WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM # 15
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Westminster Larger Catechism #15 Commentary
Q15. What is the work of creation?
Answer: The work of creation is that wherein God did in the
beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world,
and all things therein, for himself, within the space of six
days, and all was very good.
References: Heb. 11:3 Prov. 16:4
Surely the wisdom of God shown in the works of the Divines is
only over-shadowed by that of His own eternal glory and wisdom.
Again they have chosen two short proof-texts to boldly declare
one of the greatest truths of the Bible. I was surprised not to
see one reference to Genesis, nor an attempt to prove the length
of the days of creation. Instead they moved to the one real issue
before us; God said it, now you choose whom to believe, God or
man!
The holy boldness of the statement before us drips with the
anointing of the Holy Spirit. Though not Scripture and thus not
part of the divine inspiration, all agree we must have to
understand Scripture, this statement too rests upon the
illumination of the Holy Spirit for understanding and
application. As one of the foundational documents of the
Presbyterian church, we might have thought such a clear and
concise statement so early in our history would have stilled the
tongues of adversaries, and have protected the truth of our
doctrine through the so called age of enlightenment. Alas this
has not been the case, and how one interprets the creation
accounts is not a measure of orthodoxy within the Reformed
church.
This technique was perfectly executed by Satan in the
beginning to undermine the authority of Scripture (God’s
voice) and introduce death into the world. Whereas, we find Satan
saying to Eve, ". . . you shall not surely die . . .."
(Questions 3, 4, and 5 deal with the Scripture along with the
first chapter of the Confession itself.) We have not understood
nor accepted this fact, the Bible is God’s word. I marvel as
I watch men who supposedly "subscribed" to the
Westminster Confession making no exceptions, then stand and
espouse the old earth theory, or try and compromise God’s
word with the intermingling of man’s understanding and
science, so-called. Despite the efforts of "scholars"
to prove otherwise, that is the issue here, to undermine
God’s word by finding more than divine truth reveals, or
suggesting that "two" interpretations may be
acceptable. The word of God is clear, and all the logic in the
universe cannot disprove one dot of it. Science is also a part of
God’s creation (see questions 12-14 concerning the decrees).
Where is faith for those who would diminish the word of God, by
applying it through the filter of man’s knowledge? Yet,
"without faith we cannot please God." What glory to God
if all would have the love and reverence for this precious word
of truth the Puritans owned. The treasure of God, entrusted to
mortal man; who tosses it around as if it were but filthy rags
describes all too many within the church today. This wasn’t
true of the men who God spoke to in the record of the Bible. How
often do we hear the prophets proclaim, "the burden of the
word of God." God has placed tremendous responsibility on
those who have received this precious gift, but as in the garden,
the first petal of the TULIP rises to rule from within mankind,
and Total Depravity raises her head, even in the church, the body
of Christ.
Why is this so? Because the church wears a human face, and all
the baggage of this age enters the sanctuary door with the
creature. Man rejects this because in the creation story of the
whole Bible, he learns He isn’t the center of attention, God
is. It is the rare mortal who can live his life in subjection,
even to God, without the rebellious nature of the curse rising to
the surface to dull his vision and cloud his speech. "The
Lord hath made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for
the day of evil" (Prov. 16:4). Man tears down this truth in
the pretense of defending the honor of God. "God is holy and
is not the author of sin, thereby didn’t create evil . .
.." How their voices deepen, how the rainbow colors of
stained glass drip from their words. God created all for His own
glory declares Scripture. I stand in amazement at the inability
of the doctors of the church to understand this simple word all.
Cannot all see that God is perfect in all things, even His wrath
and that evil is necessary to show the glory of His judgment and
wrath? The liberal wants us to get all teary eyed because God has
not chosen some, and debate that a God of love could do such. Aw,
but the second petal of the TULIP sets the doctrine solidly
within the word of God, even as many turn from the great truth of
the Reformed church out of supposed godly compassion. This would
be well and good if they simply packed their bags and left, but
no; they attack God’s word and profane the body of Christ
with this drivel. For they will reform the church, after all is
not the motto of the Reformed church, " Reformed and always
Reforming?" Yes friend, but we Reform the church to
Scripture and never the reverse. You have failed Bible 101,
return to Chapter one of the WCF and begin again.
The truth of Scripture that the Divines have shown us here is
simple and direct. God created everything (ALL) out of nothing.
He didn’t reshape or reuse existing material. He did so for
His own glory. God created everything in the space six literal 24
hour days, by the power of His own Word. In the New Testament we
find the Word is Jesus Christ, and thus has God revealed the
Trinity in that God, Word, and Spirit were present in the
creation. Some would claim that the last words in this answer
". . . and all very good." means God didn’t create
evil. God created it all for His own glory. By faith accept this
fact; God spoke and the rest of the story is revealed in the
Bible for all of eternity. My favorite bumper sticker of all time
says "The Big Bang Theory: God spoke and bang it
happened!"
The theological wars about did God create evil are silly. God
created ALL things. Satan has never been in control of anything,
God will not share His sovereignty nor glory. That He created all
very good outstanding, He also created it with the
"foreknowledge" some would fall. This has been called
God’s permissive will. Dr. John Elliott prefers the term
"God’s directive will." God created it all for His
own purpose and "directs" all that happens. His purpose
needed the dark side for the light of His countenance to be
perfected even as He brought glory to Himself in the perfection
of His judgment for the fallen. This does not make God the author
of sin, He is not. Nonetheless, He "permitted" it to
happen, for He is sovereign over His creation.
The just live by faith is found three times in the Bible
encompassing both the Old and New Testaments. Scripture says,
"without faith you cannot please Him." Some things are
beyond our finite minds, but that God is sovereign we can
understand. That He gives us the gift of faith He requires of us
shows the glory and perfection of His love, likewise His perfect
judgment brings glory to His perfection in wrath and judgment and
in this perfect demonstration of His love reveals "God is
Love" as spoken of by John. This interlocking of complete
"circles" within the revelation of God from beginning
to end, in an intricate pattern creating the most infinite whole,
human minds can’t begin to conceive, is shown in these
short, but decisive statements of the LC.
How blessed we are by the God of creation!
