Thesis 14/36: The Will of God

DOCTRINES OF FAITH
Doctrine 14 / 36: The Will of God

There is a universal will for all creatures that God has - to bring Him pleasure (Revelation 4:11). The question becomes, what can His creation to in order to bring about that goal? Beyond this universal, general will, there is also a specific will or plan that God has for everyone as well.

There are seven items mentioned in the New Testament that are said to be God's will for people (First Bible Baptist Church 7:3). These things are universal. These things do not apply only to certain people or groups, but to everyone. They are:

1) Salvation: God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), and His will is that all men be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). This first item is necessary before any of the following items can be achieved. Salvation is the first step to bring pleasure to God.

2) Spirit-Filled: God desires that all men be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-18). However, as was mentioned, a man must be saved before he can walk in the Spirit and be Spirit-filled. God desires that all men live their lives in submission to the Spirit's lead.

3) Thankful: Perhaps this item would be left off of most lists made by people that sit down and think of what God's will is, but God makes it plain, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). God wants people to be thankful for whatever situation comes their way.

4) Sanctification: God's will for the person who gets saved is not that he would simply remain the same person as he was. God wants the Christian constantly to grow and to become more set apart, sanctified, for God's use (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Contained in this teaching is that Christians are to refrain from sin. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." There is to be a real change in a person's life, where he becomes transformed by the renewing of his mind (Romans 12:1-2).

5) Submissive Servant: One of the amazing characteristics of Jesus Christ was that He humbled Himself and lived a lowly life on earth. Many American Christians today want to have no part in that humility, but rather to be exalted and to retain their perceived rights. Throughout the Scriptures, God tells His people to be submissive, humble, and in particular He says to do it in the master/slave, or employer/employee relationship (Ephesians 6:4-6; 1 Peter 2:13-15).

6) Conformation to the Image of Christ: Ultimately, God has predestined His children to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. This entails being completely free from sin, and having a perfect being to please God (Romans 8:29; John 17:20-23). This will only be completed after Christ comes back to call His saints home.

7) Suffering: There are times in a Christian's life that he will have to suffer. It is taught that everyone that desires to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). God has a divine purpose for suffering, and it is His will that at times the Christian learn by having to go through suffering (1 Peter 4:19).

The above seven things are parts of the will of God that He has for all men. But how can a Christian find out what specific course of action, or life work he should be doing? How can a Christian know what God's plan is for his life?

1) Accordance with the revealed will of God: First of all, while seeking what God's plan is for his life, a Christian ought to pass the decision through the universal will of God. That is, if the decision to be made would cause a person to participate in sin, then it is violating the will of God of sanctification. Therefore he can be sure that God's plan is not for him to participate in that. God's plan for the Christian's life will always be in accordance with what He declares in Scripture. A Christian does not have to ask or wonder whether or not God wants him to do something sinful. He does not.

2) Inner comfort: After the decision has been passed through the filter of the universal will of God, the second question is whether or not the Christian has inner peace about it. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." That is, when a Christian is truly looking to do things to bring God pleasure, God will give that person the desires that he should have. Even if the decision requires suffering or persecution, the man can have comfort inside knowing that it is for God's glory. Time of real communion with God through Bible reading and prayer are necessary to make sure this is comfort from God.

3) Open Doors: When God wants His people to do something, He will open the doors to allow it to happen. Whether it is providing finances for the task, providing laborers, or whatever is needed, God will make sure that the resources are there and the opportunity is present to accomplish His will. At the same time, there will be occasions where God does not want a course of action to be taken, and He may close doors. In Acts 16:6, the Holy Ghost forbade Paul and his company to preach in a certain area. That was in accordance to the universal will of God, yet God did not want it done at that time in that place, and so He closed the door.

4) Wise Counsel: "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14). The fourth thing, through which to pass the question of God's plan for a Christian's life, is whether or not it is in accordance with or opposition to the counsel of other godly and wise counsellors. God has put people in the Christian's life to help give advice and counsel, and the submissive servant ought to give weight to it.

The first way to find God's plan for the Christian's life is as plain as the Bible. It is plainly stated, and need not be questioned. However, the other three areas can not be adhered to by themselves. Because the Christian still has his old man with which he struggles, having inner comfort about something may be the flesh's desire, not the Spirit. The heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9), and care must be given that the desire is the Spirit's, not the flesh's. Open doors also can be deceiving. It may be that God is trying the Christian to see if they will jump at the first opportunity, or if they will truly seek God's face and direction. And even wise counsellors can be deceived. However, when the four areas line up, and the decision is in line with God's word, there is an inner comfort, the doors are open, and the wise counsel is in agreement, then the Christian can be very confident that it is God's plan for his life.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."


Works Cited:First Bible Baptist Church, Discipleship, 18 vols. New York: First Bible Baptist Church