Communicable Attributes of God (2)
Notes
Transcript
IV. Attributes of purpose
IV. Attributes of purpose
A. Will
A. Will
This is the attribute of God whereby He determines every action that brings about his design and activity of Himself and His creation.
God decides what He will and will not do.
1. God’s general will
1. God’s general will
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
Generally this deals with creation.
“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
And with Human order.
And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
Sometimes God allows suffering.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
2. Distinctions in aspects of God’s will
2. Distinctions in aspects of God’s will
a. Necessary and free will
a. Necessary and free will
God’s necessary will are those things are in accordance to His nature.
His free will are things such as creation. Creation was not of necessity, it was of choice.
yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
b. Secret will and revealed will
b. Secret will and revealed will
1. Secret will
1. Secret will
The secret will of God is His will for humanity that has not yet been revealed.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
God knows all things. His decision to withhold information from us is in no way indicative of His wisdom or knowledge.
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
2. Revealed will
2. Revealed will
This is also sometimes called God’s will of precept. It is God’s plan and desire for mankind.
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Here we see that God does not will that all should perish but that they should come to repentance.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
B. Freedom
B. Freedom
God is free to choose whatever He desires.
But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
Even Nebuchadnezzer realized that God was sovereign to do what He desired.
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
C. Omnipotence (Power, Sovereignty)
C. Omnipotence (Power, Sovereignty)
This simply means that God is able and capable to do all that He wills.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
God’s power is not fully displayed to us. He is capable of far more than we can imagine.
and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
This power is only limited to His character, God will not co what is contrary to His character and nature.
in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
We also have free will and power to enact upon that will. However, unlike God we can exercise that will with perfect wisdom, knowledge, justice, or goodness. Therefore, the Bible says in Philippians 2.5.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,