Of God The Father

Of God The Father

9 Lord's Day

Question 26
What believest thou when thou sayest, "I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth"?

A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ( who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;(1) who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence )(2) is for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but He will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body(3) and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage;(4) for He is able to do it, being Almighty God,(5) and willing, being a faithful Father.(6)

(1) Genesis 1 and 2.
Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

(2) Psa 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.
Matt 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

(3) John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.
John 1:16 And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
1John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

(4) Psa 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Matt 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

(5) Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.

(6) Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.
Matt 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do
they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth
them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matt 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Matt 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Matt 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

Additional Questions:

1. What particular faith is spoken of in this question: What believest thou?
The true, saving faith.

2. How is God here spoken of?
a. As the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;
b. As the Father of His creation;
c. As the Father of His children.

3. What does it mean that He is the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?
That He from eternity to eternity communicates the divine essence to the Son.

4. How is it shown that He is the Almighty?
That He of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them, and likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence.

5. For whose sake is He the Father of His people?
Only for the sake of Christ His Son.

6. What great privilege do God's children have?
That He will provide them with all things necessary for soul and body, and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends them in this valley of tears turn to their advantage.

7. Wherein lies the certainty of this privilege?
In that He is able to do it, being Almighty God, and is willing to do it, being a faithful Father.

10 Lord's Day

Question 27
What dost thou mean by the providence of God?

A. The almighty and everywhere present power of God;(1) whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures;(2) so that herbs and grass, rain and drought,(3) fruitful and barren years, meat and drink,(4) health and sickness,(5) riches and poverty,(6)yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.(7)

(1) Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us:
Acts 17:28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

(2) Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

(3) Jer 5:24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in His season: He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

(4) Acts 14:17 Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

(5) John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

(6) Prov 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

(7) Matt 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Matt 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.

Additional Questions:

1. Is how many acts does the providence of God consist? Three, in preservation, cooperation, and government.

2. What is this preservation?
The almighty power of God by which He causes all things to continue in existence (Hebrews 1:3).

3. What is the cooperation?
The almighty power of God, by which He influences all the motions and operations of the creatures (1 Corinthians 12:6).

4. What is God's government?
The almighty power of God by which He directs everything to a certain determinate end.

5. Over what does the providence of God extend?
Over all things: "Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11).

6. Does God's providence also encompass sin?
Yes, He permits it, limits it, and directs it to be certain end.

7. Does not God cause sin itself?
No, He hates and punishes sin.

Question 28
What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence does still uphold all things?

A. That we may be patient in adversity;(1) thankful in prosperity;(2) and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father,(3) that nothing shall separate us from His love;(4) since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.(5)

(1) Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience and experience, hope.
Ps 39:10 Remove Thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of Thine hand.

(2) Deut 8:10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which He hath given thee.
1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

(3) Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

(4) Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(5) Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Matt 8:31 So the devils besought Him, saying, If Thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
Isa 10:15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

Additional Questions:

1. To what purpose does the doctrine of providence lead God's people?
It teaches them to be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and trusting for the future.

2. What comfort is there in the doctrine of providence?
That nothing can separate God's people from His love, since all creatures are so in His hand that, without His will, they cannot so much as move.