SCRIPTURE REFERENCES » Isaiah 43

Jan 12
3

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #11

Doctrinal Standards WSC #11

  • Q. What is God’s providence?
  • A. God’s providence is His completely holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing every creature and every action.

Study Passage: Isaiah 43

Support Passages: Psalm 145:8-12; Matthew 5:43-45, 10:29-31; Luke 6:35-36; II Thessalonians 2:6-7; Revelation 20:1-3

Bible Story: Exodus 7:20-11:5 (Exodus 9:12, 15-16, 10:27)

Memory Verses

“The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:9, ESV).

Thoughts

  • When thinking upon the providence of God, God’s sovereign and moral will comes to mind. Throughout scripture the will of God can be divided into these two categories. First God’s sovereign will encompasses everything that has or will ever take place. These events are predetermined and will come about regardless of the intervention of any created being (i.e. Man’s sin, Christ death, salvation, Christ’s return, etc). God’s moral will on the other hand can either be obeyed or denied. In scripture God has commanded what He requires of man and it is man’s obligation to either obey or disobey.
  • The way these two will’s relate can best be illustrated by two circles. God’s sovereign will encompass every creature and every action. No being or any action is ever outside of God’s sovereign will. Within the sovereign will of God we find God’s moral will. At any point of action an individual can either be within or outside God’s moral while always be within God’s sovereign will.
  • Since sin is outside of God’s moral will but still within His sovereign will is God responsible for sin and evil? This is a difficult topic but is something Christians should feel comfortable discussing. If God were not sovereign over everything then He would not be God. We also know that that God is not the author of sin nor does He tempt anyone to sin. Therefore, while God does not sin nor does He tempt anyone to sin He has allowed sin to enter into the world in order for His attributes to be seen and glorified by everything created both on earth and in heaven. It is important to understand that the ultimate purpose of all that God does or allows is to bring glory and honor to Himself and that God bringing glory to Himself is for our greatest good.

Discussion Questions

  • What does preserving and governing mean?
  • Do you really believe that God preserves and governs all things?
  • If God preserves and governs everything why is it important that He does is completely holy and wise?
  • If God is preserving and governing all things how does this make you feel?  How should this affect your behavior?
  • Since God is in control of everything does this mean there will be no evil or hardship? Explain (Refer to study passage and Bible story).
  • Why does God allow evil and or hardships? (Exodus 9:15-16).
  • What does Romans 8:28-30 promise believers and what does it teach us about God?
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Exodus 9:15-16, Isaiah 43, Romans 8:28-30, Posted by Phil. No Comments


"Him we proclaim,
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
(Colossians 1:28, ESV)

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