Will of God

The revelation of God’s will

In his word

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

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Through the law

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Through the prophets

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In the apostolic gospel

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The fulfilment of God’s will

God’s will is fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:9–10 ESV

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

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Jesus Christ obeyed his Father’s will

John 6:38 ESV

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

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Jesus Christ’s death fulfilled God’s will

Galatians 1:3–4 ESV

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

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God’s will for the world

God desires justice and righteousness

Amos 5:24 ESV

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

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God desires honesty and truth

Proverbs 12:22 ESV

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

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God desires harmony and peace

1 Timothy 2:2–3 ESV

for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

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God desires the world to be saved

1 Timothy 2:4 ESV

who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

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God’s will for his redeemed people

God desires loving obedience

Matthew 22:35–38 ESV

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.

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Scripture regularly makes obedience to God a higher priority than performing religious acts:

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God desires worship

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

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God desires holiness

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

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God desires love for one another

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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God desires high moral standards

1 Peter 2:15 ESV

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

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God’s will may involve suffering

1 Peter 3:17 ESV

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

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Proper responses to God’s will

Discovering God’s will

Ephesians 5:17 ESV

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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Obeying God’s will

Matthew 7:21 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

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Praying for God’s will

Matthew 6:10 ESV

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

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Making radical changes to do God’s will

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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Rejecting God’s will

Luke 7:30 ESV

but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

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Examples of people who obeyed God’s will

Gad

David:

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Cyrus

Paul:

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Ways of discovering God’s will

teaching; Urim and Thummim; prayer; God’s word; revelation; the Holy Spirit; drawing lots

God’s will and the human will

God’s will overrules human wills

Proverbs 19:21 ESV

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

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God’s will overrides the desires of the wicked

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God’s will can harmonise with human wills

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God’s will is sovereign

Over all things

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Over creation

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Over evil

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Over the gospel

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In the church

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