5.5 The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption 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;1 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 sundry other just and holy ends.2
1 2 Chr 32:25–26, 31; 2 Sam 24:1; 2 2 Cor 12:7–9; Ps 73; 77:1, 10, 12; Mk 14:66f.; Jn 21:15–17.
Although sin is hateful to God, sinful actions are not only permitted, but providentially ordered and governed by God for His own holy purposes. We saw that previously. But what are these purposes? In this and the next paragraph of our Confession we shall be looking at these purposes in regard (1) to God’s children, and (2) to the wicked and ungodly.
Why does God, who is perfectly wise, righteous, and gracious, often leave, for a season, His own children to struggle under manifold temptations and the corruption of their own heart? Why does He ‘permit’ them to fall into sin?
Our Confession highlights five reasons, each of which may be demonstrated by biblical examples:
First, it may be “to chastise them for their former sin.” We may think of former sin either as sin committed before conversion or a besetting sin, or a past sin that has not been dealt with yet. We read of how the LORD allowed Hezekiah to sin by showing off his riches to the ambassadors of Babylon, so “that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chr 32:31), namely his pride (2 Chr 32:25).
Secondly, it may be “to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled.” A case in point is how the apostle Peter was allowed to fall into the grievous sin of denying the Lord so that he might discover the arrogance and deceitfulness of his heart (cf. Mk 14:29, 66–72).
Thirdly, God sometime ‘permits’ His children to struggle with sin, “to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself.” A good example is how the children of Israel were chastised for their sin when God “moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah” (2 Sam 24:1). It is interesting to notice how David did not quite grasp God’s purpose in chastising the whole nation. “What have they done?” he asked (2 Sam 24:17). He did not immediately understand that the chastisement was not merely for his sin of numbering the people, but for sin of the whole nation, even the sin of self-confidence and reliance, that the act of numbering the troops not only epitomised but became part of the chastisement. The LORD lifted His hand of chastisement only after David made a sacrifice for the nation (2 Sam 24:25).
Fourthly, it may be “to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin.” This appears to be another reason why Peter was ‘allowed’ to fall so grievously into sin, for because of that experience, he became much more cautious and much less cocksure in his responses to the Lord when He repeatedly asked him, “Lovest thou me?” (Jn 21:15-17).
Finally, God also ‘permits’ His children to fall into sin “for sundry other just and holy ends.” We think, for example, of how Asaph was permitted to fall into painful doubt (Ps 73:1-16) so that He might have a much clearer understanding of the way that God accomplishes His purpose for the godly and the ungodly.
—————————–
Extracted and translated from:
Westminster Confession of Faith — With Brief Pastoral Comments
© 2018 by Pilgrim Covenant Church
Translation and posted with permission
Chinese version Copyright © 2018 Gratia Dei Sola Media （华恩传媒）
