The NRBC School of Theology: Systematic Theology Course 2

8. OF GOD AND THE HOLY TRINITY 2:1:
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 most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and Him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.’

Charles H. Spurgeon

1. The Lord our God is but one only living and true God (a); whose subsistence is in and of himself (b), infinite in being and perfection, whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself (c); a most pure spirit (d), invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light, which no man can approach unto (e); who is immutable (f), immense (g), eternal (h), incomprehensible, almighty (i), every way infinite, most holy (j), most wise, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will (l) for his own glory (m), most loving, gracious, merciful, long suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him (n), and withal most just and terrible in his judgements (o), hating all sin (p), and who will by no means clear the guilty (q).

a. 1 Cor 8:4,6; Deut 6:4.
b. Jer 10:10; Isaiah 48:12.
c. Ex 3:14.
d. Jn 4:24.
e. 1 Tim 1:17; Deut 4:15,16.
f. Mal 3:6.
g. 1 Kings 8:27; Jer 23:23.
h. Ps 90:2.
i. Gen 17:1.
k. Is 6:3.
l. Ps 115:3; Is 46:10.
m. Pr 16:4; Rom 11:36.
n. Ex 34:6,7; Heb 11:6.
o. Neh 9:32,33.
p. Ps 5:5,6.
q. Ex 34:7; Nah 1:2,3.

8.1 The Only God

Throughout the history of man there have been countless gods worshipped, and myriads of religions devised by man. Before those of our day (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc), there have been other world-dominating religions that have passed away, such as the emperor worship of Rome. Have any of these gods and religions any validity?

‘The Lord our God is but one only living and true God,’ says the confession. As the epitome of Biblical teaching, the confession confirms to us that all these religions have no validity, for the Bible knows of ‘one only living and true God (Deut 4:39,40; 6:4; Is 44:9,12-18; Acts 14:14,15; 1 Cor 8:4,6).’

8.2 The Attributes of God

When we are asked to define God, we often find ourselves struggling to do so. This is because of the incomprehensibility of God (see below), and our attempts are feeble at best. All we can do is give something of a description of Him, based on what He has revealed to us in His Word.

One of the words used by theology to describe what God is like, is the word ‘attributes.’ Theology speaks of God having attributes, a word that can suggest the notion of adding something to God. Because of this, the word attributes could be a dangerous term to use of God. However, in theology, the attributes of God are those perfections of God that declared to be so in the Scriptures, and that are exercised by Him in His various works.

These attributes must not be considered as different parts that make up God, for God is not made up of different parts. These attributes are simply how God has revealed Himself to us, each one revealing some aspect of God. All these attributes that are revealed in Scripture exist in perfect harmony in the Godhead, though at times one may be stressed above the others, but this is for a particular purpose in the given situation. God is all of these attributes all of the time, and each interacts with each other all of the time in the Unity that is God.

8.2.1 Division of the Attributes

Over the centuries, theologians have suggested various divisions of the attributes of God. These have included natural (belonging to the nature of God) and moral (belonging to His will) attributes, absolute (belong to God Himself) and relative (as considered in relationship to His creation) attributes, immanent/intransitive (those that operate internally in God) and emanent/transitive (those that operate externally to God), and incommunicable (those not reflected in creation) and communicable (those reflected in creation) attributes. However, it needs to be remembered that every attribute of God is God, and these cannot be divided up, etc. It is probably best to simply give an attribute list that lists the attributes that God reveals of Himself in Scripture.

8.2.2 The Self-Existence of God

The Self-existence of God has been known by various terms in theology, including the Independence of God, and the Aseity (self-origination) of God, each term seeking to capture what Scripture reveals.

What does God being self-existent mean? It simply means that God has the grounds for His existence in Himself. It means that He needs nothing from outside of Himself to exist (Jn 5:25,26). Who made God? The Biblical answer is no one. He has no origin or beginning, for He has always been and therefore, the implication clearly is, that He is not dependent on anything or anyone (Deut 29:29; Ps 33:11; 50:9-13; 115:3; Is 40:12-18; 48:12; Jer 10:10; Ezek 36:22; Dan 4:34,35; Mt 3:9; Rom 9:19,20; 11:33,34; Rev 4:11).

QUESTION: Does God, in His actions, rules, etc, depend in any way upon man? Explain.

If God needs nothing, why then did He create (consider Ephesians 1:5,11)?

8.2.3 The Incomprehensibility of God

The confession goes on to say, ‘whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself.’ Can God be known? The Biblical answer here is both yes and no. God can be known (Jn 17:3; 1 Jn 5:20), but He cannot be known in a way that is exhaustive (Job 11:7; Is 40:18; 55:9; Rom 11:33-36).

What we do know of God is only so much as He has been pleased to reveal to us. We can know things that are true of Him, but we cannot attain to a perfect knowledge of Him, for He is far beyond us.

The source of all true knowledge concerning God can only be God’s self-revelation, as found in general, but more especially special revelation. ‘The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God ... (answer 3; Spurgeon’s Catechism; see also 2 Tim 3:16,17).’

8.2.4 The Spirituality of God

God is ‘a most pure spirit, invisible, without body parts, or passions.’ The closest the Bible comes to a definition of God is John 4:24, ‘God is Spirit...’ What this means is that He is distinct from creation, invisible, and has no body (Deut 4:15,16; 1 Tim 1:17; 6:15,16).

QUESTION: Why then does Scripture ascribe bodily parts to God? Explain.

God is unrepresentible in pictorial form, for He is so much more than what pictures can present. By trying to represent God by pictures, or by something else in creation (idols), we misrepresent God, and merely substitute a poor counterfeit for the reality (Ex 20:4; Deut 4:10-19; Rom 1:21-23).

QUESTION: Why is wrong to have pictures of Christ?

The confession also describes God as being ‘without passions,’ and this means without emotions like our own that are unstable and that dominate us (eg greed, hatred, etc).

8.2.5 The Immutability of God

The immutability of God is simply that perfection of God that means He is without change (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6; Jam 1:17). Because this is so of God in His very nature, it also means that in all of His perfections, purposes and promises, He is without change (Num 23:19; 1 Sam 15:29; Ps 119:89; Is 40:8; Mt 24:35).

QUESTION: If God is immutable, how can we explain Genesis 6:6,7 and 1 Samuel 15:11?

Though God is unchangeable, His operations change in their effects upon His creatures, according to their changing attitudes, character and circumstances. Some Bible passages do read in such a way, that at first glance it does appear as though God changes (Gen 6:7,8; Ex 32:10-14; 1 Sam 15:11; Jon 3:10). There is always change going on around God, in the relationship of man to God, yet none in His Being, attributes, purposes, etc. Where Scripture speaks of God changing, it is always in an anthropomorphic way.

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

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