Article 12 treats the creation of the world and of the angels. It presents creation as the work of God whereby God by His Son created of nothing, all things. The article points out that the purpose of creation is that man might serve his God. God also created the angels-also those that later fell from their high estate. The article condemns the error of the Sadducees who deny the existence of spirits and angels. It also condemns the error of the Manichees who say that the devils have their origin out of themselves.
Article 13 speaks of Divine Providence which is God’s continuing preservation of all things. God must sustain all things so that these continue to exist. He also directs all things (government) and directs moral creatures (co-operation) so that these serve His purpose. The comfort we derive from this is that God so governs that nothing befalls us by chance-even our hairs are numbered. The error of Epicureans is denied: that God leaves all to chance. Also the error of Deists must be condemned in which they teach that God created all things-but withdraws and allows all things to continue on their own.
QUESTIONS:
1. Give a definition of creation which is in harmony with the Scriptural revelation.
2. According to John 1, what part does the Son have in creation?
3. What is the work of the Spirit in creation (see Genesis 1)?
4. Why do we insist that the creation days are regular 24-hour days?
5. What must we say of the statement: “It doesn’t matter what we believe concerning the length of the days of creation-as long as we believe Jesus to be our Savior”?
6. What must we say of the findings of scientists which seem to indicate that the universe is billions of years old?
7. When did God create the angels? How did they fall?
8. How is creation to show the greatness and glory of God? Give examples.
9. How do “laws of nature” fit in with providence?
10. What is God’s immanence? transcendence? (see Essentials)
11. Give Scriptural examples of God’s governing the actions of wicked men (see Essentials)
12. What must we say of these terms: “luck”, “chance”, “accident”?
13. Does not our view of Providence make God the Author of sin? Is not sinful man not really responsible for what he does?