Pt.9 LBCF Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence

The Confession’s Structure: Overview and Two Major Parts

Okay chapter 5 of the confession of faith is of divine providence and If you if you're going to follow along there's seven paragraphs in this chapter. Okay, and the chapter can be divided into two major parts.

And again, if you if you want to follow up on this the divisions I'm getting are from Sam Waldron's book Modern that modern exposition of the 1689. So if you have any problem with the way, it's divided call Sam.

Don't call me All right. Part one is an overview in a summary basically. The first chat whole first chapter is just an overview. What is Providence? It's a so it's an overview and a summaries. That's paragraph one.

Paragraph part two, which is the rest of the chapters. I'm sorry the rest of the sections that's two through seven is concerns. About the doctrine and by concerns, I don't mean you know, we're worrying about it but what you know, what are the ramifications of it and what what are how do we answer questions concerning the Doctrine of Providence now the Doctrine of Providence is closely related to the doctrine of God's decree in chapter 3 okay, and You have to keep All of the previous chapters in mind as we go through this remember.

Why did we start chapter 1 why was that on the scriptures because that's our epistemology that what do we know about God? What do we know about his plan and everything else? It's all given to us in the scriptures and that's why we start there.

Then we had the doctrine of God. Right, then the doctrine of decree is God's decree then the chapter on creation is the beginning or the commencement of God's decree being worked out in time in history and All right, the decree of God is the you can look at it.

This way is like a blueprint. Blueprint or a plant don't you laugh at me? He loves it when I make a mistake. All right, the decree of God is like the the blueprint or the plan. Providence is the carrying out of the plan in the course of history.

All right.

The decree takes place in eternity. But providence takes place in history. So if you keep that in mind, I think it might make it easier to understand the doctrine of God's providence. So the overview in the summary it starts off and I'm going to break it down as we have with the other sections.

God’s Decree Carried Out in Providence

All right, the it starts by giving you the author of providence God God the good creator of all things. He is the author of providence when you soon as you start talking about providence. You have to understand that this is God working out his decree.

All right, so the so the first Chapter gives us I'm sorry. The first section gives us who the author is then it gives us the foundation of providence his infinite power and wisdom. Okay God is able to work out his decree because of his infinite power and wisdom.

Okay, just seems to make sense, right. What's the essence of providence? He does uphold direct dispose and govern. Oh, by the way I'm not going to be reading this in the old English. I'm gonna put it up in the original but he does uphold I get good old tongue-tied.

If I start doing death and with and super tough and no, I can't do that. All right, so. So if it's a little bit different, it's okay he does uphold direct dispose and govern. That's the idea of of what his providence is everything that happens.

Remember we started with the decree. Everything that happens happens because God has decreed it to happen when we look at providence. Providence is how God makes things to happen in his creation. Alright, so he upholds directs disposes and governs the object of providence all creatures and things from the greatest to the least member of RC Sproul Was I think he was one who originated the saying that there's not one random molecule in the entire created universe that everything is under the direct control of God and Under God's providence.

All right, so you see the object of his providence the nature of providence. By his most wise and holy providence. His providence is wise and holy. Okay. There there's there's no equivocation in his in his providence.

God never Looks down at what is going on in his world. This is oh, I didn't mean for that to happen. All right, well, I mean we chuckle at that but there is theology out there coming from pulpits that basically Says exactly that.

All right, but if we understand God's providence, no, it's his most wise and holy. Not only is it wise but it is holy it is good. It is righteous. It is just Okay. So nobody can look at God and say well, you know, this was bad.

No, you can't do that. Not not according to what the scripture says the compatibility of providence To the end for which they were created. What you're going to see this over and over again in this chapter and that is That everything that God has created is Going to work out perfectly to the end for which God created it.

All right, follow that. There is nothing that is going to go outside of God's decree and We're going to see how he does that to a certain degree. I mean obviously we can't get into the details of how he Carries things out because so much of how he carries out his providence is a mystery to us.

We must always keep in mind Deuteronomy 29 29. The secret things belong to the Lord. If it's not Specifically revealed to us. We are to let that go but the things that are revealed. Those are the things that we are to study.

That's why we have Bible studies and we are to read to and to grasp as much as we can. The essence of what is in his word because that's talking all about his plan and his purposes. All right. Now the determining causes of God's providence.

God's mind According to his infallible foreknowledge now we I hope I don't have to spend too much time on this because You know what the Arminian does with foreknowledge. Okay, they twist it.

No.

God's foreknowledge is not God looking down the corridors time and seeing what's going to happen and that's what he's going to decree. God's foreknowledge is he knows everything that's going to happen because he has decreed it to happen.

And so it's just a fulfilling of his decree. All right, that's why he has. His providence is according to his Infallible foreknowledge. There's never a mistake in in his world. Everything he does is perfect and will be worked out according to his purpose.

Now we're going to get into some of the other things about sin and actions and whatnot in a little bit and God's will and the free immutable counsel of his own will. God doesn't change anything based upon or contingent upon anything that man could do would do will do it's all according to the will of God what he desires to take place is what is going to take place and The goal of providence to the praise of the glory of his wisdom power justice infinite goodness and mercy.

Okay in other words This should be like second nature to us as we form what is the chief end of man? To glorify God to enjoy him forever. Everything that happens in this world. All of God all of the things that God is going to providentially bring to pass All right is to the praise of the glory of his wisdom his power his justice infinite goodness and mercy.

Okay, all right now that's part one that's just the first chapter the first section now remember the first section is The overview and you'll you'll see this Consistently in the confession that Usually there might be a few exceptions, but usually that first section the first paragraph.

In any particular set chapter of the confession is a summary in an overview. Not always but usually and that's what we've seen. So we've just now laid out the framers of our confession laid out. What?

What providence is now they're going to get into and explaining how some of these things work out. So. Well, we're looking the part two is the relation of providence to the use of means. Okay, and it starts off in paragraph two, in fact the relation of providence the use of means is Specifically paragraph two which itself is broken into two parts.

Providence, Second Causes, and the Use of Means

All right. First one is a concession. All right, and this is what the Confession says although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God the first cause of all things Come to pass immutably and infallibly so that there is not anything befalls any by chance or without his providence.

Now what does that mean if it happened. It's been decreed by God and brought about by his providence infallibly. Okay We've been talking like I was talking with Jerry just before the study tonight and There are so many people in Christian churches That are looking at what's going on now, and they'll look at even this pandemic that we're going through and say well God is not directly involved in this.

But.

This is just one of the consequences of living in the sin sin curse world that flies in the face of the decree and the providence of God and our confession does such a great job of Enumerating what? What it is and this sentence here this shows you clearly this is not by chance.

We're going to get in a little bit later about sinful acts and whatnot. But it doesn't matter what it is if it's happened. It's by God's design. Okay, or without his providence. So in other words God's providence is behind Everything that is happening in this world today.

Now I just I just want to pause. I hadn't planned on saying this. But this if you think about this, all right this has Tremendous ramifications for the church, right if you understand that everything that is happening is Under the control and guidance of Almighty God to bring about his purpose and his plan.

Then what are you worried about? Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this is a reason to sit back and say case or a Sarah. That's fatalism and we'll actually talk about that a little bit later. But but so notice there's the concession.

This is what it's saying this nothing is going to happen in this world that God has decreed apart from his providence. The second part of that is an assertion and that's the second half of paragraph two.

Yet by the same providence he orders them to fall out according to the nature of second causes either necessarily freely or contingently. All right. What that's saying is While God is always the first cause He uses second causes to bring about his providence.

That means he uses us. He uses nature He uses natural disasters. He uses all kinds of things to bring about his purpose and.

And.

What he's saying what the confession is saying here is that's they're not inconsistent with each other. Even though God decrees something he brings it about providentially. He uses second causes to bring his ring those things about.

Now the tension is shown in this paragraph. The predetermined plan of God is carried out freely and Necessarily by the actions of men or other created forces. I'm going to give you just three examples.

Remember my one of the things that I mentioned when we first began the study of the confession is I'm not going to defend the confession. That's not my purpose. All right. I mean there's room for that and everything else but my purpose and going through this is just so that everybody knows what the confession says.

All right.

And if you have any if you come up with any issues that you would like to discuss we can do that Privately or maybe even have a class on it. But but I'm not going to try to defend it and so like these three examples that I'm going to show you.

Are not to try to prove this just to demonstrate it to you. Alright, so I'm going to use three specific examples. First the Apostle Paul being shipwrecked. Remember when the Apostle was on his way to Rome.

And a storm comes up and a shipwrecked. All right, and do you remember what happened?

Well.

Paul says this for this very night an angel of God of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me saying Do not be afraid Paul. You must stand before Caesar and behold. God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.

All right, Paul gets a word from God. Direct revelation. Being an apostle he gets direct revelation and God tells him don't worry Paul. You're going to make it to Rome and then you're not going to lose one of the people on board the ship.

So what does Paul do? Paul sits back lights up a cigarette and says I don't have anything to worry about. Paul said to the centurion remember they were going to they were going to leave the ship. All right, he says unless these men remain in the ship you yourselves cannot be saved.

Paul understands that even though God has decreed it and has given him the promise You still have to do the things that you have to do to ensure that it's going to come true. God's decree of God's providence does not negate man's responsibility.

Otherwise.

You got a problem here and here. You have a perfect example with Paul. He gets the word you will be saved so will everybody else but he said that he's and put. Now he's got to convince us Centurion. Don't let those men leave or you're all going to die.

There's the tension. All right, second one. Micaiah prophesies to Ahab. You're not going to make it. All right, Micaiah says. If indeed you return safely. The Lord has not spoken by me I Mean those are some strong words.

Can you imagine being the king. Get ready to go out to battle and. That's why he didn't really like Micaiah too much.

All right, and.

So what happens now now this is a great example of God's providence now a certain man drew his bow at random. Okay, and struck the king of Israel in the joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot turn around and take me out of the fight for I'm severely wounded.

And of course he dies. All right, the random that's Sarcasm. The man who drew the bow had no idea That he was going to take the king out, but God used his arrow To accomplish it. That's the second example of providence.

Third who killed Saul. Yeah. Those of you have been around for a while. You know, this is one of my favorites. I Use this all the time. Who killed Saul. Saul said to his armor-bearer draw your sword and thus thrust me through with it.

Otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me but his armor-bearer would not for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it. Saul committed suicide. Same chapter just a few verses down so Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord because the word of the Lord which he did not keep and Also because he has counsel of a medium make an inquiry of it and Did not inquire the Lord.

Therefore. He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. Perfect example God. God ordered that Saul should die for his sin. Very specific. It's given to us. It's revealed to us. But what is the means.

Saul's disobedient heart himself. His armor-bearer had more fear of God than Than Saul did. Okay so relation to the Providence to the use of means we've looked at a concession and assertion and now we're going to look at paragraph 3.

And this is called a qualification. God in his ordinary providence makes use of means yet is free to work without above and against him at his pleasure. All right, what this is saying and this is a very important paragraph what this paragraph is saying is while the normal course of things in the normal course of the daily routine of men God uses means.

Most of today all of the actions that we had did anybody have angelic visitors intervene for them? Not that you know of. Or were there any miracles, you know people raised from the dead. No, because in the normal course of things God things go along according to the Physical and scientific and mathematical laws that God has built into this universe.

However God can use above and against the normal course of things at his pleasure in other words Miracles can take place. Okay, and that's that's the whole purpose and that's why it's key, you know Sam called it a Qualification because just because God does things this way Normally doesn't mean that he's required to do it all the time.

He he is free to suspend laws. To go against his you know, the physical laws. And to do things that we would consider to be supernatural. Okay, so again, that's a very important Paragraph by the way, I think this chapter chapter 5 God's providence Could be one of the most important chapters.

Well, they're all important, but What I'm trying to say is Misunderstanding this will have ramifications in how you live your life and I think this is where a lot of people go wrong so many people Christians everybody if you're.

You're hard-pressed to find a Christian Church an evangelical church that doesn't assert. They believe in the sovereignty of God. They all claim it. But if you don't understand divine providence, you're going to negate the sovereignty of God and.

And that's what we see going on all around us constantly not just through this pandemic now, it's become manifold that churches you can see which churches really adhere to the sovereign and understand the sovereignty of God and God's decree because We see how God is working it out.

And when somebody says Oh God God God has nothing to do with this. They're going against God's decree and his providence. Which has an effect on how you how you how sovereign is he in in your thinking?

Okay. All right. Now we're going to now what the confession does and again, I hope you see I just love working through this confession. Every time I go through it. I marvel at the wisdom that God gave to the men who sat down and.

And.

Actually put this confession together because they do it so logically and so cogently. We've got the overview. Then we have an assertion, you know, the qualification the assertion and and then the the exemption so to speak.

Now the next paragraph is going to talk about the relation of providence to the fact of sin. All right, and the paragraph four talks about sin in general. Okay. This is paragraph four. Part of it, you notice.

I got a little continue down there. I did that so I wouldn't forget that there was more. The almighty power unsearchable wisdom and infinite goodness of God So far manifest themselves in his providence that his determinate counsel extends itself even to the first fall.

All right, see what he's saying. See what the confession is saying. God's providence Was in was active when Adam and Eve fell. Their fall was was decreed by God And carried out in his providence. And you can do a whole study on that how God providentially brought all of those things to pass.

So who was at fault in the fall? Was it God?

No.

It was Adam. Okay. And all other sinful actions both of angels and men. And that not by a bare permission which also he most wisely and powerfully bounds. And otherwise orders and governs in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends.

We'll we'll continue in just a minute. Notice to Angels and men. Okay. It's a lot of churches out there That are teaching. They're teaching about the cosmic battle between good and evil. And they pit god and satan as though they were co-equal rivals.

All right.

The rebellion of satan Was decreed by god But the responsibility falls at the feet of satan. Okay. All right, it continues. Yet so as the sinfulness of their acts proceeds only from the creatures And not from god who being most holy and righteous neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.

Okay.

Um.

We see this all throughout the old testament. This is clearly manifested. Uh, what would happen. Remember this. The sin cycles begins in judges and we see that kind of throughout the whole history of israel.

Israel is Obedient to a certain point then they get disobedient. What does god do. Raises up an army. One of their surrounding armies could be babylon. It could be. The assyrians. And what do they do.

They come and they they carry them off into captivity. But then what does god do. He punishes them for doing that? Because their motivation wasn't to accomplish god's purpose. They had sinful motivations for it.

All right. So.

So.

Any sinful acts you can't say god is the author of sin. Okay, because that falls as it says to the creature creatures not from god. Why. Because god is most holy righteous. He cannot be the author of sin.

Okay. How about sin and his children, all. Right, that's paragraph five. The most wise righteous and gracious god does oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations. And the corruptions of their own heart and then it gives some examples to chasten them for their former sins to discover them into the the hidden strength of corruption the deceitfulness of their hearts that they may be humbled.

And to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support Upon himself and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin. And for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by appointment for his glory in their good.

You follow what that says? If it happens to you If you're a child of god Bad things happen to you and believe me if you're living in this world bad things are going to happen to you. There's a lot of bad people out there but if Something bad does happen to you it has been permitted by god according to his providence for a specific purpose.

Okay, and we're going to talk i'm going to not comment anymore on that now because Just before we close I'm going to put another slide up which will cover all of that. We can discuss that a little bit more but that that's important because uh, in fact our brother dave just sent out a An email today talking about contentment.

Remember the apostle paul in philippians 4 talks. I have learned the secret of being content. I know how to get along with a little. I know how to get along with a lot. But i've learned the secret Of being content in all things no matter what my state.

Okay. How can paul say that. Because he understands whatever comes into his path is at the hand of god and he's got to learn from it.

And.

Even even this, you know. With this pandemic now it's affected all of us one way or another. Some people it's affected financially some people in in other ways. It's affected us as a church.

All right.

We and one of the things that we need to do as a church is evaluate. What is god teaching us through this? Why has this come into our path? And if we're not doing that. Then we're missing an opportunity.

Providence Over the Ungodly and the Church

Okay.

All right, then. Paragraph six. Talked about sin in the ungodly. What does the confession say about that. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom god as the righteous judge. For former sin does blind and harden From them.

He not only withholds his grace Whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding and wrought upon their hearts But sometimes also withdraws the gifts which they had And exposes them to such objects as the corruption makes occasion of sin And with all gives them over to their own lusts.

The temptations of the world the power of satan whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves Under those means which god uses for the softening of others. You ever notice? How two people can go through virtually the same circumstance?

One hardens his heart and the other repents. It's the providence of god.

All right.

I mean this is you see how important this is but This doctrine Is eminently practical. Well, all doctrine is eminently practical. You see how practical this is in our attitudes. Okay, so sin in the ungodly god uses The sin in the ungodly for a variety of purposes.

And we come down to the last paragraph. Which is the relationship of providence to the care of the church. Now this affects us most directly as the providence of god does in general reach to all creatures.

All right. Now we've seen that in the first six paragraphs God's providence affects every single creature not just humans but even animals the created world. Everything is affected by god's providence.

So after a more special manner, it takes care of his church and disposes of all things to the good thereof. Whatever happens in this world God is using for the good of his church. You follow that? When bad things happen.

Those bad things will turn around and be good for the church. That's what this doctrine is saying. All right, and again, there's all kinds of Scripture references if you you know, you get a you everybody should have a copy of the 1689.

You can go into those scripture proofs. All right, but that's that's the essence of the doctrine now. I have I have one last slide. And this is where I just want to close out and if you have any questions, we can talk about them here.

Providence, Anxiety, and Contentment

Understanding this doctrine should keep you from Several things. Firstly anxiety.

Think about it.

If you understand everything that this chapter of the confession has just said when bad things happen to you. Why are you anxious? Isn't that what jesus said in matthew chapter 6? Why are you worried about what you're going to eat?

What you're going to wear? Why are you worried about those things, you know does not your heavenly father feed the sparrows. Doesn't he clothe the grass of the field more splendid than solomon? And then he gets down a little bit further just before that Matthew 6 33 that verse that everybody should know.

He says all these things the pagans eagerly seek after. Notice if your priority is what is the physical things that god has provided? You've reversed the order He says but you Seek first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

So everything all the physical needs they're important. In fact apostle paul says if you're not feeding your family You're worse than a non-believer. So you we do have those responsibilities, but if you're placing those responsibilities above.

Uh your responsibilities to the kingdom of god. Which very specifically is manifested in the church. All right, you're thinking like a pagan. That's what jesus said. All right. So so why are you anxious?

Why are you nervous? Why do you why are you so concerned about these things? All right, so you should be free from anxiety if you understand this doctrine of providence. Second complaining I I told you I used to have a habit.

All right.

And it was something when something would go wrong. Like if I can remember very distinctly getting ready for church. I was running late and my shoelace broke. And I said I don't need this right now. And I stopped.

And I thought about I says wait a minute. It's exactly right. It's exactly what I needed right then. I don't know why. But I needed it. So we. What's the sense in complaining about your circumstances.

If you understand the doctrine of god's providence Things will. You are to learn from the things that come into your life and they should be driving you closer and closer to god.

All right.

Presumption. Don't be presumptuous. Remember the apostle paul. Apostle paul wasn't presumptuous. He had a word direct word from god. Don't worry you're going to stand before caesar and nobody with you is going to die.

He sees the sailors. Pretending. They're going out to check the lines. But he knows they're going to take the boat. All right. So what does he do? He goes to the centurion. Hey, if you let those guys go we're all going to die.

He wasn't presumptuous. And neither should we be presumptuous. We can't presume upon god's grace. God does bring bad things into our lives for good purposes. So don't think that just because you believe that somehow you're going to be exempt from trouble.

Okay, in fact, you've heard me say it. Sometimes I think we should have a sign on the front door right on the outside there. Enter at your own risk. Because when you name the name of christ, you're in the crosshairs of the devil.

But those crosshairs he can only fire when god gives him permission. And lastly fatalism. If you understand the doctrine of providence it is anything but fatalism. Because the decisions that you make Are important and you are going to be held responsible for them.

Okay. Do you follow that? I a lot of times. People find out that you know, you hold to the doctrines of grace. They'll call you. Oh, you're a calvinist. Oh, you're a fatalism. You're a fatalist.

No.

Anybody any christian who says that does not understand the word of god? It's just that simple. Because the bible is anything but fatalistic. The bible places so much responsibility at our feet. Remember there's nobody is going to be Judged on that final day and cast into the lake of fire who does not deserve rightly to be there.

Conversely. There is nobody who's going to stand before the throne and be ushered into heaven who deserves to be there. It's his grace it's his mercy. And by his providence he has brought us through and saved us and Caused us to walk in his way.

Questions or thoughts. This is I. I just can't Stress enough how important this doctrine really is. And especially at this time right now. We have everybody running around like chickens with their head cut off.

And I and I don't mean to to belittle. I look this this virus is serious. People are dying. And they're dying. Horrible deaths.

But.

We got morgue trucks, you know packed up outside the hospital. It's no it's bad. I'm not gonna Minimize it one little bit.

But.

Why are we running around fearful.