The Belgic Confession of Faith (2)

Article 2

We have seen in our introductory discussion about the Belgic Confession of Faith that the first article deals with the knowledge of God. In articles 1-13 we find explained the doctrine of God and His works. When we subdivide these articles further, we observe that articles 2-7 deal with the means whereby God can be known. That knowledge is indispensable, for we do not know God as He must be known as is expressed in article 1 of our precious Confession. We have lost the true knowledge of God through our deep fall in Paradise. God does however make Himself known to all mankind, even the heathen, by several means. These revelations of God to fallen mankind are:

1. General revelation and

2. Special revelation

In His general revelation God makes Himself known by the testimony of our conscience in a twofold way.

a. By an innate knowledge given to all men that there must be a God. Paul speaks of this knowledge in Romans 1:19- 20. Because this knowledge is present in all men, even the Gentiles and heathen have that inward realization that there is such a supreme Being. Even though this knowledge is often confused and distorted because of our fallen state, we are still inexcusable before God.

b. There is also a general revelation of God in creation. The firmament, the heavens, even the smallest plants and animals are all His handiwork as the poet proclaims in Psalm 19. This knowledge of God from nature we call an acquired or external knowledge. Calvin says of this knowledge that “God has engraved in each work and creature some evidence of His majesty and glory, which are so clear and excellent that also the ignorant and unwise have no excuse.”

There is also a special revelation of God. There are two parts to this revelation.

a. God provides a special revelation in His Word wherein He is pleased to reveal the truth of our perfect creation, our deep fall in Paradise, and the way of salvation which He has opened in the Son of His right hand, the Lord Jesus Christ. In that Word the Lord manifests Himself in His attributes, and therein He reveals the only Name given among men whereby those attributes are glorified and sinners will be saved in a way of justice and mercy. We are commanded to search the Scriptures for they testify of God. A historical knowledge alone is not sufficient for our salvation.

b. We need another special revelation, by Word and Spirit, applying these truths to our hearts.

There is such an essential difference between these two types of special revelation, that is, between the historical knowledge obtained from Scripture and the saving knowledge received when the Lord opens our heart like that of Lydia, so that we attend unto that Word read or spoken to us. We can increase our historical knowledge of God and His attributes, acquire a knowledge of all kinds of scriptural and dogmatic truths, yet this will leave us empty, cold, and dead, without love towards God. This type of knowledge is sometimes referred to as “a knowledge which is a foot too high.” We may not despise the historical knowledge of God’s truth; neither may we discourage the diligent search of God’s testimony and the writings based upon it by young and old. We must never forget, however, that only the saving knowledge received by the application of the Holy Spirit will humble us deeply and make us realize what we really are, that is, hellworthy condemnable creatures. That knowledge will exalt God to the highest in all His virtues, and especially in the redeeming work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man is shown in general revelation that there is a God, even though the fool may say in his heart, “There is no God.” Only God’s Word, however, can tell us who He really is, how He must and can be worshipped, and how we can be restored into His blessed fellowship. The orderly and exact movement of the planets, sun, moon, and stars through the universe, more orderly than any man-made timepiece, shows us that there is an almighty and wise Creator, the God of heaven and earth. We need special revelation in order to know who this mighty Creator is. This special revelation by the application of the Spirit, is needed, above all, to really know, love, serve, and worship this almighty, wise, just, and merciful God.

Friends, what a wonder it is, that it has pleased the Lord to give such a special revelation to such foolish, rebellious creatures as we are, people who had no desire to know, serve, and love Him!

It has pleased this all-sufficient God, who does not need to be served by human hands, to form a people unto Himself who will show forth His praises. Therefore, He teaches sinners by means of His general as well as His special revelation. In this manner they will learn to understand what we have seen in our first article when we quoted from the Westminster Shorter Catechism which states that the chief and highest end of man is to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Scripture, as God’s special revelation, testifies in John 17, “This is life eternal, that we know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” Without this revelation, without this knowledge, we cannot glorify, love, respect, and serve God. Without this knowledge He is, just as in Athens, the unknown God unto us.

Our Confession speaks in Article 2 of the general revelation in nature as “the creation, preservation, and government of the universe,” and they are manifestations of the “power and divinity” of God. Paul speaks of it in Romans 1:20. This manifestation is in nature before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters, leading us to contemplate the invisible things of God. Our forefathers compared nature with a Book having small and large letters, all testifying of the greatness, wisdom, and the power of its divine Creator. Calvin states, “Surely there is nothing so dark and despicable in the smallest most secret place of the earth, which does not show some evidence of the power and wisdom of God.” In this we see that it is worthwhile to study nature—even the smallest animals and even the most insignificant things, for they all show something of the majesty and wisdom of God. It may be that we enjoy nature, that we like to take walks and explore quiet and beautiful places, but have we ever “read” this Maker’s Book, with its large and small letters, with holy awe and adoration? How necessary it is, dear friends, that our blind eyes are opened and that we are enlightened by the work of the Holy Spirit to rightly read this Book! It is true that we also have a conscience and an innate knowledge of God in our hearts, but we need divine light and truth to really guide us and to bring us to the feet of the Master Builder.

Our conscience can err, we can silence its voice, we can have such unscriptural opinions of what is right and wrong due to an unscriptural upbringing, that we cannot ultimately rely on our conscience, even though it may at times speak loudly unto us. We hear it frequently when ethical matters are discussed, even in church life: “You must leave this to the person’s conscience, and leave the decision up to him/her.” What a dangerous, subjective ground is that of which the conscience testifies! The conscience is a gift indeed, especially when it still speaks clearly unto us; not our conscience however, but God’s Word should be the final authority and rule for our lives.

This Book, with the small and large letters, speaks of God’s preservation and government of the universe, that is, His providence. What a blessing it is if we may view God’s hand, His providential leading, in nature! He, the Creator, upholds, preserves, and governs this world. He worketh all things after the pleasure of His own will. All things work together for good. All things, all which occurs in and upon this world, even if we do not understand His dealings, are directed by Him for a glorious and gracious purpose.

Rome, the Socinians, and even the Arminians deny general revelation. On the other hand, Pelagius overestimated the natural revelation by teaching that man by his own free will could use the light of nature to acquire a saving knowledge of God. Many modern theologians have similar ideas. The pantheists even identify God with nature and see the creature as a manifestation of its Maker. They say that God is present in the trees, plants, and animals. Others have idolized nature to such an extent that they believed that living a life close to nature, away from corrupt society, would be the remedy for all evil and lead to a better and more pure society. Hitler with his vision of a master race, wanted to advance a stronger, more vital and powerful people by establishing youth organizations which had to live in harmony with “forest, pasture, and water.” This healthier and superior race would serve his purpose by leading his nation to world supremacy. We have seen in the last world war what such idolatry leads to, viz., the destruction of so-called inferior races and weaker individuals.

We can also, however, underestimate the general revelation of God. The Anabaptists, a radical movement founded at the time of the Reformation, viewed nature as being of a lower order, and that material things were all polluted by sin. They stated that only the spiritual things were important—the matters of the soul and the testimony of the Spirit, the inner light in the hearts of men. They not only undervalued God’s general revelation, but also the special revelation of God as given in the Scriptures. “No,” the Anabaptists said, “that word is but a dead letter. We only hear God’s Word when the Spirit speaks, and then we receive light and life in our hearts.” They forgot however, that the Spirit always uses God’s own revelation as given in His testimony. The Anabaptists say that God’s children must withdraw themselves from the world as much as possible. They should not be involved in politics, government service, or the military, for this is the dominion of the devil and the powers of the prince of darkness rule over material things. The Lord Jesus gives a different testimony in Matthew 5:14, 15, and in His prayer for the church in John 17:15. He testified of the place of a true believer when He asked the Father not to take them out of the world. No, they should be the light upon the candlestick and the salt of the earth. It is true that in order to speak with liberty about God and His service they need the Spirit to give them love and boldness. How sad it is that in our days that our fellow travelers to a never ending eternity, especially our young people, hear so seldom of God being witnessed by those whom the Lord has called out of darkness by His marvelous light! Let not those keep silence who make mention of the Lord as it stated in Isaiah 62. The Anabaptists make an unscriptural separation between material and spiritual things. God’s Word speaks of the grace of God as a leaven which should penetrate all areas of life, both social and political, both private as well as public.

Our conscience testifies and nature shows that there is a God, “all which things are sufficient to convince men and leave them without excuse.” No heathen will ever be able to say, “I did not know there was a God,” for He will answer, “I have shown My greatness, wisdom, power, and divine majesty in nature and your own conscience has witnessed it” How much less will we have an excuse, who have been brought up under special revelation in His holy and divine Word wherein He makes Himself “more clearly and fully known” to us! What an inestimable gift is that Word which reveals to us all “that is necessary to know in this life to His glory and our salvation”! Young friends, there is much knowledge which you have to acquire and learn today to be qualified for positions in life, but none of it is as great as that knowledge which is absolutely necessary in order to glorify God and to be saved. Scripture so clearly speaks unto us of what the goal of our life should be and what was the purpose of our creation, viz., to glorify God and to serve Him.

We have seen that there is an undervaluing of general revelation among some heretics. How much undervaluing of God’s Word is there among us, my friends? We have heard of Christians in China traveling for forty-eight hours in order to obtain a Bible, listening for seven hours to a sermon or exposition of that Word, and being disappointed when the speaker wished to conclude his address. In some parts of the world there is great hunger for the Word of God, and where congregations of three hundred people must share two Bibles because there are no more available. How many privileges we have, both individually and collectively! We can see and read this precious Book, while others are blind. We have been taught in these precious doctrines which are revelations which testify of an almighty God whom we should glorify.

Calvin states that “there will come a time for us, if we do not give heed to His revelation, also in nature, that even the dumb animals which cannot speak, will judge us.” This strong language means that animals which have never sinned are evidences of our foolishness. We have sunk lower than the animals of the field. The crown has fallen from our head and our glory has turned into shame. May we learn to accept that fact. Many people speak of accepting Christ while they have never accepted what God’s Word testifies of them in Romans 3, where our state is pictured.

May the Lord open our blind eyes to read those two books which He has given us, the book of nature, and that most precious Book of which we hope to read in articles 3-7 of our Confession. May the Lord make such fools as we are wise unto salvation, for the Lord will be glorified in His own work and sovereign grace, freely given.

Rev. C. Vogelaar is pastor of the Ebenezer Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

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