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2LCF – 5. Of Divine Providence

2LCF – 5. Of Divine Providence

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1. God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things,a from the greatest even to the least,b by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.c

aHebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalm 135:6
b Matthew 10:29-31
c Ephesians 1:11

2. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly;d so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without His providence;e yet by the same providence He orders them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.f

d Acts 2:23
e Proverbs 16:33
f Genesis 8:22

3. God, in His ordinary providence makes use of means,g yet is free to work without,h above,i and against themj at His pleasure.

g Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10, 11
h Hosea 1:7
i Romans 4:19-21
j Daniel 3:27

4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in His providence, that His determinate counsel extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men;k and that not by a bare permission, which also He most wisely and powerfully bounds, and otherwise orders and governs,l in a manifold dispensation to His most holy ends;m yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceeds only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.n

k Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 21:1
l 2 Kings 19:28; Psalm 76;10
m Genesis 1:20; Isaiah 10:6, 7, 12
n Psalm 1:21; 1 John 2:16

5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season His own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends.o So that whatsoever befalls any of His elect is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good.p

o 2 Chronicles 32:25, 26, 31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
p Romans 8:28

6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden;q from them He not only withholds His grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts;r but sometimes also withdraws the gifts which they had,s and exposes them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin;t and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,u whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God uses for the softening of others.v

q Romans 1:24-26, 28, 11:7, 8
r Deuteronomy 29:4
s Matthew 13:12
t Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12, 13
u Psalm 81:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
v Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9, 10; 1 Peter 2:7, 8

7. As the providence of God does in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it takes care of His church, and disposes of all things to the good thereof.w

w 1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8, 9; Isaiah 43:3-5

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Upcoming Events

February 8, 2023
  • Bible Study, and Prayer Meeting
    Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

February 12, 2023
  • Discipleship
    Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am

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  • Lord's Day Morning Service
    Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

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February 15, 2023
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    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

February 19, 2023
  • Discipleship Class
    Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

  • Lord's Day Morning Service
    Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

  • Evening Bible Study
    Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    Location: WSBC

February 22, 2023
  • Bible Study, and Prayer Meeting
    Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

February 26, 2023
  • Discipleship Class
    Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

  • Lord's Day Morning Service
    Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

  • Evening Bible Study
    Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

March 1, 2023
  • Bible Study, and Prayer Meeting
    Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

March 5, 2023
  • Lord's Day Morning Service
    Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

    Location: West Suffolk Baptist Church, 1001 Kenyon Court, Suffolk, VA 23434, USA

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  • What the Law Couldn’t Do, Christ Has Done February 5, 2023

West Suffolk Baptist Church

1001 Kenyon Court (Across from Paul D. Camp Community College) Suffolk, VA 23434, USA Phone: (757) 761-6832

Recent Sermons

  • What the Law Couldn’t Do, Christ Has Done
    Pastor Ben Scofield, February 5, 2023
  • But Christ Has Been Raised
    Pastor Ben Scofield, January 29, 2023
  • If Christ Had Not Been Raised
    Pastor Ben Scofield, January 22, 2023
  • Jesus Christ IS the Gospel
    Pastor Ben Scofield, January 15, 2023
  • Realms Dark and Deep
    Elder Mike Prince, January 8, 2023
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