I. What is being confessed in this article?⤒🔗

This first article speaks exclusively of God.

1. Fourteen virtues, attributes, or perfections of God are mentioned. When we include the word ‘being,’ fifteen expressions are being used to indicate who He is.
2. Yet this broad enumeration is not intended to provide a complete description or a precise definition of God. That is not even allowed or possible because he far exceeds our comprehension. That this is clearly not intended is already evident from the fact that the broad enumeration of his virtues is not comprehensive after all (for instance, God’s holiness is not mentioned). This is not a shortcoming, but it merely confirms the intent of this article, as indicated by the first eleven words: “We all believe with the heart and confess with the mouth...”

It involves a spontaneous imitation in one’s own words of what the living God himself has made known about himself in his Word.

II. We all believe with the heart and confess with the mouth….←⤒🔗

1. Paul uses the expression “believe with the heart and confess with the mouth” in Romans 10: 9-10. The author of this article has used it for a special purpose. According to the Roman Catholics, faith is first and foremost a matter of objective common sense that accepts what God says, without it affecting the heart. Calvin, on the other hand, said very cuttingly that the Christian faith is not some knowledge that floats around in the brain without touching the heart. Rather it is a heart-felt trust in God. And this is why this article starts out like this: “all believe with the heart...”
2.  “...and confess with the mouth.” That belongs with it. In the perilous times in which the Confession was written, many people did not dare to express their faith. When Nicodemus came to Jesus (John 3), he came at night, possibly of a similar fear. For that reason these people were called Nicodemites, after him. Not only were they afraid to express their beliefs, but they also claimed that this was not necessary at all. According to them, believing is a strictly personal matter, which you do not need to talk about with anyone. In contrast to this, read Matthew 10:32-33. And that is why this article says “We confess with the mouth.”
3. We all believe... No church member can delegate or contract out to others what is being professed here. We can do a lot for each other, but one cannot believe for another person. One cannot say that the church (i.e., the clergy, the theologians) does the believing for me. And that is why… “We all believe…”
4. The existence of God cannot be proved. Many have tried, but no so-called proof of God has been able to convince all people. Incidentally, that is not surprising. God simply does not want to make his existence dependent on the smallness of human evidence. He is and we are to believe that. The Bible therefore simply assumes the existence of God, (Genesis 1:1). There is only one means by which we can believe in God: his Word (Luke 16:27-31).

III. There is only one God, who is a simple and spiritual being←⤒🔗

1. Much criticism has been raised against the way in which God is spoken of in this first sentence of the confession! Some speak of a dry and arid formulation. Others think that the word ‘being’ is too philosophical. Then there are those who do not object to the word ‘simple,’ because by no means does it mean ‘plain’ or ‘humble,’ but what should be used instead?
   Especially with regard to the first two remarks, it should be kept in mind that it is not the intention to give a definition of God, such as with the help of philosophy. The church speaks of God partially through self-chosen words, as he makes himself known in his Word.
2. One such  self-selected term is 'being.’ Scripture does not use this as a designation for God. But its purpose is to say clearly that God is a person, that he is someone, the living God who does mighty deeds.
   And that is entirely Biblical. This is connected with God’s covenant name, Yahweh: “I am who I am,” in other words, “I am there,” “I am with you” (Exodus 3:14).
3. God is a wholly unique, simple being. He is absolutely unique (Deuteronomy 6:4). He cannot be compared with anyone or anything: “To whom then will you liken God?” Isaiah 40:18, 25). This is not a cold objective statement, but a warm, praiseworthy testimony. It underlines once again that there is one God.
4. God is simple. That is the least simple word in this line. With all due reverence it means that God is all-of-one-piece. We are not. An example: our mind and our feelings can compete for priority in us (my mind tells me to do something, but my emotions vehemently oppose it). Someone might say ‘Let me be merciful instead of just.’ But what God is, he always is all the way. In him there is no division, no contradiction or even any tension between all of his perfections. Therefore we should never regard one of his attributes (for example, his love or his justice) as a predominant quality. See also HC, q/a 11.
5. God is spirit (John 4:24). He has no physical stature. And yet the Bible speaks of his hands, ears, eyes, mouth, and so forth. In doing so, it does not misrepresent God. In this way it seeks to convince us that we have a God who really does deeds (he has hands), who can listen, and who sees everything. To say this as plainly as possible, Scripture adapts to our understanding, just as a sensible mother will adapt to her child’s world without violating the truth.
   We need to acknowledge that God is spirit, because this has the greatest possible consequences for the way in which he wants to be served. See the second commandment and Deuteronomy 4:15-18 (in which the worship of God by means of an image is even called “acting corruptly” in verse 16).

IV Some more perfections of God←⤒🔗

1. Below is a brief description of the attributes of God mentioned in this first article. Does this concern theoretical knowledge about God? To show that this should not be the case, we will continuously point out what each quality means for our living association with the Lord. Thus it becomes clear what the ultimate purpose of the listing of God’s attributes is: to praise him.
2. Among many other things, God is all of the following:

•  eternal: He is in no way subject to the temporal, as we are. He knows no birthdays and does not grow old. He does not need to wait in order to see what time will bring him. In all shocking events we can trust that the eternal God knows everything beforehand, that he holds it all in his hand, and that he arranges things according to his plan (Isaiah 40:27-28).
•  incomprehensible: We cannot fully comprehend God’s actions with our mind. And yet there is no question of a maze, but of a depth of riches. We can be content with what God makes known to us in his Word, and confidently entrust ourselves to his rule and providence (Isaiah 55:8-9, 12).
• invisible: Our eyes are not designed to see this great God. He lives in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:15-16). We will be filled with reverent joy when this great God will display and make us see his Son – at the proper time.
• immutable: There will never be an unexpected change in God’s directing of the world and of history. He stays true to himself. He will never let us down (2 Timothy 2:12-13).
• infinite: God is everywhere and not restrained by any boundaries. He will keep us everywhere (Psalm 139:5-10).
• almighty: This does not mean that God therefore can also do unjust deeds. We should not confuse ‘omnipotent’ with ‘arbitrary.’ He can do whatever he wants. But he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13). No matter how impossible our situation may seem, God can and will help us out.
• perfectly wise: Even in things that men dare to call folly, God's wisdom shines forth, namely in the way in which he redeems us (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). Everything God does with us and for us is the fruit of his wisdom.
• just: This seemingly stern word means that we can depend on God to keep his promises for us, even if the situation is terribly threatening. So we may always feel safe. When David escaped the catastrophic situation of Psalm 22, he owed it precisely to... God’s justice (Psalm 22:31).
• good, and the overflowing fountain of all good: Perhaps this is the most beautiful thing we can say of God. Praise the LORD, for he is good( Psalm 136:1). Every man experiences the proofs of his goodness, and this applies also to the animals (Calvin). What we receive from him are only “good and perfect gifts” (James 1:17).

Points to discuss←↰⤒🔗

1. Those who did not dare to profess their faith were called Nicodemites. Is this fair to Nicodemus, considering John 7:50-52 and 19:39?
2. In the work of evangelism, may we not use so-called proofs of God at all, for instance by mentioning that someone must have made this world?
3. Scripture states that God is love (1 John 4:8). Does this mean that love is God’s supreme virtue?
4. According to the Bible God can repent of something; but does this not conflict with his immutability? What do you notice when you compare 1 Samuel 15:11 with verse 29? What to make of this?
5. God is invisible, but what about Matthew 5:8?
   Hint: We need to distinguish between God as he is in himself (1 Timothy 6:16: no one can see him) and insofar as he will show himself to us (Matthew 5:8).