1689 Weekly Chapter 5 Paragraphs 1-3
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith is a tried and true teaching tool. It lays out the faith in a clear, systematic way and shows the connections among doctrines. It also serves as a standard by which teaching in the church can be measured. Below, you will find a portion of the Confession to be read weekly alongside scripture.
Chapter 5 Paragraphs 1-3
Chapter 5 - Divine Providence
1. God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom, upholds, directs, arranges, and governs all creatures and things,1 from the greatest to the least,2 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 and unchangeable counsel of his own will. His providence leads to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.3
1 Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalms 135:6. 2 Matthew 10:29– 31. 3 Ephesians 1:11.
2. All things come to pass unchangeably and certainly in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God,4 who is the first cause. Thus, nothing happens to anyone by chance or outside of God’s providence.5 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.6
4 Acts 2:23. 5 Proverbs 16:33. 6 Genesis 8:22.
3. In his ordinary providence, God makes use of means,7 though he is free to
work apart from them,8 beyond them,9 and contrary to them10 at his pleasure.
7 Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10, 11. 8 Hosea 1:7. 9 Romans 4:19–21. 10 Daniel 3:27.
1. God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom, upholds, directs, arranges, and governs all creatures and things,1 from the greatest to the least,2 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 and unchangeable counsel of his own will. His providence leads to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.3
1 Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalms 135:6. 2 Matthew 10:29– 31. 3 Ephesians 1:11.
2. All things come to pass unchangeably and certainly in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God,4 who is the first cause. Thus, nothing happens to anyone by chance or outside of God’s providence.5 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.6
4 Acts 2:23. 5 Proverbs 16:33. 6 Genesis 8:22.
3. In his ordinary providence, God makes use of means,7 though he is free to
work apart from them,8 beyond them,9 and contrary to them10 at his pleasure.
7 Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10, 11. 8 Hosea 1:7. 9 Romans 4:19–21. 10 Daniel 3:27.