God has 2 wills

Introduction

Illustration: Years ago, my family went to Gettysburg. Gettysburg was a 3 day battle during the Civil War, in which there were multiple battle fronts. The first front we visited gave us both clarity and confusion. We had clarity on the activities that took place at this particular battle sight; however, we were confused with how this front affected the overall battle, connected to the other battle fronts and aided in the ultimate conclusion of the battle. What we needed was an overview map highlighting the various battle points, what happened, how they connected with one another and led to who won the battle.

We have been in Romans 9 for the last 3 sessions. I hope we have more clarity regarding what Romans 9 says. Even though we understand Romans 9 more today then 3 weeks ago, this understanding can lead to confusion as we struggle to put this chapter within the overall framework of God’s will.

Therefore, what I want to do is to give us a brief overview of God’s will in order to reduce our confusion or fog.

The most effective way to understand God’s will is to know that God has 2 wills. Those who disagree with Timothy Keller’s position on Romans 9 (Which are many) argue that God has only 1 will (yet, I will show you shortly that in practical terms they do believe God has 2 wills).

Different terms are attached to God’s 2 wills:

Sovereign will and Moral will.

Effectual will and Permissive Will.

Secret will and Revealed will.

Will of Decree and Will of Command.

I grew up with understanding God’s 2 wills in terms of His sovereign will and permissive will. A reason there are different terms to describe God’s 2 wills is the utter impossibility to put all the different layers of God’s 2 wills into 2 simple terms.

For our purpose this evening, and to keep things as simplistic as possible, while grasping the intricacies of God’s 2 wills, we will explain God’s 2 wills in terms of Will of Decree and Will of Command.

Defining the Terms

God’s Will of Decree means that whatever God wills to happen will be fulfilled precisely as He purposed. This means that no man can thwart, dismiss, reject, rebuke, etc…God’s will of decree. The verses that follow indicate that God has purposes that will not be defeated or twisted by man; therefore, they speak of His will of Decree.

Isaiah 46:9–10 “Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure:”

Daniel 4:35 “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

Job 42:2 “I know that thou canst do every thing, And that no thought can be withholden from thee.”

Psalm 115:3 “But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

God’s Will of Command is different than His Will of Decree. God’s Will of Command can be defeated, thwarted, rejected, reduced and dismissed by humanity. The verses below will show that His will for all people to repent or be saved has been rejected by most people.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

1 Timothy 2:4 “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

Which command serves the other?

The most important question to ask is which will serves the other. Whichever will serves the other will determine how we understand God’s 2 wills.

Illustration: I desire peace. I love peace. I pray for peace in Ukraine and Israel. I want global peace. I want peace in our nation and within our communities and families. I hate war! Though a battle will usually have a victor, no one wins in a battle. I am a pacifist.

However, after the vents of 9/11, I wanted war. I wanted the U. S. to attack and destroy the Taliban for allowing Al Qaeda to headquarter in their country, and Al Qaeda for viciously attacking America and destroying so many lives.

The big question is “how are we to understand these 2 competing wills?” I suppose there are 2 ways to frame my 2 wills. The first way is to say that my wills are arbitrary, emotional and/or schizophrenia. I hope no one thinks that of me. The second way to to say that 1 will must serve another will. Whichever will serves the other will determine the outcome of how people understand me as a person.

For example, if my will for peace serves my will for war then I want seasons of peace so that pieces could be put in place for a more devastating war that could not happen without the season of peace.

However, if my will for war serves my will for peace then I believe that war is necessary for us to enjoy peace. This would have been America’s philosophy in World War 2. We were attacked on December 7, 1941, shortly after this attack, Germany declared war on the U. S. We went to fight in World War 2 to bring about peace that America desired. Similarly, we were attacked on 9/11, we went to war to prevent Al Qaeda from attacking the homeland again.

If peace serves war then I am a war-loving person. If war serves peace then I am a peace-loving person. So, understanding which of God’s will serves the other is of paramount importance as we by faith more fully understand God.

If God’s Will of Decree serves His Will of Command then His will of Decree is reduced to nothingness if people chooses to reject His sovereign will. The ramifications in accepting this view are catastrophic. In our Bible Study on Romans by Timothy Keller writes: “Why do we have to insist on the doctrine of election? It causes so many problems. Yes, ‘election’ causes many difficulties. But the best reason for accepting the doctrine is that every alternative creates even more problems and difficulties.”

First, God would not be in control of planet earth, His creation would be. Second, humanity would be driving history and not God. Third, God would be handcuffed to move on behalf of man. Fourth, ultimately, we could not theologically pray for God to save a family member who is lost. God could not intercede in their life because He has renounced His authority for the sake of man’s free will. He has done everything He could to reach them by sending Jesus to die for mankind. Now everything is up to them if God has vacated His sovereignty. However, Paul prayed for God to save His country men - Romans 10:1 “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Jesus prayed while on the cross” Luke 23:34 “...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Stephen prayed while being stoned to death “Lord lay not this sin to their charge.” 3 different people prayed that God would change lives and God in His timing has and will and will answer these prayers. We know from Acts 2 that God saved some who cried out “Crucify Him.” We know that God did not lay this sin to at least 1 person’s change - Paul. And, based upon Romans 11, God will save Israel. The reason Paul, Stephen and Jesus prayed to God to save sinners was because God has not relinquished His authority.

Interestingly, people who reject God having 2 wills argue that He is sovereign but relinquishes His sovereignty so that people can freely choose Him. For God to abdicate His sovereignty over one aspect of His creation, while maintaining His sovereignty over other aspects of creation is the very definition of God having 2 wills. Therefore, people who assert God having 1 will in practical terms argue God’s Will of Decree serves His Will of Command.

If God’s Will of Command serves His Will of Decree then people thwarting, rejecting, rebuking or accepting God’s Will of Command fulfills His Will of Decree. The truth of this option is stunning. This option means that although God wants everyone to repent, those who do not repent fulfill His Will of Decree; though He wants all to be saved, those who do not get saved fulfill His eternal purpose; and, though Jesus wanted all men to come to Him as a “Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings” their refusal to come satisfies God’s Will of Decree.

Even though there are uncomfortable truths related to God’s will of His Will of Command serves His Will of Decree, there are far most consequential truths if the other way is true. Therefore, logic insists that God’s Will of Command Serve His Will of Decree. However, what we really want to know is not if their is logic one way or the other but what does God’s word say on this matter.

Ephesians 1:11 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” Paul says that Christians have obtained and inheritance through Jesus Christ. The reason for this is we were predestinated through God the Father’s purpose who works everything out on the bases of His own will. Whether people have been predestinated or not; repent or not; saved or not; or come to Jesus or not - all things work according to the counsel of His own will. He does not work things out according to the counsel of our own will. Therefore, God’s Will of Command must serve His Will of Decree.

Examples

Jesus’ crucifixion - In Jesus’ crucifixion we can see how the rejection of God’s will of command served His ultimate purpose (His Will of Decree). In Luke 13:3, Jesus said: “I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Jesus desire and pleasure was for His audience to repent and not perish. After all He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”).

However, most people did not repent of their sins and turn to Jesus. They rejected Jesus’ Will of Command. Instead of repenting, they rejected and crucified Jesus.

Judas betrayed Jesus - Luke 22:48 “But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”

The Herodians rejected Jesus - Luke 23:11 “And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”

The Jews rejected Jesus - Luke 23:21 “But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.”

Pilate rejected Jesus - Luke 23:24 “And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.”

The Romans Soldiers mocked Jesus - Luke 23:36 “And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,”

However, as Luke continued his writing in the Acts of the Apostles, we discover that their rejection of His Will of Command fulfilled His Will of Decree.

Acts 2:23 “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” Even though they had crucified Jesus with wicked hand, the actions fulfilled the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.

Acts 4:27–28“For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” Luke more clearly states that the activities of those who rejected God’s will of Command by crucifying Jesus in Luke 22 and 23 did so by God’s determining counsel.

God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked - God said in Ezekiel 18:23: “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” Ezekiel 18:32: “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” To say the same thing twice in ancient times was similar to us putting an exclamation point at the end of a sentence. God wanted to emphasize a truth that He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. He says a similar truth but from a different perspective in 1 Timothy 2:4: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” God wills all people to be saved.

Therefore, God commands everyone to repent (Acts 17:30 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”). He commands everyone to repent because He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked and He wants all people saved.

However, Jesus says the purpose of parables is: Mark 4:11–12 “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” Jesus taught in parables to prevent people from being converted.

Further, in Romans 11:25–26 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” God purposed Israel to experience spiritual blindness so that the Gospel can be preached to the Gentiles and usher in the Gentile age. Thus, thousands of millions of Jews have died while being spiritually blinded and condemned by God so that there is a global gospel and a new age. The good news for the Jews is Jesus will redeem the Jews at His second coming. The point is, although God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked and wills all people to be saved, their rejection to the Gospel plea serves a higher purpose.

In addition to what has just been said, God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked; yet, Deuteronomy 28:63 “And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.” And, 1 Samuel 2:25 “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.”

The question is how could God not take pleasure in the death of the wicked and take pleasure in their destruction. I can give a generic answer, by saying everything God does, He does for His glory. His chief pleasure is His glory. Therefore, destroying the wicked is ultimately the result of His glory and pleasure. However, God has not chosen to give more clues than His glory.

Another question could be asked. Why does Israel have to reject Jesus in order to globalize the Gospel and usher in the Gentile age? There is only one answer I can give to this question: God has a secret and revealed will. This is another way to describe God’s two wills. He has not given us the reasons why Israel must be spiritually blinded so that the saving good news of Jesus Christ can positively effect the Gentiles so much so that a new age is ushered in.

Conclusion

This is a brief introduction into the two-wills of God. I pray that this helps you to form an outline in your mind with regards to how God works within the framework of His two-wills. I want to close with two questions that were asked at the conclusion of our last Bible Study.

First, what was God’s ultimate purpose in the tower of Babel. After the flood, God instructed Noah to: Genesis 9:1 “...Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” Noah’s children descendents were fruitful and multiplied but did not replenish the earth. They stayed in one specific location and by doing this, rejected God’s will of command. How did their rejection of God’s Will of Command serve His Will of Decree? An answer may be found in Genesis 11:6–8 “And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.” God decreed them to replenish and fill the earth through distinct people groups that are separated by language barriers. The most effective to way to accomplish this was to have them reject His Will of Command to populate the earth.

Second, Sister Lauren asked about her nursing pursuit in relation to God’s two-wills. The context of the question was what if it is not God’s Will of Decree that she becomes a nurse then does this mean she rejected God’s Will of Command? If this scenario is true then yes. However, within God’s two-wills there is good news. Presupposing that God’s will is not for Lauren to pursue nursing but allowing her to reject His Will of Command for her life means that God had a purpose to do so. Even in our rejection of God’s Will of Command, God has purposes to shape and conform to be more like Christ.

There are many examples that can be mentioned to support this statement:

Samson’s immorality led to his imprisonment. Yet, God used his imprisonment as a means to kill more Philistines at the end of his life than he did throughout his life.

David’s sin with Bathsheba give us arguably the most intense Psalm of the 150 Psalms: Psalms 51. Psalms 52 has been a high tower of hope for many Christians throughout the last two-thousand years. A Psalm that would not have been written without David’s rejection of God’s Will of Command. Plus, one of David’s and Bathsheba’s son’s would be the King of Israel during her best days. A period that brought peace, expansion, the building of the Temple, the writing of most of the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Songs of Solomon. and for a short time, Israel being the kind of Kingdom He wanted. God allowed David to rebel against His Will of Command to serve His Will of Decree.