RTBS: 04/22 John John 4:34

RTBS | John 4:34

The Will of God — Filial Obedience & Freedom Under Sovereignty

2. PASSAGE EXEGESIS

John 4:34

2.1 What words, phrases, or images stand out?

“My food…” “to do the will…” “of Him who sent Me…” “to finish His work…”

This is not casual obedience.

This is dependence.

Jesus does not treat the will of God as:

a mystery to solve

a path to discover

He treats it as:

👉 what sustains His life

John 4:34 — “My food…”

Food is not optional.

It is necessary.

Jesus is not saying:

👉 “I try to obey the Father”

He is saying:

👉 “This is what I live on.”

“to do the will of Him who sent Me”

This is submission—

But not forced.

This is what theologians call:

👉 Filial Obedience

Obedience:

as a Son

to a Father

with desire, not resistance

“and to finish His work”

Jesus’ obedience is:

continuous

intentional

complete

This points forward to:

👉 the cross

He didn’t just begin obedience—

👉 He finished it

THE PROBLEM — HOW WE MISUNDERSTAND GOD’S WILL

Most Christians have been taught:

👉 God has one specific path for your life 👉 and you must discover it

Like standing at a fork in the road—

waiting for:

a sign

a feeling

a signal

👉 “Most Christians live one crossroad after another, trying to catch God’s subtle cues…”

WHY THIS VIEW FAILS

It assumes:

God is unclear

God punishes wrong decisions (not sin)

God is revealing new information outside Scripture

All three are unbiblical.

WHAT SCRIPTURE ACTUALLY SAYS

The Will of God is Revealed

1 Thessalonians 4:3 → sanctification

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 → joy, prayer, gratitude

1 Peter 2:15 → doing good

👉 God’s will is not hidden.

👉 It is commanded.

KEY DISTINCTION

👉 Deuteronomy 29:29

Two categories:

1. Hidden (Sovereign) Will

what God has determined

what He has not revealed

outcomes, events, future

2. Revealed Will

how you live

how you obey

what God commands

KEY OBSERVATION

👉 We obsess over what God has hidden 👉 and ignore what He has revealed

GOD IS SOVERIGN OVER ALL THINGS, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN HE DICTATES EVERY SINGLE THING, EVEN THOUGH HE CAN

Discussion Question 2

Why do you think it is easier to search for God’s hidden will than to obey His revealed will?

PROVERBS FRAMEWORK

👉 Proverbs 16:9

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

👉 “We plan the way, and the Lord directs our steps.”

WHAT THIS MEANS

Not: 👉 God chooses your path for you

But:

👉 You plan — God governs

OBJECT LESSON

(Drop a water bottle)

Ask:

👉 “Did that happen outside of God’s control?”

Then say:

👉 “I chose to drop it—but it didn’t happen outside of God’s control.”

THE THEOLOGICAL BALANCE

God:

👉 governs everything

But:

👉 does not force every action

Discussion Question 3

How does understanding that God governs your life without forcing your decisions change the way you approach choices?

GOD’S INVOLVEMENT

👉 “Nothing happens apart from the will of God… but He does not force all things.”

WHAT THAT MEANS

God:

allows

directs

works through

But:

👉 you still choose

KEY CLARITY

👉 God’s sovereignty is not control of every motion

👉 It is rule over everything that happens

JESUS VS. US

Jesus:

👉 had a specific redemptive mission 👉 revealed directly by the Father

We:

👉 have a revealed way to live 👉 not a hidden script to discover

3. KEY DOCTRINE

3.1 Key Doctrine

The Doctrine of the Filial Obedience of Christ

Definition

The Filial Obedience of Christ teaches that Jesus perfectly and willingly submitted to the will of the Father as the Son, delighting in obedience and completing the work He was sent to accomplish.

3.2 What Does This Doctrine Teach?

1. Christ Obeyed as a Son, Not Just a Servant

His obedience was:

relational

willing

joyful

2. Christ’s Obedience Was Complete

Not partial.

👉 Finished (John 19:30 connection - Jesus - It is finished on the cross)

3. God’s Will for Believers Is Revealed

👉 “God’s will for your life is that you obey Him.”

4. God Governs All Things While Humans Remain Responsible

Nothing is outside His will.

But:

👉 you still make real decisions

What This Doctrine Is Not

This is not:

a hidden blueprint to discover

a denial of God’s sovereignty

passive Christianity

Clean Theological Summary

Jesus did not search for God’s will—

He lived in complete obedience to it.

Believers are not called to discover a secret plan—

but to obey what God has already revealed.

God governs all things—

and calls His people to walk in obedience within that reality.

Discussion Question 5

What would it practically look like in your life to stop searching for God’s will—and start obeying what He has already made clear?

WHY THIS MATTERS

👉 “We are not tied to a specific path—we are tied to a specific purpose.”

If we misunderstand God’s will:

we live in fear

we delay action

we overcomplicate life

If we understand it:

we act with confidence

we walk in freedom

we obey with clarity

FINAL LINE

Jesus didn’t spend His life:

👉 trying to figure out God’s will

He spent His life:

👉 doing it

👉 The question is not: “What is God’s hidden plan for my life?”

👉 The question is: “Am I obeying what God has already revealed?”