Article 1 treats of God. The Netherlands Confession thus begins with “God”-it is Theocentric. It differs from some other confessions which rather begin with man or salvation. The importance of this kind of beginning is obvious: the believer always begins and ends with God-and understands all truth in the light of that central truth.
The article speaks of God’s Being and attributes. Though brief, it lists some of the important attributes of God. The article does not supply a definition of God-since a “definition” represents a full and comprehensive presentation of God, and the infinite God cannot be comprehended by any definition. Still, we can say many things of God as He as revealed Himself to us in His Word.
All of this is a matter of faith, according to the article. It states: “We believe with the heart and confess with the mouth…” (cf. Rom. 10). Thus: we are not just studying academic truths but rather we treat what concerns the regenerated heart and of which the child of God makes public confession.
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED IN CLASS (AND PREPARED BY CATECHUMEN BEFORE CLASS):
1. Define “anthropomorphism” (see dictionary) and give Scriptural examples of this.
2. Give proofs for God’s existence apart from Scripture.
Moral; Historical; Teleological (design); Cosmological (cause-effect); Ontological (spontaneous knowledge of God by all)
3. List some of the names of God given in Scripture (provide references too).
4. What are “attributes”? (see dictionary). What do we mean by “communicable” and by “incommunicable” attributes?
5. Explain the meaning of the attributes listed in this article (see dictionary and also “Essentials” book).
6. According to Romans 1, what do the wicked know of God apart from Scripture?
7. What is “common grace”? Be ready to show its error.
8. What other “gods” are mentioned in Scripture? Give references.
9. How could God “repent” (Gen. 6:6) if He is unchangeable?
10. If God is the God of “love”, how can He hate the wicked and cast many into hell?