Decision Making & the Will of God (Part 2)

So as I stated last week. It probably felt like I was taking something away from you by saying the blue print model of the Will of God wasn’t the best way to approach decision making. Well as promised what I hope to do tonight is to replace it with something that I think is a richer way of not only thinking theologically. But also of how we read scripture. And it’s important for you to realize. That what I am doing is not to get you to conform to some denominational system. Not that everything we do as a FWB denomination is bad. It is not! But I want to get you into the habit of pulling your theology from the text. Orienting yourself to the text. Not coming to it with a set of preconceived ideas. When we operate from a system standpoint. Rather than a relational standpoint. We are approaching the Bible with a particular set of filters. And those filters can distort the way we apply what we believe to our lives. In the Church today, we have a tendency to repeat ideas word and phrases over and over with a denominational flare and never relay any real transforming information. I hope you can see that is not my intentions for you.

So we talked last week about what I called a blueprint model. That is terminology that we use to understand the idea that God has mapped out all the choices we will make. How we define things with terminology is important. So any time we seek to understand a concept. We must begin by defining our terms.

How do we define the “Will of God”?

When the Bible speaks of the “Will of God”. Does it do so in only one aspect? Or does it does so in more than one way? If I define the will of God in only one way. And the Bible uses it in multiple ways. What then?

If indeed that it is the case that the will of God has a range on meaning in the Bible. Then we are required (if we truly hold the bible to be authoritative in our lives), to bend our knee to what Scripture teaches.

The following is a entry in the International standard Bible encyclopedia.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Will of God

WILL OF GOD The biblical understanding of God as a person who created human persons in “His” image recognizes in God the characteristic of desiring, or delighting in, certain things or people, as well as the capacity to choose and initiate one course of action in preference to another.

In the OT there is no one Hebrew word for will. It is conveyed in terms of our ideas of things like...

Delight, pleasure, favor, desire. But only occasionally conveyed asa consent or choose.

What does that say about will of God from an OT perspective?

One word that I left out is also Love. The OT will of God expresses his Love for His people!

Terminology in the NT is a little more uniform. We have objective words that directly translate as will. But other Greek words that translate as “plans” or “intentions”. But also things like “wish” or “want”.

How is this a different expression of the “Will of God” that the OT?

In the NT the “will of God” is an expression of His purposes for us.

What is the difference between a plan and a purpose?

There is a significant difference between plans verses purpose.

Proverbs 19:21 says Many are the PLANS in a mans heart; But it is the LORD’s PURPOSE that prevails

Proverbs 19:21 ESV

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

1) PLANS Plans consist of our dreams, ideas, choices and decisions. They come from us, from others and from the influences around us. They can be to get married, buy a house, move cities, change churches ... anything! Generally, they are the big decisions that determine what we do, where we go and who we do them with. But not who we are! 2) PURPOSE God’s purpose is His intention for what happens in our lives. Purpose is a set direction and a final destination. God’s purpose for us is His best. His purpose should become our purpose. Purpose doesn’t always make sense until you arrive at the destination. You may fight God all the way kicking and screaming, but He will be right all along in the end. If your plans are contrary to God’s purposes, He will orchestrate events so His purpose will prevail within you.

Scripture abounds on this powerful concept:

Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good PURPOSE.

Philippians 2:13 ESV

13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The power of God’s grace and the Holy Spirit are alive in us, transforming us to desire and do God’s great purposes. He gives us a new heart and mind to live for Kingdom assignments and no longer foolish earthly activities. Romans 8:28 All things work together for good, to those who love God and are called to His PURPOSE.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Not that all things are good that happen to us. But in heavens eyes anything that strengthens your faith, character and capacity is God’s good purpose to those who love Him Ephesians 1:11 ; 3:11 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... This was according to the eternal PURPOSE that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

11 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,

Ephesians 3:11 ESV

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

God’s great purpose which was once hidden is now revealed to us in Christ. God calls us to consider God’s great purpose for the eternal ages to come. He invites us to be part and take part in His amazing purpose! Ultimately, letting go of our plans to take hold of God’s purposes is to be our constant objective. No matter how good or amazing our plans are, they will simply never measure up or exceed God’s perfect purposes.

So understanding that the Will of God is not always one specific thing in terms of how the Bible uses the term. Let’s take about a better way of seeing the will of God beyond our own definition.

As we do this we will use terms that we can understand.

Everyone wants to make decisions that turn out well. But conscientious Christians have an additional, ultimate objective: "...we have as our ambition... to be pleasing to [the Lord]" (2 Corinthians 5:9).

The prerequisite for God-pleasing decisions is set forth by the Apostle Paul In Colossians 1:9-10: "...that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will. In all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects..." The principal task in decision making for the Christian is to learn what God wants him to do, and then do it. So far so good. The obvious question is, how is the Christian to learn what God wants him to do as he is confronted with life's decisions?

The Principle of Obedience

When the Bible speaks of God's will, it does so in one of two senses. The first of these we will call the "moral" will of God. The second is God’s Sovereign will. Most all theological systems acknowledge the sovereignty of God. But I we want focus on the moral will of God. The moral will of God may be defined as the commands and principles which God has revealed in the Bible to teach how people ought to believe and live. For example, Paul wrote that even unbelieving Jews " know [God's] will, and approve the things that are essential, being Instructed out of the Law..." (Romans 2:18). He was saying that since they study the Scripture, they understand God's moral will. Therefore, they know right from wrong, truth from error. Their fault is not ignorance, but disobedience. Accordingly, the Principle of Obedience may be stated: Where God commands, we must obey. The ramifications of this principle are more fully recognized when four crucial characteristics of God's moral will are brought into focus. 1. The moral will of God is fully revealed in the Bible. One hundred per cent of what God wants us to know about believing and living to please Him He has already told us. The Bible is our final and complete authority for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1: 1-2). 2. The moral will of God is the expression of the character of God (Romans 7:12). Because God's moral will reflects His character, it helps to produce that same character in the life of the one who obeys it (Luke 6.35-36) and leads to fullness of life (Psalm 19:7-11). 3. The moral will of God touches every aspect and moment of life. That is true because God's will encompasses more than overt behavior. For God is not concerned simply with what we do; He cares equally about why we do what we do, as well as how we do it. To put it differently, God's moral will prescribes the believer's goals and attitudes, as well as his actions. Furthermore, it shapes his perspective of reality which serves as the context in which his decisions are made.

Goals, by their nature, are more general than behavioral commands. The Christian's goals should reflect God's stated purposes for his life. Here are a few of the major ones:

to glorify God in all things (1 Corinthians 10:31);

to minister to others (Romans 14:19);

to fulfill God-given responsibilities (1 Peter 4: 10-11);

to evangelize lost people (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Peter 3:9); to do good works (Titus 3:8);

4. Since the moral will of God contains His complete revelation for faith and life, expresses God's own character, and touches every aspect and moment of life, it is fully able to equip believers for every good work. "all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Our response to such abundant guidance from God should be obvious. First, we need to learn what God has said (Joshua 1:8). Second, we need to do what God has said (John 13:17). As one observes the decision-making practices of people, one is forced to the sobering conclusion that the greatest impediments to making good decisions are ignorance of God's Word and stubborn resistance to God's will (Proverbs 16:25; Acts 7:51).

The Principle of Freedom

It is obvious to the student of the Bible that God's moral will does not specifically address every decision we make. That would be impossible. For not only are there too many decisions to prescribe, there are choices that are required in our modern setting that were unknown in the biblical world-which car to buy, what television program to watch, etc. It is those kinds of decisions that are governed by the next two principles of decision making. The Principle of Freedom may be expressed as follows: Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and responsibility) to choose. This principle asserts three things:

1) There are some decisions which have multiple options, any number of which may be acceptable to God;

2) the final decision made must not be in violation of God's moral will (in purpose, attitude, or execution); and

3) God will not dictate to the believer what he must do-the individual is free to make the decision. (It should be noted in passing that God certainly could reveal His will for a particular decision not directly addressed in Scripture. He has done that in the past, as Scripture records, and His ability to do so now remains unchanged. So if His purposes warranted, God could directly communicate specific guidance today. If He were to do so, it could be expected that the revelation would be crystal clear-and that the means would be on the order of an angelic visit, super- natural vision, or audible voice. However, what we are about to see is that biblical decision making does not anticipate such divine intervention. True, it does not rule it out. It just assumes that the Word we already have is adequate for all our decisions. And if it is not enough in some situations, it is up to God to provide what we need.) The principle of freedom of choice within revealed limits was clearly part of the Creator's design from the very beginning.

The Principle of Wisdom

The other side of the coin is that freedom entails responsibility. If God is not going to dictate every choice we make, then believers are not only free to choose, we are required to choose. That raises a critical question: On what basis is the Christian to make his decisions in freedom areas? That basis, in a word, is wisdom. And the Principle of Wisdom is: Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom to choose. And 'wisdom' is accurately defined as 'the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. " Wisdom is the ability to recognize what is spiritually profitable in a given situation. We find this in multiple places in the wisdom literature. The Old Testament teaches wise decision making by its Wisdom Books. For example. This is what the Wisdom literature says of itself.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

Ecclesiastes 10:10 ESV

10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.

"Wisdom has the advantage of giving success". Yes the book of Ecclesiastes can actually be helpful!

A Case History: Paul's Plans to Visit Rome

In Romans 1:8-13 and 15:20-29. Paul explained the travel plans by which he hoped to visit Rome. Careful study of these verses reveals the steps in Paul's decision-making process.

1. PURPOSES: Paul adopted spiritual goals that were based on God's moral will (1:11-13; 15:20). 2. PRIORITIES: Since he did not know how much time he had, he arranged his goals into wise priorities, determining what should be done first, second, third, etc. (15:23-28). 3. PLANS: Next, he devised plans that gave him a strategy for accomplishing his purposes (1:13; 15:23-28). 4. PRAYER: Through prayer, he submitted himself and his plans to the sovereign will of God (1:8- 10). 5. PERSEVERANCE: When providentially hindered from accomplishing his plans, he assumed that the delay was God's sovereign will. This conviction freed him from discouragement. Since his plans were sound, the only thing he adjusted was the timetable (1:10, 13; 15:22-24).

So we have defined what the Will of God is. We have looked at several principles laid out in Scripture. And a model for how to make wise decisions.

So does God lead? Yes! But how? According to His purposes! Does God have a plan for us? Yes. But in what context? The context contained in the Bible. But God having a plan for my life is different than him having everything mapped out. We call ourselves FWB. We believe and will shout from the roof tops that salvation is a free choice. But then why is it that we believe every other major decision in our lives we think God must determine for us?

Which of you would want to plan out every event in your child’s life for them in advance? Or would you rather want to give them a way to make the wisest decisions possible? So they can have a plan to flourish for God as human beings! I choose the later.

The bottom line is this is why I think that Calvinism ultimately fails. If God predetermines in advance all the events in our lives including our salvation. How are any of us truly free?

But if God gives us the free will choose to accept Christ. How much more freedom will He give us to make other decisions in our lives. This approach does not deny the sovereignty of God. It only enhances it.

For true love to have any meaning it must always involve a choice. Christ Himself chose to lay down his life for me. So as for me. I find greater freedom in knowing that although God knows what will happen in the days ahead. He give me the choice! And He has chosen to keep some things hidden from me. And that is for my benefit. Because he knows that as his free creation. I just might not choose it!

REFERENCES:

1.http://faithhopeandreflections.blogspot.com/2012/11/purpose-vs-plans.html

2.https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/Principles%20for%20Decision%20Making%20-%20Garry%20Friesen%20and%20J.%20Robin%20Maxson.pdf

3. Scripture references unless otherwise noted are from the English Standard Version (ESV)