Week 2: Understanding God’s Permissive Will

Week 2: Understanding God’s Permissive Will

Key Texts:

Romans 1:21-28: "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ... Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves."Acts 14:16: "In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways."

Historical Context and Background

Romans 1:21-28:

Time Period: AD 57.

Context: This passage is part of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, written to both Jews and Gentiles to explain the nature of humanity’s sin and God’s righteousness.

Romans 1 sets the stage for Paul's broader discussion on the universal need for salvation. Paul describes how humanity, despite knowing God, chose to reject Him. As a result, God "gave them over" to their sinful desires—this is an example of God's permissive will in action. The context here is critical because Paul is highlighting how God’s permissive will allows people to follow their desires, which ultimately leads to moral and spiritual decay. This “giving over” reflects God’s judgment, not because He desires evil for humanity, but because He permits the consequences of rejecting His perfect will.

Acts 14:16:

Time Period: AD 48-49.Context: Written by Luke, the Book of Acts recounts the early church's growth and missionary efforts. In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey, preaching in Lystra. In response to the people's worship of false gods, Paul explains that in previous generations, God permitted nations to follow their own paths (permissive will), but His ultimate purpose was to draw them back to Himself. This reflects a key theme of God’s permissive will in history: while He allows human freedom, His desire is for all to repent and turn back to Him.

Passage Analysis

Romans 1:21-28:

Key Theme: Paul reveals how humanity, despite having knowledge of God, willfully turned away from Him. God, in response, “gave them over” to their sinful desires, allowing them to experience the consequences of their rebellion. This action reflects God’s permissive will, where He allows people to choose sin but does not endorse it. The key Greek phrase paradidomi ("gave them over") illustrates the active decision of God to allow people to experience the outcome of their choices.

Acts 14:16:

Key Theme: Paul explains that God allowed (permissive will) nations to walk in their own ways for a time. This temporary freedom was not an abandonment but a part of God’s broader plan to ultimately bring people to Himself. It highlights the patience of God, who permits human choices but desires repentance and reconciliation.

Text and Analysis

Romans 1:21-28

"Gave them over" (Greek: paradidomi): Paul uses this phrase multiple times in Romans 1 to describe how God allows people to follow their sinful desires when they reject Him. This is a sobering picture of God’s permissive will in action. It’s important to understand that while God permits sin, it’s never His desire for us to live in sin. His perfect will is for humanity to live in holiness and obedience to His ways.

Practical Example: Imagine a person who consistently ignores the warning signs of addiction, choosing to indulge in destructive habits despite knowing the harm it brings. Eventually, they may experience the full weight of those choices—broken relationships, health problems, etc. This is an example of God's permissive will: He allows the person to make their choice, even if it leads to suffering, with the hope that they will eventually realize their need for Him.

Application: Reflect on areas of life where God may have allowed you to follow your own desires, even when those desires led you away from His best for you. Is there a pattern or habit where you feel distant from God’s perfect will? Pray for the wisdom and humility to return to God’s path.

Acts 14:16

"Allowed all nations to walk in their own ways": Paul points out that, historically, God permitted nations to pursue their own desires and paths. This is God’s permissive will, where He grants freedom but also provides opportunities for repentance. The temporary freedom that God allowed was never intended to be the final state; God’s desire was always for reconciliation and redemption.

Practical Example: Consider the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The father permits his son to leave and squander his inheritance. This is a picture of permissive will—allowing the son to walk away, even though the father’s heart longs for his return. In the end, the son’s suffering leads him back to the father, where he experiences forgiveness and restoration.

Application: In your prayers, ask God to reveal areas where you may have strayed from His perfect will, perhaps in relationships, priorities, or attitudes. Then, seek His guidance to return to His path. God’s grace is always available, and He desires to lead us back into His perfect plan.

Preaching and Teaching Points

1. Permissive Will Leads to Consequences (Romans 1:21-28):

Main Idea: God allows people to choose their own way, but when they reject His perfect will, they experience the consequences of those choices. God's permissive will is often marked by giving people over to their own desires, which leads to moral, spiritual, and relational decay.

Application: Encourage students to examine areas of life where they may have followed their own desires instead of God's will. This could be in areas like pursuing a career purely for financial gain without seeking God’s guidance, or engaging in unhealthy relationships. Ask them to reflect on how those decisions have affected their spiritual life and intimacy with God. Are they experiencing the consequences of living outside of God's perfect will?

2. God’s Grace in Permissive Will (Acts 14:16):

Main Idea: Even in God's permissive will, His grace remains available. God's patience allows temporary freedom, but His desire is always to bring us back into alignment with His perfect will.

Application: Teach students to seek God’s grace and realignment in areas where they have walked away from His will. Lead them in prayers of repentance and renewal. For example, if someone has prioritized worldly success over their spiritual health, they can pray, "Lord, I have been pursuing my own way. Please realign my heart and my life with Your perfect will. Thank You for Your grace."

3. The Danger of Self-Will:

Main Idea: When we choose to follow our own desires without seeking God’s direction, we create distance from God and often find ourselves in situations of confusion, emptiness, and even suffering. Self-will opposes God’s perfect will, leading to spiritual distance.

Application: Lead the group in a prayer of surrender, asking God to reveal areas of self-will where they have resisted His guidance. Encourage them to reflect on the dangers of living independently from God and to ask for a renewed heart of surrender. For instance, someone who has been holding onto unforgiveness might realize that their self-will has kept them from experiencing God’s peace.

4. Redemption of Permissive Choices:

Main Idea: While living in God’s permissive will often brings consequences, God is a redeemer. He can take the broken pieces of our choices and use them for His greater purposes, bringing us back to His perfect plan.

Application: Challenge students to identify past mistakes or missteps that God has redeemed in their lives. Encourage them to share testimonies of how God has taken their wrong turns and used them for good. For example, someone may have pursued a path of self-ambition, only to realize that through the process, God has humbled them and led them into a deeper relationship with Him.

Practical Examples for Teaching

Personal Desires vs. God’s Will: Consider a young person who prays to get into a prestigious university but neglects to seek God’s will for their future. They may be accepted but later find themselves spiritually drained, confused, or disconnected from their calling. This is an example of pursuing personal desires without considering God’s perfect will. Over time, they may realize that the path they chose has taken them away from the peace and fulfillment that God intended.

Cultural or Societal Freedom: Many nations or societies today celebrate individual freedom to pursue personal desires, often at the expense of God’s moral standards. This aligns with Acts 14:16, where God allows nations to follow their own ways. However, such freedom often leads to societal breakdowns, as seen in rising conflict, depression, and division. Eventually, these consequences can lead individuals back to seeking the deeper meaning and purpose that only God provides.

Reflection and Action for Students

Main Takeaways:

God’s permissive will allows human freedom, but it’s not His perfect desire for us. When we choose our own way, we often face consequences that reflect the dangers of living outside of God’s guidance.Even when we stray from God’s will, His grace is always available to bring us back. God’s perfect plan is to lead us into a life of righteousness, peace, and fulfillment.

Personal Reflection:

Have you experienced a time when you followed your own desires and later faced the consequences? What did you learn from that experience?In what areas of your life are you most prone to exercising self-will? What steps can you take to surrender those areas to God’s perfect will?How has God used past mistakes in your life to shape you or grow your faith?

Challenge for the Week:

Identify and Realign: Take time this week to reflect on one area of your life where you’ve been following your own desires. It could be a relationship, career, or personal goal. Pray and ask God to reveal how you can realign this area with His perfect will. Write down the steps you feel led to take, and commit to surrendering this part of your life to God.

Memory Verse:

Romans 1:24: "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves."

By the end of this week, you will have a deeper understanding of God’s permissive will and its consequences, as well as the grace and redemption available when we return to God’s perfect will. Let this study prompt you to examine areas of self-will and bring them into submission to God’s greater plan for your life.