The NRBC School of Theology: Systematic Theology Course 2

28. OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE 5:
The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

This course is based on the text, 'The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith,' with notes by Kevin Matthews. Please feel free to print these notes to allow you to study the text online/offline. This lesson may be used in other study situations if you like (eg. Groups, Bible Studies, etc).

The Doctrine of Divine Providence is very closely related to the Doctrine of the Divine Decree. One way to look at the close relationship between these two doctrines is to consider the Decree of God as the blueprint from which God works, and Providence as the outworking of that plan in time (history).

The actual term ‘providence,’ is not found in the Scriptures, but the meaning behind this theological term is very much there. In fact Scripture abounds with examples of the providence of God. Those who doubt the providence of God have never read the Bible with any degree of understanding at all, for the Decree and Providence of God is surely the backbone of the Scriptures and world history.

1. God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power, and wisdom, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, and things (a), from the greatest even to the least (b), 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 (c).

a. Heb 1:3; Job 38:11; Is 46: 10,11; Ps 135:6
b. Mt 10:29-31
c. Eph 1:11

28.1 Definition

Providence can be defined as that work of God whereby He, the Creator, preserves all of His creation and directs all things that come to pass according to His eternal decree. This is so of all creation, excepting nothing (Ps 135:6; Pr 16:9; 19:21; 21:1; Jer 10:23; Nah 1:3; Mt 5:45; 10:29,30; Eph 1:11,12; Col 1:16,17).

God’s work did not finish at creation, for He continued His work from the moment He began to create. From creation the focus of God turned to providence, or to the sustaining and governing of all that He had created (Ps 104:29,30). Whatever happens in this world is governed by the decree or purpose of God as has been discussed under the decree of God in previous studies. What actually happens in the course of history, is only that which is in accordance to that decree. Therefore only what God wills to happen actually happens (Ps 93; 95-99; 139:15,16; Mt 10:29,30; Eph 3:11).

The providence of God is in stark contrast to the many theories that have abounded through the ages. One idea (Deism) is that God set in place the laws of nature and then withdrew from further involvement in the world, leaving creation to fend for itself and to make its own future. Other falsehoods in the history of theology have included the theory that God controls all the big events of history, but not the little things.

28.2 The Author of Providence

Providence is by no means dependent on man or other aspects of creation. Though required by God to work in creation, man is not the author of providence. It is clearly God who must continue to sustain and uphold creation. God does care for His creation, the whole of it and not just the elect.

QUESTIONS: Keeping in mind that it is God who works in providence, what are the implications for man in the light of this truth? What practical things should result from an understanding of providence?

2. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly (a); so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without His providence (b); yet by the same providence He ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently (c).

a. Acts 2:23
b Pr 16:33
c. Gen 8:22

28.3 Secondary Causes

Though Scripture clearly teaches that God controls all things, we are still unable to adequately explain the providence of God in a way that satisfies the logic of man. An area that causes much difficulty for some is that God controls all, yet His creation appears to decide the way things happen. Man has a free will and will only do what he wishes to do; yet Scripture also teaches that all things occur according to God’s decree. In our experience we are very much aware of making our own decisions and so on. This is an area of providence known as ‘secondary causes.’

Though God is the First Cause of everything that happens, to actually accomplish His purpose, God usually makes use of means and these are what we call secondary causes (Gen 45:7,8; 50:20; Josh 11:6; Pr 21:1; Is 10:5; Acts 2:23). We often speak of the laws of nature, but this ought not to mean that creation in some way determines what will take place, for example weather patterns. Though there be certain climatic conditions that will bring storms to pass, it must be understood that God is involved in the process at every point. He is the Sustainer and Upholder of all creation.

When God chooses to work outside of these ordinary means we get ‘miracles.’

3. God, in His ordinary providence maketh use of means (a); yet is free to work without (b), above (c), and against them (d) at His pleasure.

a. Acts 27:31,44; Is 55:10,11
b. Hos 1:7
c. Rom. 4:19-21
d. Dan 3:27

28.4 Miracles

Though God does usually work in what we know as the established laws of nature, God is still able to work outside of those laws. This is when and where God decides to be directly involved in events and that outside of His established natural order of things, and that not through secondary causes. Scripture abounds with evidence of this fact, the most notable of course being the miracles of Jesus and the plagues upon Egypt. However, these always occur in order to achieve a certain aspect of God’s purpose and not just at any old time or for any old reason. The Reformed churches generally agree that all such miracles have now ceased.

4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in His providence, that His determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels, and men (a); and that not by a bare permission, which also He most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth (b), in a manifold dispensation to His most holy ends (c); yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth 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 (d).

a. Rom 11:32-34; 2 Sam 24:1; 1 Chron 21:1
b. 2 Kings 19:28; Ps 76:10
c. Gen 50:20; Is 10:6,7,12
d. Ps 50:21; 1 Jn 2:16

28.5 God’s Providence Even Over Evil

God’s sovereign government extends even over the deeds of the wicked, as we have also seen in the decree of God. Evil and sin is not an area that is outside of God’s control (Gen 45:1-5; 2 Sam 16:10; 24:1; Acts 2:22,23; 4:24-28). Evil is included in God’s decree and therefore finds a place in God’s providence. No man can sin beyond that which God will allow (Gen 45:8; Ps 105:25; Is 63:17). The thing that needs to be noted here however is that God is in no way to be charged with sin or as being the author of sin. God never causes sin and never approves of any sinful action.

Though this is the case, God still permits sin in order to bring about His purpose (Ps 76:10) and to bring more honour and glory to Himself (Ps 76:10). The only sin that comes to pass, is that which will in some way bring glory to Him (Ex 9:16; 10:1,2; 11:9; 14:17,18; Job 1; Ps 76:10). A clear example of this is the crucifixion of Christ, for this demonstrated both His wisdom and love, thereby bringing glory to God.

Though God is one hundred percent sovereign and decrees all that comes to pass, the creature is still one hundred percent responsible for his actions (Gen 45:5; 50:19,20; 2 Sam 16:10; 24:1; 1 Chron 21:1; Is 10:5-15; 66:4; Rom 9:22; Acts 2:23; 4:27,28; 2 Thess 2:11). The connection between the decree and providence of God with man’s responsibility is not revealed in Scripture. This is an area where we must accept by faith the teaching of Scripture, even though we cannot get our minds around it. We must not attempt to discover the secret workings of God with our own fallible logic or we will go astray in our thinking (Deut 29:29).

Undoubtedly this is one of the most difficult areas in Scripture to understand, yet we must be prepared to go as far as Scripture will take us and then go no more, yet we must go as far as Scripture demands. For this reason we need to be able to accept both good and evil as coming from God’s hand, in the sense of being according to His Divine purpose (Job 1,2).

QUESTIONS: Is the doctrine of the God’s providence really threatened by the existence of evil in the world? How can the Jewish experience at the hands of Nazi Germany be explained in the light of the Bible’s teaching on providence? Explain your answer?

5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God, doth oftentimes leave for a season His own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and 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 (a).

So that whatsoever befalls any of His elect is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good (b).

a. 2 Chron 32:25,26,31; 2 Cor 12:7-9
b. Rom 8:28

28.6 Providence in the Lives of Believers

All areas of a believer’s life are governed by God’s providence (Rom 8:28). This of course includes all trials and difficulties that we face. These come upon us for various reasons, including spiritual discipline from God (Heb 12:6) in order to lead us back to Him, increase our dependence upon Him or simply to humble us. Even persecution is according to God’s decree and providence.

6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden (a); from them he not only withholdeth His grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon in their hearts (b); but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had (c), and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin (d); and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan (e), whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves even under those means which God useth for the softening of others (f).

a. Rom 1:24-26,28; 11:7,8
b. Deut 29:4
c. Mt 13:12
d. Deut 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12,13
e. Ps 81:11,12; 2 Thess 2:10-12
f. Ex 8:15,32; Is 6:9,10; 1 Pet 2:7,8

28.7 Providence in the Lives of the Wicked

God in His providence does blind and harden men in their sin (Ex 8:32; Rom 9:15-18) and this as punishment for sin (Acts 14:16; Rom 1:22-28). It is the clear teaching of Scripture, that those whom God does not elect unto salvation, He hardens in their sin. This in itself is a righteous punishment for a refusal to repent and to believe the gospel. This God could rightly do to all, yet in His sovereign mercy He chooses to save some who deserve the same punishment as the damned.

7. As the Providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a most special manner it taketh care of His Church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof (a).

a. 1 Tim 4:10; Amos 9:8,9; Is 43:3-5

28.8 Providence and the Church

‘So all God’s providences, being divinely tempered and sanctified, work together for the best to the saints. He who loves God and is called according to His purpose, may rest assured that every thing in the world shall be for his good... All the various dealings of God with His children do by a special providence turn to their good.’

Thomas Watson

See also Ps 23:1; 25:10; Mt 6:30; Rom 8:28

QUESTION: How is the doctrine of providence affected by the persecution that is so often meted out upon the church? Why does persecution happen if God works all things for the church?

NOTE: If you wish to email me regarding your answers to this first lesson, please copy and paste them into an email (Attachments will not be opened). I will then get back to you as soon as I can (expect a delay due to various committments).

Links to Online Texts

• 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
• 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

Add this search to your web page