Reading thru ‘A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, edited by Rob Ventura’ – Chapter 5 on Divine Providence

I’m enjoying another exposition of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. This one is A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, edited by Rob Ventura. 

I just finished the first five chapters, and so far, I am well pleased. But I paid particular attention to chapter 3 on God’s Decree, and chapter 5 on Divine Providence.  Jim Domm wrote chapter 5 on Divine Providence. And he so wisely said regarding those that faithfully practice this doctrine. 

“This belief will help to protect God’s people against five things that hinder spiritual growth and maturity…” And they are, “Sinful anxiety, blame-shifting, discontentment, complaining, & ingratitude.” 

BINGO! This is what I’ve been pointing out for the last several years. Instead of faithfully practicing this doctrine, many (perhaps most) professing Christians (including confessional) are unfaithfully practicing those five adjectives in regard to Covid, the Presidential election, gas prices, the weather, inflation, etcetera.

This is why doctrine matters. Including the doctrines of God’s decree and Divine providence. 

I’m very concerned when I see professing Christians online demonstrating this sinful anxiety, blame-shifting, discontentment, complaining, and/or ingratitude at the mere price of gas or a chicken egg. Some even use profanity.  

As with many others, I think of the huge losses in our investments. Nonetheless, God is sovereign, and via His ways, and His means, He caused those effects. 

The fact is because of this nation’s unrepented sin and lawlessness against God, we deserve much worse. Instead, we ought to be praising God for these things that He decrees by His Divine providence. We ought to be giving thanks and rejoicing with a beatitude attitude.

I’m looking forward to the rest of this book, as this historical 1689 magnifies the Lord and His Doctrine. And Lord willing, may I (and others) have more than an intellectual belief in these Doctrines but a faithful demonstration of them.

Soli Deo Gloria, Semper Reformanda!