A. Introduction
1. The Netherlands Confession follows the dogmatical order
a. It begins with theology
b. That is significant. God is author and foundation of all truth
2. Here too we have evidence of a confession
a. We do not simply say there is a God
b. Rather, I believe God exists and He is my God.
B. There are 5 truths brought out in this article
1. God exists “There is one God”
a. We do not learn about God’s existence from logical deductions
1) There are the so called “proofs” for God’s existence. These are Ontological-God is the Highest Being we can conceive, that which there is none greater Cosmological God is the uncaused cause. Moral every man has a conscience for good and evil, proof of God, Teleological there is orderliness in creation, God made the order.
2) These fail to prove God exists. By similar logic one can disprove these things or give credit for them to nature itself or some other power. At most they lead to a supreme being, but this is not the God of Scripture.
b. We learn of God’s existence from His Revelation, the Bible. Through the Bible we see added proof in creation, His handiwork.
2. The oneness of God, “There is one God”.
a. Philosophy can only bring up the idea of a greatest god
b. Paganism is marked by many gods (polytheism)
1) Its inroads have crept into our names of the days, e.g. Wednesday, Woden, god of N.W. Europe, Thursday, Thor, god of thunder Friday, Fria, goddess of love.
2) This is condemned by Rom. 1:21-15 “glory of God is changed into the image of corruptible man.”
3. God’s Essence
a. We cannot define God, to do so would place Him in human limit (Isa. 40:18)
b. We must declare
1) God is a simple being “without body, parts, or passions”
2) He is a pure Spirit, not having a spiritual body like the angels or Christ after the resurrection
3) He is true and living God Jer. 10:10
4) Described in John 4:24, Acts 17:29, II Cor. 3:7
c. Physical characteristics are “anthropomorphisms” fig. of speech
d. God is uncreated, eternal spirit.
4. God’s Names “God”
a. Mention is made of only one “God” One who is object of worship
b. Many examples of names in Scripture:
5. God’s Attributes
a. An attribute is an inherent quality in God. He is one being of infinite perfections, e.g. prism, one light many colors
b. Two distinctions
1) Incommunicable attributes: Independence Isa. 40:13, Simplicity Gal. 3:20, Eternity Ps. 90:2, Omnipresence Acts 17:27,28, Immutability I Tim. 1:17, Incomprehensibility Job 11:7, Infinity I Kings 8:27.
2) Communicable Attributes:
a) Those belonging to intellect: Knowledge Rom. 11:33, Wisdom Acts 15:18
b) Those belonging to wills Holiness Rev. 4:8, Righteousness Ps, 119:137, Love John 3:16, Grace Acts 14:17, Mercy Ps. 25:6, Longsuffering II Peter 3:9
c) Those belonging to power: Sovereignty Isa. 45:7, Omnipotence Gen. 17:1