Blogging through and answering the questions from G. I. Williamson’s The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes for personal review and comprehension.
WCF. V. Of Providence. Question 1.
1. There are two errors ruled out by this section of the Confession: the first teaches that things happen by ______. The second teaches that things happen by ______.
The first error ruled out is that things happen by chance. The second error ruled out is that things happen by fate (“mechanical necessity”). Both of these errors are contrary to Scripture.
2. With which of these errors are the Arminians in (perhaps unconscious) agreement?
The former error. Generally speaking, Arminians teach “that the will of man acts without any predetermined certainty” (61). In the final analysis, Arminians teach that things happen by chance.
3. Cite a Scripture text which proves that the will of man is not unpredictable.
Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”
4. What scriptural teaching about God helps us to understand why there are some things that man cannot do?
Will is determined by character/nature. For example, God cannot lie (see Hebrews 6:18); lying is contrary to God’s character/nature. Man’s will is also determined by character/nature. Man’s will is depraved; it is filth-ridden by the ethical disease of sin. This means that “so long as the character of a man is sinful and corrupt (as received by ordinary generation from Adam), there is no “chance” that he will do that which is pleasing to God” (61). Thus, there are some things that man cannot do–sinful man cannot please God.
5. Why is there no chance that an unconverted man will do the will of God, or that a converted man will not begin to do the will of God?
See latter end of prior answer regarding former question. Regarding the latter question, as I said earlier, will is determined by character/nature: “But when God regenerates a man so that he receives a new and different character, there is no “chance” that he will not begin to do good. ‘For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure’ (Phil. 2:13)” (61).
6. What is the difference between fate and divine sovereignty?
Fate is a matter of “mechanical necessity” but divine sovereignty is a matter of a personal (Triune!) divine decree. They are as different as the day is long. “Mechanical fate is at the very heart meaningless, merciless, and hopeless. But the certainty of divinely ordered providence is meaningful, merciful, and hopeful” (61).
7. What teachings of Scripture aid us in believing that God controls everything?
Scripture teaches that God created all things, and that both the end and the means were decreed by God.
8. Cite a Scripture text to prove that God controls everything.
Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Psalm 135:6, “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.”
Daniel 4:35, “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”
Acts 15:18, “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”
1 Peter 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”