here of chapter 5 all things come to pass Unchangeably and certainly in a relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God.

We'll come back to that here in a moment. Who is the first?

Cause.

Thus nothing happens to anyone by chance or outside of God's providence. Yet by the same providence God Arranges all things to occur according to the nature of second causes.

Either.

Necessarily freely or in response to other causes. Very interesting first. Very interesting paragraph, excuse me, so when we look at Genesis 50 what we just read there in verse 20, what is This what this confession has done.

It's used biblical language like God causing all things, right? So it uses that word cause what what does cause. How would we define cause. I think we talked about this a little bit in Chapter 3, how do we define what causes?

Jonathan's thinking about it. He he's like I wrote it down deep in the memory bank and I'm searching it right now.

Yeah, so it's it's.

Causality is the thinking that it has to be something that affects something to come to pass, right? So so if this.

This.

Bible if the page to have it be turned I have to act in flipping a page, right? There's a cause that's making it take place, right? If I stood back unless the air comes and blows over a page that page is never gonna turn, right?

But if the page turned because of the air in here, what was the cause the air moving it, right? And so that's what when we think about cause we think about the action bringing about something. And so what is being said in here is an order of events that's being talked about.

Who was the one that sold the brother into slavery? Who was the one that sold Joseph into slavery? The brothers were right. They were the cause they were the they acted in that there was the the the deliver the deliberates.

The the intentionality to commit sin and that's what caused it. But what came first? God decreeing that they would sell the self of their brother into slavery or them selling him into slavery. The decree came first, right?

So again cause. It wouldn't have happened unless God had decreed it to happen, right? So there's cause and so now you have two causes that are taking place. And so that's the language that's being used here.

God is the first cause because in order of events, he declares the end from the beginning but then we are still taking place and doing those things and Therefore the the term second cause that we would see even in this paragraph.

There's a lot of a lot of rationality out there and analogies to try to describe this effect if you were to Take your hand and put it over a boiling pot of water and it was to burn you what caused the burn.

The steam right? Okay, so heat so so what we could say is the most proximate cause was the steam, right? That that was the proximate cause that burned our hand, but was not the water sitting on the boiler part of the cause as well.

So that was the distant cause on this and so this again, I don't think this does it's incomprehensible, right? But that's an analogy. I've heard talk about God's creation and his providence that he's like the the heating of the water.

But then the steam is that which is accountable for the burn, right?

Yes, yep, right. Yep was.

Yeah.

Right. Yeah, that's the thinking that's being put forth in here. Is that first cause second cause language and it's again, it's just trying to rationalize how these things work together, right? And that's that's great.

Yeah. No, I the first cause was the the turbine.

Well.

Then there's a whole bunch of other causes that are involved in that and that's what this this paragraph says that that it says that Nate that according to the nature of the second causes. So what is the nature of the secondary causes that we that that's talking about is our sin nature, right?

That we're dead in our sins and trespasses. We're by nature children of wrath. That that's going to make our Leaning always to that to commit sin. So that's the nature of secondary causes and it says either necessarily freely or in response to other causes.

So it even mentions there might be the assumption that if we're the secondary causes there's other causes involved to bring about what that first cause the decree was. Again, God is sovereign over all those things and therefore he's Providential in all things.

That's what this text is talking about that He's providing the the bringing about of something the sustaining of something. I think it's remarkable. Is there anything else before we go to paragraph three that that you would want to mention here in paragraph two that you think is?

Interesting. Okay, which. That's right first cause.

So, I love that and that the the the proverb in there because it takes something that seems to be the most random like I remember being in middle school because again, I dropped out of high school. So I can't have that many stories from high school, but when I was in middle school I remember a lot of the math questions.

Involving chance and percentages right and it was almost always tied to somebody rules die. What is the chance of these things right? But we just read that if you spent your whole life and you were just rolling dice to try to figure out those statistics.

Who was the one that determined the the landing of that die in your lap? God is right. So the most random thing in life a die a Dice dice a lot is cast in the lap. God is still sovereign over it like Remarkable the dust mope moat that's floating through the air right now.

There's not many because we have wonderful ladies that help clean the church. But the he dust that's even in the air. Sovereignly controlled by God.

Today.

Really Pacific is a very deep ocean. It doesn't create surface. Real cause. Where did it come from?

Hmm.

Today this morning really.

Really?

That's remarkable.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, interesting. It's remarkable just I don't know like. That that actually brings up. Another place here. Let me let me flip here and see if I can find what I'm thinking of Genesis 22. This is again.

Not a reference in here but. You talk about a hurricane coming out of nowhere, right? Genesis 22 in the topic of Providence. I I think we have to think about this word in here. So a lot of a lot of I own a book that I really really like it's a really thick book and it's called Providence.

So it's pertinent to the Bible study tonight, but in that book they put forth that Providence means God seeing to something. God will see it done. God will see to it is the idea of what? Providence is Genesis chapter 22 verse.

Let's read verse 7 and on it says then Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said my father. And he said here I am my son and he said behold the fire and the wood. But where's the lamb for the burnt offering and Abraham said God will provide for himself.

The lamb for the burnt offering my son. So the two of them walked on together. You talk about comfort and courage and what Providence brings? Here you have Isaac. I don't see a lamb anywhere the Lord will provide me.

Walked on right that that carry them on. Lord will provide.

For.

God will see to it that he will for himself have a lamb. That's what that word in Hebrew from my understanding for my study. I don't know Hebrew very at all. So don't don't think that's my definite definition, but that's what I've read in the book.

And so God will see to it. God will see that it's done. Then they came to a place which God had told him and Abraham built the altar there and Arranged the wood and bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar on top of the wood.

There's.

Speculation that's done in here at the age of Isaac. I would actually put forth that he's a lot older than a lot of people put in there in their minds. I think that actually he would probably. Anyway, that's all speculation but older and so you think did Abraham to have to wrestle him or didn't he just right?

You think that he tackled him and bound him up, right? Regardless I I'm almost looking at it that even the confidence that Abraham had or the confidence that Isaac had if there was any Confidence it was tied directly to the Lord providing something right the Lord will provide like that was the confidence in that and it says that.

So he bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar on top of the wood and Abraham stretched out his hand and took his Knife to slay his son. But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven and said Abraham Abraham.

He said here I am and he said do not stretch out your hand against the boy. And do nothing to him for I know that you fear God since you have not withheld your son Your only son from me and I'd pause there.

I think the angel of the Lord this this word in here I think this is talking about actually, the angel of Yahweh that this text is is is Seen often in the Old Testament as being the second person of the Trinity.

This is very well could be the word himself Jesus Christ before he's incarnate speaking in this text. The messenger of Yahweh the angel of Yahweh and so you could almost think if that is the case. Here's the word the pre-incarnate son Jesus Christ that he himself will be the lamb that will die.

He's saying stop Abraham. Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw and behold There was a ram after it had been caught in the thicket by his horns and Abraham went and took the ram and offered up a burnt offering in The place of his son and Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will provide as it is said this day in the Mount of Yahweh.

It will be provided and that is the same area to which Christ himself would be crucified.

Remarkable when we think about.

Did Abraham look at that and be like, ah, this is where Jesus one day will be crucified. Or or was it that God had providence and through his decree all things were coming together for this glorious thing to take place.

That's remarkable. So I think like what Don just said that out of nowhere. Here's this hurricane well out of nowhere. Here's a lamb that's caught in the thicket that here's a perfect offering right the Lord will provide.

Remarkable.

Paragraph three, let's look at this. And in his ordinary providence God makes use of means. Though he is free to work apart from them beyond them and contrary to them at his own pleasure at his pleasure.

So what what do you guys think about that? What is that trying to reconcile in this in this this this paragraph? Because it's all throughout the Bible this what this is talking about.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah Yep.

God's providence God uses means and even in his means He's he's able to do that. Which is contrary to those means and bring about something right. You see that all throughout this Old Testament and the New Testament as well.

I.

Love that. I Almost think you could imagine that the people that are writing this document whether it be the Westminster the Savoy or the 1689 or are thinking in the back of their minds as they're writing paragraph 1 and paragraph 2.

Okay, I could see somebody trying to argue right now. Why is it that that God says some things in the Old Testament that that seem to be contrary to what we just wrote in? Paragraph 2 and 1 and so this is what paragraph 3 is.

Is.

God is free because he's the most free of anybody that he can act in his providence against. Those very means that he decreed for them to be there in the first place. Just remarkable just remarkable.

Right, right, right. Were you right?

Yeah, yeah.

Right. Yep, yep Yep, yep.

You can't. Yeah, there it is comprehensible or incomprehensible. Yeah, okay.

Absolutely, right, right.

Any other thoughts on that? These are all places I didn't have in the back of my mind that I thought we were gonna discuss. I love this. Same thing with scripture.

Okay.

Yeah, right.

Absolutely. Tyler you got anything back there on this? No, okay. I.

Love it.

Yeah, you got to be here two weeks in a row in order to speak. Well, let's repair got four we're trucking right along. I think this is all creating great dialogue. The almighty power unsearchable wisdom and infinite goodness of God are so Thoroughly demonstrated in his providence that his sovereign plan includes even the first fall.

So like we started off with this this Bible study Included the very first fall and every other sinful action both of angels and humans. God's providence over sinful actions does not occur by simple permission.

Said God most wisely and Powerfully limits and in other ways arranges and govern sinful actions through a complex Arrangement of methods. I think we could agree with that. He governs sinful actions to Accomplish his perfectly holy Purpose yet.

He does this in such a way that the sinfulness of their actions arise only from the creature and not from God because God is altogether holy and Righteous. He can neither originate nor approve of sin.

See, yeah, this is another. I think this paragraph is a great one that lays the doctrine on the table the cards on the table and walks away and says this is what scripture says I Like this is the way I'm gonna argue it and I it's a mystery.

I can't rationalize these things. But it calls it complex, right? It's not a simple thing, but it can be stated simply it can be stated scripturally. God has decreed all things yet. He is not able to be accused of sin.

Oh, we can't look at the potter and say why did you create me like this? There's that doctrine. We have to lay the cards on the table walk away and let them lay where they lay.

I.

Almost think about Genesis back in Genesis 50 without turning back there. How have any of us and and it's okay because we all in our in the back of our in our Theological sanctified walk that we're in we some of us may have been Could be held culpable to doing this in Genesis 50.

I I know Several people outside of our church that have done this and fallen into this error. But what they meant for evil God used for good. There's an inserting of a different word in there. Have any of us ever heard somebody do that in Genesis 50.

Yeah, it almost seems like God is like what they're trying to paint is that God is is like. On a bowling alley how you can have the what are they called the the bumpers? Come up for the kids that you see that when when we mess up when the kid throws that hard left ball God's that bumper that will bump it back.

So it gets down the lane and in the general area of where God wants things to end up, right? What we meant for evil God God uses and rearrange and bumpers. Into the end goal and it's ultimately good. Is that what that teaches in Genesis 50?

No, it's the exact same word that it's the meant the meant that was just said that they meant it for evil. The the meaning that the intention behind their hearts that the evil transgression is meant for evil that same exact Hebrew word is used God meant for good.

Interesting. So God the gods not merely the bumpers. There's something far greater than that. That analogy definitely does not do the scripture justice.

But.

What what is also the Christians conclusion? He does this in such a way that he can never be held culpable of violation or sin or Wrongdoing that that and why is that. Well what the chapter to teach us God is holy.

That that he's outside of us in these ways that he there's no shadow or shifting. Shifting shadow in his character or being that he is. Holy. Holy. Holy, right? So so, of course, there's no sin that exists in there.

There's no ability for us to accuse him of sin that exists in the being of God and so that's why we have to just state simple doctrine of decree Providence and God's not held culpable for. Any thoughts questions?

I this is all stuff we covered in chapter 3, I think. That we discussed in the way Psalm 50 21 one of the references these things you have done and I have been silent. You thought that I was like yourself, but now I rebuke you and lay charge before you.

Romans chapter. Chapter two it says that we try to make God. Instead of a man or a four-footed beast or a creaking crawling animal or the winged animal of the air we try to bring God down to our what we exist in in creation and God is completely outside of those things and So it's okay to say I I don't know how I visit intimately works, but I do know what scripture says.

One of the scriptural helps on this is Genesis 50 20 which we've already read you guys want to keep on reading paragraph 5 Paragraph 5. Let's do it. The perfectly wise righteous and gracious God often allows his own children for a time to experience a variety of temptations and the sinfulness of their own hearts.

He does this to chastise them for their former sins or to make them aware of hidden strength of the corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts. So that they may be humbled. He also does this to lead them to a closer and more constant dependence on him to sustain them.

So that so make to make them more cautious about all future circumstances. That may lead to sin and for other just and holy purposes. So whatever happens to any of his elect happens by his appointment for his glory and for their good.

Hmm.

Romans 8 28. Let's go to that text and read that Romans 8 28. What kind of translations do we have in the room right now? I've got an LSB which is essentially an NASB but updated. Is there an ESV or an NIV out there or a King James Version.

ESV New King James, you know, let's just look at let's each one of us those three ESV and New King James read Romans 8 28 in this. My text my LSB Translation would read and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.

Jake what does your say? Same exact wording. Exactly cool. I like it. Hi. What does your say? Same exact thing. Okay, I like it. Is there any. What translation do you have?

Read yours, please. Romans 8 28. So that one that did send do it a little bit differently in there, right?

So the the difference in this. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. And you're said that God causes all things to work together for the good of those that Who love him or those that are called according to his purposes.

I think how that directly is translated quoted in there the point of that that it's bringing up in the scriptural help. That's even in this is that that God We can look at everything in our life and say that it ultimately is is bringing about something that is good in us right.

When when we Think about us being shaped more and more like Christ.

If.

That is how God is bringing about something. Is it wrong for God to bring about those things in our lives. And and we could think of a multitude of things whether it's Death or.

Hardship or a.

Hate for sin or or something along those lines. It's ultimately being used for us to rely more on Christ and become more of his image bearing More sanctified in him. That's what this paragraph is trying to teach and that's what Romans 8 28 that all things They work together for good.

There's a good that's in it. And so This is again. I and I keep on cautioning us about this if we remove God's sovereignty in the midst of anything. It takes away a purpose in there. That's just happening and there's randomness.

There's no hope or true hope in it. It's almost like taking an atheistic stance on something in life. And that's not good. It's not like we can look and say God is void in that situation or there is no ultimate help or hope or Bringing about something in something it all is working together.

It's all Purposeful, it's all intentional. It's all something is greater happening in there. I can promise you from my experience and I don't I don't like relying on experiences to justify Theology, but I think we can see this Theologically so I can tell us that in my experience when somebody is suffering Reminding them of God's sovereignty is actually very comforting to know.

God.

Is doing something and it's then it just happened to me. There's something that's greater. That's going to come about from this that there's good in it. That's comforting and it's it's a challenge to try to walk somebody across this bridge when it happens, but there's good in it.

There's something ultimately coming about in it. Don. Do you have something to say on that? I see I see you shaking your head in agreeance with that.

It's awfully hard, it's awfully hard to say, oh I know there's a good thing, this is really something good. It's awfully hard to do that, and I've had good people, but nothing, God never tempts you beyond your capable of handling, now that's wonderful to hear that, and you know at the time when you're Struggling with why did this happen and Yeah, you have to believe that if you're if you love God and you're Trying your best to walk with God and serve God as best you can When things happen that you don't understand, it's awfully hard to say, oh I know there's something good in it.